Along with a wide variety of speakers, Sonos also offers a slate of home theater soundbars.
But two other optionsthe second-generation Sonos Beam and Sonos Rayoffer a great way to upgrade your entertainment.
Well compare both of the soundbars and help you decide which of the models is best for you.
All of the acoustic elements face forward to minimize interference from other surfaces.
Weighing in at 4.29 pounds, the soundbar is a svelte 2.79 inches high and 3.74 inches deep.
Its 22 inches wide, also making it a perfect companion for smaller TVs without a huge entertainment center.
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Like all Sonos soundbars, it can also be wall mounted with optional equipment.
LED lights on top of the Ray indicate whether the product is connected and muted.
The Ray features dual tweeters and two midwoofers.
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Each of the four amplifiers in the soundbar has been fine-tuned to the architecture of the gadget.
Youll connect the Ray to your TVs optical port and with the included cable.
An optical port is found on the vast majority of any modern TV.
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Its 2.72 inches high, 3.94 inches deep, and 25.63 inches wide.
The soundbar weighs 6.2 pounds.
Along with one center tweeter, there are four elliptical midwoofers.
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Unlike the Ray, the Beam also sports three passive radiators to enhance the low frequencies.
The Beam also has the same touch controls and LEDs like on the Ray.
An included HDMI cable allows you to connect the Beam to your TV’s ARC or eARC port.
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If your TV just has an optical output you’re free to use the included Sonos adapter.
An ARC or eARC port is needed to enjoy Dolby Atmos audio.
If youve not heard of Atmos, the surround sound technology is designed to make sound a three-dimensional object.
One of the best ways to experience Dolby Atmos sound is in movies and TV shows.
Youll need a compatible TV and streaming equipmentlike an Apple TV.
But when it all comes together, Atmos provides a movie theater-like sound experience.
Another way to experience Dolby Atmos content is with compatible music from Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited HD.
Just like movies and TV, Dolby Atmos provides an all-encompassing way to enjoy music.
The Beam also does a great job with non-Atmos sound formats.
In many cases, an upward-firing speaker provides a better Atmos experience.
But since the Beam is designed for smaller rooms, that shouldnt be a dealbreaker.
Because of the Rays role as a starter Sonos soundbar, its not compatible with Dolby Atmos content.
But it does offer two nice features found also found on the Beam.
Speech Enhancement helps provide clearer dialogue.
Night Sound reduces the intensity of loud effects when you dont want to disturb others at home.
That allows them to be used as part of a larger Sonos home theater or whole-home audio system.
The Wi-Fi and Sonos app also help provide a quick and easy setup experience.
The Ray and Beam also offer AirPlay 2 compatibility.
That allows you to quickly and easily stream audio from your Apple gear including an iPhone.
Spotify Connect compatibility also allows quick streaming from that popular service.
A big plus for Beam users is that the soundbar also offers built-in microphones.
With those, you could turn the soundbar into a voice-controllable smart speaker.
Its also compatible with themusic-oriented Sonos Voice Controlthat features the voice of well-known actor Giancarlo Esposito.
Both are available in a black or white exterior.
