Sonos Immersive Set With Ray Review 2025: Brilliant Home Theatre Sound Without the Premium Price Tag
Not everyone needs the most powerful home theatre system available. Not every living room calls for a flagship soundbar with fourteen drivers and a subwoofer the size of a small piece of furniture. Some rooms are smaller. Some budgets are tighter. Some listeners simply want a complete, well engineered surround sound experience that transforms how their television sounds without requiring the kind of financial commitment that a flagship system demands.
The Sonos Immersive Set with Ray was built for exactly those listeners. It is Sonos’ most accessible complete home theatre package and it delivers something that the price alone does not prepare you for. A genuinely immersive, properly configured wireless surround sound system that makes watching television and films a meaningfully better experience than anything a standalone soundbar or the television’s built in speakers can provide.
If you have been wanting to upgrade your home theatre audio but felt that the premium Sonos packages were more system than you need or more investment than you want to make right now, the Immersive Set with Ray deserves your full attention.
What Is the Sonos Immersive Set With Ray
The Sonos Immersive Set with Ray is a complete wireless home theatre package built around the Sonos Ray, Sonos’ most compact and affordable soundbar. The package combines the Ray soundbar with the Sonos Sub and a pair of Sonos Era 100 speakers configured as wireless rear surround channels.
Together these three components create a complete surround sound system that covers the front soundstage via the Ray, the low frequency foundation via the Sub, and the rear surround field via the Era 100 speakers. The result is a proper multichannel audio environment delivered entirely wirelessly, set up through a single app, and calibrated to your specific room with Trueplay.
The Immersive Set with Ray sits at the entry point of the Sonos immersive audio range, positioned below the Cinema Package built around the Arc and the Ultimate Immersive Set built around the Arc Ultra. It delivers the core surround sound experience that makes home theatre audio genuinely immersive at a price point that makes that experience accessible to a much wider range of buyers.
The Sonos Ray: Small Size, Serious Sound
The Sonos Ray is the smallest and most affordable soundbar in the Sonos lineup, and understanding what it does well and where its limitations lie is important context for evaluating the Immersive Set built around it.
The Ray measures 559mm wide, 70mm tall, and 95mm deep. It is genuinely compact and designed to sit in front of smaller televisions, particularly those in the 40 to 55 inch range where a larger soundbar would look proportionally overwhelming. It connects to the television via optical audio cable rather than HDMI, which means it does not support HDMI ARC or eARC. This is an important distinction that affects which audio formats it can receive and process.
Inside the Ray are four Class D digital amplifiers driving two tweeters and two woofers. The driver configuration is focused on delivering clear, balanced sound from a compact enclosure rather than on creating the wide soundstage and height effects that larger soundbars aim for. Dialogue clarity is excellent, which is the single most important quality in a television soundbar for everyday use. Music and film soundtracks sound significantly better through the Ray than through any television’s built in speakers, which is a more meaningful comparison than it might initially seem given how poor most television audio is.
The Ray does not support Dolby Atmos. Because it connects via optical audio rather than HDMI eARC, it receives audio in formats that the optical connection supports, which does not include object based spatial audio formats. For viewers whose primary content source is standard streaming without Atmos, or who are upgrading from television speakers and want a meaningful improvement without the cost of an Atmos capable system, this limitation is entirely manageable. For viewers who specifically want Dolby Atmos processing, the Cinema Package or Ultimate Immersive Set are the appropriate choices.
What the Ray does exceptionally well is serve as a clear, detailed, and natural sounding front channel for a surround system. When the Sub and Era 100 surrounds are added, the Ray’s role becomes more focused. It handles dialogue and the front soundstage while the Sub manages everything below its crossover frequency and the Era 100 speakers handle the rear channels. In that configuration the Ray’s compact size and optical connection become much less significant limitations because the components around it are doing the heavy lifting that the Ray was never designed to do alone.
The Sonos Sub: The Heartbeat of the System
The Sonos Sub included in the Immersive Set with Ray is the same force cancelling wireless subwoofer that appears in the more expensive Sonos packages. This is significant because it means the low frequency performance of the Immersive Set with Ray is not a compromised version of what the premium packages deliver. It is the same subwoofer.
