Sonos Ray

Clean and powerful TV audio ; Surprising amount of bass ; Wide soundstage ; Optional surround sound

Remote setup can be fiddly ; Better at TV than music

Simpler, cheaper and smaller than the other soundbars in the Sonos range, the Sonos Ray is built with one main job in mind: making poor-quality TVs sound better. This is a more straightforward soundbar than its stablemates, with optical input only, and...

Excellent vocal clarity ; Punchy, forthright projection ; Detailed high end

Not much low-end extension ; Delivery a touch clinical ; Narrow soundfield

Almost three years since its launch, the Sonos Ray remains one of the best budget soundbars available, particularly if crisp and clear dialogue is your priority. There are rivals that offer meatier sound and more features, though.

Neat and compact ; Coherent, unified sound ; Sonos system compatibility

No HDMI input ; Plenty of competition ; Slightly small-scale presentation

There’s lots to recommend the Sonos Ray – not least its Sonos-ness and compatibility with the wider system – and in some ways it’s the ideal compact soundbar. However, there's no HDMI connection and it looks expensive next to its most obvious rivals,...

Compact design is lovely ; Great sound quality for its size ; Excellent range of features ; Quick setup ; Ease of use

Not as good at lower volumes ; No HDMI ARC or eARC support

If you're looking for a soundbar for your living room, we'd recommend the Sonos Beam over the Sonos Ray if your budget allows for it. However, the Sonos Ray is an excellent choice for those looking to upgrade their sound in other rooms. For the price,...

Lovely Sonos design ; Budget by Sonos’ standards ; Straightforward to set up

Patchy Bluetooth remote support ; No HDMI support ; Maybe you want a Beam?

A quality compact soundbar… but if you don’t own other Sonos kit you might want to look elsewhere

Compact design ; Clear and crisp sound ; Relatively affordable

No HDMI Arc/eArc ; No voice controls ; Average bass

The Sonos Ray is an impressive affordable soundbar, with an attractive and compact design along with an audio profile that excels in clarity and scape. It's only held back by the lack of HDMI Arc – and with it Dolby Atmos – and microphones for voice...

Compact for versatile placement Impressive sound for its size Expandable to a full 5.1 system Easy setup and control

Pricey for a small soundbar Lacks a bit of midrange detail

“Sonos sets the stage for a much more affordable home theater system with the Ray.”

Fantastic dialogue clarity ; Balanced, crisp sound that surpasses many budget soundbars ; Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2 support

No HDMI connectivity ; Might not work with your TV’s remote ; Stereo audio lacks immersion

Even so, you shouldn’t overlook the other tradeoffs. The Ray might not work with your TV’s remote, and some people will inevitably reject the notion of paying nearly $300 for a stereo soundbar in 2022. An eventual Sub Mini feels like a much-needed...