Sonos Ray
Exact average 80.1 · 8 printed, 7 estimated · printed scores only: 78
Image: Sonos15 professional reviewers tested the Sonos Ray, and 12 recommend it. Most praised: sound quality and ease of use. Most common complaint: controls and app.
Reviewed by CNET, TechRadar, MusicTech and 12 more
The catch: No HDMI and no Dolby Atmos.
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What 15 critics said
Highest score first · all converted to 0–100- 83CNET
A compact, affordable soundbar that sounds tight and wide, especially with music, and holds its own against the pricier Beam.
Read CNET review - 80TechRadar
Strongly recommends the Ray as a big upgrade over TV speakers with full, clear sound and good music handling.
Read TechRadar review - 80MusicTech
A good, inexpensive entry to Sonos with pristine dialogue, though bass can crowd music and it relies on optical and iOS-only Trueplay.
Read MusicTech review - 80Tech Advisor
Finds the Ray an impressive affordable soundbar with crisp, clear sound and compact design.
Read Tech Advisor review - 80SlashGear
An affordable, easy-to-set-up soundbar that clearly beats TV speakers and enjoys Sonos ecosystem benefits.
Read SlashGear review - 80T3
Likes the Ray's coherent sound and Sonos compatibility, especially for existing Sonos owners.
Read T3 review - 70Homes and Gardens
A good pick for small rooms and tight budgets that clearly improves on TV speakers, though it lacks depth, bass and surround effects compared with pricier bars.
Read Homes and Gardens review - 70How-To Geek
A great-sounding starter soundbar with good speech clarity and music, but the missing HDMI, limited remote support and no mic narrow its appeal.
Read How-To Geek review - 89est.The Guardian
Very positive: a compact soundbar that sounds far better than most rivals under 300 pounds, great for TV and especially music.
Read The Guardian review - 89est.Trusted Reviews
A small, simple soundbar that clearly improves poor TV audio with surprising bass and multiroom support.
Read Trusted Reviews review - 85est.Popular Science
Named the best overall budget soundbar after hands-on testing, with clear dialogue and no distortion on loud effects despite its slim body.
Read Popular Science review - 83est.Digital Trends
Recommends the Ray for small rooms with impressive bass, clear highs and easy expansion into a surround system.
Read Digital Trends review - 83est.Engadget
Recommends the Ray as an easy, clear-sounding TV upgrade and good first Sonos.
Read Engadget review - 83est.Good Housekeeping UK
Named the best compact soundbar in a sub-500 pound roundup.
Read Good Housekeeping UK review - 66est.CNN Underscored
The tester found the Ray loud enough but harsh and thin at higher volumes with little bass, and its optical-only input and missing remote limit it.
Read CNN Underscored review
"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates
How it compares
Direct comparisons by professional outlets, exact models only, in our words. Shown as evidence; they never change the critic score.
vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)85
- What Hi-Fi? picks the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). Still choose this one if: speech clarity matters most and you want the cheapest Sonos bar that fits inside a cabinet.
- TechRadar picks the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). Still choose this one if: you are on a tight budget or want a simple upgrade over TV speakers in a small space.
- Tom's Guide: it depends. Choose this one if: you want an entry-level, affordable bar for a small space or to upgrade an older TV.
What critics praise most
What critics dislike most
Other soundbars critics rate highly
Common questions
Is the Sonos Ray worth it?
Most critics think so: 12 of 15 recommend it. No HDMI and no Dolby Atmos.
Do critics agree about the Sonos Ray?
Broad agreement: scores range from 66 (CNN Underscored) to 89 (The Guardian), a spread of 23 points across 15 reviews. Most reviewers land fairly close together.
What do critics dislike about the Sonos Ray?
Controls and app (3 of 15 reviews), Price (3 of 15 reviews), Call quality (2 of 15 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the Sonos Ray?
The Samsung HW-Q990F (critic score 89), top pick, narrowly.