Sonos Ray Soundbar $249 (Was $499) + Delivery ($0 C&C/ in-Store) @ JB Hi-Fi

890

Looks like it's only the Ray that is on sale, pretty good deal at 50% off. no discounts on the Arc or Beam unfortunately.

Both Black and White options available at time of posting.

Related Stores

JB Hi-Fi
JB Hi-Fi

Comments

  • +26

    Note: No HDMI, only optical.

    • +19

      Thank you, disregarding

    • Yeah, not so good of a deal imo.
      Remember picking up a soundbase (manufactured in 2018) for $220 about 4 to 5 yrs ago

    • +2

      What are the practical consequences of this?

      • +5

        Firstly you need to have an optical output on your tv. If you don't, then my experience of trying to cobble connections is don't bother.

      • +2

        @excensis - Lossy audio that throws away information instead of lossless audio identical to the directors/film makers intent 🤷‍♂️

        • +1

          Eh even the soundbar can be configured to use the TVs remote to control volume and the tv set to optical out means it doesnt touch the tvs volume.

        • This can 100% be achieved on the Ray. You are misinformed.

          • @ajole: Good point! I completely forgot that a lot of TVs recognize source through optical and adjust the remotes IR for it. I imagine this works for volume but you still need the sound bar remote for on/off?

            I've unpublished my earlier comment since I can't edit it so as to not misinform others. Thanks for the heads up!

            But here it is for context:
            "It means that you miss out on all the conveniences of a soundbar. The whole point is that they're supposed to be an easy solution - where volume and on/off control is handled through the TV remote. Take that away and you can find cheaper bookshelf speakers with better sound quality - with the same amount of effort."

            • @Voldemorts Flat Nose:

              I imagine this works for volume but you still need the sound bar remote for on/off?

              Sonos products are designed to be always on and are programmed with an idle mode to lower power consumption when not in use.

    • My Playbar only had optical and I survived using it for the last 12 years. Most decent TVs should have an optical output.

    • Yep not buying because of this, makes it a Crap soundbar but okay music speaker if needed

  • +1

    Like the form factor of this sound bar and needing something for my desk setup.
    Any suggestions which can be connected via bluetooth with similar form factor and quality in white?

    • +3

      I actually have this running through my Mac Mini, connected from a USB-C to optical connector. Works like a treat.

      • Is there delay?

        • Not that I’ve noticed while watching movies.

      • Which optical connector did you use?

        Am just guessing but the USB C wouldnt be optical so it somehow converts the optical to only an audio format to use with the USB C. Sorry if sounds confusing, am trying to find a way to make it work into my Dell 34" screen's 3.5mm jack or HDMI or worst case into the USB C through a splitter like you have

        • +1

          Honestly, I can’t remember exactly. I’ve got a USB A one and a USB C one. Both purchased from Amazon AU. USB with a little bit of cable to a little toslink port. Was about 30 bucks.

          • @millhouse: Ah cool thanks so much @millhouse.

            Are you able to control from your computer or do you adjust volume on the soundbar?

            • +2

              @WizardofOZ: I just adjust from the soundbar, which is directly under my monitor.

              That said, I played around with eqMac, but I often listen to a lot of radio while WFH, swapping between them, so the volume control on the line-in wasn't always similar to the radio itself (via Sonos).

              In the end, I just ended up using the buttons, but the app I found worked fine. There's a free version that will do what you want, although a paid version exists.

              Also, the USB adaptor was Cubilux brand if that helps. Both the USB-C and the USB-A, actually. I now run the following;

              Mac Mini (M2 Pro)
              - Thunderbolt to Satechi dock with 1TB SSD for music library
              - Thunderbolt to Samsung monitor with 4x USB-C 2.0 (one with SPDIF adaptor to soundbar, one to bias lighting via a USB-C to A adaptor, one to MX Creative Console
              - USB-A x2 to 2x USB-A 5TB HDD (one for movies, one for TV shows).
              - MX Master 3S and MX Mechnical, both via Bluetooth.

