Surprisingly flexible soundbar bundle: what the Sonos Ray offers entry-level buyers

With the compact Ray soundbar, Sonos targets first-time buyers who want better TV audio without a subwoofer budget. We look at what the all-in-one bar can (and cannot) do, how it fits into the wider Sonos ecosystem, and why it remains central to the brand’s entry lineup.

Edited by ad hoc news Flagship & Bestseller Desk. Reviewed before publication on 06/15/2026 at 1:46 PM ET. Details in the imprint.

With the compact Sonos Ray soundbar, the California-based multiroom specialist aims directly at entry-level buyers who want a clear upgrade over built-in TV speakers without the price or footprint of a full surround system. Sonos positions the Ray as its most affordable home theater bar, below the Beam and Arc, while still integrating it fully into the company’s wireless ecosystem and app control. The product has been on sale in the US for some time and remains a key on-ramp into the Sonos world, especially as retailers frequently discount it below its original list price. The official product page lists the Ray as a compact soundbar with Wi-Fi streaming, optical input, and simple TV-focused design.

What the Sonos Ray actually offers in daily use

The Sonos Ray is a small, all-in-one soundbar designed primarily for TVs that rely on basic speakers, including older models that lack HDMI ARC. It connects via optical digital audio rather than HDMI, which keeps setup simple but means it does not support HDMI CEC volume control; instead, users program their TV or universal remote through the Sonos app so volume commands are passed to the Ray by infrared. Under the hood, Sonos uses four Class-D digital amplifiers to drive two tweeters and two mid-woofers, with a bass-reflex system that vents out the front so the bar can be placed in a TV stand shelf without blocking low frequencies. The bar decodes stereo PCM and Dolby Digital 5.1 signals, then uses digital signal processing to virtualize a wider soundstage from its compact enclosure.

As part of the broader Sonos ecosystem, the Ray doubles as a music speaker over Wi-Fi, integrating common services via the Sonos app and supporting Apple AirPlay 2 from iOS devices. It does not include always-listening microphones or built-in voice assistants, which distinguishes it from the Beam and Arc; buyers who want voice control can pair the Ray with a separate Sonos device that has microphones or with a smart speaker from another brand. The company also emphasizes features like Night Sound, which compresses dynamics to reduce loud effects during late-night viewing, and Speech Enhancement, which raises vocal frequencies for clearer dialog. These modes are toggled per-room in the app, allowing different profiles for, say, a bedroom TV and a living room setup.

Physically, the Ray measures roughly 22 inches wide and weighs just under 4 pounds, making it one of the most compact Sonos soundbars. Its shallow depth and front-facing acoustic design allow placement inside narrow TV furniture compartments where larger bars would not fit. The company offers the Ray in matte black or white finishes to match most televisions and interiors. Touch controls on the top of the bar handle play/pause and volume adjustment, while status LEDs indicate connection and mute states, with a brightness setting in the app for dark rooms. Buyers can wall-mount the Ray using an optional bracket, but the bar is mainly intended to sit directly below smaller screens in bedrooms, apartments, or offices where space is constrained.

For users looking to expand beyond a single bar, the Ray can be grouped with other Sonos speakers for multiroom playback or turned into a more complete home theater system by adding a Sonos subwoofer and a pair of rear speakers. However, Sonos itself emphasizes that the Ray is best suited as a straightforward TV upgrade, not a replacement for its more powerful Beam or Arc soundbars in larger living rooms. Testing and user feedback consistently highlight a noticeable jump in clarity and perceived fullness versus TV speakers, but also note that those who often watch movies at high volume or want stronger low-end for action films may want to budget for a separate subwoofer or a higher-tier bar. In the US, the Ray remains widely available through the Sonos online store and major electronics retailers, often bundled in promotional sets with smaller Sonos speakers.

In the broader Sonos lineup, the Ray underpins the brand’s strategy of using a relatively accessible, compact soundbar as a first purchase that can later be expanded into a multiroom system. Sonos has publicly highlighted that home theater products, including soundbars like the Ray, make up a meaningful portion of revenue and act as a gateway to selling additional speakers, subwoofers, and portable devices. Independent product reviewers have described the Ray as a strong value for small rooms where HDMI ARC and advanced formats are less critical than simple setup and improved dialog clarity. One detailed review from the technology press notes that the Ray trades HDMI features and Atmos support for lower cost and smaller size, but still benefits from the same software platform and multiroom capabilities as higher-end Sonos bars. The Verge’s review of the Sonos Ray emphasizes its compact design, easy setup, and solid sound for smaller spaces, while pointing out the absence of HDMI ARC and Dolby Atmos.

Sonos, headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, remains best known for its wireless multiroom speakers and home theater products, with the Ray occupying the entry-level soundbar slot beneath the Beam and Arc in the current lineup. The company has indicated in its financial communications that the home theater category is strategically important both for attracting new customers and for encouraging multi-product households within the Sonos ecosystem. For investors following the brand behind the Ray, Sonos is listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker SONO, with the ISIN US83570H1086; shares of Sonos traded on NASDAQ at around $15.36 on 06/12/2026, according to recent market data. MarketBeat’s Sonos overview shows the latest NASDAQ quote and basic company metrics.

Sonos Ray soundbar in brief: the key facts

• Product: Sonos Ray
• Manufacturer: Sonos Inc.
• Category: Flagship/Bestseller entry-level soundbar
• Launch date: 05/11/2022 (initial announcement and availability)
• MSRP / Price: around $279 in the US at launch; current street prices often lower
• Availability: Widely available via the Sonos online store and major US electronics retailers
• Target audience: First-time soundbar buyers and Sonos newcomers with smaller TVs and rooms
• Key differentiator / USP: Compact optical-only soundbar that integrates fully with the Sonos multiroom ecosystem at the brand’s lowest soundbar price point

This article was a.i.-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without warranty; prices and availability may change at short notice. Not investment advice and not a buy or sell recommendation. Trading involves risk up to and including the total loss of invested capital.