If you've ever had to rewind a TV show after not catching a word of what was just said, or you need subtitles on all the time because the dialogue sounds muffled, your TV's speakers probably aren't good enough.
Luckily, there's an easy way to fix this, and it doesn't have to break the bank. Every movie and TV show I've watched with the Sonos Ray, which is currently on sale for $199 for a limited time, has had clear dialogue that's easy to follow without needing subtitles or rewinding.
And as it's so affordable, it's one of the best soundbars if you're on a budget – proof that you don't need to spend $500 or more for an entertainment setup with crisp vocals you can hear. And this discount has come just in time for cozy winter evenings and festive movie nights.
I Love the Sonos Ray Soundbar's Clear Dialogue and Impressive Volume
As I'm writing this, Talking Heads' Once in a Lifetime is playing out of the Sonos Ray, David Byrne's distinctly expressive voice talking over an arrangement of synths and percussion. It's clear – as clear as it ever was – even with the band members' instruments playing loud and fast in the background.
This was one of my favorite features that I noted when testing the Sonos Ray. In every scene I watched – whether a loud action scene or fast-paced sitcom – I never struggled to make out a character's dialogue. The voices were intelligible, easy to make out without needing to focus.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 demonstrated it well. With busy courtroom scenes, overlapping dialogue, and constant background noises like chairs dragging and the smack of the gavel, I could make out every voice effortlessly.
This is a major point that we look out for when testing soundbars. Struggling to hear what people are saying is one of the most common pain points that turns people to invest in more sophisticated sound systems.
But the Sonos Ray, designed for small rooms and only 22 inches wide, is more affordable than the competition because, to keep it compact, it only has four built-in speakers.
And while the Sonos Ray may not have the lifelike vocal quality that you can hear in our favorite Sonos Arc Ultra, you can enjoy crisp dialogue for $900 less while taking up less space on your TV stand.
Naturally, when you pack hardware into a smaller device, you're not going to be able to enjoy the features you'd find in models that cost four times as much. Instead, Sonos had to prioritize what people look for most: Clarity and capacity.
As well as generally making voices easier to make out, there's also a 'Speech Enhancement' mode that you can turn on during those movies that are a little harder to understand. Whether it's older movies filmed with outdated audio equipment or TV shows that never seem to get the sound balance right, this is a hugely useful feature for people who love to ask 'What did they just say?' during every movie night.
And what's more, the Sonos Ray has impressive volume capacity for such a small speaker. Turning it up to 70% filled my large living room with audio that's way louder than what I'd ever need it to be.
This is great for a budget movie room, too. As the Sonos Ray doesn't produce surround sound, being able to turn it up to a volume that fills the room is the next best thing, and costs $100s less compared to those that do, like the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar with its hyper-realistic directional soundstage.
So, whether you're leveling up your small space setup or you want clearer dialogue without splashing out on the pricey models, this one's for you.
The Sonos Ray is discounted to $199 for a limited time.
More to Shop
The Sonos Ray is the most affordable soundbar I've tested for clearer dialogue, but your TV setup can be improved even further with these models I've tested and love.
All prices correct at time of publication.
While the dialogue isn't quite as crisp as the Sonos Ray, the Fire TV Soundbar Plus, also on offer with $75 off right now, has other benefits, including limited surround sound, Dolby Atmos compatibility, and two built-in subwoofers, which, on test, delivered punchy bass.
Read more in my full Fire TV Soundbar Plus review.
Bigger and packed with more tech than the Sonos Ray and Fire TV Soundbar Plus, this Yamaha soundbar sounds better in almost every way. Dialogue is gorgeously clear, the bass is deep and full, and you can hear which direction sounds are coming from.
Read more in my full Yamaha True X Bar 40A review.
One of my favorite soundbars on test, the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar, sounds incredibly detailed, with even the most subtle tones within a character's voice being resoundingly clear. It also has realistic directional audio, something that you usually have to pay around $1,000 for, but now it's on offer at its lowest price all year.
Read more in my full Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review.
Next, find out how to highlight your soundbar in a living room.