              Has been a bit of a hodgepodge in getting everytthing together over time, but all works well.

              • @millhouse: Thanks for this, super helpful to understand what you're running!

  • +10

    Charging $500 for this was criminal

    • +9

      Sonos and Bose tax.

    • +1

      Under 1/2 price or nah. Feel bad for those who pay for full unless they have lots of spare money.

  • +1

    I have the Beam 2. Sounds excellent. App functions are awful though

    • -1

      this doesnthave HDMI, pointless soundbar

  • Good for PC?

    • +1

      I use this for my PC. There are better soundbars for the money though at RRP. But for $250. Sure.

  • $150 and I will get one to pair with my Sonos roam from this deal. Like the app that comes with good music/song recommendations when you don't know what to play.

    • +2

      I don't think you can set up a Roam, or a pair of Roams, as surround speakers for the Ray?
      https://cybershack.com.au/guides/sonos-ray-and-roam-are-perf…

      • Oop, I haven't checked that. Thought they were always possible to extend the sound system. Never know why the limitation. Thanks for the info.

      • +1

        You can still group it.

        • +1

          yes, but not as surround speakers

          • @congo: Yep, Bli didn't mention wanting to use it as surround though. Just worth nothing.
            One of the "benefits" of the Roam is the button that you can use to automatically group and ungroup from the nearest Sonos speaker.
            I had a Roam, though and either it didn't work well or I just never used that feature.

  • +4

    Their app bricked my Sonos and wouldn't fix it. Never again. The brand is dead.

    • i think the same. not good now

    • +5

      Agreed. Will never trust Sonos again. They got greedy with user lock-in, telemetry and data harvesting. They screwed up compatibility with older speakers, and their apps are a mess.

      Their speakers come pre-bricked until you hand over your details and create an account. Speakers won't work unless you reveal to Sonos your precise GPS location - your home address basically. Nothing to do with playing music. Sonos basically holds your speaker to ransom, extorting your personal details.

    • Was about 2 months before the app could even sync to my Beam once they finally updated the app.

    • The brand is dead.

      Proof?

      • Sonos share price 12.91 USD -3.77 (-22.60%) year to date

        • Eh, whilst their shares have taken a hit, they seem to still be alive and kicking to me.

          • @magic8ballgag: -22.60% is alot for a company net worth of $1.6B

            • @easternculture: I agree, but are they dead? We'll see.

              • -1

                @magic8ballgag: Sales have gone down.

                Even their new headphones have extremely poor sales , mainly in response to the app issues over the past year. Thats enough to show that less people are adopting or more people are moving from the sonos ecosystem

                • +1

                  @easternculture: There's no doubt about anything you have said, but to say the brand is dead is a bit of a stretch.

                  • -2

                    @magic8ballgag: Im just playing caution at the moment to see what happens to sonos. Sold all my sonos speakers and moved to other alternatives but only have an amp and connect left that i kept (which i got for free from marketplace).

                    • @easternculture: Much more likely they will get bought out or merge with a big player like bose or sennheiser. Their IP is too valuable.

  • +3

    decent speakers, horrendous app experience. Will never recommend it

  • +1

    Sonos website and Harvey Norman both offer it at the same price. The Sonos website has free shipping though, JBHIFI was $6.99 or $10.99 Uber delivery for my area in inner west sydney

  • +1

    Black Friday is around the corner for better options

  • I have one of these connected to an LG OLED C2 via optical. I use the TV exclusively for gaming and it's great. Not worth $499 but is great value at $249.

  • Man the Sonos app has deleted 4 of my Sonos speakers multiple times and it is a pain to get them added. The new app, which is not so new anymore sucks big time!

    • +1

      I believe that with the most recent update (in the last week or so?), most of the functionality is back, and it seems to work in my simple set up once again!

      Might be time to give it another go (after updating the app) but if you've already tried and failed in the last week… I'm sorry

Login or Join to leave a comment