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Sonos Ray — $279
Sonos

Sonos Ray

$279

80
/ 100
From $279
VS
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) wins by 6
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — Dolby Atmos · HDMI eARC · Compact
Sonos

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Dolby Atmos · HDMI eARC · Compact

86
/ 100
From $499
Specdex verdict

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Sonos Ray lands at 80 and Sonos Beam (Gen 2) at 86. That puts Sonos Beam (Gen 2) ahead by 6 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Sonos Ray if…

  • ✓Dolby Atmos on most
  • ✓One-box simplicity
  • ✓eARC passthrough

Pick Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if…

  • ✓Atmos in a compact bar
  • ✓Trueplay room correction
  • ✓Expandable with Sub + rears
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Design

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Compared on the design sub-score

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) leads on design (92 vs 84).

Ease of use

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Compared on the ease of use sub-score

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) leads on ease (90 vs 86).

Sound

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Compared on the sound sub-score

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) leads on sound (86 vs 80).

Value for money

Sonos Ray

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Sonos Ray more score per dollar ($279 vs $499).

Sonos Ray 80
vs
86 Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Score breakdown

Sonos Ray
80
sound 80
features 78
design 84
ease 86
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
86
sound 86
features 88
design 92
ease 90

Specs side-by-side

Sonos Ray versus Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — full spec comparison
Spec Sonos Ray Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Channels
—
5.0 (virtual Atmos)
Connectivity
—
eARC HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0

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

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

FAQ: Sonos Ray vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Which is better, Sonos Ray or Sonos Beam (Gen 2)? +

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) scores 86 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 6. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Sonos Ray worth the price? +

At $279, Sonos Ray delivers a Specdex score of 80 — strongest in ease.

Is Sonos Beam (Gen 2) worth the price? +

At $499, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in design.

Does Sonos Ray or Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 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.

Which is better for design, Sonos Ray or Sonos Beam (Gen 2)? +

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — leads on design (92 vs 84). Compared on the design sub-score.

Which is better for ease of use, Sonos Ray or Sonos Beam (Gen 2)? +

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — leads on ease (90 vs 86). Compared on the ease of use sub-score.