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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesChoose the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if your TV has HDMI eARC/ARC and you want Dolby Atmos support, Speech Enhancement, or Night Sound. Choose the Sonos Ray if its shorter body fits your setup better, your TV’s optical output is the practical connection, and stereo meets your needs. Start by checking your TV ports and measuring the space under or beside it.
At a glance: Sonos Ray vs. Beam (Gen 2)
| What to compare | Sonos Ray | Sonos Beam (Gen 2) |
|---|---|---|
| TV connection | Optical | HDMI eARC/ARC; an included Sonos optical adapter can connect it to an optical-only TV |
| Sonos audio description | Stereo | Stereo with Dolby Atmos support |
| Dimensions | 21.93 × 3.66 × 2.76 inches | 25.63 × 3.94 × 2.68 inches |
| Weight | 4.19 lb | 6.35 lb |
| Sonos-recommended TV size | Up to 55 inches | Up to 65 inches |
| Documented controls | Adjustable EQ and Trueplay | Adjustable EQ, Trueplay, Speech Enhancement, and Night Sound |
These are Sonos specifications and recommendations from its product comparison and Beam (Gen 2) fact sheet. Sonos’s TV-size ranges are guidance, not compatibility limits or a measure of how well a soundbar will suit a room.
Check your TV’s audio connection first
If your TV has HDMI eARC or ARC
The Beam (Gen 2) connects to an HDMI eARC/ARC port using its included cable. This is the straightforward choice if you want the Beam’s HDMI connection and are considering Dolby Atmos or other advanced audio formats.
If your TV has only optical audio
The Ray connects over optical. Sonos also says to use the Beam’s included optical audio adapter when connecting it to a TV with optical output only. An adapter makes the physical connection possible; it does not guarantee that the TV, source device, and content will deliver every format the Beam supports.
#1 Best Overall
- Enrich your entertainment experience with vibrant bass, crystal clear dialogue, and a panoramic soundstage.
- Experience a 3D surround sound effect with Dolby Atmos.
- Stream music, radio, podcasts, and audiobooks from all your favorite services when the TV is off.
- Control with the Sonos app, your TV remote, Apple AirPlay 2, and your voice.
- Effortless setup with only two cables and smart Trueplay tuning.
Before deciding, check the ports on the TV itself and the audio-format options supported by your TV and streaming device. Sonos lists some Beam home-cinema formats as requiring HDMI eARC, so an optical connection may affect which formats are available.
What the audio-format difference means
Sonos describes the Ray as stereo and the Beam (Gen 2) as stereo with Dolby Atmos support. That describes the products’ capabilities, not a promise that Atmos will play in every setup. Atmos playback depends on the TV, the content source, the content, and the connection between them.
Rank #2
- Enrich your entertainment experience with vibrant bass, crystal clear dialogue, and a panoramic soundstage.
- Experience a 3D surround sound effect with Dolby Atmos.
- Stream music, radio, podcasts, and audiobooks from all your favorite services when the TV is off.
- Control with the Sonos app, your TV remote, Apple AirPlay 2, and your voice.
- Effortless setup with only two cables and smart Trueplay tuning.
The Beam fact sheet lists additional home-cinema formats, with some requiring HDMI eARC. If Atmos is a deciding factor, verify the full signal path and settings rather than relying on the soundbar specification alone. Sonos’s documentation does not establish how convincingly Atmos virtualization performs in a particular room.
Measure the space where the soundbar will go
The Ray is 21.93 inches wide; the Beam (Gen 2) is 25.63 inches wide, making the Beam 3.70 inches longer. The Ray is also lighter. Measure the clear shelf or wall span, and check the available height and depth against the listed dimensions before choosing. The Beam is slightly lower in height than the Ray, despite being wider.
Rank #3
- Take your TV, music, and gaming to the next level with this compact smart soundbar and subwoofer.
- This set is ideal for smaller or medium-sized rooms and low to moderate volume levels.
- Use the Sonos app to easily set up your home theater system and sync with your existing TV remote.
