Sonos Ray Compact Soundbar Review: In-Depth Look at Features and Performance

Quick Summary

The Sonos Ray Compact Soundbar offers a fantastic balance of simplicity, performance, and accessibility for those looking to upgrade their TV audio experience. It’s a small yet powerful soundbar that delivers clear and crisp sound, making it an excellent choice for users who prioritize vocal clarity in their audio. While it may lack some of the advanced features found in more expensive models, such as Dolby Atmos support, its ease of use, compact design, and ability to integrate seamlessly with the Sonos ecosystem make it a worthy contender in the budget soundbar category.

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Introduction to the Sonos Ray Compact Soundbar

The Sonos Ray Compact Soundbar is the latest offering from Sonos, designed to deliver premium sound in a compact and affordable package. Released in 2022, it’s positioned as an entry-level soundbar, perfect for those who want to enhance their TV audio without breaking the bank. Sonos is known for its high-quality audio products, and the Ray is no exception. It’s built to offer a clear and balanced sound that’s perfect for a variety of uses, from watching TV shows and movies to listening to music and podcasts.

In this review, we’ll dive deep into every aspect of the Sonos Ray, exploring its features, performance, and overall value. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of whether this soundbar is the right fit for your audio needs.

Design and Build Quality

Compact and Sleek Design

The Sonos Ray Compact Soundbar is designed with simplicity and elegance in mind. Its compact size allows it to fit easily in front of your TV without obstructing the screen or cluttering your space. Measuring just under 23 inches in length, it’s smaller than many other soundbars on the market, making it an ideal choice for those with limited space.

The soundbar is available in two color options: black and white. Both colors are sleek and understated, allowing the Ray to blend seamlessly into any room décor. The build quality is excellent, with a sturdy polycarbonate exterior that feels durable and well-made. Sonos has always been known for its attention to detail, and the Ray is no exception. Every aspect of its design feels carefully considered, from the smooth, rounded edges to the discrete logo placement.

Mounting Options

One of the standout features of the Sonos Ray is its versatility in terms of placement. It can be mounted on a wall or placed on a shelf, depending on your preference. The soundbar comes with built-in mounting holes, making it easy to attach to a wall without the need for additional brackets. This flexibility is a great advantage, especially for those with smaller living spaces or unconventional room layouts.

Control and Connectivity

The Sonos Ray keeps things simple when it comes to control. It can be operated using your TV remote, the Sonos app, or through Apple AirPlay 2. The Sonos app is particularly user-friendly, allowing you to adjust settings, connect to other Sonos speakers, and stream music from various services with ease. The soundbar also features touch controls on the top, giving you quick access to volume adjustments and play/pause functions.

In terms of connectivity, the Sonos Ray offers Wi-Fi, Optical, and Ethernet options. There’s no HDMI port, which may be a downside for some users, but the optical connection is more than sufficient for most setups. The absence of Bluetooth might be a deal-breaker for some, but the inclusion of Apple AirPlay 2 helps to mitigate this by allowing easy streaming from iOS devices.

Sound Quality

Balanced Audio Performance

The Sonos Ray Compact Soundbar excels in delivering clear and balanced sound, which is particularly evident in vocal-heavy content. Whether you’re watching a dialogue-driven TV show or listening to a podcast, the Ray ensures that voices are reproduced with remarkable clarity and detail. This makes it an excellent choice for users who prioritize vocal clarity in their audio setup.

High-Performing Tweeters and Woofers

Despite its small size, the Sonos Ray is packed with powerful audio components. It features two high-performing tweeters and a pair of meticulously engineered woofers. These work together to create a full and rich sound profile that can fill a room, even though the soundbar itself is compact. Sonos has incorporated patented anti-distortion technology into the Ray, which helps maintain audio clarity even at higher volumes.

Trueplay Room Tuning

One of the standout features of the Sonos Ray is its support for Trueplay, Sonos’ proprietary room-tuning technology. Trueplay uses the microphone on your iOS device to analyze the acoustics of your room and adjust the soundbar’s output accordingly. This ensures that the Ray delivers optimal sound quality no matter where it’s placed. While Trueplay is currently only available for iOS users, it’s a valuable feature that significantly enhances the listening experience.

Stereo Output and Surround Sound

The Sonos Ray is a 2.0-channel soundbar, meaning it has two channels of audio output but no dedicated subwoofer or surround sound speakers. This setup is sufficient for most users, especially those who primarily watch TV shows or listen to music. However, for those who crave a more immersive audio experience, the Ray’s lack of Dolby Atmos support might be a drawback.

That said, the Ray can handle 5.1 surround sound formats like Dolby Digital and DTS, but it downmixes them into stereo. This means you’ll still get clear and detailed sound, but it won’t have the same level of immersion as a full surround sound system. For those who want to expand their setup in the future, the Ray can be paired with other Sonos speakers, such as the Sonos Sub or Sonos One SL, to create a more comprehensive home theater system.

Music Performance

When it comes to music playback, the Sonos Ray offers a pleasingly neutral sound profile. The mids are particularly well-balanced, making it a great choice for a wide variety of music genres. Whether you’re listening to classical, jazz, or pop, the Ray reproduces music with clarity and precision. However, it’s important to note that, like many standalone soundbars, the Ray doesn’t deliver the deep bass that some users might expect from more bass-heavy genres like hip-hop or EDM.

If you’re an audiophile or someone who loves a heavy bass sound, you might find the Ray lacking in the low-end frequencies. However, this can be mitigated by adding a separate subwoofer, such as the Sonos Sub, though this does come at an additional cost. For most users, the Ray’s performance will be more than adequate, providing a clean and enjoyable listening experience.

