Sonos Beam (Gen 2) vs Sonos Ray
Get the Sonos Beam. Unless clearer TV voices are all you need — then the Ray does that for less than half the price.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
A compact bar with clear voices and a wide sound, sized for TVs up to 55 inches. Its Atmos height is virtual.
Sonos Ray
A small, cheap bar that makes TV voices far clearer. No HDMI, no Atmos and not much deep bass.
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The Beam connects by HDMI, plays Atmos and has a wider, bigger sound. The Ray also makes voices far clearer for much less, but it's optical only, with no Atmos and little bass.
- —You watch films and want Atmos.
- —You want your TV remote to work it over HDMI.
- —You want Alexa or Google Assistant built in.
- —Hard-to-hear TV voices are the main problem.
- —It's for a bedroom or small lounge.
- —You want to spend as little as possible.
Key differences
Pros and cons
- +Small, with a surprisingly big sound
- +Very clear dialogue
- +Alexa and Google Assistant built in
- −Atmos height is virtual, so effects stay mostly in front.
- −Light on the deepest bass without a Sonos sub.
- −One HDMI port, no Bluetooth, and no remote in the box.
- −Some owners report distorted surround sound over HDMI, or sound dropping out with some TVs.
- +Much clearer TV dialogue
- +Small enough for any TV stand
- +Good with music over AirPlay
- −Optical only, so no HDMI control and no Atmos.
- −Bluetooth or RF TV remotes won't control it directly.
- −Little deep bass on its own.
- −No Bluetooth and no voice assistant.
Ready to choose?
- Is the Sonos Beam worth it?
- Is the Sonos Ray worth it?
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How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, What Hi-Fi, manufacturer specifications.