TechAudioSpeakers3 things I wish I’d known before ordering a Sonos RayIs the Sonos Ray the best soundbar for you? Here are key features you’ll want to know about – both good and badWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechAudioSpeakers3 things I wish I’d known before ordering a Sonos RayIs the Sonos Ray the best soundbar for you? Here are key features you’ll want to know about – both good and badWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Is the Sonos Ray the best soundbar for you? Here are key features you’ll want to know about – both good and bad
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Sonos)
(Image credit: Sonos)
Sonosmakes some of thebest soundbarsgoing, offering incredible sound quality, attractive designs, and AirPlay for easy iPhone connections. But the company’s soundbars, most notably theSonos ArcandSonos Beam, are expensive – especially if you’ve already splurged on one of thebest TVs.
No more though: Sonosannouncedthe Sonos Ray in early May, neatly fitting into the low-end of its soundbar range, while still offering most features that you’ll truly need. The benefits of a soundbar are huge to enhance your TV’s audio: and with Ray you don’t have to worry about setting up a complex speaker system with an amp. There’s also AirPlay and Bluetooth, offering wireless music playback, including, of course, Sonos' multi-room system.
The Sonos Ray will set you back £279/$279, which is far below the £449/$399 Beam and £899/$799 Arc. Basically, Sonos has answered our prayers and made a high-quality soundbar that doesn’t break the bank. However, the Ray isn’t without its drawbacks. Ahead of it going on sale from 7 June, we ordered one of these small-scale soundbars – but there’s a lot to consider before you do.
1. There’s no HDMI
(Image credit: Sonos)
(Image credit: Sonos)
The Sonos Beam was notable for its inclusion of HDMI eARC, which essentially means that sound can be passed to the soundbar via HDMI. Unfortunately, the Ray does not include this feature, meaning that you’ll be needing to use the optical connector instead.
It’s not necessarily a dealbreaker for everyone, though, especially as the Ray is so much cheaper than the Beam and Arc. However, it does feel like a drawback that Sonos will use to sell the more expensive models in its line-up.
Perhaps the saving grace is that the Ray connects to Wi-Fi speakers easily, making this an option for using as a speaker, without a TV connected. That’s the thing with Sonos: its products all talk to one another and that makes for great versatility.
2. There are no side/top speakers
(Image credit: Sonos)
(Image credit: Sonos)
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3. But you can add more speakers
(Image credit: Sonos)
(Image credit: Sonos)
Just because the Sonos Ray is a single box solution doesn’t mean you can’t add additional speakers. Anyone who really cares about getting excellent, room-filling sound will have looked at getting thebest subwooferaround – they make a big difference, especially when watching movies – and you could, in theory, add aSonos Subto really beef things up. That said, with rumour of aSub Miniincoming, that’ll likely be the perfect pairing – all while annoying your downstairs neighbour.
But that’s not all: you can also pair up to two Sonos One speakers to act as side/rear surround speakers. Which, if you already have a couple knocking around the house, would be a really fun way to upgrade your surround sound audio for that special movie night. After all, not everyone can have multiple speakers setup all of the time for sake of space.
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Today’s best Sonos Ray deals82 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆$279$205View$279View$279ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Sonos Ray deals
82 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
82 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
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$279$205View
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