Sonos RAYG1US1BLK
Score: 66/100
Marshall Acton III Midnight Blue
Score: 77/100Rankings
The midnight-blue Acton III offers the same 60 W RMS performance as its black counterpart, wrapped in a stylish, eco-friendly cabinet with tactile analog controls. It excels in Bluetooth convenience and sound quality for modest spaces, but lacks advanced codecs, Wi-Fi, and any form of portability.
The Sonos Ray is a compact 2.0 soundbar that delivers clear dialogue and balanced music, integrating smoothly with the Sonos ecosystem via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and AirPlay 2. Its small footprint and easy setup suit small rooms, but the lack of HDMI, Dolby Atmos, and deep bass limit home-theater capabilities.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
— | 60 wattsbest | |
— | 45 Hzbest | |
— | 20,000 Hzbest | |
2best | 2best | |
| ↓ lower better | 1.95 kgbest | 2.85 kg |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Physical Specs(1) | ||
Weight (kg) | 1.95 kg | 2.85 kg |
Audio Performance(1) | ||
Supported Audio Formats | Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS Digital Surround | SBC |
Design & Build(1) | ||
Finish | Matte | Midnight Blue |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the Ray for its compact footprint, clear and balanced sound, and effortless integration into the Sonos ecosystem, noting it as a solid upgrade over built-in TV speakers. However, they criticize the absence of HDMI, Dolby Atmos, and deep bass.
Everyday users appreciate the Ray's noticeable improvement over TV speakers, easy app-based setup, and sleek look, especially when paired with existing Sonos gear. Common complaints focus on the missing HDMI connection, weak bass that often requires a separate Sub, and the lack of built-in voice assistants or Bluetooth for direct phone playback.
“Much better than my TV speakers”
“Easy setup with the Sonos app”
“Clear dialogue - I don't have to turn up the volume anymore”
Professional reviewers praise the Acton III for its premium build, iconic brass knobs, and warm, detailed sound signature that stays true to Marshall's rock heritage. They also commend the Placement Compensation and Dynamic Loudness features delivered through the Marshall app, but criticize the lack of advanced Bluetooth codecs and consider the price high for the feature set.
Everyday users love the speaker's ability to fill modest spaces with rich audio, its eye-catching vintage look, and the tactile satisfaction of the analog knobs. Common complaints revolve around the missing AAC codec on iOS, occasional app instability, overpowering bass at high volumes, and the absence of a battery for portable use.
