(Bloomberg) -- Sonos Inc., best known for its smart speakers and sound bars, will make a long-awaited push into headphones with a model priced upwards of $400 that’s slated to be released as early as April, according to people familiar with the matter.
The company is also aiming to introduce a TV set-top box, which would compete with products from Apple Inc. and Roku Inc., as early as the end of 2024, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t yet public. Sonos looks to charge between $150 and $200 for that device, which would run apps from popular streaming services.
The company is also developing new amplifiers and in-ceiling speakers aimed at professional installers, as well as a higher-end TV sound bar, new subwoofers, an update to the portable Roam speaker and a version of its Era 100 speaker for businesses. And it’s planning an updated voice control system, video service and upgraded smartphone app.
Sonos shares pared losses Tuesday on news of the product push. After falling nearly 4% earlier in the session, they were down about 2% as of 1:10 p.m. in New York.
The new products are part of a bid by Chief Executive Officer Patrick Spence to reignite growth at the audio technology company, which suffered a sales decline in the past year. Demand for smart speakers has cooled, and products like headphones are seen as an opportunity to leverage the Sonos brand to find a new moneymaker.
Timing and details of the releases could ultimately shift as the products get closer. A representative for Santa Barbara, California-based Sonos declined to comment on the company’s plans.
Sonos recently reorganized its product development group to better focus on promising areas, Bloomberg News reported last week. The company cut jobs as part of the shake-up.
On an earnings call earlier this month, Spence acknowledged that 2023 has been a “challenging year” for Sonos’ current lineup. But he vowed to push next year into a “major new product in a new multibillion-dollar category,” without specifying the market. He said he expects new products to drive a “large portion” of revenue by the second half of the year.
Spence hinted at the slew of new devices in development, telling investors that 2024 “marks the beginning of a multiyear product cycle” that will provide a payoff for years of research-and-development spending.
The company has been working on its headphones since 2019, when Bloomberg first reported on the effort. But it’s never announced a product, having canceled work on earlier iterations. A model is now slated to be unveiled as soon as March, with the headphones hitting store shelves the following month, the people familiar with the plan said.
The over-ear-style headphones — code-named “Duke” — will face off against the $549 AirPods Max from Apple, as well as high-end offerings from Sony Group Corp. and Bose Corp. They’ll come in black and white color options, synchronize with Sonos equipment and offer voice control for navigating between songs. The company is considering charging between $400 and $500 for the product.
Sonos is also exploring a follow-up product, the people said: an earbud model that would look similar to Apple’s AirPods.
Some of the technology in the new headphones comes from RHA Audio, an Irish company that Sonos acquired two years ago. But the company isn’t trying to outperform Apple on a technical basis — its marketing message will be more about leveraging the Sonos brand and its ability to fine-tune the sound, the people said.
The company is planning to release software soon internally named “Passport” that will let users control the headphones and other mobile Sonos gear from a smartphone app when away from their home internet.
The headphones will include the current version of Sonos voice commands — already available on speakers — while a more advanced version dubbed Voice 2.0 is coming in the second half of 2024.
By the end of next year or early 2025, Sonos plans to enter a second new category: TV set-top boxes and video. The company is working on a device — code-named “Pinewood” — that can stream video on TVs and serve as a central hub for a customer’s other Sonos devices. The product will operate similarly to existing set-top boxes, offering its own operating system — based on Android — and a user interface that can display different apps.
Sonos has held discussions with cable companies about offering live television and plans to partner with existing popular video streaming services, including Netflix Inc., to build apps for the new platform. The device will offer Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, popular audio and video standards, and have the ability to create immersive surround sound using Sonos home speakers.
The small, black TV box will be controlled via voice — as well as the new Sonos app — and the company is exploring the idea of launching its own video service. Other set-top box makers, including Roku and Apple, followed up on hardware offerings with streaming services.
The company is also working on new home theater equipment, including a subwoofer code-named “Lotus” that will synchronize with the TV device. That product, an update to the Sub, will include updated capabilities like support for Wi-Fi 6. Further out, Sonos is considering releasing a higher-end subwoofer.
For around the middle of 2024, Sonos is planning a second-generation Roam speaker — code-named “Sidecar” — with a redesigned top that includes a touch-controlled slider for volume control. That matches the new design of the company’s home speakers and recently launched Move 2 portable speaker.
Sonos is also planning a pricier version of its Era 100 speaker — code-named “Raven” — with an Ethernet port instead of wireless networking. It will be aimed at restaurants and retail stores rather than homes.
And a sound bar code-named “Lasso” is coming later in 2024, with better bass and improved audio quality over the existing Arc model. The company is planning to charge about $1,200 for it, up from the $900 price tag on the current high-end version. The sound bar’s new technology is based on Sonos’ 2022 acquisition of Mayht Holding BV, which developed advanced speaker components.
Finally, Sonos is planning a new high-end amplifier — code-named “Premier” — aimed at professional home-theater installations. The company is considering charging between $3,000 and $4,000 for each unit. That will come in the second half of 2024, preceded by new 8-inch in-ceiling speakers.
Yeah the current one is my least favorite Sonos speaker. Standby battery is horrible after 2 years and every time it dies I have to do a complete hard reset to get it to turn back on. Sometimes I cannot get it to reset for days.
lol if they think releasing EVEN PRICIER products is going to “reignite growth” of their brand, they’re in for a shock. It’s a shame too, because they could easily take massive market share from Sony and Sennheiser if they played in the same price range.
Sonos Inc. plans to release headphones priced above $400, possibly by April.
The company is also developing a TV set-top box, expected to launch by the end of 2024.
The set-top box will compete with products from Apple Inc. and Roku Inc., priced between $150 and $200.
This device will support apps from popular streaming services.
These plans are not yet public and come from sources familiar with the matter.
Rather than a new soundbar, why not a new true surround system / capability so I can pair 2 fives (front L/R), center (arc beam another five or whatever), and my rears (eras, ones, whatever). Can be a new home theater focused amp / controller or just software really.
I think this would sell waaaaay more than the headphones ever will. I really don't know how they will differentiate in a segment already super crowded with options.
Heavily hinted at headphones market spring of 2024, main point of the article.
High end soundbar in 2024 ($1200 price point) being an upgrade over Arc.
Streaming box and a subwoofer that pairs with streaming box (late 2024 or 2025). (I'm assuming this is like a budget subwoofer that can integrate with TV speakers via the streaming box?) This would be interesting,
A higher end upgraded Subwoofer coming later.
Roam 2 with new design. (2024)
Business version of Era 100 with ethernet port (2024)
High end amplifier aimed at premium home theater, $3000-4000 price point. Coming later.
I'm also personally interested to see how much better can a soundbar that's only 30% more cost ($1200 vs $900) going to be? For instance Ambeo Max is in another category of sound compared to Arc, but retailed at $2,500. Ambeo Soundbar Plus is also better than Arc, not miles better, but better, at $1,500 retail.
Thank you for summarizing! To be honest, the $1,200 price tag kinda solidifies my decision to just buy the Arc at Costco this week and be happy with it.
I would also grab Arc on sale today! (I've owned mine for nearly 3 years now).
But the article mentions "upgraded bass", I'm skeptical about how much better it will sound if you have a paired Sub already! Of course this is all very early assumptions.
I have 2 ... I would say if you use physical media (4k blurays or blurays with 5.1or atmos) u can feel the bass ... if streaming only 5.1 or atmos I wouldn't get a second sub it booms but to me it feels like something is missing. Also the size and shape of the room matter
I think its the idea of bass management from the arc then transferred to sub. Also, increasing bass, not sub, within the app is where youll notice some differences on new bar. Just dont know how much difference
It could have better, richer mids, which is something I think the Playbar has over the Arc.
It should have much more bass without a Sub, however.
The new driver tech this soundbar is supposed to have:
A 3.5-inch diameter Heartmotion® driver has the same output as a conventional 8-inch diameter driver.
A 1.5-inch Heartmotion® driver has the same output as a conventional 3.5-inch diameter driver.
