All articles tagged with #sonos
Bloomberg reports Sonos is gearing up for a September reveal that could pair a sequel to the Ace Ultra with a new Beam‑style soundbar (codename Gambit/S56). An FCC filing hints at a second‑generation Beam design, while CEO Tom Conrad has signaled AI will play a big role in future products; exact specs (HDMI passthrough, up‑firing drivers) remain unclear.
Sonos’ latest iOS app update adds support for Apple’s Live Activities, letting iPhone users view basic playback details and control music or podcasts from the lockscreen after starting playback. Album art isn’t shown yet, and the feature must be enabled in both the Sonos app and iOS settings; it will disappear from the lockscreen 15 minutes after playback ends. The update also includes watchOS and CarPlay support, though those platforms don’t yet offer lockscreen controls. Sonos says it’s continuing to refine the feature and lock-screen experience.
The Sonos iPhone app now supports iOS Live Activities, displaying the current room playback on the Lock Screen after you start playback and removing it 15 minutes after you stop. To make changes, you must unlock your iPhone with Face ID or a passcode. Live Activities also work in CarPlay and Apple Watch with limited controls; album art isn’t supported yet. You can disable the feature in the Sonos app settings, and playback can still be controlled via AirPlay, Bluetooth, or other supported methods.
A new leak suggests Sonos is unveiling the Ace Ultra premium over-ear headphones in Black, White, and a blue-green Agave color, with ANC up to twice as effective, up to 35 hours of battery life with ANC, fast charging to about 3 hours of playback in 3 minutes, and touch controls. Pricing is reported as $449 in the US, €449 in Europe, and £399 in the UK, with an official reveal on September 1, 2026 and a release on September 29, 2026.
FCC filings suggest Sonos is prepping a successor to the Ace wireless headphones, including a model labeled S52A that may be branded Ace Ultra, with new color options and indications of Wi-Fi/Band testing that could enable streaming; a fall release seems likely as Sonos continues to evolve after the Ace’s mixed app rollout.
An FCC filing points to a new Sonos wireless headphone model launching next month, catalogued as S52a and rumored to be named Ace Ultra. The documents list multiple color options (Greige, Shadow Black, Agave, Blush and Sand) and hint at features like Wi‑Fi pairing to a home network and possibly a Sonos voice assistant, though neither is confirmed. Sonos has signaled a product launch and a future role for AI, but specifics about the headphones remain unverified.
The piece highlights seven underrated speaker brands—Anker (Soundcore), JBL, Sonos, LG, Marshall, Ultimate Ears, and Klipsch—arguing they offer strong sound, design, and value that can compete with Sony and Bose, with quick notes on each brand’s heritage and notable products.
Sony’s move to end production of physical PlayStation discs has provoked widespread backlash, with fans citing higher digital prices, lack of resale/ownership options, and potential impacts on game ownership; the article draws a line to Sonos’ PR turnaround—humble, transparent engagement—contrasting it with Sony’s largely silent response and even stock sales by executives after the announcement. While analysts note digital is lucrative and Sony may weather the anger, the piece suggests Sony could learn from Sonos by openly addressing concerns and offering viable alternatives (e.g., retailer-supported digital codes or resale options) rather than doubling down.
AirPods are hitting all-time-low prices (AirPods Pro 3 at $179 and AirPods Max 2 at $499) while Woot runs a rare Switch 2 sale using code NEW15 for $434, and Sonos slashes prices in its Summer Sale with up to 25% off.
WiiM has unveiled its first Dolby Atmos soundbar, the WiiM Bar, a 3.0.2-channel eight-driver setup with top-firing height speakers, RoomFit auto-calibration, HDMI eARC, and streaming via the WiiM Home app (Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz, Roon). It launches in gloss black in July for £449 / $479, aiming to disrupt the market and challenge Sonos Beam Gen 2.
The Sonos app for iPhone, iPad and Mac briefly disappeared from Apple's App Store due to a routine administrative update with Apple. Sonos said existing installations would continue to work and expected the issue to be resolved soon; the app has since returned to the App Store and service is back to normal, with Google Play unaffected.
The Sonos app briefly vanished from the iPhone and Mac App Stores due to an outage impacting app availability and Sonos accounts, as noted on the company’s status page. After several hours the app reappeared and both App Store services and accounts were reported operational.
What Hi‑Fi? rounds up the week’s AV headlines: Bose unveils the Lifestyle Ultra line—a Dolby Atmos soundbar with a nine‑driver array and PhaseGuide, plus a Lifestyle Ultra Sub and Wireless Speakers to form a wireless surround system as a challenger to Sonos Arc Ultra; a David Bowie: You’re Not Alone 360‑degree immersive experience opens in London with spatial audio; Garmin launches the JL Audio Primacy premium speakers (S3 standmounts and T6 floorstanders) with a central CS streamer/preamp at steep prices; Jamo reveals Concert Legacy and Concert Element lines featuring DualCore design and down‑firing bass; Wilson Audio previews updated WATT/Puppy models, continuing its premium legacy. Read the full What Hi‑Fi? Rewind for more.
Bose unveils the Lifestyle Ultra lineup—the $299 Ultra Speaker, $1,099 Ultra Soundbar, and $899 Ultra Sub—focusing on big, vocal-forward sound, flexible setups (single, stereo pair, or Atmos rear channels), and an open streaming approach that works with Apple Music, Spotify Connect, AirPlay, and Google Cast without relying on a Bose app. It can group with non‑Bose speakers, room-correction is coming later, and Auracast won’t be enabled at launch.
Tom's Guide highlights the Era 100 SL as a cost-effective way to upgrade a home theater, delivering rich stereo with dual tweeters and a larger woofer, easy five-minute setup via the Sonos app, no microphone or voice control (Trueplay limited to iOS), and solid bass at low volumes—great for a passive surround system without extra features.