10 hrs ago

Sonos Unveils New Headphones, Soundbar and AI Audio Platform

Sonos is a company that makes speakers and other audio products.

It announced new headphones called Ace Ultra and a new soundbar called Beam Ultra.

It also created new software called Sonos 27 to control its audio products.

The software includes an AI voice feature that can help people find and play music.

People can also connect other AI services, such as ChatGPT, to their Sonos systems.

The Ace Ultra headphones can work with Sonos speakers and have up to 35 hours of battery life.

The Beam Ultra has extra speakers that aim to make movies sound more immersive.

Sonos says the new products and software will help it become more like a technology platform, after users criticized its app in 2024.

Key facts

New headphones: Sonos Ace Ultra, priced at $449, offers up to 35 hours of battery life and connects through USB-C, 3.5mm, Wi-Fi and other Sonos products.
New soundbar: Beam Ultra, priced at $699, has nine drivers, including upward-firing drivers, and supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and HDMI eARC.
Operating system: Sonos 27 is a new audio operating system accompanied by a redesigned app.
AI features: Sonos 27 Voice, Custom Agents and Model Context Protocol integration allow voice control, customized automations and connections to external AI services.
Launch date: Ace Ultra and Beam Ultra reach United States retail shelves on September 29; India availability is planned for a later date.
Additional speaker: The upgraded Play speaker has a 24-hour battery, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, a line-in jack and physical controls; it launches in India on September 8.
Previous criticism: Sonos’s 2024 software updates received widespread criticism for disrupting its app and frustrating users.

indianexpress.com · 10 hrs ago