Sonos Ray

Soundbars / Full-Featured Soundbars

A full featured sound bar with 2.0 non-surround channels, WiFi audio streaming capability.

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CR Expert Take

How did it perform in our expert lab testing?

Overall Score

The Overall Score for this model is derived from our expert lab test results.

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Current Range of Tested Soundbars

What goes into the Overall Score?

Sound quality

/ 5

Ease of use (TV)

/ 5

Ease of use (Features)

/ 5

Versatility

/ 5

Type (bar or base)

/ 5

Surround sound system

/ 5

WIFI audio streaming content

/ 5

Built-in digital assistant / voice control

/ 5

Detailed Test Results

Sound quality:

Sonos's Ray has very good overall sound quality - although it has some noticeable sonic quirks, this model reproduces music and dialog very well. The bass has good impact but is a bit boomy, and the deepest bass is lacking. The midrange is fairly even, somewhat grainy, a bit hazy, and a touch echoey. Treble is extended, but is somewhat sizzly. Midrange does a decent job recovering the room ambience of recordings, however it sounds somewhat congested and misses finer detail and complexity. The two channel sound field extends somewhat above and beyond the speaker enclosure, but doesn't have much of a sense of depth.

There was no significant difference in sound quality between the optical, and WiFi inputs.

The system can provide satisfying volume in a medium sized room.

Sound Modes (Stereo)

The various sound modes have a noticeable effect on the tonal balance and/or volume.

Multichannel

With 5.1 program material the sound field may extend well past the sides and above the soundbar, but still lacks depth.

Sound Modes (Multichannel)

The night mode had a noticeable effect at lower volumes, but the voice enhancement had minimal, if any, effect.

TV ease of use: Excellent overall.

Features ease of use: Excellent overall.

About

A full-featured soundbar system with 2.0 non-surround channels which are expandable to 5.1 surround channels. The Ray features internet audio content access over WiFi. It can also be controlled by a digital voice assistant when used with an optional smart speaker.

Features & Specs

Features

No. of channels

2 non-surround expandable to 5.1 surround

Number of speakers, as supplied

Active subwoofer

Wireless subwoofer

Optional

Wireless surround speakers

Optional

WiFi audio streaming platform

Sonos, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect

WiFi streaming audio services

Amazon Music, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Tidal, any Airplay2 compatible streaming service, plus others

WiFi video streaming platform

Optional multi-room sharing

Yes

Has On Screen Display (OSD) Feature

Audio USB host mode

Dolby Atmos

DTS:X

Simulated surround sound

Optional

Virtual surround sound

Dialog enhancement

Yes

Has "Night" Mode and/or Dynamic Range Compression

Yes

Tone adjustments

Treble, Bass

Built-in digital assistant mic mute indicator

Works with the following digital assistant(s)

Amazon Alexa (with Amazon Alexa app on mobile device and/or optional Amazon smart speaker), Google Assistant (with Google Home app on mobile device and/or optional Google smart speaker), Apple Siri (with optional Apple mobile device or optional Apple smart speaker), Sonos Voice Control (with optional voice enabled Sonos speaker)

Programmable to respond to TV remote controls

Yes

Can respond to remote controls from TVs with HDMI ARC CEC

Universal remote

Available app remote control(s)

Sonos S2

App operating system(s)

Apple, Android

Maximum pass-through HDMI video resolution

HDR video HDMI pass-through

Dolby Vision video HDMI pass-through

Auto speaker calibration

Yes

Speaker set-up test tone function

Updatable software/firmware

Yes

Sound bar/base is wall-mountable

Yes

Included surround speakers are wall-mountable

Included accessories

Optical digital audio connecting cable.

Warranty (mos.): parts/labor

12/12

Other features

Can be combined with additional optional Sonos speakers to operate as multi-room Wi-Fi speaker system and as a 2.1 channel non-surround, or 4.0 or 4.1 channel surround sound system in the same room. Can also be combined with optional Amazon Alexa or Apple AirPlay2 compatible speaker systems to be used as part of a multi-room Wi-Fi music system.

Specs

Height (in.)

Width (in.)

Depth (in.)

Subwoofer dimensions (HxWxD)

Side surround speaker dimensions (HxWxD)

Rear surround speaker dimensions (HxWxD)

Connections

HDMI in (quantity)

Digital audio optical (input)

Yes

Stereo Analog Audio In (RCA jack)

Stereo Analog Audio In (3.5mm jack)

Active subwoofer pre-amp out

Bluetooth (input)

Bluetooth (output)

Wireless connection via Bluetooth to many Bluetooth capable TVs

Wireless connection via Bluetooth to some Bluetooth capable TVs of the same brand

USB port

WiFi connection

Yes

LAN connection

Yes

Wireless connection via WiFi to some WiFi capable TVs of the same brand

Other connections

None

HDMI Out

None

Price & Shop

Sonos Ray

CR Expert Take

Overall Score

What goes into the Overall Score?

Detailed Test Results

About

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