Sonos Ray

Sparkling vocal clarity abounds, but there's an uncharacteristic flaw here

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Soundbar ₹37,999 

Sonos has always had an aspirational cachet. Its elegantly crafted but expensive speakers are developed to be used en masse, integrating to provide you with an expansive, seamless audio accompaniment in every part of your home as well as immersive cinema sound in your living room. So, the question is, can this - the company's first budget soundbar - still deliver something approaching this experience?

It's unusual to find wi-fi connectivity in an entry-level soundbar, and while many soundbars costing similar money to the Ray have HDMI ports and even Dolby Atmos support, streaming is typically strictly limited to Bluetooth, which, incidentally, the Ray lacks.

There's no Dolby Atmos decoding here either, but the Ray can handle Stereo PCM as well as Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Digital Surround, and there's still the flexibility to create a standard multichannel surround system that can be added to over time.

One way Sonos envisions this happening is via the Symfonisk IKEA range, which features the Symfonisk bookshelf speaker and Symfonisk lamp. While the IKEA range doesn't yet include a subwoofer, there are unconfirmed rumours that Sonos will release a new sub that is both size and price compatible with the Ray.

Pastures new

The smart-looking Ray marks something of a departure for Sonos. It still maintains the company's core identity of interoperability, allowing it to form part of a wireless multi-room system using Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and/or the Sonos S2 app, but it is clearly aimed at those new to the brand. Its ultra-compact dimensions (7cm high, 56cm wide), tapered build and forward-facing speakers mean it takes up little space and removes any need for a clear line of sight for upward- and side-firing drivers, making it a practical choice for small rooms or shared spaces.

Under the skin