Updated 18 Oct 2026
Is the Sonos Ray worth it?
Yes — the best cheap upgrade for TV dialogue.
It's a big step up from built-in TV speakers, with crisp, forward voices and a speech mode for quiet dramas. It's small enough for a TV stand or a desk and plays music well over AirPlay. It connects by optical cable, not HDMI, so there's no Atmos and you may need to turn the TV speakers off yourself. It learns IR TV remotes, but Bluetooth TV remotes need a workaround.
91%of 209 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Much clearer TV dialogue
- Small enough for any TV stand
- Good with music over AirPlay
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What owners say
Owners love the big sound from a small, neat bar. The most common complaints are a fiddly setup and TV remotes that can't control its volume.
Good to know
- 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.
From 209 buyer ratings at Currys and Otto (Germany), every complaint read by us, October 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Great sound for its sizeMentioned a lot
- Compact, neat designAlso mentioned
- Easy to set upAlso mentioned
- Good valueAlso mentioned
What they complain about
- Hard to set up or connect to Wi-FiRare
- TV remote won't control the volumeRare
- Sound thinner or quieter than expectedVery rare
Get it if…
- Your TV's voices are hard to hear.
- You want a small, cheap bar for a bedroom or small lounge.
- You use an iPhone: AirPlay and Trueplay tuning work with it.
Skip it if…
- You want film-style bass or Atmos: get the Beam or a bar with a sub.
- Your TV remote is Bluetooth only and you don't want a workaround.
How we reached this verdict
What Hi-Fi gives it four stars and lists it as the best budget soundbar for dialogue, praising its vocal clarity while noting little low end. Trusted Reviews gives 4.5/5 and Expert Reviews recommends it. RTINGS finds voices clear but rates it poorly for films because it has no Atmos and downmixes surround to stereo.
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: What Hi-Fi, RTINGS, Trusted Reviews, Expert Reviews, RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, What Hi-Fi, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 18 Oct 2026How we decide