- Sub Mini balances out the lowest frequencies so Beam sounds even better.
- When the TV is off, stream music and more over WiFi from hundreds of services using the Sonos app, your voice, and Apple AirPlay 2.
Sonos recommends the Ray for TVs up to 55 inches and the Beam (Gen 2) for TVs up to 65 inches. Treat those figures as manufacturer guidance: TV size alone does not establish whether a bar fits your furniture or will sound appropriate in your room.
Which soundbar’s listening controls suit your household?
Beam (Gen 2): dialogue and late-night options
Sonos lists Speech Enhancement and Night Sound for the Beam. The company says Speech Enhancement boosts voice frequencies to clarify dialogue; Night Sound reduces the intensity of loud sounds and raises quieter ones. These are feature descriptions, not independent comparative test results.
Rank #4
- 【𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭】: Elevate faint sounds to vibrant with automatic loudness boost. Experience immersive sound through 4 versatile placements—horizontal for distortion-free audio, vertical for room-filling sound, tabletop for vibrant clarity, or wall mount for 360° cinematic magic. Transforms your room into a personal theater.
- 【𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐚 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨】: Powered by 4 high-performance drivers, 80W powerful sound output, it provide richer details, like soft whisper or subtle croon, whether deep thunder or sonorous roar, turn flat audioto vivid, adding weight to music, making the virtual game experience immersive.
- 【𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝】: Fine-tune your listening experience with 3 dynamic equalizer modes—movie, music, and news. Enjoy rich, cinematic audio, luxurious melodies, and crystal-clear dialogue, tailored to enhance every scene and soundtrack. Spreading the audio evenly throughout a room, ensures that everyone, regardless of seating position, experiences the full range of sound.
- 【𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐔𝐬𝐞】: Enjoy seamless setup with cutting-edge Bluetooth 5.0 or reliable ARC, OPT, and AUX connections. In ARC mode, control your soundbar with ease using your TV remote, guided by our easy-to-follow instructions and video tutorials.
- 【𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭】: Your satisfaction is our top priority. Enjoy peace of mind with our 18-month warranty and 24/7 online tech support. Our 60-day hassle-free replacement policy, with top-tier assistance whenever you need it.
Trueplay: room tuning on both
Sonos lists Trueplay for both models. Its Beam fact sheet describes the feature as measuring room acoustics and fine-tuning the soundbar, and says it requires a supported iOS device. If room tuning matters to your decision, confirm current app and device compatibility.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose between them
- Choose the Beam (Gen 2) if your TV has HDMI eARC/ARC, the bar’s extra width fits, and Dolby Atmos support or Beam-specific listening controls are useful to you.
- Choose the Ray if its shorter body works better in your installation, optical is your preferred or available connection, and stereo is sufficient for your use.
- For an optical-only TV and a Beam you otherwise prefer, Sonos identifies the included optical adapter as the connection option. Check the TV’s format support before counting on advanced audio playback.
Sonos’s published specifications do not provide controlled room-by-room listening comparisons. The Ray’s smaller size alone is not evidence that it will sound better in a small room, and the Beam’s added features do not establish a sound-quality ranking for your particular setup.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- HEAR YOUR TV BETTER: Designed with simplicity in mind, the Bose TV Speaker is an all-in-one soundbar that clarifies speech and is a simple fix for better TV sound
- WIDE, NATURAL SOUND: 2 angled full-range drivers deliver a more realistic, spatial audio experience for overall better TV sound from a small soundbar
- ENHANCED DIALOGUE: This sound bar for smart tv is designed to specifically focus on clarifying and elevating vocals and pronunciation
- BLUETOOTH TV SPEAKER: Pair your device to this Bluetooth soundbar to wirelessly stream your favorite music and podcasts. Connect up to 3 devices through the inputs (HDMI, Optical in, and AUX in); the first powered on device will automatically connect
- SIMPLE SETUP: A single connection from this compact soundbar to the TV via an optical audio cable (included) or an HDMI cable (sold separately) has you up and running in minutes
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