For years, I found myself increasingly frustrated with the lacklustre audio experience emanating from my modern television. While picture quality has soared, the built-in speakers often leave much to be desired, especially during crucial dialogue scenes or immersive action sequences. This persistent issue made me keenly aware of the need for a dedicated audio solution that wouldn’t break the bank but would significantly elevate my home entertainment. A compact and sleek soundbar like the Sonos Ray Soundbar would have been a game-changer back then, as unresolved poor audio really detracts from the viewing pleasure and can make even the most compelling content feel flat.
Key Considerations Before Investing in a Soundbar
The quest for superior audio often leads many to the soundbar category, a perfect solution for combating the thin, tinny sound typical of modern flat-screen TVs. If you’re someone who values clear dialogue, impactful sound effects, and the ability to stream music with decent fidelity, then a soundbar is likely what you need. Ideal customers include those living in smaller spaces, anyone with a secondary TV setup, or individuals looking for a significant audio upgrade without the complexity and clutter of a full surround sound system. It’s also perfect for those already invested in the Sonos ecosystem, seeking to expand their wireless audio network.
However, a soundbar might not be for everyone. If you’re an audiophile craving true cinematic Dolby Atmos immersion and dedicated rear channels, or if you have a very large living room that demands expansive, room-filling sound, an entry-level compact soundbar might feel somewhat limited. For these users, a more advanced Sonos soundbar like the Beam or Arc, or a traditional AV receiver with separate speakers, would be a better fit. Before purchasing, consider your room size, budget, existing TV connectivity (optical vs. HDMI eARC), and whether you plan to expand your system with additional speakers in the future. Evaluate what specific features are most important to you, such as voice control, music streaming capabilities, or advanced surround formats, to ensure the chosen soundbar aligns with your expectations.
Introducing the Sonos Ray: A Closer Look
The Sonos Ray Soundbar is an all-in-one compact and sleek soundbar designed to deliver blockbuster sound for movies, gaming, and Wi-Fi music streaming. It promises richer, more balanced audio than previously thought possible from a small standalone unit, thanks to custom acoustics and proprietary anti-distortion technology. When you purchase it, you get the soundbar itself, a power cable, and an optical cable, ensuring you have everything needed for a quick setup.
This particular Sonos soundbar is specifically for individuals seeking a noticeable audio upgrade for their TV without sacrificing space or budget. It’s ideal for bedrooms, smaller living rooms, or complementing a secondary television where a full-fledged home cinema setup isn’t practical or desired. It’s also a perfect entry point into the Sonos ecosystem for those who want a simple, high-quality audio solution with Wi-Fi streaming capabilities. Conversely, it is not for those who demand the very latest in audio technology like Dolby Atmos, or require HDMI eARC connectivity for a more advanced home theatre setup. For those users, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 or Sonos Arc would be more appropriate, offering a step up in features and performance for a higher price point.
Here’s a quick overview:
Pros:
* Compact Design: Its small footprint makes it highly versatile for various setups.
* Excellent Sound for Size: Delivers surprisingly deep and clear audio for its compact form.
* Dialogue Clarity: Speech Enhancement ensures you catch every word.
* Easy Setup: Simple two-cable connection and guided app setup.
* Sonos Ecosystem Integration: Seamlessly adds to existing Sonos multiroom audio systems.
* Wi-Fi Streaming: Access music, podcasts, and more via the Sonos app or AirPlay 2.
Cons:
* No HDMI Connectivity: Relies solely on optical input, which limits some advanced TV features.
* No Dolby Atmos Support: Only processes Dolby Digital 2.0, not true immersive surround formats.
* No Built-in Voice Assistant: Requires a separate Sonos speaker for voice control.
* Limited True Surround: Provides a wide soundstage, but not distinct rear channel separation on its own.
* Bass can be enhanced: While good for its size, some may eventually desire a dedicated subwoofer.
Deep Dive into Features and Their Advantages
Having spent considerable time with the Sonos Ray, I can confidently break down its core features and the tangible benefits they offer. This soundbar isn’t just about making noise; it’s about making a significant, noticeable improvement to your daily audio interactions.
Custom Acoustics and Anti-Distortion Technology
One of the most impressive aspects of the compact soundbar is its ability to produce audio that belies its size. Sonos has engineered the Ray with custom acoustics and proprietary anti-distortion technology. What this means in practice is that even at higher volumes, the sound remains remarkably clear and balanced, without the harshness or muddy bass often associated with smaller speakers. I’ve found that movies gain a new layer of depth, and music tracks reveal details that were previously lost through TV speakers. This feature is crucial because it directly addresses the core problem of poor TV audio, providing a richer, more engaging listening experience that transforms passive viewing into active immersion. The 120 Watts of speaker maximum output power, combined with these acoustic enhancements, truly makes a difference.
Crystal Clear Dialogue with Speech Enhancement
If you’ve ever strained to hear dialogue over explosive action or a busy soundtrack, you’ll immediately appreciate the Ray’s focus on vocal clarity. Fine-tuned by award-winning Hollywood sound engineers, the Ray ensures you never miss a word. For those moments when clarity is paramount, the Sonos app offers a “Speech Enhancement” feature. Activating this boosts the frequency range of human voices, making dialogue stand out clearly even during intense scenes or at lower volumes. This is a game-changer for news, documentaries, or late-night movie watching, as it solves the common problem of muffled dialogue that can completely ruin a viewing experience. It genuinely makes television far more enjoyable and less frustrating.
