Yamaha R-S202BL
Score: 71/100
Sonos Ray
Score: 66/100Rankings
The Yamaha R-S202BL is a 2-channel stereo receiver offering 100 W per channel, a high 100 dB S/N ratio and Bluetooth 4.1 streaming, aimed at entry-level audiophiles and secondary-room setups. It lacks digital inputs, a phono stage and advanced smart-home features.
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 | | |
|---|---|---|
100 wattsbest | — | |
100 dBbest | — | |
20 Hzbest | — | |
20,000 Hzbest | — | |
2best | 2best | |
| ↓ lower better | 6.7 kg | 1.95 kgbest |
| ↓ lower better | 0.5 wattsbest | — |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Physical Specs(1) | ||
Weight (kg) | 6.7 kg | 1.95 kg |
Audio Performance(1) | ||
Supported Audio Formats | MP3, WMA, MPEG-4 AAC, WAV | Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS Digital Surround |
Design & Build(1) | ||
Finish | Black | Matte |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the R-S202BL for its low distortion, clean circuitry and impressive power output, calling it a refreshingly honest amplifier that prioritises audio fidelity.
Everyday users appreciate the strong volume, easy Bluetooth pairing, straightforward setup and solid build quality, while complaints focus on the lack of phono input, digital inputs and a basic remote.
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.
“the perfect fit”
“Plenty of volume”
“Bluetooth pairs instantly and maintains stable connection”
