Sonos will launch its first wi-fi headphones in 2024, in accordance with a report from Bloomberg that cites sources acquainted with the matter. The headphones are projected to value between $400 and $500, which might place them in direct competitors with Apple’s AirPods Max and Sony’s WH-1000XM5, two of the main noise-canceling headphones in the marketplace. The report suggests the brand new wi-fi cans, code-named “Duke,” might seem as early as April, and can are available in Sonos’ two important colours, black and white.
Earlier in November, Sonos CEO, Patrick Spence advised buyers that in 2024, the corporate will enter right into a “new multibillion-dollar class within the second half of the 12 months that can complement our present providing, delight clients, and drive fast income.” Given the timing cited by Bloomberg, it appears doubtless Spence was referencing the as-yet unannounced Sonos headphones.
The headphones shall be designed to work with the remainder of the Sonos ecosystem and can embrace voice help by way of Sonos Voice Management, although there was no point out of whether or not the cans will use Wi-Fi, one thing that has been extensively speculated shall be wanted to provide a set of Sonos headphones full compatibility with the Sonos software program.
The report additionally says that Sonos is contemplating following the headphones with a set of wi-fi earbuds. Extra stunning, nevertheless, is Bloomberg’s declare that the corporate can be engaged on a Roku-like streaming machine for late 2024 or early 2025. The machine, reportedly code-named “Pinewood,” shall be primarily based on the Android working system and have streaming apps from Netflix and others. As with most flagship streaming gadgets, it’s anticipated to help each Dolby Imaginative and prescient and Dolby Atmos, and presumably, 4K decision, however the report didn’t specify its decision capabilities.
Sonos can be contemplating following in Apple’s and Roku’s footsteps by providing its personal video streaming service that will run on the Pinewood machine. If it does, it wouldn’t be the primary service of its variety for Sonos — the corporate already maintains Sonos Radio and the subscription-based, ad-free model Sonos Radio HD, each of which might solely be accessed from Sonos gadgets.
The report goes into much more element concerning Sonos’ future plans, saying that it’s going to launch a brand new soundbar code-named “Lasso” that can provide higher efficiency than its current Sonos Arc (with a value which may be significantly increased too) and be primarily based on speaker know-how developed by Dutch audio firm Mayht, which Sonos acquired in 2022. A brand new wi-fi sub designed particularly for Lasso and Pinewood can be deliberate, as is a revamp of the Sonos Roam, which might see Sonos’ smallest speaker get the identical contact controls because the Transfer 2.
Additionally within the works: a brand new amplifier and architectural audio system aimed on the skilled installer market and a model of the Sonos Period 100 for companies that can have a built-in Ethernet port as a substitute of requiring that you simply use an add-on USB-C dongle. Sonos not too long ago introduced its Sonos Professional service designed for companies that need centralized management over their multi-location Sonos installations.
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