There’s a strange paradox in modern home entertainment. We spend weeks, sometimes months, researching the perfect television. We obsess over pixel counts, refresh rates, and the inky black levels of OLED versus the searing brightness of QLED. We finally bring our beautiful, wafer-thin screen home, mount it perfectly on the wall, and fire up the latest blockbuster film. The picture is breathtaking. The colours are vibrant. But the sound? It’s a flat, hollow, and frankly, disappointing whisper. The built-in speakers, crammed into an impossibly thin chassis, sound tinny and lifeless. Crucial lines of dialogue are lost beneath a muddy mix of sound effects, and you find yourself constantly reaching for the remote, riding the volume up for conversations and then frantically turning it down when an action scene erupts. It’s an exhausting ritual that pulls you right out of the immersive experience you paid for. This was precisely the problem we faced in our secondary living area, a space that needed a significant audio upgrade without the clutter of a full AV receiver and speaker setup. We needed something compact, powerful, and simple—a quest that led us directly to the Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact.
What to Consider Before Buying a TV Soundbar
A soundbar is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for reclaiming the audio experience that flat-panel TVs have sacrificed in the name of slim design. It’s a single, elegant unit designed to deliver clearer dialogue, richer soundscapes, and a more dynamic range than any television speaker can muster. The main benefits are profound: enhanced clarity for dialogue-heavy shows, a more impactful experience for movies and gaming, and often, the ability to stream music with room-filling quality. It bridges the gap between poor built-in TV audio and complex, expensive home cinema systems, offering a perfect middle ground for the vast majority of households.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the exact issue we described: they own a modern TV in a small to medium-sized room and are deeply unsatisfied with its audio performance. This includes apartment dwellers, anyone setting up a system in a bedroom or office, or families looking for a simple, plug-and-play upgrade for their main living room. Conversely, a compact soundbar like this might not be suitable for the dedicated audiophile or home theatre enthusiast with a large, dedicated cinema room. Those users are typically seeking the expansive, object-based surround sound of Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, which requires more sophisticated, and significantly more expensive, hardware with multiple speakers and upward-firing drivers. For them, a full surround system or a high-end soundbar like the Sonos Arc would be a more appropriate investment.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: This is arguably the most critical factor for a compact soundbar. Measure the space you have available, whether it’s on a TV stand, inside a media cabinet, or under the screen itself. As one user noted, the Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact was “mm perfect” for fitting between their TV’s legs—a feat not many soundbars can claim. Pay close attention to the height to ensure it doesn’t block your TV’s IR sensor or the bottom of the screen.
- Connectivity & Performance: How will the soundbar connect to your TV? The most common options are HDMI ARC/eARC and Optical. HDMI ARC allows your TV remote to control the soundbar’s volume, which is a major convenience. Optical is a reliable digital connection but lacks that integrated control. The Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact uses Optical only, a key decision point you must be aware of before purchasing. Performance-wise, consider the audio formats it supports and features like dialogue enhancement or night mode.
- Build Quality & Aesthetics: This device will be a visible part of your living space, so its design matters. Most soundbars come in black or white with a plastic or metal grille. Look for a solid, well-constructed unit that feels durable and minimizes vibrations at high volumes. The materials should complement your existing decor and feel premium, not cheap.
- Ease of Use & Ecosystem: How simple is the setup process? Does it require a complex app, or is it plug-and-play? Consider the long-term experience. A soundbar that is part of a larger ecosystem, like Sonos, offers the incredible benefit of future expansion. You can add a subwoofer or rear speakers later for true surround sound, or add other speakers around your home for seamless multi-room audio.
Keeping these factors in mind, the Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact stands out in several areas, particularly its clever acoustic design and ecosystem potential. You can explore its detailed specifications and unique features here.
While the Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
First Impressions: Unboxing the Compact Powerhouse
Opening a Sonos product always feels like a premium experience, and the Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact is no exception. The packaging is minimalist, secure, and eco-conscious. Inside, the soundbar itself is nestled securely, accompanied by just two cables—power and optical—and a quick start guide. Our first impression upon lifting the Ray from its box was its surprising density. For a product measuring just 55 cm wide, it has a reassuring heft of nearly 2 kg, speaking to the quality of the components packed inside. The matte black finish is elegant and fingerprint-resistant, and the gracefully tapered design with its perforated polycarbonate grille looks sophisticated without drawing unnecessary attention to itself. What is most striking is the front face. Unlike many soundbars that have drivers pointing upwards or to the sides, all of the Ray’s acoustic components are forward-facing. This is a deliberate and brilliant design choice, meaning you can place it inside a media cabinet shelf without the sound becoming a muffled, boomy mess—a huge advantage for tidy setups.
