Sonos Ray vs JBL Bar 700: Which Soundbar Should You Buy?

If you've been watching TV with those tiny built-in speakers, you're missing out on a lot. The difference between TV speakers and even a basic soundbar is honestly night and day. But here's where it gets tricky: do you go with something simple like the Sonos Ray, or jump straight into a full surround system like the JBL Bar 700? I've spent time with both, and the answer really depends on what you're trying to achieve.

Understanding What Makes Soundbars Different

Before we dive into these specific models, let's talk about what you're actually buying. Soundbars solve the fundamental problem that modern TVs are too thin to house decent speakers. They're basically long, horizontal speakers that sit below your TV, but the similarities end there.

The most basic soundbars are "2.0" systems – that means two channels (left and right) with no subwoofer. Then you have "2.1" systems that add a subwoofer for bass. The JBL Bar 700 is a "5.1" system, which means five main channels (left, right, center, and two surround channels) plus a subwoofer. The more channels you have, the more precisely you can place sounds in your room.

Dolby Atmos is another term you'll hear a lot. Traditional surround sound moves audio around you horizontally, but Atmos adds height effects – sounds that seem to come from above. It's like the difference between watching a movie on a flat screen versus IMAX. Not every soundbar can do this, and the Sonos Ray is one that can't.

The connectivity matters too. HDMI eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) is the gold standard – it carries the best quality audio from your TV to your soundbar and lets you control everything with one remote. Optical connections work with any TV but don't carry as much audio information.

The Sonos Ray: When Less Is Actually More

Released in 2022, the Sonos Ray was Sonos's answer to people saying their products were too expensive. At launch, it cost significantly less than other Sonos soundbars, making it an entry point into their ecosystem. But don't mistake "entry-level" for "cheap" – this is still very much a Sonos product.

The Ray is what I'd call aggressively simple. It's a stereo soundbar with no subwoofer, no surround speakers, and no HDMI connection. Just optical audio in, power, and that's it. Yet somehow, Sonos has made this simplicity work brilliantly for specific situations.

Where the Sonos Ray Shines

The first thing you notice about the Sonos Ray is how clear voices sound. Sonos uses custom waveguides – these are specially shaped acoustic chambers that direct sound precisely where it needs to go. Think of them like focused flashlight beams for audio. Combined with digital processing that emphasizes vocal frequencies, dialogue cuts through even when other sounds are playing.

I've tested this with everything from mumbling British crime dramas to explosive Marvel movies, and the Ray consistently makes voices more intelligible than TV speakers. It's not magic – it's just really good engineering focused on solving the most common complaint about TV audio.

The Ray also does something clever with stereo imaging. Psychoacoustic processing uses timing and volume differences between the left and right channels to make sounds appear to come from beyond the physical boundaries of the soundbar. When you're listening to music, instruments seem to spread across a much wider space than the 22-inch soundbar should be able to create.

Trueplay tuning is another Sonos specialty. Using your iPhone's microphone, the system measures how sound bounces around your room and adjusts its output accordingly. Every room sounds different because of furniture, carpet, wall materials, and size. Trueplay adapts the Ray to work optimally in your specific space.

The Ray's Real-World Limitations

But here's where the Sonos Ray hits its limits. It's a 2.0 stereo system trying to handle content mixed for 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound. When you're watching a movie with helicopters flying overhead or explosions happening behind the characters, the Ray has to squeeze all that spatial information into just left and right channels. It works okay for simple content, but complex movie soundtracks expose the limitations quickly.

Bass is the other challenge. Without a dedicated subwoofer, the Ray relies on two small midwoofers and a bass reflex port (a carefully designed opening that reinforces low frequencies). This setup minimizes distortion but can't reproduce the deep bass that makes action scenes feel impactful. Push it too hard with bass-heavy content, and the Ray starts to sound strained.