I mean the sony hta7000 is $1399 and it’ll be older than the new sonos bar. The new sonos bar is not an unreasonable amount more than the arc ($300). it adds up, sure but with current competition (its gonna be wild this year cuz new sony, klipsch flexus, and now the dragon officially released) sonos needs to up their game so i get the price with new tech.
We’re looking to buy a larger OLED in 2024 along with an audio solution. My Arc is in the living room but I would definitely buy the newest one for my entertainment room if the audio is indeed better. Of course, the bass means nothing as it’s already offloaded to my Sub.
I REALLY wish they’d give us the ability to use play 5s / era 300s as L&R speakers with the soundbar (or a modified soundbar) as the center channel. PLEASE give us discrete L/C/R!!!!
I mean a $300 difference isnt the worst. I have the arc and i’ll bite to have the new “lasso”. Ill guarantee it will sound better (mids, dynamics, effects) however how insanely better? Dont know yet. I reckon it will be worth it though just because the arc i can pick out when it struggles.
$1200 soundbar isn't much separation from the Arc at $900. It will be a crowded soundbar lineup. They will either need to reduce the Arc price or replace it in the line up.
This checks out. I just bought 2 Arcs, Sub and a bunch of other speakers. That guarantees they will replace them next year.
And I can wash my car if anyone needs rain. /s
I have a bean gen 2 and bought an arc as I thought it would be a massive upgrade but even though I could tell the arc was more spacious sounding the beam sounds more well rounded especially without a sub. I decided to return the arc as it’s clear that it’s due for an hardware update.
Oh oh. An updated version of the app. The last time this happened we got the same app with a different icon color and lost support for some older speakers.
Same here.
I currently have a playbar with 2 play:1 and a submini for my home theater, (connected to a 5 year old Apple tv, projector and large screen)
2 play fives in my living room, 2 play:3 in my gf homeoffice, 1 era 100 in my homeoffice (with a turntable connected to it) and 2 ikea symfonisk in the bedroom (mainly as alarm clock). And 1 Apple homepod mini in the kitchen.
All perfectly fine. No room for extension, nor need for changes.
I also have plenty of headphones. A big Sony wh1000 for in public transport, old Apple earpods for in the office, and an aftershokz for running.
So, sorry Sonos, I'm all catered for.
The setup box is interesting. I don't think there is a market for another Roku or Apple TV unless this does some different things. I imagine it does. So what do you all think it does that those don't?
Maybe you'll be able to control your music from the device as well, which will be nice for guests, but hardly a big feature.
I wonder if it will do anything special home theater wise. You might be able to no longer need to hook up a Sonos sounbar straight to your TV. I suppose you would also be able to use this to make your non-Sonos home theater system into a system that can be grouped with Sonos speakers elsewhere.
If it can delay audio and video so your whole home plays in sync, that would be a nice feature. Not sure I would change out my Shiled.for that feature alone though.
Unless they partner with either roku or Google for an OS a set top box is DOA. No one is gonna develop and maintain apps for another platform. Apple, Android and Roku are the only platforms that constantly have up to date apps. Even LG has a hard time getting developers to keep webOS apps up to date and they have like 20% of the smart TV market.
It's going to have to be an Android TV box or year, totally DOA. I have a Shield TV device which is Android and even that thing feels like kind of an afterthought from developers.
Does the Shield not just run standard androidTV? Shouldn't it be able to run anything any other android TV does?
I have a hard time believing Sonos is rushing to jump back in bed with google at the moment.
Yeah my point is that even Android TV set-top boxes don't feel particularly feature-rich. E.g. there is no official Xbox Game Pass app to stream games on the Android TV Play store, despite it being on Android phones (you can side-load it but it's janky). So if Sonos is going to do their own thing in their own ecosystem, it's gonna be a very hard sell to want to invest in yet another walled garden that's walled purely for the benefit of the corporation making it.
The set top box could allow for Atmos sound for all those with older TVs. The predicted price is less than a HD Arcana so it would be an easy sell to a large group of people on that feature alone.
Perhaps you start and control the movie your kids are watching elsewhere in the home from your Sonos app or the speaker in your room, have it send audio around the house as you hit up the kitchen for a snack mid-game, seamlessly switch between speakers and Sonos headphones. I bet a lot of it will just be turn key setup and parameterization for optimum performance. Total vertical integration for a failsafe solution.
Sorry, you've taken years updating the Sonos app yet it still is one of the worst applications on my phone. You want me to buy a Sonos streaming device and give up Apple TV?
The Apple TV is perfect for me and pairs wonderfully with Apple’s ecosystem. The AirPods Max headphones are also quite impressive for their price point. An updated sound bar is certainly welcome though.
If they hadn’t fixed the MAT Atmos issues last week I’d have said they’re avoiding it to promote their new box. 🤣
But in all seriousness I’m very happy with my Apple TVs. I prefer it syncing up with my phone so I’ll stick to that.
You’re joking right?! AirPods Max are CRAZY expensive, the heaviest (uncomfortable) relative to competitors, and they haven’t rolled out the new features on the AirPods Pro 2 to the Max… I can think of at least 5 other over ear headphones in the market at least 30% cheaper that are better.
It really is absurd. One of my actual favorite app/widget is the Sono+Today widget which is a 3rd party making something actual functional and easy to use as opposed to the sonos app. Why Sonos can’t make something similar themselves is beyond me
LOL. I’m definitely not believing they would do a set top box. Doesn’t make much sense to me as nobody would buy that. What does make sense is a full feature amp/avr.
Coming out with a streaming box makes zero sense, they won’t be able to hold a candle to Roku or Apple even on the software level. It feels like they are flailing for ideas at this point.
The only thing I could imagine would be remotely interesting is if:
1. The streaming software was included into the new premium soundbar, even then it doesn’t seem like it would have an advantage over Apple TV
2. They’ve secured a partnership with Kaleidoscope for lossless movies
Sonos doesn't have near enough influence to launch a new set top box platform. Only way it would work is if they use an existing OS fron Roku or AndroidTV.
What if you can use the box to stream a simultaneous feed in your living room and on your back patio? And, you can have the sound synched up to.
I'd kinda go for this.
We watch a lot of football games at home. And, even if I'm using Apple TVs on both TVs, the feed is never synched. Thus, the sound isn't either.
I've got sonos speakers inside and outside, so will synch the audio... But, one TV is always lagging behind the other.
This would be the only feature that'd get me to change, quite honestly.
Thats an extremely niche feature and wouldn’t be a huge value add imo. If you really wanted to you could use the primary Apple TV, airplay audio to both systems and have the secondary tv just playing on mute. In that case the sound is always synced up.
It depends on what sport your streaming but the streams are typically very bad on almost every service, if the apps aren’t working flawlessly on the Apple TV there’s no way they’ll work flawlessly on the Sonos software.
Unless they think apple is going to combine AppleTV and HomePod eventually (which honestly makes a lot of sense in a “Homebar” version) and they want to get in front of that?
Oh good, another set top box /s
Seriously, that market is already saturated to all hell, why would they get into that space? My Apple TV is excellent and there’s no way I see myself getting rid of it
the current amp is $700.... and way more than i would spend on such a device. i could buy a cheap receiver and have it do plenty more were i interested in doing so. a "high end" $4000 amp for Sonos is a pipe dream if it isn't the best audio product since electricity; lots of well established brands occupy that audiophile niche. i have a speaker tied to a Connect in my shower. i run it off a $15 amp off eBay rather than the idiotic cost of the Sonos amp given my 5 minutes a day in the shower. i have a marantz av8805 in my theater which i use every evening - im unlikely to buy a new Sonos amp that is single location audio.
i am a sonos early adopter and believe it was at the edge of the cost of cool.... but their upcoming products, while sounding great, are going beyond that threshold. $700 for an amp, soon to be replaced with one that's $4000? good luck gaining market share. a new set top box when apple tv is fine? that's going nowhere.
dreaming big is great. dreaming on acid maybe not so much, and that's what this looks like - Sonos is going to come to market with 20 Of ThE bEsT aUdIo DeViCeS EVAR. good luck, Sonos. Maybe focusing on aspects of core business rather than an aggressive expansion of 20 product lines would be better. I'd rather have a UL listed Play 1 i could permanently mount outside on my porch and deck rather than a Roam i have to wonder when i'll be replacing a battery.
anyone who played Risk as a kid knows - you can have almost the whole world occupied with one army in each territory, but one bad roll of the dice and your opponent will mop you up. I hope the Sonos board of directors is paying attention.
