Sonos Ray vs Sonos Arc Ultra
Get the Sonos Arc Ultra. Unless clearer TV voices are all you need, or the TV is small — then the Ray does that for a fraction of the price.
Sonos Ray
A small, cheap bar that makes TV voices far clearer. No HDMI, no Atmos and not much deep bass.
Sonos Arc Ultra
The best single soundbar: crisp dialogue, surprising bass and convincing Atmos from one box. No HDMI inputs and no DTS:X.
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The Arc Ultra gives film sound from one bar: deep bass, Atmos that rises above the screen and an HDMI connection. The Ray makes TV voices far clearer for a fraction of the price, but it's optical only, with no Atmos and little bass.
- —Hard-to-hear TV voices are the main problem.
- —It's for a bedroom, small lounge or desk.
- —You want to spend as little as possible.
- —You watch films and want Atmos.
- —You want deep bass without a sub.
- —Your TV is 50 inches or bigger.
Key differences
Pros and cons
- +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.
- +Very clear dialogue
- +Deep bass with no separate sub
- +Wide, high Atmos from one bar
- −One HDMI eARC port and no HDMI inputs, so consoles must plug into the TV.
- −No DTS:X, only basic DTS.
- −No remote in the box, and no Google Assistant.
- −The Sonos app has had bugs since its 2024 redesign.
Ready to choose?
- Is the Sonos Ray worth it?
- Is the Arc Ultra 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.