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Yesterday, CEO Tom Conrad presented at the company’s Open House event in NYC, unveiling new hardware and software. The newest company figurehead seeks to avoid the disastrous Sonos app relaunch of 2024 with a better-looking app and two new accompanying products to go along with it. We’re officially entering the new era for Sonos.
Meet the new Sonos 27 software, the company’s latest OS that brings a better way for your Sonos products to talk to each other, deeper AI integration, and a new redesigned app. The new software retains its essentials, such as access to several features and music streaming services (Apple Music, AirPlay, Bluetooth, Spotify, Tidal, etc.) and Trueplay support.
- For starters, Sonos Fabric hopes to live up to its name by seamlessly connecting and swapping audio between Sonos products. So as long as you’re on the same Wi-Fi network, you can move audio from your Sonos headphones to a speaker or speaker group with a tap of a button. The feature also includes the ability to utilize the Sonos Move 2 or Play speakers as rear surrounds when moved into the proper position.
- The company also built its own voice assistant called Sonos 27voice, which is a new way to ask for music. Rather than requesting specific songs to play, you can say things like ‘Play something downstairs for the kids’ or ‘Put on that song I had playing in the kitchen yesterday.’ The feature will arrive as an early access feature with the option to opt in.
- Sonos 27mcp allows you to navigate the software using the AI you already use and/or subscribe to. You can also use multiple AI agents for one speaker, each with its own voice and summon phrase.
The Sonos 27 software will begin rolling out for all Sonos S2 products (including the Arc, Arc Ultra, 2nd-gen Beam, Era 100, Era 300, Five, Move 2, Roam 2, 2nd-gen One, One SL, Playbase, Ray, 3rd-gen Sub, Sub 4, and Sub Mini) on September 8 with Sonos 27mcp early access.
Both new hardware were made for the new Sonos 27 software in mind. In regard to new hardware, the company unveiled the new $450 Ace Ultra headphones and $700 Beam Ultra soundbar. Both are available for pre-order, effective yesterday, and are set to go on sale on September 29.
The new Ace Ultra offers a pair of 40 mm drivers capable of high-resolution wireless audio with ultra-low latency, improved ANC from the Ace headphones thanks to its ten mics, up to 35 hours of battery with ANC activated, adaptive EQ to adapt the sound based on your fit, and clear phone calls thanks to its beamforming mics. The new headphones will arrive in agave, black, sand, and white color options.
The Beam Ultra is the company’s new mid-sized soundbar with a low-profile design. It’s armed with nine custom drivers for a wider soundstage with clearer separation, including two up-firing drivers for true 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos sound, improved clarity for Night Sound, four levels of AI-powered speech enhancement, and Trueplay room-tuning for sound and setup. The new soundbar will arrive in black and white color options.
