The soundbar saga: sonos ray vs beam – unraveling the optimal audio choice

Sonos, renowned for its exceptional audio products, presents two remarkable soundbars: the Sonos Ray and the Sonos Beam. Both soundbars promise an immersive and cinematic audio experience, but their unique features and capabilities set them apart. This comprehensive comparison delves into the distinctions between the Sonos Ray and Beam soundbars, guiding you towards the perfect audio solution for your home entertainment needs.

Design and Build

The Sonos Ray exudes simplicity and elegance with its compact design. Its sleek, matte black finish blends seamlessly into any décor, while its low profile ensures unobtrusive placement beneath your TV. The Sonos Beam, on the other hand, boasts a more substantial form factor. Its rounded edges and premium fabric grille lend a touch of sophistication to any living space. Both soundbars feature solid construction and premium materials, ensuring durability and longevity.

Audio Performance: Sonos Soundbar Ray vs Beam

Sound Quality: The Sonos Ray delivers impressive sound quality within its compact form. Its two full-range drivers produce clear and balanced audio, enhancing dialogue clarity and elevating the overall listening experience. The Sonos Beam, however, takes audio performance to the next level. Its five-speaker array, including two tweeters and three woofers, creates a wider soundstage with rich bass, detailed mids, and crisp highs.

Spatial Audio: The Sonos Beam supports Dolby Atmos, an immersive audio format that creates a virtual surround sound experience. This technology transports you into the heart of the action, enveloping you in a soundscape that makes you feel like you’re part of the movie or show. The Sonos Ray does not support spatial audio, but its room-filling sound provides a captivating listening experience nonetheless.

Features and Functionality

Voice Control: Both the Sonos Ray and Beam offer hands-free control with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Simply speak your commands to play music, adjust volume, or check the weather. The Sonos Beam also supports Apple AirPlay 2, allowing you to stream audio directly from your Apple devices.

Multi-Room Audio: Sonos’ multi-room audio capabilities enable you to connect multiple Sonos speakers and soundbars throughout your home. This allows you to create a seamless audio experience, playing different music in different rooms or synchronizing the same music throughout your entire house.

HDMI eARC: The Sonos Beam features an HDMI eARC port, providing a single-cable connection to your TV. This advanced connectivity supports lossless audio formats, including Dolby Atmos, and simplifies setup. The Sonos Ray does not have an HDMI port.

Sonos App Integration

The Sonos app serves as the central hub for controlling all of your Sonos devices. Through the app, you can access a vast library of streaming services, adjust audio settings, and manage your multi-room audio system. Both the Sonos Ray and Beam seamlessly integrate with the Sonos app, ensuring a user-friendly and intuitive experience.

Which Sonos Soundbar is Right for You?

Sonos Ray: If you seek a compact and affordable soundbar with solid audio performance, the Sonos Ray is an excellent choice. Its simplicity and ease of use make it ideal for smaller spaces or those seeking a straightforward audio upgrade.

Sonos Beam: For a more immersive and feature-rich soundbar, the Sonos Beam is the superior option. Its Dolby Atmos support, wider soundstage, and additional features such as HDMI eARC and Apple AirPlay 2 make it a versatile and high-performance audio solution for larger rooms or home theater enthusiasts.

The Verdict: Sonos Soundbar Ray vs Beam

Ultimately, the choice between the Sonos Ray and Sonos Beam depends on your individual needs and budget. If you prioritize affordability, simplicity, and compact design, the Sonos Ray is a compelling option. However, if you seek an immersive audio experience with advanced features and support for spatial audio, the Sonos Beam is the clear winner.

Which Sonos Soundbar is Better for Music?

Both the Sonos Ray and Beam deliver excellent sound quality for music playback. However, the Sonos Beam‘s wider soundstage and more powerful bass response make it the better choice for music enthusiasts who demand a richer and more immersive listening experience.

Which Sonos Soundbar is Better for Movies?

The Sonos Beam‘s support for Dolby Atmos gives it a significant advantage over the Sonos Ray when it comes to movies. Dolby Atmos creates a virtual surround sound experience that transports you into the heart of the action, making the Sonos Beam the ideal choice for cinematic immersion.

Which Sonos Soundbar is Better for Gaming?

The Sonos Ray and Beam both offer impressive audio performance for gaming. However, the Sonos Beam’s wider soundstage and more powerful bass response provide a more engaging and immersive gaming experience, allowing you to hear every detail and feel the impact of every explosion.

Common Questions and Answers

Q: Which Sonos soundbar has better sound quality?
A: The Sonos Beam offers superior sound quality compared to the Sonos Ray, with a wider soundstage, more powerful bass, and support for Dolby Atmos.

Q: Can I use either soundbar as a surround sound system?
A: The Sonos Beam can be used as part of a surround sound system when paired with additional Sonos speakers like the Sonos Sub and Sonos One SL. The Sonos Ray does not support surround sound.

Q: Which soundbar is more affordable?
A: The Sonos Ray is more affordable than the Sonos Beam, making it a better choice for those on a budget.

Q: Can I control either soundbar with my voice?
A: Yes, both the Sonos Ray and Beam support voice control with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Q: Which soundbar has more features?
A: The Sonos Beam has more features than the Sonos Ray, including HDMI eARC, Apple AirPlay 2, and support for Dolby Atmos.