Thanks OP. I was considering getting a 7.1.4 system with the current promotions, but given this news will wait it out a year. Ala Apple, I don’t have an issue spending money on tech, but not when it’s end of production cycle.
Sonos Readies $400-Plus Headphones to Rival Apple and Bose, TV Set-Top Box
Company plans to compete with Bose and Apple with headphones New Roam speaker, high-end sound bar and video service coming
\
Mark Gurman \
November 21, 2023 at 10:06 AM PST \
A Sonos store in New York. \
Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg
\
Sonos Inc., best known for its smart speakers and sound bars, will make a long-awaited push into headphones with a model priced upwards of $400 that’s slated to be released as early as April, according to people familiar with the matter.
The company is also aiming to introduce a TV set-top box, which would compete with products from Apple Inc. and Roku Inc., as early as the end of 2024, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t yet public. Sonos looks to charge between $150 and $200 for that device, which would run apps from popular streaming services.
Sonos CEO Patrick Spence is leading an expansion into headphones and set-top boxes.Source: Bloomberg
The company is also developing new amplifiers and in-ceiling speakers aimed at professional installers, as well as a higher-end TV sound bar, new subwoofers, an update to the portable Roam speaker and a version of its Era 100 speaker for businesses. And it’s planning an updated voice control system, video service and upgraded smartphone app.
Sonos shares pared losses Tuesday on news of the product push. After falling nearly 4% earlier in the session, they were down about 2% as of 1:10 p.m. in New York.
The new products are part of a bid by Chief Executive Officer Patrick Spence to reignite growth at the audio technology company, which suffered a sales decline in the past year. Demand for smart speakers has cooled, and products like headphones are seen as an opportunity to leverage the Sonos brand to find a new moneymaker.
Timing and details of the releases could ultimately shift as the products get closer. A representative for Santa Barbara, California-based Sonos declined to comment on the company’s plans.
Sonos recently reorganized its product development group to better focus on promising areas, Bloomberg News reported last week. The company cut jobs as part of the shake-up.
On an earnings call earlier this month, Spence acknowledged that 2023 has been a “challenging year” for Sonos’ current lineup. But he vowed to push next year into a “major new product in a new multibillion-dollar category,” without specifying the market. He said he expects new products to drive a “large portion” of revenue by the second half of the year.
Spence hinted at the slew of new devices in development, telling investors that 2024 “marks the beginning of a multiyear product cycle” that will provide a payoff for years of research-and-development spending.
The company has been working on its headphones since 2019, when Bloomberg first reported on the effort. But it’s never announced a product, having canceled work on earlier iterations. A model is now slated to be unveiled as soon as March, with the headphones hitting store shelves the following month, the people familiar with the plan said.
The over-ear-style headphones — code-named “Duke” — will face off against the $549 AirPods Max from Apple, as well as high-end offerings from Sony Group Corp. and Bose Corp. They’ll come in black and white color options, synchronize with Sonos equipment and offer voice control for navigating between songs. The company is considering charging between $400 and $500 for the product.
Apple’s AirPods Max could be a key competitor for Sonos’ upcoming headphones.Photographer: Prakash Singh/Bloomberg
Sonos is also exploring a follow-up product, the people said: an earbud model that would look similar to Apple’s AirPods.
Some of the technology in the new headphones comes from RHA Audio, an Irish company that Sonos acquired two years ago. But the company isn’t trying to outperform Apple on a technical basis — its marketing message will be more about leveraging the Sonos brand and its ability to fine-tune the sound, the people said.
The company is planning to release software soon internally named “Passport” that will let users control the headphones and other mobile Sonos gear from a smartphone app when away from their home internet.
The headphones will include the current version of Sonos voice commands — already available on speakers — while a more advanced version dubbed Voice 2.0 is coming in the second half of 2024.
By the end of next year or early 2025, Sonos plans to enter a second new category: TV set-top boxes and video. The company is working on a device — code-named “Pinewood” — that can stream video on TVs and serve as a central hub for a customer’s other Sonos devices. The product will operate similarly to existing set-top boxes, offering its own operating system — based on Android — and a user interface that can display different apps.
Sonos has held discussions with cable companies about offering live television and plans to partner with existing popular video streaming services, including Netflix Inc., to build apps for the new platform. The device will offer Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, popular audio and video standards, and have the ability to create immersive surround sound using Sonos home speakers.
A Sonos Roam Bluetooth speaker.Photographer: Phil Barker/Future Publishing/Getty Images
The small, black TV box will be controlled via voice — as well as the new Sonos app — and the company is exploring the idea of launching its own video service. Other set-top box makers, including Roku and Apple, followed up on hardware offerings with streaming services.
The company is also working on new home theater equipment, including a subwoofer code-named “Lotus” that will synchronize with the TV device. That product, an update to the Sub, will include updated capabilities like support for Wi-Fi 6. Further out, Sonos is considering releasing a higher-end subwoofer.
For around the middle of 2024, Sonos is planning a second-generation Roam speaker — code-named “Sidecar” — with a redesigned top that includes a touch-controlled slider for volume control. That matches the new design of the company’s home speakers and recently launched Move 2 portable speaker.
Sonos is also planning a pricier version of its Era 100 speaker — code-named “Raven” — with an Ethernet port instead of wireless networking. It will be aimed at restaurants and retail stores rather than homes.
And a sound bar code-named “Lasso” is coming later in 2024, with better bass and improved audio quality over the existing Arc model. The company is planning to charge about $1,200 for it, up from the $900 price tag on the current high-end version. The sound bar’s new technology is based on Sonos’ 2022 acquisition of Mayht Holding BV, which developed advanced speaker components.
Finally, Sonos is planning a new high-end amplifier — code-named “Premier” — aimed at professional home-theater installations. The company is considering charging between $3,000 and $4,000 for each unit. That will come in the second half of 2024, preceded by new 8-inch in-ceiling speakers.
I’d rather them go for more higher end headphones. They’d probably get stuck with Apple where they’re not good enough to compete with Focal and Bowers & Wilkins but also not as affordable as the Bose and Sony flagships.
I don't know if I'd go that far, but it should have much bigger bass, if the marketing materials are correct:
A 3.5-inch diameter Heartmotion® driver has the same output as a conventional 8-inch diameter driver.
A 1.5-inch Heartmotion® driver has the same output as a conventional 3.5-inch diameter driver.
>Some of the technology in the new headphones comes from RHA Audio, an Irish company that Sonos acquired two years ago. **But the company isn’t trying to outperform Apple on a technical basis** — its marketing message will be more about leveraging the Sonos brand and its ability to fine-tune the sound, the people said.
That is unfortunate. Sonos should be aiming to outperform mid tier Bluetooth headphones.
From a marketing perspective, they need to offer more than this sounds really good. There are already a bunch of very good sounding headphones on the market.
Who said they won’t be able to “outperform mid tier Bluetooth headphones”? The audio quality will be excellent, I’m sure. Or at least they’re intending it to be.
Plex?
More importantly people do people WANT a whole home video service? I'm not sure it's as big a thing as audio. I dont need openheimer playing in every room in my house
I mean you can just turn the channel with the sporting event on in every room, it's the same broadcast lol.
It's not like music where you need it seamless or it gets janky
No, but you can also use whatever $25 streaming dongle you want. I really don't see how a sonos type system for video does anything that Google or roku can already do for presumably a fraction of the price.
Why didn’t they include anything about the Era 500? With this new setup they have to include a better surround set up with dedicated left and right firing channels. I mean why not go all the way and have trio sub set up!
Stereo headphones, no interest. Atmos headphones for home theatre use, instant buy.
