So, you’re looking at the Sonos Ray white compact soundbar and wondering if it’s actually worth the money or if you’re just paying for the brand name. It’s a fair question. Honestly, the market is flooded with cheap soundbars that promise "theatrical sound" for eighty bucks, and here comes Sonos with a tiny, white plastic box that costs significantly more. It doesn’t even have an HDMI port.
Wait. No HDMI?
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Yeah, that usually trips people up immediately. But there’s a specific reason Sonos built it this way, and it isn't just to be difficult. The Sonos Ray white compact soundbar was designed to solve a very specific problem: the "cramped apartment" syndrome. If you’ve got your TV tucked into a bookshelf or sitting on a narrow media console where a massive Arc or even a Beam Gen 2 won't fit, the Ray is basically your only high-end option. Most soundbars have side-firing or up-firing drivers that get muffled the second you put them inside a cabinet. The Ray keeps everything front-facing. It’s a deliberate engineering choice.
Why the Sonos Ray white compact soundbar looks different (and why it matters)
Look at the design. The white finish isn't just about matching your IKEA aesthetic, though it does that perfectly. It’s a matte, high-quality polycarbonate that doesn't scream "tech gadget." It feels more like a piece of furniture. Because it’s only about 22 inches wide, it sits comfortably between the legs of a 32-inch or 43-inch TV without looking like a giant surfboard.
Inside that chassis, Sonos packed two high-efficiency mid-woofers and two tweeters. They use split waveguides to push the sound out to the sides, creating a wider soundstage than the physical dimensions suggest. It’s clever stuff. You aren't getting Dolby Atmos here—let’s be real, you can’t get true Atmos from a box this size without some serious physics-defying trickery—but you are getting crystal clear dialogue. That’s the real selling point. If you’re constantly riding the volume button during movies because the music is too loud and the talking is too quiet, this speaker is a godsend.
The Optical Port Controversy
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the Optical connection. Most modern soundbars use HDMI ARC or eARC. Sonos skipped that on the Ray to keep costs down and to ensure compatibility with older TVs. Is it a dealbreaker? For most, no. Optical still carries 5.1 surround sound. The downside is that you can't use your TV's HDMI-CEC to control the volume automatically.
Instead, the Ray has an infrared (IR) receiver. You basically "teach" the soundbar to recognize your TV remote’s signals. It works, but if you have a fancy Bluetooth-only remote (like some Apple TV or Samsung ones), you might have to jump through a few hoops in the Sonos app to get it synced up. It's a bit of a "workaround" vibe, but once it’s set up, you forget it’s even there.
Sound performance: Small box, big personality
Don't expect the floor to shake. You’re not getting the subterranean bass of a dedicated subwoofer. However, for a Sonos Ray white compact soundbar, the low-end punch is surprisingly tight. It doesn't get "farty" or distorted when you crank it up. Sonos uses something called "Trueplay" tuning, which is basically their secret sauce. You take your phone, walk around the room like a crazy person waving it up and down, and the speaker uses the microphone to map the acoustics of your walls.
It actually works.
If your room is echoey or has weird angles, Trueplay cleans up the muddiness. It’s worth noting that Trueplay still requires an iOS device. Android users are still left out in the cold on this one, which is a perennial complaint in the Sonos community. If you're on Android, borrow a friend's iPhone for ten minutes to do the initial tuning. It’s a "one and done" thing that significantly improves the performance.
Comparisons that actually make sense
People often compare this to the Sonos Beam. The Beam is better. There, I said it. It has more bass, HDMI eARC, and a wider soundstage. But the Beam is also more expensive and longer. If you have the space and the extra cash, buy the Beam. But if you’re trying to upgrade the speakers on a bedroom TV or a gaming monitor setup, the Beam is overkill. The Ray is the "sweet spot" for secondary rooms.
Then there’s the Bose TV Speaker. That one is a direct competitor. The Bose is a bit simpler—it has Bluetooth, which the Ray weirdly lacks—but the Ray wins on the ecosystem. That’s the real reason you buy Sonos. You aren't just buying a soundbar; you're buying a node in a whole-house audio system. You can start with the Ray in the bedroom and later add two One SLs as rear surrounds to create a genuine 4.1 system.
