Sonos’s latest and easiest soundbar is unsurprisingly vastly standard. It is the £279 / $279 / AU$399 that pulls folks in, after all, however they stick round for the energetic sound, ease-of-use and upgradability.
You seemingly already know that, although, as a result of should you’ve made your method to this web page it is most likely since you’ve already received a Sonos Ray and are intrigued to find some methods by which you can also make it even higher.
Now, we’re not saying you are going to uncover any Earth-shattering revelations right here – the Sonos Ray is a delightfully simple gadget, in spite of everything – however there are some small changes and enhancements you can also make. 5 of them, in actual fact. And right here they’re.
1. Add an Echo Dot
It does not characteristic Dolby Atmos or HDMI connectivity, however arguably the Sonos Ray’s most important deficiency in on a regular basis use is its lack of voice management. Fortunately, this may be pretty neatly and pretty inexpensively rectified by way of the addition of an Amazon Echo Dot.
If you happen to do not have already got an previous Echo Dot gathering mud someplace (that is a second-generation mannequin you may see within the photographs all through this web page), you may often decide one up for peanuts throughout occasions akin to Black Friday, Amazon Prime Day and the Boxing Day Gross sales.
As soon as you’ve got received your Dot, place it as shut as you may to the Sonos Ray, set it up as ordinary by way of the Alexa app, after which create a bunch that features it and the Sonos Ray. Choose the Sonos Ray because the ‘most well-liked speaker’ and the 2 gadgets will work in virtually excellent concord, with the Ray not solely enjoying any musical requests you make, however even responding in the way in which that an precise Alexa speaker would. Neat.
2. Do the Trueplay tuning
It is tempting to assume that as a result of it does not do Dolby Atmos or another significantly fancy encompass codecs, the Sonos Ray does not should be tuned to your room, however that is not likely the case. Granted, the Ray sounds good as it’s, however by doing the Trueplay tuning you may usually enhance bass response and tame the treble, which could be a little insistent in some rooms with out calibration.
Sadly, you may solely do the Trueplay tuning you probably have an iPhone or iPad, however it’s properly price persuading an Apple device-owning good friend to pop over and assist you to with the calibration should you’re an Android proprietor your self. It is merely a case of opening the Sonos app, heading to Settings and choosing the choice, and it takes now not than a few minutes.
3. Experiment with the Loudness characteristic
Whereas it is not often price twiddling with the Bass or Treble sliders of a Sonos speaker, the EQ menu additionally accommodates a sound setting known as ‘Loudness’. That is on by default and typically that is how it’s best to go away it, however should you discover the Ray’s sound to be too forthright to your particular person tastes, it is price attempting turning it off. You are able to do it whereas listening to music or watching a film, so you may hear the distinction ‘dwell’ and make your personal judgement.
4. Take into account including (low cost) surrounds
Whereas it does not help Dolby Atmos, the Ray can deal with Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Digital Encompass, and you may add encompass audio system to it. If you happen to’re a film fan or gamer, doing so could be properly price it, however it’s not price including the likes of Period 300 and even Period 100 audio system as these are disproportionately costly if the Ray is your soundbar. As a substitute, we would suggest the Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf or Symfonisk Lamp audio system, that are far more reasonably priced and extra discreet as properly – excellent for a smaller room.
The brand new Sonos Sub Mini is tempting, too, however we predict that is overkill for the Ray – higher to spend the cash upgrading the Ray to a Beam Gen 2 and even an Arc as a substitute.
5. Verify your TV is outputting the perfect format
With reference to sound codecs, it is price checking that your TV is outputting probably the most applicable one. This form of factor varies from TV to TV, however it’s best to discover the choice within the sound menus. Choosing Dolby Digital is broadly the best transfer with Sonos soundbars, however strive PCM you probably have points.
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