Movie Performance

The Sonos Ray is a decent performer when it comes to movies, especially if your primary focus is on dialogue clarity. The soundbar’s balanced mids ensure that voices are clear and easy to understand, even in complex soundtracks with lots of background noise. However, the Ray’s lack of Dolby Atmos support means that it can’t deliver the full immersive experience that some movie lovers might be looking for.

That said, the Ray still provides a solid audio experience for movies. It can handle 5.1 surround sound formats like Dolby Digital and DTS, but as mentioned earlier, it downmixes them into stereo. This means you won’t get the full directional audio experience, but the sound quality is still impressive for a soundbar in this price range.

If you’re someone who watches a lot of action movies or content with complex soundscapes, you might find the Ray’s performance somewhat limited. However, for those who primarily watch dialogue-heavy content, such as dramas or comedies, the Ray’s clear and balanced sound will be more than sufficient.

Features and Usability

Easy Setup and Integration

One of the biggest advantages of the Sonos Ray is its ease of setup and integration into the Sonos ecosystem. The soundbar is designed to be as user-friendly as possible, with a simple plug-and-play setup that requires minimal effort. Once connected, the Ray can be controlled through the Sonos app, which is intuitive and easy to navigate.

The Sonos app allows you to connect the Ray to other Sonos speakers in your home, creating a multi-room audio system that can be controlled from your smartphone or tablet. This level of integration is one of the main selling points of Sonos products, and the Ray is no exception. Whether you’re new to the Sonos ecosystem or already have other Sonos products, the Ray is an excellent addition that’s easy to set up and use.

App Control and Voice Assistants

The Sonos Ray can be controlled via the Sonos app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices. The app is user-friendly and offers a wide range of features, including the ability to adjust sound settings, connect to streaming services, and group the Ray with other Sonos speakers in your home.

In addition to app control, the Ray is compatible with Apple AirPlay 2, allowing you to stream audio directly from your iOS devices. However, it’s worth noting that the Ray does not have built-in voice assistant support. While you can control the soundbar through a separate voice-enabled device like an Amazon Echo or Google Home, this may be a limitation for some users who prefer an all-in-one solution.

Night Mode and Dialogue Enhancement

The Sonos Ray comes with several features designed to enhance your listening experience, particularly in challenging environments. One of these is Night Mode, which reduces the intensity of loud sounds while enhancing softer ones, making it easier to watch TV without disturbing others in your household. This feature is particularly useful for late-night viewing, as it allows you to enjoy your content without having to constantly adjust the volume.

Another useful feature is Dialogue Enhancement, which boosts the clarity of voices in the audio mix. This is especially helpful for watching TV shows or movies where dialogue is critical, ensuring that you don’t miss important lines or details. Both of these features contribute to the Ray’s overall appeal, making it a versatile soundbar that caters to a range of viewing scenarios.

Multi-Room Audio

As part of the Sonos ecosystem, the Sonos Ray supports multi-room audio, allowing you to create a cohesive audio experience throughout your home. You can group the Ray with other Sonos speakers, such as the Sonos One or Sonos Five, to create a synchronized audio experience across multiple rooms. This feature is particularly useful for those who enjoy playing music throughout their home or want to create a home theater setup with multiple speakers.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Compact Design: The Sonos Ray’s small size makes it an excellent choice for users with limited space. It fits neatly in front of your TV or can be mounted on a wall, offering flexibility in placement.
Clear Sound: The soundbar delivers clear and balanced audio, with a particular emphasis on vocal clarity. This makes it a great choice for TV shows, movies, and podcasts.
Easy Integration: The Ray integrates seamlessly with the Sonos ecosystem, allowing you to control it through the Sonos app and group it with other Sonos speakers.
User-Friendly Features: Features like Night Mode and Dialogue Enhancement enhance the overall listening experience, making the Ray versatile and practical for various use cases.

Cons

Lack of Dolby Atmos Support: The Sonos Ray does not support Dolby Atmos, which may be a drawback for users seeking an immersive audio experience for movies and TV shows.
No Built-In Voice Assistants: The soundbar does not have built-in voice assistant support, which may be a limitation for users who prefer voice control.
Limited Bass Performance: While the Ray delivers clear audio, it lacks the deep bass that some users might expect from more premium soundbars. Adding a separate subwoofer can address this, but it comes at an additional cost.

Conclusion and Recommendation

The Sonos Ray Compact Soundbar is a solid choice for those looking to upgrade their TV audio experience without spending a fortune. Its compact design, clear and balanced sound, and easy integration with the Sonos ecosystem make it an appealing option for a wide range of users. While it may lack some of the advanced features found in higher-end models, such as Dolby Atmos support and built-in voice assistants, it offers excellent value for its price.

If you’re looking for a soundbar that provides clear vocal performance and integrates seamlessly with other Sonos products, the Ray is an excellent choice. It’s particularly well-suited for dialogue-heavy content, making it a great option for TV shows, movies, and podcasts. For those who want to enhance their audio experience further, the Ray can be paired with other Sonos speakers and a subwoofer to create a more immersive home theater setup.

In summary, the Sonos Ray Compact Soundbar delivers impressive performance for its size and price, making it a worthy addition to any home entertainment system. If you’re ready to elevate your audio experience, the Sonos Ray is a product you should definitely consider. Click the button to buy the Sonos Ray Compact Soundbar and enjoy an enhanced audio experience today!