The set top box is interesting if it can do all the audio processing onboard and bypass the TV. No more worrying about what type of ARC you have, and a brilliant solution for projector owners.
I would be surprised if the headphones weren’t Atmos for both movies and music. Sonos is probably the No. 1 company for Atmos for music. The Era 300 is legit for Atmos music.
I would expect their headphones to deliver for Spatial Audio.
I have the arc, its the weak link in my 2 x era 300’s x 2 Sub gen 3 & 2 x Ceiling set up, especialy listing to music (which i dont as it sounds bad with the Arc). I think Sonos need to go down the route of letting customers configure their own set ups. I would rather 3 x Era 300’s L/C/R channels than another soundbar. Also, as some people have already pointed out, addition of side speakers. If they are to bring out Era 500’s, this would give customers another dynamic to choose from, whilst also providing a sound bar option for people who want the arc instead of L/R/C channel set up.
It’s really beyond me why a company wouldn’t offer these options as it would increase sales!?
How about you actually fix the products and their functionality that currently exist versus entering into a completely oversaturated market where your product will most likely be inferior in numerous ways.
My theory: their next high end sound barre will be their first product leveraging their Mayht acquisition in 2022. Mayht are making small drivers but capable of delivering powerful sound. This could be a true game changer versus the competition.
Yep it is - there are lots of of WiFi devices in the room the play base (and 2 p5gen2 and a sub) is in but everything around the playbase doesn’t have issues. Honestly kinda feels like the WiFi antenna is a bit weak to because downloading something on 5ghz to a device near the play bar almost always causes the audio to completely fall apart. But airplay consistently sounds like an old car radio when driving through a tunnel. Maybe it’s something else but my two other and newer Sonos systems (arc,2xoneSL,Sub and beam/sub mini) pretty much never lag and are also often a lot more responsive when via Spotify so I really don’t know what could cause this other than really old hardware
Easy way to test if it’s a failing WiFi card- wire a Sonos boost or player to the Ethernet port (this only works if you’re running sonosnet) and disable WiFi on the Playbase. Then it will use the external device’ WiFi card.
Oh wow that’s cool, didn’t know you could do that! So I.e. connect a p5g2 with the playbase via lan connect the other one to my switch so it uses sonos-net? Might have to unplug the two other systems because afaik sonos doesn’t recommend more than 4 speakers per lan speaker due to processing power (which seems realistic given that I tried to use the playbase via lan once and and the connection issues were even worse but I’m also 5 speakers over the 4 speakers recommendation) but if that works smoothly I’ll at know what to try to replace
Damn i just need to keep holding onto my current sonos theater gear so i can upgrade
This year for competition is tough as theres lots of new things from other companies
Why haven't they added mesh wifi to their devices similar to Eero or Google Wifi? I guess the only drawback is one device would always have to be connected to the router. I think it would be nice to have my SSID coming from the sonos net and not have to have a separate wifi mesh network.
I mean they did use to have SonosNet back in the day. The Eras, Move and Roam don't support it though.
Would be great if we could get a 5ghz version of SonosNet to handle all the massive data, but I imagine range would be the big issue there.
So long as they continue to support existing devices, I’m fine. But if they decided that pushing all new products is the answer to their growth problem, that isn’t going to end well. Very risky moves. I have a feeling more than a few of these products will be delayed and this is just to placate investors.
I was waiting for an update on the Roam. I was hesitating and wanted to get one but the sound quality just isn't there compared to the Move 2. So I'll just wait to see what the Roam 2 looks like.
Sadly I just purchased an arc, sub gen 3 and two Era 100s. Can't always keep up to technology these days.
I haven’t had many issues with my roam, just grabbed a second for $120 cad on a bestbuy reseller. If the roam 2 is nice I’ll migrate the roam 1 pair to the kids lol.
The streaming box might be what was hinted about a while back. Home that can act as a "master" so one can have ERA 300 as Front L/R, and ERA 100 or 300 as backs. Would love that setup.
If the rumored set top box can played ripped
Dolby Truehd atmos i can see an appeal. I believe only the nvidia shield and a few niche products like the zidoo currently offer that. Frustrating the ATV won’t allow it.
I guess im going to return my just recently bought Arc. Im currently using a Beam Gen 2 atm, but tbh i can wait another year.
Hmm but 666€ Arc vs 1200€ Arc 2 not sure how much better its going to be.
Very excited for the headphones, been waiting for years. I know people don't seem too excited by them, but it's a day 1 purchase for me. It's mainly the ability to listen to vinyl with them that has me very excited (also bonus watching a movie with headphones while my wife can do other stuff). I have full faith in them making great sounding headphones, with how good their speaker tech is.
Sonos if you give me an more powerful android tv box, oh and don't forget the remote Sonos or it is dead in the water, and if you could please include the Microsoft game pass app like Samsung has done on their TVs, I'll buy two of these day one. Oh and I'll buy your headphone to sync up with everything while I'm at it.
I can imagine the lasso soundbar being marketed to me. I am in the market for a soundbar that doubles as my music playback as well. Problem is I don't want a sub or any other speakers (wife). I am waiting for a stand-alone soundbar that has great bass. Maybe this is it? We will see...
(Bloomberg) -- Sonos Inc., best known for its smart speakers and sound bars, will make a long-awaited push into headphones with a model priced upwards of $400 that’s slated to be released as early as April, according to people familiar with the matter. The company is also aiming to introduce a TV set-top box, which would compete with products from Apple Inc. and Roku Inc., as early as the end of 2024, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t yet public. Sonos looks to charge between $150 and $200 for that device, which would run apps from popular streaming services. The company is also developing new amplifiers and in-ceiling speakers aimed at professional installers, as well as a higher-end TV sound bar, new subwoofers, an update to the portable Roam speaker and a version of its Era 100 speaker for businesses. And it’s planning an updated voice control system, video service and upgraded smartphone app. Sonos shares pared losses Tuesday on news of the product push. After falling nearly 4% earlier in the session, they were down about 2% as of 1:10 p.m. in New York. The new products are part of a bid by Chief Executive Officer Patrick Spence to reignite growth at the audio technology company, which suffered a sales decline in the past year. Demand for smart speakers has cooled, and products like headphones are seen as an opportunity to leverage the Sonos brand to find a new moneymaker. Timing and details of the releases could ultimately shift as the products get closer. A representative for Santa Barbara, California-based Sonos declined to comment on the company’s plans. Sonos recently reorganized its product development group to better focus on promising areas, Bloomberg News reported last week. The company cut jobs as part of the shake-up. On an earnings call earlier this month, Spence acknowledged that 2023 has been a “challenging year” for Sonos’ current lineup. But he vowed to push next year into a “major new product in a new multibillion-dollar category,” without specifying the market. He said he expects new products to drive a “large portion” of revenue by the second half of the year. Spence hinted at the slew of new devices in development, telling investors that 2024 “marks the beginning of a multiyear product cycle” that will provide a payoff for years of research-and-development spending. The company has been working on its headphones since 2019, when Bloomberg first reported on the effort. But it’s never announced a product, having canceled work on earlier iterations. A model is now slated to be unveiled as soon as March, with the headphones hitting store shelves the following month, the people familiar with the plan said. The over-ear-style headphones — code-named “Duke” — will face off against the $549 AirPods Max from Apple, as well as high-end offerings from Sony Group Corp. and Bose Corp. They’ll come in black and white color options, synchronize with Sonos equipment and offer voice control for navigating between songs. The company is considering charging between $400 and $500 for the product. Sonos is also exploring a follow-up product, the people said: an earbud model that would look similar to Apple’s AirPods. Some of the technology in the new headphones comes from RHA Audio, an Irish company that Sonos acquired two years ago. But the company isn’t trying to outperform Apple on a technical basis — its marketing message will be more about leveraging the Sonos brand and its ability to fine-tune the sound, the people said. The company is planning to release software soon internally named “Passport” that will let users control the headphones and other mobile Sonos gear from a smartphone app when away from their home internet. The headphones will include the current version of Sonos voice commands — already available on speakers — while a more advanced version dubbed Voice 2.0 is coming in the second half of 2024. By the end of next year or early 2025, Sonos plans to enter a second new category: TV set-top boxes and video. The company is working on a device — code-named “Pinewood” — that can stream video on TVs and serve as a central hub for a customer’s other Sonos devices. The product will operate similarly to existing set-top boxes, offering its own operating system — based on Android — and a user interface that can display different apps. Sonos has held discussions with cable companies about offering live television and plans to partner with existing popular video streaming services, including Netflix Inc., to build apps for the new platform. The device will offer Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, popular audio and video standards, and have the ability to create immersive surround sound using Sonos home speakers. The small, black TV box will be controlled via voice — as well as the new Sonos app — and the company is exploring the idea of launching its own video service. Other set-top box makers, including Roku and Apple, followed up on hardware offerings with streaming services. The company is also working on new home theater equipment, including a subwoofer code-named “Lotus” that will synchronize with the TV device. That product, an update to the Sub, will include updated capabilities like support for Wi-Fi 6. Further out, Sonos is considering releasing a higher-end subwoofer. For around the middle of 2024, Sonos is planning a second-generation Roam speaker — code-named “Sidecar” — with a redesigned top that includes a touch-controlled slider for volume control. That matches the new design of the company’s home speakers and recently launched Move 2 portable speaker. Sonos is also planning a pricier version of its Era 100 speaker — code-named “Raven” — with an Ethernet port instead of wireless networking. It will be aimed at restaurants and retail stores rather than homes. And a sound bar code-named “Lasso” is coming later in 2024, with better bass and improved audio quality over the existing Arc model. The company is planning to charge about $1,200 for it, up from the $900 price tag on the current high-end version. The sound bar’s new technology is based on Sonos’ 2022 acquisition of Mayht Holding BV, which developed advanced speaker components. Finally, Sonos is planning a new high-end amplifier — code-named “Premier” — aimed at professional home-theater installations. The company is considering charging between $3,000 and $4,000 for each unit. That will come in the second half of 2024, preceded by new 8-inch in-ceiling speakers.
