Sonos has really impressed me this year. I’ve set up my entire new creative studio with Sonos speakers and I have zero regrets. They sound amazing, they work together seamlessly, and they look so good in the studio. But there has been one particular speaker that has been especially impressive – Sonos’s new Ray soundbar that launched mid-year and it’s a steal at $279, if you ask me. At 22 inches and just a little over four pounds, the Ray is smaller than the 25-inch Beam sibling and half the size of the flagship Sonos Arc. It may be small but it still gets two angled tweeters, mid-woofers, and four Class-D drivers, and it equates to some pretty good bang for buck sound.

The Ray has a diverse yet well-balanced sound stage and well-articulated bass, which is especially impressive considering its smaller size and smaller price tag too. A big downside though, which has to be pointed out, is the lack of Dolby Atmos or HDMI eARC support. But it can be forgiven for its budget price tag. I think what the Ray has done this year is it basically offers a killer gateway product that may well get you hooked into the Sonos ecosystem. Otherwise, if you have the extra cash, the Beam is a worthy alternative that you might want to consider.