**Quick Verdict:** I’ve spent decades working with speakers, and this Sonos Ray compact soundbar has its pros and cons. While it’s not a game-changer, it gets the job done for casual listening. With a few caveats.
**The Technical Specs:**
As you’d expect from any decent soundbar, the Ray comes in at 12.3 inches wide, 3.4 inches deep, and weighs about 3 pounds. It’s got six Class-D amplifiers powering its drivers, which is more than enough for a compact setup like this one. The connectivity options are also pretty standard – you’ve got your HDMI-ARC, optical input, and even an Ethernet port.
But here’s the thing: despite the impressive specs, I found myself wishing it had some sort of built-in subwoofer or at least a separate bass driver to give it some real oomph.
**First Impressions:** I was tasked with testing this soundbar in a client’s living room. The setup process was easy enough – just plug it into the TV, turn on the Sonos app (which is still a bit of a pain to navigate), and you’re good to go. However, when I first started listening to some music through it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
**What Works:**
– This soundbar delivers impressive dialogue clarity, which is perfect for watching TV or streaming your favorite shows.
– The soundstage is decent – not great, but good enough for casual listening.
– It’s easy to set up and use (once you get past that annoying app).
– Sonos has done a solid job with their beamforming technology; voices come out clear even when there are other sounds going on in the background.
**What Doesn’t:**
– Like I mentioned earlier, this soundbar really needs some sort of built-in subwoofer or separate bass driver to give it that oomph.
– The lack of a real HDMI port (just an ARC port) is annoying. What if you’ve got an older TV that doesn’t support eARC?
– It feels like Sonos took some shortcuts on the design – I’m not a fan of the cheap-looking plastic and I wish they’d done more with the color options.
**Who is this for?**
Honestly, I think this soundbar is best suited for small living rooms or apartments where you’ve got limited space. If you’re looking for something to upgrade your TV’s built-in speakers without breaking the bank (around $300), then the Sonos Ray might be worth considering.
But if you’ve got a larger room or you want something that can really pump up the volume, I’d look elsewhere.
**The Verdict:** 7.3/10
I’m not entirely convinced by this soundbar, but it gets the job done. With some tweaks to its design and connectivity options (not to mention adding in some real bass response), it could be a real contender in this space.
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