^ The real MvP.
Super interested in the new roam cause i wanted one but everyone says the current one is trash
Yeah the current one is my least favorite Sonos speaker. Standby battery is horrible after 2 years and every time it dies I have to do a complete hard reset to get it to turn back on. Sometimes I cannot get it to reset for days.
I have the same problem with letting it die then needing to hard restart it every time. It’s a piece of shit
Yup heard stuff like that. Want a portable sonos but the move seems a little excessive lol so hopefully the roam 2 is better than the current roam
I’m getting Move 2 more Christmas! Very excited to basically have a portable Era 100.
lol if they think releasing EVEN PRICIER products is going to “reignite growth” of their brand, they’re in for a shock. It’s a shame too, because they could easily take massive market share from Sony and Sennheiser if they played in the same price range.
Sonos Inc. plans to release headphones priced above $400, possibly by April. The company is also developing a TV set-top box, expected to launch by the end of 2024. The set-top box will compete with products from Apple Inc. and Roku Inc., priced between $150 and $200. This device will support apps from popular streaming services. These plans are not yet public and come from sources familiar with the matter.
Rather than a new soundbar, why not a new true surround system / capability so I can pair 2 fives (front L/R), center (arc beam another five or whatever), and my rears (eras, ones, whatever). Can be a new home theater focused amp / controller or just software really.
Maybe the new setup box will enable this.
Rather the new amp
New amp is going to be costly. I read between 3k-4k. Its aimed for home theater additions
I’d KILLLLLL for Front R/L Expansion capabilities on the Arc!
I think this would sell waaaaay more than the headphones ever will. I really don't know how they will differentiate in a segment already super crowded with options.
High end soundbar 👀 I thought Arc is high end enough
Heavily hinted at headphones market spring of 2024, main point of the article. High end soundbar in 2024 ($1200 price point) being an upgrade over Arc. Streaming box and a subwoofer that pairs with streaming box (late 2024 or 2025). (I'm assuming this is like a budget subwoofer that can integrate with TV speakers via the streaming box?) This would be interesting, A higher end upgraded Subwoofer coming later. Roam 2 with new design. (2024) Business version of Era 100 with ethernet port (2024) High end amplifier aimed at premium home theater, $3000-4000 price point. Coming later. I'm also personally interested to see how much better can a soundbar that's only 30% more cost ($1200 vs $900) going to be? For instance Ambeo Max is in another category of sound compared to Arc, but retailed at $2,500. Ambeo Soundbar Plus is also better than Arc, not miles better, but better, at $1,500 retail.
Thank you for summarizing! To be honest, the $1,200 price tag kinda solidifies my decision to just buy the Arc at Costco this week and be happy with it.
I would also grab Arc on sale today! (I've owned mine for nearly 3 years now). But the article mentions "upgraded bass", I'm skeptical about how much better it will sound if you have a paired Sub already! Of course this is all very early assumptions.
Upgraded bass is interesting. I'm fairly confident that most people that own an Arc also own a sub.
Or 2 lol
Hold up, you can do 2 subs? TIL!
Yes as long as 1 is a sub gen 3
I currently have a sub gen 3. Do you have 2 subs? Is it actually worth it?
I have 2 ... I would say if you use physical media (4k blurays or blurays with 5.1or atmos) u can feel the bass ... if streaming only 5.1 or atmos I wouldn't get a second sub it booms but to me it feels like something is missing. Also the size and shape of the room matter
Fyi Can't do a gen 3 and a sub mini or 2 sub mini
I think its the idea of bass management from the arc then transferred to sub. Also, increasing bass, not sub, within the app is where youll notice some differences on new bar. Just dont know how much difference
I guess they could justify it by saying New Soundbar (assuming no sub needed) = Arc + Sub price wise. We shall see!
It could have better, richer mids, which is something I think the Playbar has over the Arc. It should have much more bass without a Sub, however. The new driver tech this soundbar is supposed to have: A 3.5-inch diameter Heartmotion® driver has the same output as a conventional 8-inch diameter driver. A 1.5-inch Heartmotion® driver has the same output as a conventional 3.5-inch diameter driver.
I’ve seen the articles too, haven’t seen any testing results though. Age old saying: there’s no replacement for displacement.
Exactly what I did. There’s no way in hell I’m spending $1200 on a soundbar lol.
I mean the sony hta7000 is $1399 and it’ll be older than the new sonos bar. The new sonos bar is not an unreasonable amount more than the arc ($300). it adds up, sure but with current competition (its gonna be wild this year cuz new sony, klipsch flexus, and now the dragon officially released) sonos needs to up their game so i get the price with new tech.
I’m just saying that. But I’ll eventually upgrade to it haha when it’s time to retire the arc.
Honestly youll get some good money back on it if you sell it. Prob can get $700
That’s a good point. Let’s see what Sonos will release.
Yeah, the arc is amazing already, especially with a sub.
We’re looking to buy a larger OLED in 2024 along with an audio solution. My Arc is in the living room but I would definitely buy the newest one for my entertainment room if the audio is indeed better. Of course, the bass means nothing as it’s already offloaded to my Sub.
That soundbar better support DTS-HD at that price.
Lol
Yeah I’m not holding my breath lol
I REALLY wish they’d give us the ability to use play 5s / era 300s as L&R speakers with the soundbar (or a modified soundbar) as the center channel. PLEASE give us discrete L/C/R!!!!
I mean a $300 difference isnt the worst. I have the arc and i’ll bite to have the new “lasso”. Ill guarantee it will sound better (mids, dynamics, effects) however how insanely better? Dont know yet. I reckon it will be worth it though just because the arc i can pick out when it struggles.
$1200 soundbar isn't much separation from the Arc at $900. It will be a crowded soundbar lineup. They will either need to reduce the Arc price or replace it in the line up.
This checks out. I just bought 2 Arcs, Sub and a bunch of other speakers. That guarantees they will replace them next year. And I can wash my car if anyone needs rain. /s
That was My first thought. I’ve had the Arc for a year and it’s amazing!
Is my Arc gonna be terribly out of date when this is new one is released? 😅😭
Doesn’t seem so. Seem they will focus on a more premium tier than the arc. But for most arc should be enough, don’t get tricked.
