Archive · 2 Sep 2026
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.
Sonos introduced the Ace Ultra headphones, Beam Ultra soundbar, Sonos 27 operating system and redesigned app.
Sonos 27 includes generative AI features, including voice controls, external AI connections and customizable agents.
The Ace Ultra offers up to 35 hours of battery life, adaptive noise cancellation and Wi-Fi integration with Sonos speakers.
The Beam Ultra has nine drivers, upward-firing speakers and AI Speech Enhancement for clearer dialogue.
The Ace Ultra and Beam Ultra cost $449 and $699 and launch in the United States on September 29; the Play speaker arrives in India on September 8.
- Who
- Sonos, under CEO Tom Conrad, announced the products and software.
- What
- The company unveiled Ace Ultra headphones, Beam Ultra soundbar, Sonos 27, a redesigned app and AI features.
- When
- The announcements were made on Wednesday; Ace Ultra and Beam Ultra launch in the United States on September 29, while the Play speaker arrives in India on September 8.
- Where
- The announcement event took place in New York. The products will launch in the United States, with some products coming to India later.
- Why
- Sonos is expanding beyond traditional audio hardware into an AI-enabled technology platform and addressing the company’s software challenges after criticism in 2024.
- 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.