The Software Experience is the Real Star
Most people forget that Sonos is as much a software company as a hardware company. The Sonos app (despite the controversial 2024 redesign that had everyone annoyed) is still the gold standard for grouping speakers. You can be watching the news in the living room and have the audio piped into the kitchen Ray so you don't miss anything while making coffee.
- Speech Enhancement: This is a toggle in the app. It boosts the frequencies of the human voice. It’s a literal lifesaver for Christopher Nolan movies.
- Night Sound: This compresses the dynamic range. It kills the loud explosions while keeping the quiet parts audible. Perfect if you live in an apartment with thin walls.
- Streaming: Since the Ray is on Wi-Fi, you aren't tethered to your phone's Bluetooth range. Your music doesn't stop because you walked into the garage or received a phone call.
Honestly, the lack of Bluetooth is a bummer for guests who just want to play a song quickly. You have to use AirPlay 2 (for Apple users) or the Sonos app (for Spotify/Tidal/Apple Music). It’s a bit more formal than just pairing via Bluetooth, but the audio quality over Wi-Fi is significantly higher because it isn't compressed the same way.
Is the white finish a mistake?
White tech can be scary. You worry about yellowing or fingerprints. But the Sonos Ray white compact soundbar uses a pretty resilient finish. Unlike some cheaper plastics, it doesn't seem to attract dust like a magnet. If you have a white media console or a light-colored wall, it "disappears" much better than a black bar. It looks less like a "speaker" and more like a design element.
Things nobody tells you about the setup
Setting this up is generally easy, but there are some "gotchas." First, make sure your TV's digital audio output is set to "Auto" or "Bitstream" rather than "PCM" if you want the best surround simulation. Second, if your TV is mounted high, the Ray needs to be angled slightly. Since it doesn't have a screen, it uses a single LED light to talk to you. Learning the "blink codes" (orange vs. green vs. white) is helpful, though the app usually just tells you what’s wrong.
One major plus? The Ray has an Ethernet port. If your Wi-Fi is spotty—which is common in older buildings with thick walls—you can hardwire it. This makes the connection rock solid. Most budget soundbars skip the Ethernet port entirely, so it’s a nice "pro" touch on an entry-level device.
Real-world use cases
- The PC Gamer: The Ray is the perfect length to sit under a 27 or 32-inch monitor. Because it's front-firing, it doesn't bounce sound off your keyboard. It's a massive upgrade over built-in monitor speakers.
- The Small Bedroom: If you're watching TV in bed, you don't need a sub that rattles the headboard. You just want to hear the dialogue clearly without waking up the rest of the house.
- The Vinyl Lover: If you have a Sonos Port or a Five with a line-in, you can stream your vinyl records to the Ray. It’s a cool way to get your records playing in multiple rooms.
The Verdict on Value
Is it the best-sounding speaker for the price? If we are talking purely about raw power and bass, probably not. You can find a Vizio or Samsung system with a clunky wireless subwoofer for less. But those systems feel like "disposable tech." They don't get software updates, their apps are clunky, and they don't integrate with anything else.
The Sonos Ray is for the person who wants something that "just works" and will still be receiving firmware updates five years from now. It’s for the person who cares about the physical footprint and doesn't want a giant black log sitting in their living room.
Actionable Steps for Potential Buyers
If you’ve decided the Ray is the move, here is how to get the most out of it.
First, check your TV's back panel. Make sure you actually have an Optical (Toslink) port. Most TVs made in the last 15 years do, but some ultra-modern "thin" sets might require an adapter.
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Second, plan your placement. The Ray is designed to be tucked away. If you're putting it inside a cabinet shelf, ensure there's at least a half-inch of clearance on the top for heat dissipation, though it runs quite cool.
Finally, do not skip the Trueplay tuning. I cannot stress this enough. Out of the box, the Ray can sound a bit "boxy" or mid-heavy. Trueplay opens up the sound and makes it feel like it’s coming from a much larger source. If you’re an Android user, invite your friend with an iPhone over for a coffee and use those five minutes to tune the room. Your ears will thank you.
The Ray isn't trying to be a home cinema powerhouse. It's a specialized tool for specific spaces. Once you understand that, it’s easily one of the best upgrades you can make for a secondary TV or a minimalist desk setup. It’s compact, it’s white, it’s Sonos—and for many, that’s exactly the right combination.