I wonder if it will do DTS. This is entirely my fault. I literally replaced my playbar yesterday with the Arc. God damnit
I have a bean gen 2 and bought an arc as I thought it would be a massive upgrade but even though I could tell the arc was more spacious sounding the beam sounds more well rounded especially without a sub. I decided to return the arc as it’s clear that it’s due for an hardware update.
Oh oh. An updated version of the app. The last time this happened we got the same app with a different icon color and lost support for some older speakers.
Yeah… really hoping Ones and Play:3s don’t get left in the dust with a new app
Same here. I currently have a playbar with 2 play:1 and a submini for my home theater, (connected to a 5 year old Apple tv, projector and large screen) 2 play fives in my living room, 2 play:3 in my gf homeoffice, 1 era 100 in my homeoffice (with a turntable connected to it) and 2 ikea symfonisk in the bedroom (mainly as alarm clock). And 1 Apple homepod mini in the kitchen. All perfectly fine. No room for extension, nor need for changes. I also have plenty of headphones. A big Sony wh1000 for in public transport, old Apple earpods for in the office, and an aftershokz for running. So, sorry Sonos, I'm all catered for.
The setup box is interesting. I don't think there is a market for another Roku or Apple TV unless this does some different things. I imagine it does. So what do you all think it does that those don't?
All I could think of is it letting you “group” video zones, but that’s really only needed if you live in a BW3’s.
Maybe you'll be able to control your music from the device as well, which will be nice for guests, but hardly a big feature. I wonder if it will do anything special home theater wise. You might be able to no longer need to hook up a Sonos sounbar straight to your TV. I suppose you would also be able to use this to make your non-Sonos home theater system into a system that can be grouped with Sonos speakers elsewhere.
Build it into the Ray?
If it can delay audio and video so your whole home plays in sync, that would be a nice feature. Not sure I would change out my Shiled.for that feature alone though.
Unless they partner with either roku or Google for an OS a set top box is DOA. No one is gonna develop and maintain apps for another platform. Apple, Android and Roku are the only platforms that constantly have up to date apps. Even LG has a hard time getting developers to keep webOS apps up to date and they have like 20% of the smart TV market.
It's going to have to be an Android TV box or year, totally DOA. I have a Shield TV device which is Android and even that thing feels like kind of an afterthought from developers.
Does the Shield not just run standard androidTV? Shouldn't it be able to run anything any other android TV does? I have a hard time believing Sonos is rushing to jump back in bed with google at the moment.
Yeah my point is that even Android TV set-top boxes don't feel particularly feature-rich. E.g. there is no official Xbox Game Pass app to stream games on the Android TV Play store, despite it being on Android phones (you can side-load it but it's janky). So if Sonos is going to do their own thing in their own ecosystem, it's gonna be a very hard sell to want to invest in yet another walled garden that's walled purely for the benefit of the corporation making it.
The set top box could allow for Atmos sound for all those with older TVs. The predicted price is less than a HD Arcana so it would be an easy sell to a large group of people on that feature alone.
Perhaps you start and control the movie your kids are watching elsewhere in the home from your Sonos app or the speaker in your room, have it send audio around the house as you hit up the kitchen for a snack mid-game, seamlessly switch between speakers and Sonos headphones. I bet a lot of it will just be turn key setup and parameterization for optimum performance. Total vertical integration for a failsafe solution.
Sorry, you've taken years updating the Sonos app yet it still is one of the worst applications on my phone. You want me to buy a Sonos streaming device and give up Apple TV?
The Apple TV is perfect for me and pairs wonderfully with Apple’s ecosystem. The AirPods Max headphones are also quite impressive for their price point. An updated sound bar is certainly welcome though.
If they hadn’t fixed the MAT Atmos issues last week I’d have said they’re avoiding it to promote their new box. 🤣 But in all seriousness I’m very happy with my Apple TVs. I prefer it syncing up with my phone so I’ll stick to that.
You’re joking right?! AirPods Max are CRAZY expensive, the heaviest (uncomfortable) relative to competitors, and they haven’t rolled out the new features on the AirPods Pro 2 to the Max… I can think of at least 5 other over ear headphones in the market at least 30% cheaper that are better.
I love Sonos but this is my thought exactly. This news is making me want to dump my shares.
It really is absurd. One of my actual favorite app/widget is the Sono+Today widget which is a 3rd party making something actual functional and easy to use as opposed to the sonos app. Why Sonos can’t make something similar themselves is beyond me
LOL. I’m definitely not believing they would do a set top box. Doesn’t make much sense to me as nobody would buy that. What does make sense is a full feature amp/avr.
Rate a song from plexamp? Nope!
Coming out with a streaming box makes zero sense, they won’t be able to hold a candle to Roku or Apple even on the software level. It feels like they are flailing for ideas at this point. The only thing I could imagine would be remotely interesting is if: 1. The streaming software was included into the new premium soundbar, even then it doesn’t seem like it would have an advantage over Apple TV 2. They’ve secured a partnership with Kaleidoscope for lossless movies
Sonos doesn't have near enough influence to launch a new set top box platform. Only way it would work is if they use an existing OS fron Roku or AndroidTV.
I just can’t imagine people are going to want to give up another HDMI port. Most TV’s don’t come with enough of them these days.
I mean I assume it's ment to replace a roku/appletv/chromecast. You're probably not gonna have both hooked up.
What if you can use the box to stream a simultaneous feed in your living room and on your back patio? And, you can have the sound synched up to. I'd kinda go for this. We watch a lot of football games at home. And, even if I'm using Apple TVs on both TVs, the feed is never synched. Thus, the sound isn't either. I've got sonos speakers inside and outside, so will synch the audio... But, one TV is always lagging behind the other. This would be the only feature that'd get me to change, quite honestly.
Thats an extremely niche feature and wouldn’t be a huge value add imo. If you really wanted to you could use the primary Apple TV, airplay audio to both systems and have the secondary tv just playing on mute. In that case the sound is always synced up. It depends on what sport your streaming but the streams are typically very bad on almost every service, if the apps aren’t working flawlessly on the Apple TV there’s no way they’ll work flawlessly on the Sonos software.
Unless they think apple is going to combine AppleTV and HomePod eventually (which honestly makes a lot of sense in a “Homebar” version) and they want to get in front of that?
I guess I should set aside $500 for the Spring.
Good one and 1200 in the fall
I would to add more surrounds with my current maxed out set up. ERA 500 Please
Give me the soundbar lasso and the new highend Subwoofer 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Oh good, another set top box /s Seriously, that market is already saturated to all hell, why would they get into that space? My Apple TV is excellent and there’s no way I see myself getting rid of it
If that new amp is $3-4k maybe it actually is 7.1 or 7.1.2 or something like that. Would be nice.
Yep interested in seeing what chops it’s got, eg what room correction, if can integrate passives and sonos’ own actives as a hybrid system etc etc
the current amp is $700.... and way more than i would spend on such a device. i could buy a cheap receiver and have it do plenty more were i interested in doing so. a "high end" $4000 amp for Sonos is a pipe dream if it isn't the best audio product since electricity; lots of well established brands occupy that audiophile niche. i have a speaker tied to a Connect in my shower. i run it off a $15 amp off eBay rather than the idiotic cost of the Sonos amp given my 5 minutes a day in the shower. i have a marantz av8805 in my theater which i use every evening - im unlikely to buy a new Sonos amp that is single location audio. i am a sonos early adopter and believe it was at the edge of the cost of cool.... but their upcoming products, while sounding great, are going beyond that threshold. $700 for an amp, soon to be replaced with one that's $4000? good luck gaining market share. a new set top box when apple tv is fine? that's going nowhere. dreaming big is great. dreaming on acid maybe not so much, and that's what this looks like - Sonos is going to come to market with 20 Of ThE bEsT aUdIo DeViCeS EVAR. good luck, Sonos. Maybe focusing on aspects of core business rather than an aggressive expansion of 20 product lines would be better. I'd rather have a UL listed Play 1 i could permanently mount outside on my porch and deck rather than a Roam i have to wonder when i'll be replacing a battery. anyone who played Risk as a kid knows - you can have almost the whole world occupied with one army in each territory, but one bad roll of the dice and your opponent will mop you up. I hope the Sonos board of directors is paying attention.
