Written by Lucas
Edited on
23 August 2022
·
12:57
Compare the Sonos Ray to the Sonos Beam Gen2
With the Sonos Ray, Sonos presents their smallest soundbar until now. It looks a lot like the Sonos Beam, but this new model is smaller and it doesn't have an HDMI connector. You can read how else these soundbars differ in this article.
View the Sonos Ray and Sonos Beam Gen2
- Sonos Ray
Thanks to the compact size of the soundbar, you can also place it in smaller rooms.
Add the soundbar to the Sono multi-room system and stream music in the whole house.
Via Trueplay, you can adjust the sound of the soundbar to the acoustics of the room.
The soundbar doesn't have an HDMI connector, only an optical connector.
From
179,-
- Sonos Beam Gen2
Dolby Atmos sends the sound to your listening position via the ceiling.
Via Trueplay, you can adjust the sound of the soundbar to the acoustics of the room.
Add the soundbar to the Sono multi-room system and stream music in the whole house.
The soundbar doesn't have Bluetooth to stream your favorite songs.
From
369,-
Comparison Sonos Ray and Sonos Beam Gen2
| Sonos Ray | Sonos Beam Gen2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Compact | Medium |
| Suitable for | Smaller living room, bedroom | Average to large living room, bedroom |
| Dolby Atmos | No | Yes |
| HDMI connector | No | Yes |
Size
Sonos Ray: compact size
Because the Sonos Ray is compact, it fits underneath almost any television and it's suitable for any tv cabinet.
Sonos Beam Gen2: average size
The Sonos Beam is larger than the Ray and it has an average size. Like the Ray, it fits underneath almost any television, but it stands out more due to its size.
Acoustics
Sonos Ray: most suitable for a small living room
Due to the more compact size, the sound of the soundbar is most suitable for a smaller living room or bedroom. If you place the soundbar in too large a living room, you won't hear the sound in high quality everywhere.
Sonos Beam Gen2: suitable for an average-sized to large living room
The Sonos Beam better distributes the sound in the room, so it's suitable for an average-sized to large living room. If you put it in a smaller room or bedroom, the bass tones can be overwhelming.
Dolby Atmos
Sonos Ray: no Dolby Atmos
The Sonos Ray doesn't have the Dolby Atmost technology. This way, you can't enjoy surround sound, unless you connect it to 2 rear speakers.
Sonos Beam Gen2: Dolby Atmos
With the Sonos Beam, you can enjoy spatial audio, thanks to Dolby Atmos. This technology sends the sound to your listening position via the ceiling. As a result, you'll hear the sound in front of you, next to you, and behind you. This way, it's sounds like a car really drives past you.
HDMI connector
Sonos Ray: no HDMI connector
You can connect the Sonos Ray to your television via an optical cable. This cable is included by default. There's no HDMI connector on the soundbar, so it might not be possible to connect it to your television.
Sonos Beam Gen2: HDMI and optical connector
The Sonos Beam has an HDMI connector and optical connector. An HDMI cable adapter is included by default, so you can connect the bar to any television.
Conclusion
Thanks to its compact size, the Sonos Ray is ideal for smaller rooms and is has a high sound quality. If you have an average-sized to large living room, the Sonos Beam is a better choice. This soundbar distributes the sound better and it has Dolby Atmos.