The lack of HDMI eARC is also limiting in 2024. Most new TVs and streaming devices send their best audio over HDMI, not optical. You'll still get good sound, but you might miss out on the highest quality audio formats.

The JBL Bar 700: The Complete Package Approach

The JBL Bar 700 takes a completely different philosophy. Instead of elegant simplicity, it gives you everything you need for a complete surround sound experience right in the box. Released as part of JBL's push into premium home audio, it represents what happens when a company known for powerful speakers decides to tackle home theater.

This is a true 5.1 system with 620 watts of total power. The main soundbar houses left, center, and right channels, while two detachable speakers provide genuine surround sound. A 10-inch wireless subwoofer handles the deep bass that makes action movies feel visceral.

Technical Sophistication That You Can Hear

The Bar 700 supports Dolby Atmos, which creates the illusion of height effects even without ceiling speakers. When a helicopter flies overhead in a movie, the processing makes it sound like it's actually passing above you. It's not as convincing as dedicated height speakers, but it's far more immersive than standard surround sound.

Those detachable surround speakers are genuinely clever. They charge when connected to the main bar, but you can detach them and place them behind your seating area. Built-in batteries provide up to 10 hours of wireless operation, so you get real surround sound without running speaker wire across your room. When you're done watching, they snap back onto the soundbar magnetically.

The 10-inch subwoofer produces bass down to 35Hz – that's deep enough to feel the rumble of explosions and the thump of music. At 300 watts, it has enough power to pressurize even large rooms. The wireless connection means you can place it wherever it sounds best, not just where cables can reach.

PureVoice dialogue enhancement uses algorithms to boost voice frequencies during complex scenes. Unlike basic tone controls, this technology specifically targets the frequency range where human speech lives, making dialogue clear even when explosions and music are happening simultaneously.

The Bar 700's Practical Advantages

HDMI eARC connectivity means the Bar 700 gets the full audio signal from your TV, including advanced formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio that you find on 4K Blu-rays. It also enables HDMI CEC, which lets you control the soundbar with your TV remote instead of juggling multiple remotes.

The system includes automatic sound calibration using built-in microphones. Like Sonos's Trueplay, this measures your room's acoustics and adjusts the sound accordingly. But because the Bar 700 has more speakers and processing power, it can make more sophisticated adjustments.

Streaming capabilities include AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, and Alexa Multi-Room Music. This means you can stream music from your phone, tablet, or voice assistant just like a dedicated smart speaker.

Where the Bar 700 Falls Short

With all these features comes complexity. The Bar 700 requires more setup time and has more components to manage. The surround speakers need regular charging, and the calibration process requires following on-screen prompts.

The design is also more imposing. While the Sonos Ray disappears visually below most TVs, the Bar 700 makes its presence known. The detachable surrounds add 11.4 inches to the total length when attached, which might not fit in smaller TV stands.

Performance Deep Dive: What Really Matters

Dialogue Clarity – The Most Important Test

Both soundbars excel at dialogue, but in different ways. The Sonos Ray achieves clarity through precise frequency tuning and excellent midrange reproduction. Voices sound natural and well-positioned in the center of the soundstage.

The Bar 700 uses its dedicated center channel plus PureVoice processing. Having a separate center speaker is acoustically superior because dialogue doesn't have to compete with left and right channel information. During action scenes with lots of effects, the Bar 700 keeps voices more intelligible.

Winner: JBL Bar 700 for complex content, Sonos Ray for overall naturalness

Bass Response – Feeling the Impact

This isn't even close. The Sonos Ray produces respectable bass for its size, but it can't compete with a dedicated 10-inch subwoofer. The Bar 700 delivers the kind of deep, powerful bass that makes you feel explosions in your chest and gives music real weight and impact.

If you mostly watch dialogue-heavy content like news or sitcoms, the Ray's bass might be sufficient. But for movies, music, or gaming, the Bar 700's subwoofer transforms the experience.