Two force cancelling woofers mounted face to face inside a sealed enclosure eliminate cabinet vibration and resonance, producing bass that is clean, controlled, and physically present rather than boomy and blurred. When the Sub is added to the Ray, the transformation in the system’s overall sound is dramatic. The Ray on its own has limited bass extension as you would expect from a compact soundbar. The Sub fills that gap completely and then goes deeper, adding the low frequency foundation that makes film audio feel physical and music feel complete.
For a room where the Immersive Set with Ray makes sense, the Sub’s output is more than adequate. The force cancelling design means it performs consistently regardless of placement, and Trueplay calibrates its level and crossover for the specific room automatically. The Sub is genuinely the component that elevates the Immersive Set with Ray from a good soundbar upgrade to a proper home theatre experience.
The Sonos Era 100: Surrounds That Do More Than Surround
The Sonos Era 100 speakers serve as the rear surround channels in the Immersive Set with Ray. These are compact, full featured wireless speakers that connect to your home network and receive their audio signal wirelessly from the Ray. No speaker cables. No wiring across the room. Simply place them behind your seating position, plug them into power, and configure them as surrounds through the Sonos app.
The Era 100 is a capable and versatile speaker. It uses a tweeter and angled mid-woofer configuration to produce a wider sound dispersion than a simple forward firing speaker, which helps it fill the rear of the room with surround audio rather than creating a narrow beam of sound from a single point. The result is a surrounding field that feels natural and enveloping rather than localised and obvious.
In their surround role the Era 100 speakers handle rear ambient sound, directional effects from behind the listening position, and the surround channel content that gives a film soundtrack its sense of environment and space. Combined with the Ray handling the front and the Sub handling the low end, the Era 100 surrounds complete the 360 degree audio environment that defines a true surround sound experience.
As standalone speakers when not serving as surrounds, the Era 100 units are full participants in the Sonos ecosystem. They support Apple AirPlay 2, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, and all streaming services available through the Sonos app. They can play music independently, be grouped with other Sonos speakers throughout the home, or serve as smart speakers with voice control capability. This dual role as surround speakers and standalone smart speakers makes the Era 100 one of the most practically useful components in any Sonos system.
Trueplay: Making the System Sound Right in Your Room
Trueplay calibration applies to the complete Immersive Set with Ray just as it does to the more expensive Sonos packages. Running Trueplay measures the acoustic characteristics of your room and adjusts the Ray, the Sub, and the Era 100 surrounds together as an integrated system.
The calibration process sets the level balance between all three components, establishes the crossover between the Ray and the Sub, and adjusts the surround level and character for the specific dimensions and furnishings of your room. A small living room with hard floors will be calibrated differently from a larger room with heavy curtains and upholstered furniture, and the system will sound appropriately balanced in both environments after Trueplay has run.
Trueplay requires an iPhone or iPad to run. Android users can still use the full system but the automatic room calibration is not available without an iOS device. For anyone with access to an iPhone or iPad, running Trueplay is one of the most impactful things you can do after setting up the system and is strongly recommended.
Setup: From Box to Surround Sound in One Evening
Setting up the Sonos Immersive Set with Ray is a genuinely simple process.
The Ray connects to your television via the included optical audio cable. If your television has an optical output, which the vast majority do, this connection is straightforward. The Sub and both Era 100 surround speakers connect wirelessly to the home network. Power them on, open the Sonos app, and each component appears as an available device to be added to the system. The app guides you through assigning the Era 100 speakers as left and right surround channels with clear on screen instructions.
Position the Era 100 speakers behind and slightly to the sides of your main seating position at approximately ear level. The Sub can go anywhere in the room. Run Trueplay once everything is in place. The entire process from unboxing to a calibrated surround system typically takes between 45 minutes and an hour and a half depending on room complexity and how carefully you choose speaker placement.
Who Is the Sonos Immersive Set With Ray Best Suited For
The Immersive Set with Ray is the right system for a specific and clearly defined group of buyers and understanding that group honestly is more useful than trying to oversell the product beyond its natural audience.
It is ideal for anyone upgrading from television speakers or a basic soundbar who wants a genuine surround sound experience for the first time without the cost of a flagship system. The improvement over television audio is dramatic and immediate and the surround experience the complete system delivers is real and meaningful.
It suits smaller to medium sized rooms where the Ray’s compact dimensions are proportionally appropriate and where the Sub’s output is sufficient to fill the space with the bass impact the system is capable of producing.