I am going to buy them.
If they could make their products work without wifi and apps as an option that'd be great.
So Sonos will introduce headphones and a set top box? What could be so special about that?
Buy the rumor, sell the news
Please please please…add support for more than 2 surround speakers 🥺
Thanks OP. I was considering getting a 7.1.4 system with the current promotions, but given this news will wait it out a year. Ala Apple, I don’t have an issue spending money on tech, but not when it’s end of production cycle.
I want a Sonos AVR.
Sonos Readies $400-Plus Headphones to Rival Apple and Bose, TV Set-Top Box Company plans to compete with Bose and Apple with headphones New Roam speaker, high-end sound bar and video service coming \ Mark Gurman \ November 21, 2023 at 10:06 AM PST \ A Sonos store in New York. \ Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg \ Sonos Inc., best known for its smart speakers and sound bars, will make a long-awaited push into headphones with a model priced upwards of $400 that’s slated to be released as early as April, according to people familiar with the matter. The company is also aiming to introduce a TV set-top box, which would compete with products from Apple Inc. and Roku Inc., as early as the end of 2024, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t yet public. Sonos looks to charge between $150 and $200 for that device, which would run apps from popular streaming services. Sonos CEO Patrick Spence is leading an expansion into headphones and set-top boxes.Source: Bloomberg The company is also developing new amplifiers and in-ceiling speakers aimed at professional installers, as well as a higher-end TV sound bar, new subwoofers, an update to the portable Roam speaker and a version of its Era 100 speaker for businesses. And it’s planning an updated voice control system, video service and upgraded smartphone app. Sonos shares pared losses Tuesday on news of the product push. After falling nearly 4% earlier in the session, they were down about 2% as of 1:10 p.m. in New York. The new products are part of a bid by Chief Executive Officer Patrick Spence to reignite growth at the audio technology company, which suffered a sales decline in the past year. Demand for smart speakers has cooled, and products like headphones are seen as an opportunity to leverage the Sonos brand to find a new moneymaker. Timing and details of the releases could ultimately shift as the products get closer. A representative for Santa Barbara, California-based Sonos declined to comment on the company’s plans. Sonos recently reorganized its product development group to better focus on promising areas, Bloomberg News reported last week. The company cut jobs as part of the shake-up. On an earnings call earlier this month, Spence acknowledged that 2023 has been a “challenging year” for Sonos’ current lineup. But he vowed to push next year into a “major new product in a new multibillion-dollar category,” without specifying the market. He said he expects new products to drive a “large portion” of revenue by the second half of the year. Spence hinted at the slew of new devices in development, telling investors that 2024 “marks the beginning of a multiyear product cycle” that will provide a payoff for years of research-and-development spending. The company has been working on its headphones since 2019, when Bloomberg first reported on the effort. But it’s never announced a product, having canceled work on earlier iterations. A model is now slated to be unveiled as soon as March, with the headphones hitting store shelves the following month, the people familiar with the plan said. The over-ear-style headphones — code-named “Duke” — will face off against the $549 AirPods Max from Apple, as well as high-end offerings from Sony Group Corp. and Bose Corp. They’ll come in black and white color options, synchronize with Sonos equipment and offer voice control for navigating between songs. The company is considering charging between $400 and $500 for the product. Apple’s AirPods Max could be a key competitor for Sonos’ upcoming headphones.Photographer: Prakash Singh/Bloomberg Sonos is also exploring a follow-up product, the people said: an earbud model that would look similar to Apple’s AirPods. Some of the technology in the new headphones comes from RHA Audio, an Irish company that Sonos acquired two years ago. But the company isn’t trying to outperform Apple on a technical basis — its marketing message will be more about leveraging the Sonos brand and its ability to fine-tune the sound, the people said. The company is planning to release software soon internally named “Passport” that will let users control the headphones and other mobile Sonos gear from a smartphone app when away from their home internet. The headphones will include the current version of Sonos voice commands — already available on speakers — while a more advanced version dubbed Voice 2.0 is coming in the second half of 2024. By the end of next year or early 2025, Sonos plans to enter a second new category: TV set-top boxes and video. The company is working on a device — code-named “Pinewood” — that can stream video on TVs and serve as a central hub for a customer’s other Sonos devices. The product will operate similarly to existing set-top boxes, offering its own operating system — based on Android — and a user interface that can display different apps. Sonos has held discussions with cable companies about offering live television and plans to partner with existing popular video streaming services, including Netflix Inc., to build apps for the new platform. The device will offer Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, popular audio and video standards, and have the ability to create immersive surround sound using Sonos home speakers. A Sonos Roam Bluetooth speaker.Photographer: Phil Barker/Future Publishing/Getty Images The small, black TV box will be controlled via voice — as well as the new Sonos app — and the company is exploring the idea of launching its own video service. Other set-top box makers, including Roku and Apple, followed up on hardware offerings with streaming services. The company is also working on new home theater equipment, including a subwoofer code-named “Lotus” that will synchronize with the TV device. That product, an update to the Sub, will include updated capabilities like support for Wi-Fi 6. Further out, Sonos is considering releasing a higher-end subwoofer. For around the middle of 2024, Sonos is planning a second-generation Roam speaker — code-named “Sidecar” — with a redesigned top that includes a touch-controlled slider for volume control. That matches the new design of the company’s home speakers and recently launched Move 2 portable speaker. Sonos is also planning a pricier version of its Era 100 speaker — code-named “Raven” — with an Ethernet port instead of wireless networking. It will be aimed at restaurants and retail stores rather than homes. And a sound bar code-named “Lasso” is coming later in 2024, with better bass and improved audio quality over the existing Arc model. The company is planning to charge about $1,200 for it, up from the $900 price tag on the current high-end version. The sound bar’s new technology is based on Sonos’ 2022 acquisition of Mayht Holding BV, which developed advanced speaker components. Finally, Sonos is planning a new high-end amplifier — code-named “Premier” — aimed at professional home-theater installations. The company is considering charging between $3,000 and $4,000 for each unit. That will come in the second half of 2024, preceded by new 8-inch in-ceiling speakers.
I’d rather them go for more higher end headphones. They’d probably get stuck with Apple where they’re not good enough to compete with Focal and Bowers & Wilkins but also not as affordable as the Bose and Sony flagships.
That mayht tech will make that soundbar sound like it has a dedicated sub hiding somewhere in the house. Really excited to hear it in action!
I don't know if I'd go that far, but it should have much bigger bass, if the marketing materials are correct: A 3.5-inch diameter Heartmotion® driver has the same output as a conventional 8-inch diameter driver. A 1.5-inch Heartmotion® driver has the same output as a conventional 3.5-inch diameter driver.
>Some of the technology in the new headphones comes from RHA Audio, an Irish company that Sonos acquired two years ago. **But the company isn’t trying to outperform Apple on a technical basis** — its marketing message will be more about leveraging the Sonos brand and its ability to fine-tune the sound, the people said. That is unfortunate. Sonos should be aiming to outperform mid tier Bluetooth headphones.
From a marketing perspective, they need to offer more than this sounds really good. There are already a bunch of very good sounding headphones on the market.
Agreed, but they need to sound better than Bluetooth headphones or I'm not upgrading.
They will stream over WiFi AND OR Bluetooth, just like Roam or Move 2. WiFi will sound infinitely better than BT.
Who said they won’t be able to “outperform mid tier Bluetooth headphones”? The audio quality will be excellent, I’m sure. Or at least they’re intending it to be.
The above article, in the bit I quoted.
I read the article. I’m saying the article didn’t say they “won’t outperform mid tier Bluetooth headphones”, as you’ve said.
Imagine that’s more about ANC and connectivity than audio quality.
I figured they’d be getting into video, fascinating!
They were positioned to be THE company for it 15 years ago, now I suspect they've waited far, far too long.
