How many fit
Only 5 of the 31 models checked meet every need here: “My TV outputs audio by optical only”, “My bar can’t be wider than 32 inches”, and “I can’t fit a bass box”.
5 models fit, out of 31 checkedPicked for one job
What soundbar is the right buy for an optical-only TV?
Top pick
Sonos Ray
Sonos Ray is the choice for a small optical-only setup where Wi-Fi music and its simple connection are enough. Beam Gen 2 is the choice if you want the option of moving to HDMI ARC or eARC with a future TV. Polk MagniFi Mini AX is the choice when the stand is especially narrow and there is room for its supplied subwoofer.
Why it suits this job
- Either a native optical input or the required adapter in the package
- Everyday volume control that is compatible with your TV
- The catch
- It lacks an HDMI connection, Dolby Atmos and Bluetooth music playback.
- Go with Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if
- You expect to move to HDMI ARC or eARC later. An optical adapter is included for the TV you have now.
More reasons we picked it
- Expectations that are realistic about the audio formats optical can carry
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Pick a soundbar for an optical-only TV on connector, remote control and size, and understand the format limit before you pay for features that optical cannot carry.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the soundbars we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “My TV outputs audio by optical only”, “My bar can’t be wider than 32 inches”, and “I can’t fit a bass box”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonos Ray |
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| Sonos Beam (Gen 2) |
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| Polk MagniFi Mini AX |
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| Sony HT-S2000 |
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Decision guide
How to choose for this job
Base the choice on the optical connection you will really use. Whatever logo the soundbar carries, optical does not carry Dolby Atmos.
Not every HDMI socket is an ARC connection
HDMI inputs on some older TVs come with no audio-return capability. A soundbar’s eARC TV socket does not accept ordinary video-input behavior in reverse. Read the labels on the TV and its manual. Sennheiser AMBEO Mini has no optical input, so an optical-only TV cannot connect to it directly.
The remote control is part of what you are buying
For TV volume control, Sonos Ray relies on compatible infrared commands and not on HDMI-CEC. A remote that mainly works over Bluetooth or radio may need an infrared setup option. Check the remote your household really uses so that basic volume control is not the surprise after delivery.
Future flexibility can justify the Beam, but it cannot supply Atmos today
An optical adapter comes with the Beam Gen 2, and it can use HDMI ARC or eARC later. Ray stays optical-only. Over the current optical connection, the Beam’s HDMI capabilities have to wait for a compatible TV. Adding a subwoofer or rear speakers does not lift the input-format limit.
An example with real numbers
An optical-only TV and a 24-inch shelf
Put the physical width and the connection requirements together.
The mathA candidate needs an optical connection path and a cabinet no wider than 24 inches.
- Optical audio is on the TV, but ARC and eARC are not.
- Usable width on the shelf is 24 inches.
- Subwoofer floor space and screen clearance get their own checks.
| Situation | Width | Optical path | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonos Ray | 21.93 in | Native | Meets both requirements |
| Sonos Beam Gen 2 | 25.63 in | Included adapter | Too wide |
| Polk MagniFi Mini AX | 14.40 in | Native | Fits, with separate subwoofer |
| Sennheiser AMBEO Mini | 27.56 in | None | No direct optical connection |
What it tells youWith Ray, this example stays at a single cabinet. Polk fits the shelf even more easily but needs a separate location for its subwoofer.
Watch out forNothing in this table guarantees that every TV output format or remote will work. Check the actual TV and remote models.
What this page can’t tell you
- Which optical formats are supported depends on the TV’s output settings and on the soundbar. None of the optical setups here is presented as a Dolby Atmos connection.
4 options
The top pick and the alternatives
Sonos, Ray
Sonos Ray
Consider the Ray if you have a small TV with optical audio and also want Sonos music streaming. Hooking it to the TV is easy, but no software setting or new cable will turn it into an Atmos soundbar.
Top pick ifA narrow stand and an optical-only TV
Key facts
- The cabinet is 21.93 × 2.76 × 3.66 inches.
- It takes an optical TV input and has no HDMI input or output.
The catch
It lacks an HDMI connection, Dolby Atmos and Bluetooth music playback.
Sonos, Beam Gen 2
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
A narrow TV stand is no problem for the Beam, and it leaves the door open to a larger Sonos system. Its Atmos effect comes from processing. It has no upward-firing drivers. Room tuning also requires a compatible iPhone or iPad.
Pick this instead ifYou expect to move to HDMI ARC or eARC later. An optical adapter is included for the TV you have now.
Key facts
- The cabinet is 25.63 × 2.68 × 3.94 inches.
- An included optical adapter comes with the HDMI eARC or ARC connection.
The catch
It has neither separate HDMI source inputs nor Bluetooth music playback.
Polk Audio, MagniFi Mini AX
Polk MagniFi Mini AX
No other bar here is narrower than the Mini AX, so it can work between TV feet that sit close together. The tiny bar does not make this a one-box setup, though, because the included subwoofer puts part of the system on the floor.
Pick this instead ifVery little bar width is available, and you can place a separate subwoofer.
Key facts
- The bar is 14.4 × 3.1 × 4.1 inches.
- The subwoofer cabinet is 7.2 × 14.6 × 15.6 inches.
The catch
The separate subwoofer still takes up floor space and needs power.
Sony, HT-S2000
Sony HT-S2000
A 32-inch-wide space is enough for the HT-S2000, and there is no separate bass box to place. Audio can arrive over eARC or optical. The Atmos height effect is virtual, though, and a console cannot plug into the bar.
Pick this instead ifBuilt-in bass in a 31.5-inch bar appeals to you, along with Bluetooth music in place of Wi-Fi streaming.
Key facts
- The bar is 800 × 64 × 124 mm.
- A 3.1-channel bar that has bass drivers built in.
The catch
It lacks HDMI source inputs and Wi-Fi music streaming.
Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Top pick for this job
Sonos Ray
Either a native optical input or the required adapter in the package
See price & reviews on AmazonPick this instead if
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
You expect to move to HDMI ARC or eARC later. An optical adapter is included for the TV you have now.
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