Forward-Facing Acoustics and Sleek Design
The design of the Sonos Ray Soundbar is not just aesthetically pleasing; it’s functionally brilliant. All its acoustics face forward. This seemingly small detail is incredibly important as it minimises interference from nearby surfaces, ensuring that the sound reaches your ears directly and clearly. This design choice means you can tuck it into a TV stand or mount it without worrying about muffled or distorted sound bouncing off cabinet walls. Its sleek black finish and compact dimensions (70 x 557 x 93 mm, 1.9 kg) allow it to blend seamlessly into almost any home decor, making it a true tabletop mount solution. This thoughtful engineering means you get optimal sound performance regardless of its placement in your room, contributing to a consistently high-quality audio experience.
Effortless Setup and Control
One of Sonos’s hallmarks is ease of use, and the Ray is no exception. Going from unboxing to unbelievable sound truly takes minutes. You only need two cables: the power cable and the included optical cable to connect to your TV. The Sonos app then guides you through a straightforward setup process. This simplicity is a major benefit, especially for those who are not tech-savvy or simply want to get to the good stuff quickly. What’s more, the Ray is designed to work with your existing infrared-enabled TV remote. The setup process “learns” your remote’s signals, allowing you to control the soundbar’s volume directly from your TV remote – a fantastic convenience that eliminates the need for multiple controllers and keeps your entertainment streamlined.
Immersive Stereo Separation and Advanced Processing
While not a full surround sound system out of the box, the Ray offers a surprisingly immersive experience for a standalone unit. Its advanced processing accurately positions audio elements in the room, creating a wider and more detailed stereo separation than you’d expect. This means that effects, music, and dialogue aren’t just coming from a single point; they feel more spread out, making your content more engaging. For gaming, this enhanced stereo imaging can make a significant difference, helping you to pinpoint actions more effectively. This feature effectively widens the soundstage of your TV, transforming a flat sound into a more dynamic and engaging auditory landscape.
Versatile Wi-Fi Music Streaming
Beyond improving your TV audio, the Sonos Ray is a fully-fledged Wi-Fi music streaming device. Through the intuitive Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2, and other services, you can stream music, podcasts, radio, and audiobooks directly to the soundbar. This transforms your TV area into a powerful music hub, offering access to a vast library of audio content in high quality. The Wi-Fi connectivity ensures a stable connection and higher fidelity compared to Bluetooth, making it perfect for entertaining or simply enjoying your favourite tunes while relaxing. It’s compatible with a wide array of devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and even MP3 players, making it a truly versatile audio output.
Night Sound Feature
For many, watching TV late at night means constantly adjusting the volume to avoid disturbing others. The Ray’s “Night Sound” feature is specifically designed to address this. When activated via the Sonos app, it automatically reduces the intensity of loud effects while keeping dialogue clear. This means you can enjoy your movies and shows at lower overall volumes without missing crucial parts of the story or being startled by sudden explosions. It’s a thoughtful addition that greatly enhances the user experience, allowing for considerate entertainment within shared living spaces.
Expandable Sonos Ecosystem
One of the most compelling reasons to choose a Sonos product is the flexibility of its ecosystem. The Ray isn’t just a standalone soundbar; it’s a building block. You can expand your system over time by mixing and matching other Sonos speakers for wireless surround sound and multiroom listening. For example, you could add a Sonos Sub Mini for deeper bass, or a pair of Sonos One SL speakers as dedicated rear surrounds. This modularity means your initial investment in the Ray can grow with your needs and budget, offering a future-proof audio solution that can evolve into a full home theatre or multi-room music system. This long-term scalability is a significant advantage over many other soundbars on the market.
TV Audio Swap with Sonos Ace Headphones
A newer, exciting feature that further enhances the Sonos ecosystem is the TV Audio Swap capability, particularly with the new Sonos Ace Headphones. This allows you to instantly swap your TV audio from the Sonos Ray to a pair of Sonos Ace Headphones. This is incredibly useful for those moments when you want to enjoy your content privately, without disturbing anyone else in the house. It offers a seamless transition from room-filling sound to a personal listening experience, adding another layer of versatility and convenience to the Ray’s capabilities.
What Users Are Saying: Real-World Experiences
After scouring various online platforms for feedback, it’s clear that the Sonos Ray Soundbar generally garners a very positive reception, especially considering its price point and compact size. Many users highlighted how stunned they were by the depth and volume this little unit produces, far exceeding expectations for a smaller soundbar. One reviewer noted its impressive “heavy punch” from soundtracks and surprisingly low bass extension, even debating if a separate subwoofer was truly necessary for a secondary TV. Its ability to fit perfectly between the legs of a 32-inch LG TV was a specific praise, showcasing its ideal dimensions for smaller setups. Dialogue clarity consistently received high marks, and the seamless integration into an existing Sonos ecosystem was a recurring positive. While some acknowledged the lack of HDMI and Dolby Atmos, they often concluded it wasn’t an issue for their simple setups, particularly when using optical input from a smart TV and controlling volume with their existing remote. A few users mentioned initial setup challenges with remote control learning, but these were typically resolved with online guides.
Final Thoughts: Elevating Your Audio Experience
The persistent issue of poor built-in TV audio continues to plague modern televisions, making dialogue difficult to hear and impactful scenes feel hollow. Ignoring this problem can significantly diminish your enjoyment of movies, shows, and games, turning what should be an immersive experience into a frustrating one. The Sonos Ray Soundbar stands out as an excellent solution, providing a remarkable audio upgrade in a compact, stylish package.
It’s an ideal choice for several reasons: its custom acoustics deliver surprisingly rich and clear sound for its size, dramatically improving dialogue and overall audio fidelity. The effortless setup and integration with your existing TV remote make it incredibly user-friendly. Finally, its compatibility with the Sonos ecosystem means you can expand your audio system over time, future-proofing your investment. If you’re looking to transform your TV’s sound from flat to fantastic without complexity, the Sonos Ray is a superb option. To see how this powerful little soundbar can revolutionise your entertainment, click here to check the product out.