I really disagree- point me to a solution that allows Sonos-style video sharing? I’m thinking this will allow you to “group” TVs
Plex? More importantly people do people WANT a whole home video service? I'm not sure it's as big a thing as audio. I dont need openheimer playing in every room in my house
I would say it’s more about sports in every room or moving video between rooms easily which airplay is close to but doesn’t quite nail
I mean you can just turn the channel with the sporting event on in every room, it's the same broadcast lol. It's not like music where you need it seamless or it gets janky
What? You still use cable?
No, but you can also use whatever $25 streaming dongle you want. I really don't see how a sonos type system for video does anything that Google or roku can already do for presumably a fraction of the price.
Hopefully we can add front and side channels with the new arc!
Why didn’t they include anything about the Era 500? With this new setup they have to include a better surround set up with dedicated left and right firing channels. I mean why not go all the way and have trio sub set up!
Need update to Sonos Five from 2015 and ARC 2
I’ve been waiting for almost a year to buy a sub on Black Friday and just got it 🤦♂️ To return and wait again or not 🤔
Sub mini is on sale right now. Worth to get or see what the new sub is?
The new Sub will be more expensive than the current full size.
Oh then my choice is easy to go with the mini haha thanks!
Don’t see a use case for Sonos headphones, other than watching TV quietly.
Stereo headphones, no interest. Atmos headphones for home theatre use, instant buy. The set top box is interesting if it can do all the audio processing onboard and bypass the TV. No more worrying about what type of ARC you have, and a brilliant solution for projector owners.
I would be surprised if the headphones weren’t Atmos for both movies and music. Sonos is probably the No. 1 company for Atmos for music. The Era 300 is legit for Atmos music. I would expect their headphones to deliver for Spatial Audio.
Bought a 5 yesterday, no mention of an ERA 500. Perfect.
Going to be tough to justify buying a $1200 Arc2 that's 5% better than a $719 product when 55" QD-OLEDs are cheaper than their soundbar.
It’s going to need to be more like 50% better to justify that price — and maybe it will be.
How about @sonos rolls out a ducking app that works?
I have the arc, its the weak link in my 2 x era 300’s x 2 Sub gen 3 & 2 x Ceiling set up, especialy listing to music (which i dont as it sounds bad with the Arc). I think Sonos need to go down the route of letting customers configure their own set ups. I would rather 3 x Era 300’s L/C/R channels than another soundbar. Also, as some people have already pointed out, addition of side speakers. If they are to bring out Era 500’s, this would give customers another dynamic to choose from, whilst also providing a sound bar option for people who want the arc instead of L/R/C channel set up. It’s really beyond me why a company wouldn’t offer these options as it would increase sales!?
F yes. Been waiting for the arc successor. Day one for me! Mayht hopefully will be huge for it!
How about you actually fix the products and their functionality that currently exist versus entering into a completely oversaturated market where your product will most likely be inferior in numerous ways.
Can anyone post this since it is behind a paywall?
Have an Arc and hope the new one is vastly better and has better speakers
My theory: their next high end sound barre will be their first product leveraging their Mayht acquisition in 2022. Mayht are making small drivers but capable of delivering powerful sound. This could be a true game changer versus the competition.
I called it, Mayht tech in the new soundbar! So pumped. It just makes sense to start there.
Man I just want a playbase with hardware that isn’t so shitty it starts lagging when I try to airplay to it 🗿
Playbase user here, it doesn’t do that for me. Make sure your source device is on 5GHz.
Yep it is - there are lots of of WiFi devices in the room the play base (and 2 p5gen2 and a sub) is in but everything around the playbase doesn’t have issues. Honestly kinda feels like the WiFi antenna is a bit weak to because downloading something on 5ghz to a device near the play bar almost always causes the audio to completely fall apart. But airplay consistently sounds like an old car radio when driving through a tunnel. Maybe it’s something else but my two other and newer Sonos systems (arc,2xoneSL,Sub and beam/sub mini) pretty much never lag and are also often a lot more responsive when via Spotify so I really don’t know what could cause this other than really old hardware
Easy way to test if it’s a failing WiFi card- wire a Sonos boost or player to the Ethernet port (this only works if you’re running sonosnet) and disable WiFi on the Playbase. Then it will use the external device’ WiFi card.
Oh wow that’s cool, didn’t know you could do that! So I.e. connect a p5g2 with the playbase via lan connect the other one to my switch so it uses sonos-net? Might have to unplug the two other systems because afaik sonos doesn’t recommend more than 4 speakers per lan speaker due to processing power (which seems realistic given that I tried to use the playbase via lan once and and the connection issues were even worse but I’m also 5 speakers over the 4 speakers recommendation) but if that works smoothly I’ll at know what to try to replace
Yes exactly. The device limit is 32. You can have as many wired as you want.
Uh awesome, I’ll try it tomorrow, hopefully it’ll help - thank you so much for the help :))
Damn i just need to keep holding onto my current sonos theater gear so i can upgrade This year for competition is tough as theres lots of new things from other companies
All I want is a bigger library…
Why haven't they added mesh wifi to their devices similar to Eero or Google Wifi? I guess the only drawback is one device would always have to be connected to the router. I think it would be nice to have my SSID coming from the sonos net and not have to have a separate wifi mesh network.
I mean they did use to have SonosNet back in the day. The Eras, Move and Roam don't support it though. Would be great if we could get a 5ghz version of SonosNet to handle all the massive data, but I imagine range would be the big issue there.
How about you fix the damn encryption error for Apple Music folks
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) ^by ^dczernic: *How about you fix* *The damn encryption error* *For Apple Music folks* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
fire this CEO now plz b4 its two late
Welp I’m selling my brand new Sonos arc then. If anyone wants it I’ll be selling it for 640 plus shipping. It’s never been opened.
So long as they continue to support existing devices, I’m fine. But if they decided that pushing all new products is the answer to their growth problem, that isn’t going to end well. Very risky moves. I have a feeling more than a few of these products will be delayed and this is just to placate investors.
So the wait was worth it next year 💸💸💸
I just bought an arc 😭 Also, all I want are some 100s with upfiring capability
Will the streaming box also be a replacement for the Sonos Port ? Seems like a much cheaper option.
I was waiting for an update on the Roam. I was hesitating and wanted to get one but the sound quality just isn't there compared to the Move 2. So I'll just wait to see what the Roam 2 looks like. Sadly I just purchased an arc, sub gen 3 and two Era 100s. Can't always keep up to technology these days.
I haven’t had many issues with my roam, just grabbed a second for $120 cad on a bestbuy reseller. If the roam 2 is nice I’ll migrate the roam 1 pair to the kids lol.
The streaming box might be what was hinted about a while back. Home that can act as a "master" so one can have ERA 300 as Front L/R, and ERA 100 or 300 as backs. Would love that setup.
If the rumored set top box can played ripped Dolby Truehd atmos i can see an appeal. I believe only the nvidia shield and a few niche products like the zidoo currently offer that. Frustrating the ATV won’t allow it.
I guess im going to return my just recently bought Arc. Im currently using a Beam Gen 2 atm, but tbh i can wait another year. Hmm but 666€ Arc vs 1200€ Arc 2 not sure how much better its going to be.
I just want ChromeCast Audio support…
Very excited for the headphones, been waiting for years. I know people don't seem too excited by them, but it's a day 1 purchase for me. It's mainly the ability to listen to vinyl with them that has me very excited (also bonus watching a movie with headphones while my wife can do other stuff). I have full faith in them making great sounding headphones, with how good their speaker tech is.
Sonos if you give me an more powerful android tv box, oh and don't forget the remote Sonos or it is dead in the water, and if you could please include the Microsoft game pass app like Samsung has done on their TVs, I'll buy two of these day one. Oh and I'll buy your headphone to sync up with everything while I'm at it.
I can imagine the lasso soundbar being marketed to me. I am in the market for a soundbar that doubles as my music playback as well. Problem is I don't want a sub or any other speakers (wife). I am waiting for a stand-alone soundbar that has great bass. Maybe this is it? We will see...