Sonos
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Dolby Atmos · HDMI eARC · Compact
86
/ 100
From $499
VS
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) wins by 6
Sonos
Sonos Ray
$279
80
/ 100
From $279
Specdex verdict
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) lands at 86 and Sonos Ray at 80. That puts Sonos Beam (Gen 2) ahead by 6 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if…
- ✓Atmos in a compact bar
- ✓Trueplay room correction
- ✓Expandable with Sub + rears
Pick Sonos Ray if…
- ✓Dolby Atmos on most
- ✓One-box simplicity
- ✓eARC passthrough
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 86
vs 80 Sonos Ray
Score breakdown
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
86 sound 86
features 88
design 92
ease 90
Sonos Ray
80 sound 80
features 78
design 84
ease 86
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | Sonos Ray |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | 5.0 (virtual Atmos) | — |
| Connectivity | eARC HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0 | — |
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Pros
- +Atmos in a compact bar
- +Trueplay room correction
- +Expandable with Sub + rears
Cons
- −No upward drivers (virtual Atmos)
- −No DTS
- −App glitches
Sonos Ray
Pros
- +Dolby Atmos on most
- +One-box simplicity
- +eARC passthrough
Cons
- −Rear surrounds sold separately on some
- −App quality varies
- −Cabinet depth needs space
FAQ: Sonos Beam (Gen 2) vs Sonos Ray
Which is better, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Sonos Ray? +
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) scores 86 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 6. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sonos Beam (Gen 2) worth the price? +
At $499, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in design.
Is Sonos Ray worth the price? +
At $279, Sonos Ray delivers a Specdex score of 80 — strongest in ease.
Does Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Sonos Ray last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.