The small soundbar for TV, music and games

Sonos Ray is a compact soundbar with two tweeters, two mid-woofers and four class D amplifiers, an optical input, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and AirPlay 2, operated with the TV remote.

Ray is a small-format soundbar, less than 56 centimetres wide. It connects with the optical cable alone, so it works with any TV that has an optical output, and also with a computer for gaming. All the drivers face forwards: this is why it can be placed inside the TV cabinet without the shelves interfering with its output.

Key features

• Two tweeters and two high-efficiency mid-woofers
• Four class D digital amplifiers
• Low-distortion bass reflex system
• Optical input, cable included
• Wi-Fi on 2.4 GHz, 10/100 Ethernet port and Apple AirPlay 2
• Infrared receiver for the TV remote
• Speech enhancement and Night Sound
• Trueplay with iOS devices

Acoustic architecture

The two tweeters work with separate waveguides, which spread the sound towards the side walls, while digital processing places voices and effects in space. The two mid-woofers reproduce the midrange and the bass, helped by a reflex port designed to let air out at low velocity and so keep distortion down. Four class D amplifiers are tuned to this architecture.

Connecting to the TV

Ray receives audio through the supplied optical cable and recognises infrared remotes, so the volume is adjusted with the TV remote. The accepted formats are stereo PCM, Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround. Setup is done in the Sonos app: once power and the optical cable are connected, the rest is guided.

Dialogue and night listening

Speech enhancement is switched on in the app and makes voices clearer when the music swells or characters whisper, while Night Sound lowers the loudest effects so as not to disturb the rest of the home. Bass and treble are adjustable.

Music and network

With the TV off, Ray plays music, radio, podcasts and audiobooks over Wi-Fi, from the Sonos app, with AirPlay 2 or with Spotify Connect. It connects to 2.4 GHz networks or by cable through its Ethernet port. It has no built-in voice control: another compatible device is needed to use it. Trueplay adapts the equalisation to the room with an iOS device.

Expansion

With a pair of Sonos rear speakers, connected wirelessly, Ray becomes the front of a surround system; a subwoofer can be added as well. The TV audio can be handed over to Sonos Ace headphones for private listening. The touch controls on the cabinet handle playback, volume and tracks.

Included accessories

Ray comes with a 2 metre power cable and a 1.5 metre optical audio cable. The wall mount is sold separately.