It is well matched to viewers whose primary content is standard streaming, broadcast television, and films where Dolby Atmos is not a specific requirement. For everyday viewing the system performs excellently within its optical audio constraint.
It is a strong choice for anyone already in the Sonos ecosystem who wants to add a complete home theatre system to a room without the investment of the Cinema Package or Ultimate Immersive Set. The Immersive Set with Ray slots into an existing Sonos system seamlessly and is managed through the same app as every other Sonos device.
It also suits buyers who want to start with the Immersive Set with Ray and upgrade over time. The Era 100 surrounds and the Sub from this package can be retained when upgrading the soundbar to an Arc or Arc Ultra in the future, making this a sensible entry point into a more capable system rather than a dead end.
Sonos Immersive Set With Ray vs Cinema Package: How to Choose
The most common comparison buyers make is between the Immersive Set with Ray and the Cinema Package built around the Sonos Arc. Understanding the meaningful differences helps clarify which system is right for a given situation.
The Arc is a significantly more capable soundbar than the Ray. It connects via HDMI eARC rather than optical, supports Dolby Atmos processing, has eleven drivers compared to the Ray’s four, and creates a wider and more dimensional front soundstage. The Arc also supports Trueplay more comprehensively and produces more convincing height effects for Atmos content.
The Cinema Package with Arc uses Era 100 surrounds, the same as the Immersive Set with Ray, and the same Sonos Sub. So the meaningful performance difference between the two systems is primarily in the soundbar.
If Dolby Atmos is a priority, if your television has HDMI eARC, if your room is larger and benefits from a more powerful front soundstage, or if your budget comfortably accommodates the Cinema Package, the Arc based system is the better choice. If your room is smaller, your television uses optical output, Atmos is not a specific requirement, or budget is a meaningful consideration, the Immersive Set with Ray delivers the surround sound experience that matters most at a more accessible price.
Is the Sonos Immersive Set With Ray Worth the Price
The Sonos Immersive Set with Ray represents genuine value within the Sonos range. The inclusion of the full Sonos Sub rather than a compromised or entry level subwoofer means the low frequency performance of this package is the same as what you get in packages costing significantly more. The Era 100 surrounds are the same components used in more expensive packages. The Ray is the limiting component in terms of absolute performance but it is an honest and capable soundbar for the room sizes and use cases where this system makes most sense.
For a first proper home theatre system, for a secondary room in a home where the primary cinema room has a more capable setup, or for a buyer who wants the core Sonos surround experience at the most accessible price in the range, the Immersive Set with Ray delivers exactly what it promises and more than its price would lead you to expect.
Quick Specs
Sonos Ray: Four Class D amplifiers, two tweeters, two woofers, optical audio connection, Wi Fi, touch controls
Sonos Sub: Two force cancelling woofers, sealed enclosure, Wi Fi, wireless pairing with Ray
Sonos Era 100 x2: Tweeter and angled mid-woofer, Wi Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Amazon Alexa, used as wireless rear surrounds
Room Calibration: Trueplay via iOS device
Connection to TV: Optical audio
Wireless: Sub and Era 100 surrounds connect via Wi Fi with no audio cables between speakers
App: Sonos S2 on iOS and Android
Supported formats: Dolby Digital, DTS via optical connection
Final Word
The Sonos Immersive Set with Ray proves that a genuinely immersive home theatre experience does not have to begin at a flagship price point. It takes three well engineered components, puts them together in a system that is simple to set up and simple to use, and delivers surround sound that transforms how you experience everything you watch.
It is honest about what it is and what it is not. It does not claim to be a Dolby Atmos system. It does not pretend the Ray is a premium soundbar. What it does claim is that a complete wireless surround sound experience is within reach for more buyers than the premium Sonos packages serve, and on that claim it delivers fully.
For anyone ready to leave television speakers behind and experience what a proper surround system feels like, the Sonos Immersive Set with Ray is the most accessible entry point into that experience that Sonos makes.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Sonos Immersive Set With Ray
Q1. What is included in the Sonos Immersive Set with Ray?
The Sonos Immersive Set with Ray includes the Sonos Ray soundbar, the Sonos Sub wireless subwoofer, and a pair of Sonos Era 100 speakers configured as wireless rear surround channels. Together these three components create a complete wireless surround sound system for your television and home theatre setup.
