The Ray, Sonos’ most recent sound bar, is less expensive and smaller than the Beam and Arc models. Although the speaker eventually makes a few too many compromises, we do like its clean audio performance and the fact that it can be incorporated to a full surround system with other Sonos components. For example, it only provides two audio channels, does not support Dolby Atmos, and excludes voice assistant functions offered by other models. Furthermore, the Ray doesn’t have a strong bass response, which shouldn’t be the case for almost $300. Simply put, stronger alternatives are available in this price range. For instance, the Vizio M-Series 5.1 Sound Bar offers a full 5.1-channel sound system with support for Dolby Atmos for just $50 more than the Roku Stream bar Pro, which offers comparable performance and more connection options for $100 less. also you can learn our article on Sonos Ray review.
Design
The Sonos Ray has an appealing, straightforward design. It has a flat front in a lozenge shape with tapered sides and is available in black or white. On top, there are touch controls for adjusting volume and starting/stopping music. Try to avoid positioning it in front of anything that could block the infrared sensor, which is located at the bottom of the front. The optical connector, Ethernet port, and power connection are all located on the back. Given that the Sonos Ray is only 22 x 2.8 x 3.7 inches (w x h x d) in dimension, it can effectively work with TVs up to 24 inches in size. In order to match the sound scale to the graphics, we’d suggest a maximum size of 50 inches. It’s a good thing that there isn’t much to say about this because it is a nice-looking, well-made soundbar that can be installed anywhere without much effort and can withstand being grabbed and prodded by curious tiny hands.
Features
The Beam, for instance, is incredibly simple to set up and use thanks to Sonos’ streamlining of the player setup process. It cannot be installed on an S1 system; it must be installed on an S2 system. We discovered that launching the Sonos app was sufficient to trigger the Ray’s automatic detection, and a brief setup wizard guided us through the connection procedures to add the soundbar to our home system. you can read our article on Sonos Ray review. The soundbar is then tuned to your room by Sonos using the Trueplay setting. This is a two-step process, just as the Arc and Beam. In order to adjust TV audio in the first phase, I had to sit where we would normally watch TV; in the second step, we had to roam around while waving our phones in the “regular” Trueplay mode. Using optical S/PDIF has the advantage that it frequently just works. The HDMI-based Arc and Beam occasionally require some fiddling and device rebooting, so they might not work right out of the box. The optical link immediately functioned with our TV. To a point, yes. For whatever reason, when an optical cable is connected, there is no setting to turn off the TV’s speakers, so sound was coming from both our TV and the Ray. By completely lowering the TV’s volume, we were able to get around this. Since the Ray has an IR input, you may programme it such that the volume on the soundbar is controlled by the TV remote. There is a setup procedure for this, however despite the Ray’s status light flashing, the Sonos app said it hadn’t picked up an IR signal.
Sonos Ray review: Controls
Voice control is possible if your Sonos Ray is a part of a larger Sonos multi-room system, or even if you’ve only designated a few Sonos Ones as back speakers. The Ray itself isn’t voice assistant compatible, although this may change once the specialised Sonos voice-assistant launches. The Sonos control app has extensive control. Here, in the most reliable and logical control app accessible, you may fiddle with EQ settings, integrate your preferred streaming service(s), modify volume, turn “loudness” on or off (“off” is better), choose some “speech improvement,” and much more. Behind the grille, there is a small, discrete strip of LEDs that illuminates to show you what the Ray is doing. Naturally, if you’d rather, you can turn them off via the control app.
Sonos Ray review: Connectivity
The relatively limited number of physical connectors, which include ones for mains power, Ethernet, and digital optical, are located in a recess on the back of the chassis. In this panel, there is also a “reset” button. Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay 2 are your options for wireless networking. Since there is no HDMI port, a digital optical cable must be used to connect to the TV; Sonos includes a 1.5-meter version of this cable in the package with the soundbar and a power cord. The tiny Ray uses two tweeters, a few “midwoofers” which is always an uncomfortable technique to try and make a mid/bass driver sound interesting, and two bass reflex ports in order to produce sound. Behind the soundbar’s grille, they all have a firing squad stance and are facing forward. This is a stereo speaker, therefore anything more complex than two channels’ worth of information will be downscaled by the Sonos. However, it is compatible with stereo PCM and Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Digital Surround information. The size and makeup of the speaker drivers, as well as the amount of power inside the Ray, are not specified by Sonos, and like all other models in its lineup, the complete specifications remain a closely-kept secret.
Sound quality
The Sonos Ray does this in a thorough manner, which is the least a soundbar should be able to do given the television it is connected to doesn’t have any more speakers. In terms of movie soundtracks, it’s a nicely balanced speaker, if somewhat narrowly focused. When things get explosive, there is a far greater cinematic sense of impact than your TV can hope to produce on its own. also you can check our article on Sonos Ray review. This is because the low-frequency activity that so many movies liberally indulge in is given good expression, and bass sounds manage to be punchy and well-controlled at the same time. The Ray never threatens to get unruly, but it also lacks the edge and shine necessary to make that smashing glass (or whatever) really cut through. At the opposite end of the frequency spectrum, there is a respectable level of bite and assault. Even yet, adopting this mindset is better to having a harsh edge. However, the midrange is the most completely developed and successful part of Ray’s performance, which is fortunate given how much of the average soundtrack is midrange. The dialogue in The Sonos is well-paced, convincing, lavishly descriptive, and full of personality. Voices are defined and distinct, with the subtleties of cadence and overall delivery all in evident, even without “speech enhancement” turned on.
Sonos Ray review: Price and availability
Pre-orders for the Sonos Ray are currently being accepted through the Sonos website as well as online stores Best Buy and World Wide Stereo for $279, £279, and $399, respectively. When compared to the $449 Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and $899 Sonos Arc, it is among the best inexpensive soundbars available. Check out our Sonos coupons to find ways to save money. But it doesn’t imply there isn’t opposition. The well-known companies JBL, Sony, and Yamaha are just a handful that have extremely excellent soundbars of their own to sell you for even less money than Sonos is asking for the Ray. Therefore, in order to make the Ray a successful soundbar, more will be required than simply turning up with a desirable brand logo.
Conclusion
For podcasts and TV shows with lots of conversation, the Sonos Ray is adequate. Voices are reproduced with clarity and detail thanks to its neutral, balanced mids, and it has features like a dialogue enhancement mode and a night mode to regulate the volume when you watch TV at night. However, as it uses a 2.0 arrangement, there isn’t a separate centre channel to aid in giving dialogue in the soundstage a clearer, more accurate depiction, like you get with more expensive models.
