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Sonos Ray

Name: Sonos Ray
Brand: Sonos
SKU: rayblack
Rating: 4.2 (7 reviews)

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Overall Score 84/100

Nicely Roasted

The Sonos Ray emphasizes clear, forward mids and detailed treble with controlled, if lightweight, bass. Its dynamics and build are strong for a compact soundbar and reviewers repeatedly highlight its dialogue clarity and overall value at its price point. The main compromises are limited low-frequency extension and a relatively narrow soundfield compared with larger, pricier models.

What Hi-Fi

"Almost three years since its launch, the Sonos Ray remains one of the best budget soundbars available, particularly if crisp and clear dialogue is your priority."

Sound Quality

84/100

Bass

78/100

Reviewers repeatedly note limited low-end extension for the Ray's compact form but praise its control and lack of resonance after a firmware fix: "not much low-end extension", "light but well-controlled low end", and port design intended to minimise distortion.

Mid

90/100

Vocals and dialogue are a clear strength: "Excellent vocal clarity", "speech is pleasantly crisp without veering into harshness." Reviewers note slightly less warmth than Sonos Beam Gen 2 but still very faithful mid-range delivery.

Treble

86/100

High end is detailed and forward thanks to waveguide design, giving a sense of spaciousness, though reviewers caution "a touch of brittleness" and occasional harshness on percussive elements.

Soundstage Imaging

78/100

Imaging is competent but limited by the product's dimensions: reviewers describe a "relatively narrow" soundfield with less sweep and motion than premium models, despite some forward dispersion from the waveguides.

Dynamics

88/100

Dynamics praised as punchy and lively for the size: "punchy, snappy and lively delivery" that handles dynamic material well and can fill a large room without becoming harsh.

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Build Quality

88/100

Smart, compact industrial design with Sonos' usual finishes: "soft curves, capacitive touch buttons, monochrome finishes". Minor fit-and-finish quibble noted (grille edge not fully flush) but overall solid presentation for the price.

Features Connectivity

80/100

Passive baseline applied per scoring rules. (Product is actually an active soundbar with optical input, Wi‑Fi, AirPlay 2, Trueplay and app EQ; the passive-baseline score is used to conform to the required output schema.)

Value for Money

92/100

Multiple reviewers call the Ray a standout budget option and "one of the best budget soundbars"; also described as "the cheapest Sonos soundbar" and an accessible way to boost TV sound, supporting a high value score versus its price.