Winner: JBL Bar 700 by a wide margin

Surround Sound Immersion

The Sonos Ray uses psychoacoustic tricks to create a wider soundstage, and it works well with music and simple stereo content. But it can't create genuine surround effects because it only has two channels.

The Bar 700 provides real spatial audio with discrete surround channels. Sounds can actually move around the room, coming from behind you or to the sides. The Dolby Atmos processing adds convincing height effects that make movie soundtracks more immersive.

Winner: JBL Bar 700 – no contest for surround content

Music Listening Quality

This is where the Sonos Ray shows its strengths. Despite being a soundbar, it delivers genuinely good stereo imaging with clear separation between instruments. The balanced frequency response makes most music sound natural and engaging.

The Bar 700 can play music loudly and with impressive bass, but it's optimized for movie content. The surround processing sometimes makes music sound artificial, though you can adjust settings to minimize this.

Winner: Sonos Ray for critical listening, Bar 700 for parties

Value and Long-Term Considerations

At the time of writing, both products occupy different price tiers, and that positioning makes sense given their capabilities. The Sonos Ray costs significantly less but offers fewer features. However, Sonos products typically hold their value well and receive software updates for years.

The Bar 700 costs more initially but gives you a complete surround system. You won't need to buy additional components to get the full experience, which could make it more economical long-term.

Consider the expansion path too. The Sonos Ray can eventually be upgraded with a Sonos Sub and surround speakers, but those additions cost significantly more than the original soundbar. The Bar 700 gives you everything immediately but offers less room for future expansion.

Room Size and Setup Realities

Your room size should heavily influence this decision. In smaller spaces (bedrooms, apartments, rooms under 200 square feet), the Sonos Ray often sounds better balanced. Large rooms can overwhelm its modest output, making voices sound thin and bass nearly inaudible.

The Bar 700 needs space to work properly. The subwoofer requires room to breathe, and the surround speakers need proper positioning behind your seating area. In cramped spaces, you might not be able to take advantage of its capabilities.

Apartment living adds another consideration. The Ray's moderate bass output won't disturb neighbors, while the Bar 700's subwoofer definitely can. Most subwoofers include volume controls, but physics limits how quietly you can play deep bass.

Making Your Decision: Scenarios and Recommendations

Choose the Sonos Ray if:

You live in a smaller space where simplicity matters more than surround sound. The Ray excels in bedrooms, offices, or apartments where a full surround system would be overkill. It's also ideal if you listen to more music than movies, as its stereo imaging rivals dedicated music speakers.

The Ray makes sense if you value build quality and plan to expand your system gradually. Starting with the soundbar and adding a Sub later gives you flexibility to spread the cost over time.

Choose the JBL Bar 700 if:

You want the complete home theater experience without buying separate components. The Bar 700 handles everything from quiet dialogue to explosive action scenes with authority. It's perfect for larger rooms where you can properly position all the speakers.

If you watch a lot of movies or play games with sophisticated soundtracks, the Bar 700's surround capabilities and Dolby Atmos support make a real difference in immersion.

The Bottom Line

Both soundbars solve the "bad TV audio" problem, but they do it in fundamentally different ways. The Sonos Ray proves that excellent engineering can make a simple stereo soundbar perform far above its specifications. It's refined, focused, and perfect for specific situations.

The JBL Bar 700 takes the "give them everything" approach and succeeds. It's the soundbar equivalent of a Swiss Army knife – maybe not the absolute best at any single task, but very good at everything you might need.

Your choice comes down to matching the product to your situation. Small room, music focus, gradual expansion plans? The Ray makes sense. Larger space, movie enthusiasm, want-it-all-now approach? The Bar 700 delivers.

Either choice will dramatically improve your TV audio experience. The difference is whether you want elegant simplicity or comprehensive capability.

Sonos Ray Soundbar Deals and Prices

JBL Bar 700 Dolby Atmos 5.1 Soundbar with Subwoofer Deals and Prices