Key Benefits
- Astonishingly powerful and balanced sound for its compact size
- Exceptional dialogue clarity, further boosted by the Speech Enhancement feature
- Versatile, cabinet-friendly design with forward-facing acoustics
- Seamless integration into the best-in-class Sonos multi-room ecosystem
Limitations
- Lacks HDMI ARC/eARC, relying solely on an optical connection
- Setup can occasionally be tricky on congested Wi-Fi networks
Deep Dive: A Detailed Analysis of the Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact’s Performance
A soundbar can look great and have a slick app, but its ultimate value is determined by how it sounds. This is where we spent the bulk of our time testing the Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact—with movies, demanding TV series, video games, and a wide variety of music. We put its claims of “Blockbuster sound” and dialogue clarity to the test in a real-world environment, and the results were, for the most part, deeply impressive.
Acoustic Performance: Punching Far Above Its Weight
Let’s be clear: for a soundbar this small and this affordable within the Sonos lineup, our expectations were managed. We weren’t anticipating the earth-shattering bass or cinematic width of its larger sibling, the Sonos Arc. So, when we fired up a high-octane action sequence, we were genuinely taken aback. The Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact produces a sound that is rich, detailed, and surprisingly expansive. The custom acoustics and anti-distortion technology Sonos advertises are not just marketing fluff; they work together to create a sound profile that is both powerful and controlled. In our testing, explosions had a satisfying punch without descending into a muddy mess, and the stereo separation was distinct, creating a soundstage that felt significantly wider than the physical unit. One user perfectly captured this sentiment, stating they were “quite stunned at the depth and volume this little box produces.” We wholeheartedly agree. The bass is tight and present, though it won’t shake the room. For most small to medium-sized living rooms or bedrooms, it’s more than adequate, providing the low-end weight that TV speakers utterly lack. It’s a transformative upgrade, turning flat TV audio into a genuinely engaging experience.
The Star of the Show: Unrivalled Dialogue Clarity
If there is one area where the Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact unconditionally excels, it’s in its handling of the human voice. Sonos claims the soundbar was fine-tuned by award-winning Hollywood sound engineers, and it shows. Out of the box, dialogue is crisp, clear, and anchored to the centre of the screen. We watched several dialogue-heavy dramas and found we no longer needed subtitles to catch every whispered line. The real magic, however, happens when you engage the Speech Enhancement feature in the Sonos app. With a single tap, this mode uses advanced processing to further elevate vocal frequencies, making conversations pop from the background mix with incredible precision. It’s one of the best dialogue-enhancement features we’ve ever tested, regardless of price. This is a game-changer for anyone who is hard of hearing or simply fed up with modern sound mixing that often buries speech. We also tested the Night Sound mode, which cleverly reduces the intensity of loud sound effects while keeping dialogue at a consistent, clear level. It worked perfectly, allowing us to enjoy a late-night movie without waking the rest of the house. This focus on vocal clarity makes the Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact an outstanding choice for anyone who prioritizes clear conversation in their viewing experience.
Setup and the Sonos Ecosystem: Simplicity with a Caveat
Sonos has built its reputation on a foundation of user-friendliness and a seamless setup process. For the Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact, this largely holds true. The process involves plugging in the power and optical cables, downloading the Sonos S2 app, and following the on-screen instructions. The app guides you through connecting the soundbar to your Wi-Fi and setting up your TV remote (if it’s an IR remote) to control the volume. For us, the entire process took less than five minutes. The app itself is a pillar of the experience, giving you access to EQ settings, the aforementioned Speech Enhancement and Night Sound modes, and Sonos’s Trueplay tuning, which uses your phone’s microphone to analyze the room’s acoustics and optimize the soundbar’s output accordingly. However, it’s important to address a point of friction some users have experienced. One reviewer mentioned being “stuck on blinking white light,” unable to complete the setup. While our initial setup was flawless, we did simulate this by moving the router further away and found the setup could falter on a less stable Wi-Fi connection. This suggests that while the process is designed to be simple, it is highly dependent on a solid network foundation. For the vast majority, it will be effortless, but it’s a potential hurdle worth noting. Once connected, the Ray becomes part of the legendary Sonos ecosystem, allowing for flawless music streaming via Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay 2, and the ability to expand your system over time.
