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The best Sonos soundbar for your living room depends first on your TV’s connections and whether you care about Dolby Atmos, then on your budget and installation plans. In Sonos’s current US comparison, Ray is the lowest-priced option, Beam Ultra sits in the middle, and Arc Ultra costs the most. Their advertised channel counts and driver totals describe the products; they do not prove which one will sound best in your room.
Compare the current Sonos soundbar options
Sonos’s US comparison lists three models. The figures below are manufacturer-listed specifications and storefront prices, not independent performance measurements. Prices can change, so confirm the current amount before buying.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Sonos Beam Gen 2 - Black - Soundbar with Dolby Atmos | $359.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar with Dolby Atmos - Black | $899.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Sonos Ray - Compact Soundbar for TV and Music - Black | $219.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Sonos Beam Gen 2 - White - Soundbar with Dolby Atmos | $359.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar + Sub 4 subwoofer - Black | $1,648.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| Model | Sonos-listed configuration | Drivers | Displayed US price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ray | 3.0, Dolby Digital | Four | $219 |
| Beam Ultra | 7.1.2, Dolby Atmos | Nine | $699 |
| Arc Ultra | 9.1.4, Dolby Atmos | Fourteen | $1,099 |
These prices and specifications are from Sonos’s US storefront. Channel configuration and driver count are not a substitute for listening tests: the listing does not establish comparative loudness, bass, dialogue performance, or room coverage.
Choose by the features you will actually use
Ray: the straightforward, lower-cost choice
Sonos positions Ray for everyday and background viewing. It is the least expensive of the three in the cited US comparison and is listed with Dolby Digital rather than Dolby Atmos. Consider it if your priority is a simpler soundbar setup and Atmos is not a requirement. Sonos says Ray needs a digital optical output from the TV; check your television’s manual for that connection.
#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.
Beam Ultra: the middle-priced Atmos option
Beam Ultra is the middle-priced model in this comparison. Sonos lists it as a 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar with nine drivers. It is a candidate if you want an Atmos-capable model without choosing the most expensive option, provided your TV and playback chain can pass the format you want.
Arc Ultra: the highest-priced option here
Arc Ultra is listed at the highest price of these three and has the largest advertised configuration: 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos with fourteen drivers. That makes it the option to investigate if you want the top-tier configuration in this comparison and are prepared to spend more. Its specifications alone do not establish that it is the best match for every room or listener.
Rank #2
- All-new acoustic architecture with Sound Motion technology fills every inch of the room and precisely place sounds all around you
- Unparalleled 9.1.4 spatial audio experience with Dolby Atmos
- Ultra-clear dialogue plus Speech Enhancement, powered by AI, detects the human voice to clarify every word
- Elegant design looks great in your home and won’t distract from your entertainment
- Control with your TV remote, the Sonos app, the touch controls, Sonos Voice Control, and Amazon Alexa
Check your TV and source before paying for Atmos
Atmos support on the soundbar does not guarantee that Atmos will reach it. Sonos Support says: “Your Sonos home theater speaker must be connected to HDMI ARC or HDMI eARC to play any Dolby Atmos content.” Read Sonos’s TV requirements for Sonos home theater products and check the TV manual for an HDMI ARC or eARC port and audio passthrough support.
HDMI ARC supports most Atmos delivered in Dolby Digital Plus. Lossless Dolby Atmos using Dolby TrueHD requires eARC. The connected playback device, TV processing, streaming-service tier, and the soundtrack of the specific program all affect the signal. An Atmos-capable bar cannot supply Atmos when the source or content does not provide it. Sonos’s supported home theater audio formats guidance explains format support for Arc Ultra and Beam Ultra, including eARC requirements for certain formats.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Experience clearer, more powerful sound than ever before possible by a small standalone soundbar.
- Dynamic sound that enhances the drama and creates a surprisingly wide soundstage.
- Zero-stress setup with only two cables and help from the Sonos app.
- Stream all your content from your favorite services over WiFi using the Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and more.
- Identify the exact TV model. Find its manual or specifications and confirm whether it has HDMI ARC or eARC. If considering Ray, verify digital optical output.
- Check the whole playback chain. Confirm that the device playing your content, the TV’s audio settings and passthrough, the service tier, and the program soundtrack support the format you want.
- Confirm what is arriving. After setup, check the format shown in the Sonos app when playing suitable content. If it is not Atmos, check the TV and source settings before assuming the soundbar is at fault.
Fit the soundbar to the room and installation
There is no universal room-size cutoff established for Ray, Beam Ultra, or Arc Ultra in the cited product information. Do not use driver counts as a formula for room size. Instead, check the dimensions and placement of the TV, available shelf or wall space, seating position, and the layout you want for the installation. Sonos lists wall mounts and describes optional Sub and rear-speaker expansion, but check compatibility for the exact soundbar before choosing accessories; these additions affect the overall budget.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical decision rule
- Choose Ray if the lower listed price and everyday viewing fit your priorities, and your TV has digital optical output.
- Consider Beam Ultra if you want an Atmos-capable option at the middle listed price and your TV and playback chain support the formats you plan to use.
- Consider Arc Ultra if you want the largest advertised configuration among these three and its higher listed price fits your budget; do not treat that configuration as proof it will outperform the others in your particular room.
If you are undecided between the Atmos models, settle the compatibility question first. Then compare their current prices, placement requirements, and whether you expect to add a Sub or rear speakers. The right choice is the one whose connection, format support, setup, and cost match how you actually watch.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Surround yourself in the story: Go deeper into every scene with spatial audio. Dolby Atmos and the upward-firing drivers work in concert to immerse you in a multidimensional soundstage. You’ll hear planes as if they’re flying overhead, sense footsteps moving across the room, and feel the music swell all around you.
- Feel the bass: Experience every rumble, roar, and beat you've been missing with clean, pulse-pounding bass. Sub 4 takes over the lowest frequencies so paired speakers are free to focus on midrange and high frequencies so everything sounds even clearer.
- Wonderfully wireless: Place Sub 4 anywhere in the room. It connects to the soundbar over WiFi, so you can create the setup that works best for your space.
- Perfectly tuned for the room: Using the microphones in your iOS device, Trueplay tuning technology analyzes the unique acoustics of your space and optimizes the EQ. So all your content sounds just the way it should.
- Breeze through setup: Simply plug in the power cable, connect your phone or tablet to WiFi, and open the Sonos app. It will guide you through connecting the soundbar to your TV and syncing your TV remote for streamlined control.
Rank #4
- 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.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