Q2. Does the Sonos Immersive Set with Ray support Dolby Atmos?
No. The Sonos Ray connects to the television via optical audio, which does not carry Dolby Atmos or other object based spatial audio formats. The Immersive Set with Ray supports Dolby Digital and DTS surround formats via the optical connection, which delivers a genuine and engaging surround sound experience for the vast majority of television and streaming content. If Dolby Atmos support is a specific requirement, the Sonos Cinema Package built around the Arc or the Ultimate Immersive Set built around the Arc Ultra are the appropriate choices as both use HDMI eARC for full Atmos passthrough.
Q3. How does the Ray connect to the television?
The Sonos Ray connects to the television via an optical audio cable, also known as a TOSLINK cable. Most televisions have an optical audio output and the required cable is included with the Ray. The optical connection carries stereo and standard surround audio formats but does not support HDMI ARC, eARC, or Dolby Atmos. If your television does not have an optical output, the Ray is not compatible and one of the HDMI eARC capable Sonos soundbars would be required instead.
Q4. Do the Era 100 surround speakers need to be wired to the Ray?
No. The Era 100 speakers connect wirelessly to your home Wi Fi network and receive their surround audio signal wirelessly from the Ray. The only cable connected to each Era 100 speaker is a power cable to a wall socket. There are no speaker cables running from the soundbar to the surround speakers. This wireless surround capability is one of the most practically useful features of the Sonos home theatre system and significantly simplifies installation in any room.
Q5. Can the Era 100 speakers in the Immersive Set be used as regular speakers?
Yes. The Era 100 speakers are full featured standalone smart speakers when not serving as rear surround channels. They support Apple AirPlay 2, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth connectivity, and all streaming services available through the Sonos S2 app. You can play music through them independently, group them with other Sonos speakers in the home for synchronised audio, or use them for voice control functions. The transition between surround mode for television audio and standalone speaker mode is managed automatically by the Sonos system.
Q6. What size room is the Sonos Immersive Set with Ray best suited for?
The Immersive Set with Ray is best suited to small and medium sized rooms, typically those designed around televisions in the 40 to 55 inch range. The Ray’s compact dimensions are proportionally appropriate for smaller television setups and its audio output is optimised for closer listening distances. The Sonos Sub’s output is more than sufficient to fill a standard sized living room or bedroom with impactful bass. For larger rooms or larger television setups, the Cinema Package or Ultimate Immersive Set with more powerful soundbars would be more appropriate.
Q7. Can I upgrade from the Immersive Set with Ray to a more capable system later?
Yes. The Sonos ecosystem is designed for gradual expansion and upgrading. If you start with the Immersive Set with Ray and later decide you want Dolby Atmos capability and a more powerful soundbar, you can add a Sonos Arc or Arc Ultra to your system and retain the Era 100 surrounds and the Sub from your existing setup. Upgrading the soundbar requires removing the Ray from the home theatre group in the app and adding the new soundbar in its place, a process the Sonos app guides you through clearly. Your investment in the surround speakers and subwoofer carries forward to the upgraded system.
Q8. Does the Sonos Sub in this package work the same as the Sub in more expensive Sonos packages?
Yes. The Sonos Sub included in the Immersive Set with Ray is the same product as the Sub included in the Cinema Package and other Sonos home theatre bundles. It uses the same force cancelling woofer design, the same sealed enclosure, and the same wireless pairing technology. The Sub does not have a compromised or reduced specification in this package. This is one of the most compelling aspects of the Immersive Set with Ray as it means the low frequency performance is not limited relative to more expensive Sonos packages.
Q9. How does Trueplay work with the Immersive Set with Ray?
Trueplay calibrates all three components of the Immersive Set with Ray simultaneously. Running Trueplay requires an iPhone or iPad and uses the device’s microphone to measure how sound behaves in your specific room. The app adjusts the Ray’s output, the Sub’s level and crossover, and the Era 100 surround levels together to create a balanced and natural sounding system tailored to your room’s acoustic characteristics. The process takes a few minutes and makes a meaningful difference to how the system sounds, particularly in the balance between the soundbar and subwoofer. Android users can use the system fully but Trueplay calibration requires an iOS device.