Sonos Beam Gen 2
Score: 79/100
Sonos Ray
Score: 71/100Rankings
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a sleek 5-channel soundbar with virtual Dolby Atmos, voice-assistant integration, and full Sonos multi-room support, delivering balanced sound in compact form. It lacks Bluetooth and has modest bass without an optional sub, which may disappoint bass-hungry listeners. Suited for apartments or small living rooms that prioritize ease of use and ecosystem integration.
The Sonos Ray is a compact, standalone soundbar that provides clear dialogue and balanced audio with convenient Sonos app integration and features like Night Sound. However, it lacks HDMI/eARC, Dolby Atmos and has limited bass without an optional Sub, which may disappoint audiophiles. Best suited for small-room TV setups where space is at a premium and simplicity is valued.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
| ↓ lower better | 2.88 kg | 1.95 kgbest |
5best | — | |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest | |
7.6 cmbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 4,415 cm³ | 3,760 cm³best |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 2.88 kg | 1.95 kg |
Dimensions (H×W×D) (cm³) | 4415 cm³ | 3760 cm³ |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the Beam Gen 2 for its balanced five-driver sound, compact virtual Dolby Atmos implementation, and fast voice activation, while noting the lack of true up-firing drivers and Bluetooth.
Everyday users appreciate the easy setup, clear dialogue at low volumes, and the way virtual Atmos fills the room without extra speakers, but they note limited bass and the missing Bluetooth option.
Professional reviewers praise the Sonos Ray for delivering impressive, clear, and powerful audio despite its small size, highlighting its sleek, cabinet-friendly design and useful features like Speech Enhancement, Night Sound, and seamless Sonos app integration. However, they criticize the lack of HDMI/eARC, absence of Dolby Atmos and voice assistants, and the iOS-only Trueplay calibration, noting that the bass can feel thin without an optional Sub and that the unit is heavier than some competing compact soundbars.
Everyday users love how easy the Ray is to set up and integrate into their existing Sonos system, noting the clear dialogue, surprising bass for its size, and the convenience of Night Sound for late-night listening. Recurring complaints focus on the optical-only connection, weaker low-end bass, occasional Wi-Fi instability, and the limitation of Trueplay to iOS devices, with many feeling the soundbar is solid but not a game-changing upgrade without additional Sonos components.
“Easy setup, clear dialogue/music at low volumes, virtual Atmos 'fills the room' without wires, blends into decor.”
“clearer, more powerful audio than ever before possible by a small standalone soundbar”
“surprisingly clear and powerful... especially in mid and high frequencies”
Opt for Beam Gen 2 if you want advanced features like Atmos and HDMI eARC and are willing to pay more; otherwise the Ray is the space-saving entry point.