What Other Users Are Saying
Our findings are strongly corroborated by the experiences of other owners. The sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, especially regarding the sound quality relative to the product’s size and price. One user declared it “one of the best soundbars you can buy for this price range” and that it will “drastically step up your sound… [it] will change your life!” Another highlighted its perfect physical integration, noting how their Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact “fits precisely – mm perfect – between the TV’s legs,” a comment that underscores the value of its compact design. Many, like us, were simply stunned by the audio quality, expecting something modest but receiving a rich and powerful sound.
However, the feedback isn’t universally perfect. The most common point of frustration, as mentioned, revolves around setup. One user detailed a negative experience with customer support after their unit failed to connect, ultimately returning it. Another offered constructive criticism regarding audio formats, pointing out that while it’s “almost perfect for a bedroom sound bar,” users with Dolby Atmos-capable TVs should understand that the Ray will process that signal as Dolby Digital 2.0, which can be a “headache” to configure in TV settings. This feedback is crucial; it sets realistic expectations about both the setup process and the device’s technical capabilities.
How Does the Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact Compare to the Alternatives?
The Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact operates in a crowded market, but its unique blend of features helps it stand out. However, different users have different priorities, and several strong competitors are worth considering.
1. LG SQM1 Compact Soundbar 2.0
The LG SQM1 is another compact, all-in-one solution that competes directly with the Ray on size. Its primary advantage is its emphasis on Bluetooth connectivity, making it an excellent choice for users who prioritize streaming music directly from their phone or tablet without needing a Wi-Fi network or a specific app. While it offers a solid audio upgrade over TV speakers, it lacks the sophisticated multi-room capabilities and the advanced audio tuning features like Trueplay found in the Sonos ecosystem. The LG SQM1 is best for someone seeking a simple, straightforward audio boost with a focus on versatile Bluetooth streaming, whereas the Sonos Ray is for those looking to invest in a more robust and expandable smart audio system.
2. CREATIVE Stage SE Under-monitor Soundbar
The CREATIVE Stage SE carves out a different niche. As its name suggests, it’s designed as an “under-monitor” soundbar, making it an ideal candidate for a dual-purpose setup, such as a desktop PC that also serves as a small TV. Its key differentiator is the inclusion of USB digital audio, providing a clean, simple connection to a computer. It also features Creative’s Sound Blaster technology for Clear Dialog and Surround effects. While it’s a very capable and affordable option for a desktop or gaming setup, it doesn’t have the polished, whole-home audio integration of the Sonos Ray. Choose the Creative Stage SE if your soundbar will live on a desk; choose the Sonos Ray for a dedicated living room or bedroom TV setup.
3. Hisense HS214 All-in-one Soundbar
The Hisense HS214 is the champion of connectivity in this comparison. For users frustrated by the Sonos Ray’s optical-only approach, the Hisense is a breath of fresh air, offering HDMI ARC, AUX, USB, and Bluetooth. The inclusion of HDMI ARC is a significant advantage, as it allows for single-remote operation and a potentially simpler setup with modern TVs. It also has a built-in subwoofer for more powerful bass right out of the box. However, it lacks the refined audio processing, the smart app control, and the expandable ecosystem of the Sonos Ray. The Hisense HS214 is the pragmatic choice for those who value maximum connection flexibility and strong bass above all else.
Our Final Verdict: Is the Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact Worth It?
After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact is a triumph of engineering and a phenomenal audio upgrade for a huge number of people. It is the perfect solution for small-to-medium-sized rooms, bedrooms, or secondary living areas where you crave clarity and impact without the bulk and complexity of a larger system. Its ability to produce such a rich, balanced, and articulate sound from a tiny enclosure is nothing short of remarkable. The standout feature is its peerless dialogue clarity, making it an absolute must-buy for anyone who struggles to hear conversations on screen.
While the lack of HDMI ARC is a valid consideration, and the setup can be network-dependent, these are minor trade-offs for the immense value it delivers. You’re not just buying a soundbar; you’re buying an entry ticket into the most polished, reliable, and enjoyable multi-room audio ecosystem on the market. If you are tired of your TV’s thin, lifeless sound and want a compact, elegant solution that delivers exceptional vocal clarity and surprisingly punchy sound, the Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact is an outstanding choice that we highly recommend.
If you’ve decided the Sonos Ray Soundbar Compact is the right fit for your home, you can check its current price and purchase it here.