Black Friday is upon us, meaning now is the best time to buy a new soundbar. As someone constantly surrounded by soundbars of all shapes and sizes, I've found that Sonos' lineup tends to impress amongst a crowded market of worthy adversaries. The now four-strong lineup has something for everyone and, as of right now, three-quarters of that lineup is currently subject to some major discounts.
This includes the entry-level Sonos Ray (now £149, down from £279), the Dolby Atmos-touting mid-range Beam (usually £499, now £339), and the flagship Hall of Fame-inductee Arc Dolby Atmos soundbar (down to £625, from £799). We have reviewed and can vouch for each model – the Beam (Gen 2) and Arc are repeat What Hi-Fi? Award winners, which should say everything you need to know.
Unfortunately, the excellent Sonos Arc Ultra is not currently on sale; however, considering it is just over a month old, we weren't expecting a huge discount on this brand-new, five-star 'bar. That being said, we'll keep our eyes peeled for a discount and add it to this list if we spot one.
Each soundbar offers a different feature set and proposition, so finding out which one suits your needs and budget is easier said than done. Should you spend more on the premium Arc, or will the Beam satisfy? Don't want Dolby Atmos? Then the Ray could be the best bet for you. We're here to clear up some confusion and help you decide which Sonos soundbar is best for you, and how to save as much money as you can with the Black Friday sales.
The value choice
The Sonos Ray has dropped to its super low price, last seen on Prime Day, making the no-frills soundbar the one to buy if you're sick of your TV's mediocre built-in sound system. At this price, it is a simple, affordable, and effective gateway not only to better audio but to the Sonos ecosystem as a whole.
Available in black or white, the Ray measures just 56cm in width, meaning it is best suited to smaller TVs or even as a desktop speaker with a monitor. Unlike the other models on this list, it doesn't feature HDMI eARC or Dolby Atmos immersive audio, but at this price, we can't really complain.
Buy the Sonos Ray if...
- You want a punchier and more detailed sound from your TV.
- You value simplicity and want a basic, no-frills option.
- Dialogue lacks clarity with your TV speakers or current soundbar.
Don't buy the Sonos Ray if...
- You want cutting-edge features such as Dolby Atmos...
- Or the highest-quality audio available from a Sonos soundbar.
- Bass is your top priority.
Read our full Sonos Ray review
The best for everyone
One of our favourite Dolby Atmos soundbars with £160 slashed from the price? Don't mind if we do. The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is compact, sounds brilliant and, while we have seen it drop lower in the past by about £25, is deeply discounted in the Black Friday sales.
It's a step up over the Ray thanks to its more expansive feature set, which includes HDMI eARC connectivity, voice assistants including Amazon Alexa, and support for the Dolby Atmos 3D audio format. What it doesn't feature is dedicated height drivers; instead, Sonos has handed the reins to a clever psycho-acoustic processing system which makes a solid attempt at replicating overhead effects. As we say in our review, overhead effects aren't the be-all and end-all of Dolby Atmos, and the Beam still does a stellar job of placing sounds in an immersive sound field.
Buy the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if...
- You want a smaller soundbar that delivers excellent sound.
- Dolby Atmos has finally caught your interest, but you don't want to spend a fortune.
- You're looking for a soundbar that is talented for both music and movies.
Don't buy the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if...
- You want the ultimate Dolby Atmos experience with an emphasis on overhead effects.
- HDMI passthrough is a necessity.
- You want to avoid the problematic Sonos app at all costs.
Read our full Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review
The ultimate choice
The flagship soundbar in Sonos's range is a force to be reckoned with; which is why we use it as a benchmark in our AV testing room to judge other Dolby Atmos soundbars against. It remains unfazed by any of the scenes we throw at it with tricky soundtracks, effects or shrouded dialogue, and it handles Dolby Atmos like a champ too.
It is supremely talented for music as well, making it an all-rounder for any AV audio task great or small. With a refined, rich and bold presentation that excels where dynamics are concerned, the Sonos Arc is a highly rated soundbar (and What Hi-Fi? Hall of Fame inductee) for a reason.
Buy the Sonos Arc if...
- You want a soundbar that nails Dolby Atmos immersive audio effects.
- Audio quality is your top priority (this is the best-sounding 'bar of the trio).
- You want the very best that Sonos has to offer and plan on expanding your setup in the future with surrounds and a subwoofer.
Don't buy the Sonos Arc if...
- You're short on space – this 'bar works best with big TVs in larger living rooms.
- You want the most fully featured soundbar on the market (no HDMI passthrough).
- The Sonos app is a dealbreaker.
Read our full Sonos Arc review
MORE:
Check out our list of the best Black Friday soundbar deals
As well as our picks for the best Dolby Atmos soundbars
And read our long-term Sonos Arc review