Sonos Ray soundbar overview

All of Sonos’ soundbar releases were successfully-got. The firm has managed to mix high sound quality with superior dapper facets to bid a huge stylish dwelling audio journey. Add within the incontrovertible truth that those soundbars combine with the remainder of Sonos’ dapper dwelling products, and you possess a success for your arms. However those soundbars possess also all been now not less than midrange, costing $449 for what used to be the entry-stage Sonos Beam.

However now there’s a new entry-stage in town, and it’s the first in Sonos’ soundbar range to be basically a budget offering. At $279, the Sonos Ray is being positioned because the soundbar for those that desire an upgrade from their TV’s built-in audio, with out having to shell out for it.

However, obviously, to hit the decrease tag point Sonos has to lop some corners. Some of those are clearly to enact with sound quality and sound-connected facets. Unlike Sonos’ assorted soundbars, the Ray doesn’t make stronger Dolby Atmos. In fact, it doesn’t even possess an HDMI port, which strategy that it’s good to join it thru its optical connection.

However assuming you may perhaps well more than likely more than likely tolerate those compromises and could per chance well stand to build some cash, the Sonos Ray is a severe competitor. Right here’s why.

Sonos Ray manufacture

Purchase one search for at the Sonos Ray, and you’ll look it as a Sonos product. It’s built from the identical unlit or white plastic and steel as Sonos assorted soundbars and audio system, and appears to be like moral at dwelling alongside the firm’s assorted products. As mentioned, the soundbar is on hand in unlit, or white. We’re reviewing the unlit model, which I catch — however the white model appears to be like correct too.

It also appears to be like distinctly assorted from Sonos’ assorted soundbars. The most evident component that sets it apart is its width — the Sonos Arc is a hefty 45 inches, while the Beam is a grand smaller, at 26 inches. The Ray is even smaller than that, sitting in at 22 inches. It’s now not upright runt by Sonos requirements — it’s runt by soundbar requirements in fundamental. However many will admire the smaller profile that pulls less attention to itself.

The potential the soundbar is built is a slight bit assorted too. The Arc and Beam each and each possess a grille that now not supreme covers the entrance, however the facets too — which helps allow those products make stronger Dolby Atmos with up-firing and/or aspect-firing audio system. The Ray doesn’t possess that identical make stronger — and this potential that, doesn’t desire a grille on the aspect or the pause. As a replacement, the grille is supreme positioned at the entrance. I in actuality catch it from a appears to be like perspective, even though obviously, I’m willing to trade having a grille on the pause and facets for better audio make stronger. You will also now not be within the identical camp.

On the abet of the Sonos Ray can even be chanced on the ports that it connects with. You’ll catch a vitality input and an ethernet port for better network connectivity, esteem the others. However while the others even possess a HDMI port to join to your TV’s HDMI ARC port, the Ray sticks with a decrease-tech optical port. That’s the extent of the port decision on the Ray.

Assuredly, I quite esteem the general search for of the soundbar — however I wasn’t stunned to esteem it, as I’ve most stylish the manufacture of all of Sonos’ products to date.

Sonos Ray setup

Establishing the Sonos Ray is as easy as constructing any assorted Sonos system. You’ll originate by plugging it in and connecting it to your TV thru an optical cable. Then, you’ll download the Sonos app at the same time as you don’t already possess it, and log in to your account at the same time as you possess one. Salvage the soundbar with the app, and register it to your account.

There aren’t too many varied facets you may perhaps well more than likely more than likely self-discipline up with the Ray, however there could be the flexibility to self-discipline up the system with AirPlay 2, at the same time as you’re in Apple’s ecosystem.

Preserve watch over woes

One feature that you just may perhaps well more than likely more than likely’t self-discipline up is the flexibility to use it with HDMI CEC. That’s the present dilapidated by many devices to permit for one a ways away to manipulate a total dwelling theater, and it doesn’t work right here for the explanation that soundbar doesn’t work thru an HDMI port. This is a bigger boom than you may perhaps well more than likely more than likely mediate. You will also self-discipline the soundbar as a lot as transfer looking out commands out of your TV’s infrared a ways away, however make stronger for this will likely be a slight bit hit or omit. Shall we boom, I was unable to catch my TCL 6-Sequence a ways away to work with the feature, however, it did work with my Apple TV a ways away, which is the a ways away I use with my dwelling theater anyway.

When you occur to can’t catch it to work, you may perhaps well more than likely more than likely be a slight bit out of success with out buying for a Third-celebration a ways away. Sonos doesn’t ship the Ray with a miles away of its possess, so at the same time as you may perhaps well more than likely more than likely’t catch it to settle for commands out of your TV a ways away, you’ll deserve to manipulate the Ray with the Sonos app, use the controls on the soundbar itself, or employ one more a ways away that could work with the Ray. That’s rather annoying. And, if your TV works thru Bluetooth, you’re out of success too, because the Ray is built to settle for commands thru infrared. When you occur to possess a universal a ways away, you might want to per chance have the flexibility to catch it to work.

All of this would per chance perhaps well were shunned if Sonos had upright dilapidated an HDMI port in snort of an optical port within the Ray. The Ray calm would possess differentiated itself from the Beam thru issues esteem a lack of roar assistant and Dolby Atmos. The Ray in actuality suffers from having to depend upon an optical connection.

Sonos Ray dapper facets

The Sonos Ray helps some dapper facets, esteem quite lots of Sonos’ assorted products. However it’s also lacking quite lots of