The upcoming budget soundbar from Sonos will be marketed as the Sonos Ray, according to internal documents and people familiar with the company’s plans. Expected to cost around $249 and go on sale in a matter of weeks, the Ray will be the cheapest soundbar from Sonos yet and serve as an entry-level option beneath the pricier Beam and flagship Arc.
The Verge previously spilled the full details and design of the new device, which is model S36 and internally known by the codename Fury. The images included here are 3D recreations of genuine photos seen by The Verge.
To reach the lower price, Sonos has omitted features like built-in mics, Dolby Atmos, and HDMI connectivity; the Ray also has fewer speakers than the company’s existing soundbars. However, owners of the more expensive Sonos Arc or Beam will be able to use two Rays as rear surround speakers. The soundbar is designed to be mounted vertically for that purpose, and in the vertical orientation, its slanted side drivers will route Atmos audio toward the ceiling more effectively.
When used by itself, the Ray will support Dolby Digital audio and is expandable to a 5.1 setup if you pair it with other Sonos speakers. It connects to TVs via optical cable. The soundbar lacks integrated mics for voice controls, but owners will be able to bring their own voice assistant since Sonos’ platform is compatible with Amazon Echo and Google Nest speakers.
Sonos CEO Patrick Spence has previously said that the company aims to introduce at least two new products each calendar year. Other devices in the pipeline for potential release in 2022 include a smaller, more affordable subwoofer and Sonos’ long-rumored wireless headphones.
The Verge has reached out to Sonos for comment. The company has not yet formally announced the Sonos Ray.
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