May
Sonos announces its smallest and most affordable soundbar yet. The new Sonos Ray will start shipping in June and will cost CHF 319 in Switzerland. The compact soundbar will be available in the classic Sonos colors of black and white.
Who is the new Sonos Ray suitable for?
The Ray is positioned as ideal for first-time soundbar buyers looking to upgrade their TV’s weak built-in speakers. It is capable of outputting Dolby Digital audio – there is no Atmos – and connects to the TV via an optical cable. Those who need a Sonos soundbar with HDMI and eARC will still have to rely on the excellent Sonos Beam and Sonos Arc soundbars. Gamers should note that soundbars that rely on an optical connection can sometimes have a slight audio delay.
How does the Sonos Ray generate the sound?
The Ray has two tweeters that are responsible for the high frequencies. In the middle are two mid-woofers that “provide faithful reproduction of midrange frequencies and solid bass.” Sonos says that because of the front-facing acoustic elements, the Ray is designed to provide good sound quality regardless of where it’s placed – even when housed in a media stand.
What connections does the Sonos Ray have?
Unlike its larger siblings Sonos Beam and Sonos Arc, the Sonos Ray does not have eARC connectivity. On the back, you’ll find an optical input for connecting to your TV (cable included) and an Ethernet port for wired network access.
Besides a hard-wired Ethernet connection, there is of course also a wireless 2.4 GHz connection. You can integrate the Ray into a Sonos multi-room system and stream music with the S2 app, Airplay 2 is also on board.
Is the Sonos Ray compatible with other Sonos speakers?
Interoperability is Sonos’ middle name, so to speak. Therefore, you won’t be surprised to learn that in addition to multi-room streaming, the Ray also offers the flexibility to create a multi-channel surround system that can be expanded over time. For example, Sonos Ray expansion options include two rear-facing One SL speakers and the Sonos Subwoofer.
What other features are in the Sonos Ray?
The Ray does not have built-in microphones and therefore does not offer support for voice control assistants, unlike the Sonos Beam Gen 2. Still, it has most of the features you would expect from a Sonos soundbar, including capacitive playback controls on the top and in-app settings.
The S2 app gives access to adjustable dual-band EQ, a speech enhancement mode to clarify dialogue, and a night mode that compresses the soundbar’s dynamic range for listening at quieter volumes.
Perhaps the most helpful app-supported feature is Trueplay, Sonos’ room calibration software that uses the microphone of a supported iOS device to measure the acoustics of your room and optimize the soundbar’s response accordingly. Trueplay is available across the Sonos ecosystem and is a decidedly high-end feature for a product of this price.
Click here to visit the official Sonos Ray product page.
Order now from König Ascona SA
Order the new Sonos Ray conveniently online in our online store.
-
Sonos Ray Soundbar (black)CHF 319.00 -
Sonos Ray Soundbar (white)CHF 319.00