Sonos Ventures into the Headphone Market, Challenging Industry Giants
Sonos, a renowned name in the audio industry, is making a bold move by entering the headphone market. Far from being a mere experiment, the company is gearing up to go head-to-head with industry giants like Apple and Bose. The rumors of a Sonos headset began circulating last year following the acquisition of T2 Software, a startup specializing in Bluetooth audio.
Ambitious Plans and Upcoming Releases
Sonos has an ambitious roadmap that includes a wide range of audio peripherals. The two most anticipated products are a pair of premium headphones, priced at over $400, and a TV set-top box (STB) in the $150 to $200 range. According to a report by Bloomberg, the STB is expected to compete with offerings from Apple and Roku, with a targeted launch around the end of 2024. The headphones, on the other hand, are likely to hit the market as early as April.
In addition to these flagship products, Sonos has plans for new amplifiers, in-ceiling speakers, a high-end TV soundbar, updated subwoofers, a refreshed version of the portable Roam speaker, and a business-oriented variant of the Era 100 speaker. The company is also working on an enhanced voice control system and a video service.
A Long-Awaited Debut
Sonos’ foray into the headphone market has been a long time coming. The company has been exploring this opportunity since 2019 and has developed several product iterations along the way. However, none of these prototypes have reached consumers until now, making this upcoming release a significant milestone for the company.
What We Know So Far
While details about Sonos’ first headphones are still scarce, a few key features have been revealed. The headphones will sport an over-ear design, positioning them as a direct competitor to the AirPods Max. They will be priced between $400 and $500 and will be available in black and white color options. The headphones will seamlessly integrate with existing Sonos equipment and offer voice control for navigating between songs.
Sonos will also introduce a companion app that allows users to control the headphones from their smartphones. The voice commands available on the headphones will mirror those found on Sonos speakers. However, in the latter half of 2024, the company plans to introduce a more advanced voice control system, dubbed Voice 2.0. The specifics of this upgrade remain under wraps for now.
3 Comments
Oh, Sonos diving into headphones? This’ll shake things up!
Sonos is finally stepping up their game, headphones here we come!
With Sonos jumping into the headphone scene, the audio wars just got more interesting!