Sonos Ray vs JBL Bar 300MK2: Ray fits a narrower open shelf, JBL adds a direct-player Atmos route

Check these before buying

• For a Ray shelf, measure internal width, height, depth and TV separation. Its roughly 22-inch body needs at least 2 inches at each side, 1 inch above and 2 inches from the TV. Place it horizontally at the front with touch controls facing up. Leave room for cable bends, unobstructed sound and ventilation, an accessible power plug and the TV IR sensor. A 28-inch-wide opening can pass the width check without passing the rest.
• JBL is 37 inches wide, 2.0 inches high and 4.1 inches deep. Use a flat, stable open placement with nothing on top, enough support and space for cable connections, clear sound paths and power access. Its placement diagram recommends a listening position about 2.5 to 3 m away and shows room width over 4 m. That room arrow is not a required gap on each side of the bar.
• For Ray, confirm the TV optical output can deliver Stereo PCM, Dolby Digital or DTS Digital Surround from the actual player or TV app. Its included optical cable carries sound, not HDMI control. Set up a compatible IR remote in the Sonos app. A Bluetooth-only or RF-only remote may need configuration or may not work. Sonos app and touch controls are alternatives only if you accept that change in daily use.
• For the JBL ARC-only-TV example, connect the supplied HDMI cable from the bar’s TV output to the TV ARC port. A second HDMI 2.0 or later cable, bought separately, connects the player to HDMI IN on JBL. Enable the TV’s ARC and compatible HDMI-CEC settings and the player’s applicable CEC setting, then select Bitstream or Raw audio output as JBL directs. Select HDMI IN for that player. Full HDMI-CEC compatibility is not guaranteed.
• Confirm the exact player’s Atmos output and selected content, and check its exact video mode through both JBL and the chosen TV input before relying on this route. The documents support 4K Dolby Vision and HDR10+ passthrough, not a complete refresh-rate, audio-container or VRR compatibility list. They do not qualify every console or streaming box. With a suitable eARC TV, a player can instead connect to the TV if it passes the needed audio. Ray still does not support Atmos.
• Draw both complete connections before counting devices. Ray optical consumes no TV HDMI input. JBL consumes the TV ARC/eARC socket and offers one player input on the bar. With equally suitable TV sockets, those arrangements can keep the same number of players connected. The JBL reason here is supported audio routing, not a free extra device slot.
• Plan network music separately from the TV cable. Ray needs broadband and a compatible Android or iOS device for Sonos app setup. JBL One on Android or iOS handles home Wi-Fi setup and network streaming. JBL’s remote can start its room calibration. Do not turn these network steps into a claim that JBL wired TV playback always needs internet, or that calibration runs before every film.
• Keep the selected packages exact: Sonos Ray and JBL Bar 300MK2, not an earlier JBL Bar 300 or a speaker bundle. These are standalone soundbars. Add-on speakers are outside this comparison and are not included in the stated body sizes. Confirm any required cables and complete current offers before ordering. No current price, stock or delivery promise is made.