I’m interested to see whether Sonos will release a soundbar at a reasonable price point.
Because I’m a huge audiophile, I’ve been looking for a soundbar to go with my LG C1 OLED TV, but the finest soundbars tend to be rather expensive.
With its Dolby Atmos capabilities and small size, the second-generation Sonos Beam caught my interest. I don’t have the space for a complete surround sound system since I live in a tiny flat. In comparison to other Sonos smart speakers, such as the amazing Sonos One, which sells for around $200, this one isn’t exactly inexpensive at $449.
However, the Sonos Ray may be the solution to my TV audio troubles. The Verge recently got a tip indicating that Sonos is working on a more cheap soundbar. Sonos Ray leaked marketing photographs have been shared online by a tech tipster known as SnoopyTech, who claims to have seen the leaked images.
And, yes, I must confess, I am eager. It’s strange for me to be excited over a plain black soundbar, since I’m more used to talking about foldable phones or the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. My curiosity in the Sonos Ray, on the other hand, was piqued by this.
In the first place, the Sonos Ray seems to be a manageable size, which is perfect for my present entertainment set-up, where I’ve managed to squeeze in an Xbox Series X and a big PlayStation 5. With an optical audio output on your computer, the Ray seems like it might be used as a gaming PC speaker.
It’s also aesthetically pleasing, which is a plus. The Ray takes design influences from the Beam and the bigger and more costly Sonos Arc, and it has the appearance of a speaker that will fit into an entertainment setup yet be reasonably easy on the eye when one sees it.
My expectations for the Ray’s sound quality are high, given Sonos has a reputation for producing superb sound from small speakers.
If the Sonos Ray can handle Dolby Atmos signals, it checks all of my boxes, since some of the finest Xbox Series X games and the top PlayStation 5 games are compatible with Dolby Atmos. Only a pair of Rays seem to be required for Atmos sound, although a single Ray may play Dolby Digital.
This brings me to my fourth point: The Sonos Ray is expected to be more cheap than its bigger brothers at a reported price of $249. As a result, you have the option of purchasing one, saving some money, and then purchasing a second to experience true surround sound.
It is thought that the Sonos Ray will be unveiled in the next few weeks, and that it will go on sale in June at the latest. Assuming everything goes well, this may be the soundbar I’ve been looking for.