Key Takeaways
- Sonos prepares to launch $449 wi-fi headphones in June, providing audio streaming through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for an built-in expertise.
- Software program points delayed the launch, however Sonos goals to make between 650,000 and 1 million models to compete with Apple, Sony, and Bose.
- The headphones might leverage Sonos’ ecosystem for seamless audio switch, enhancing the at-home audio expertise with a excessive value level.
Sonos, the audio firm greatest recognized for its speakers and soundbars, is reportedly prepping to launch a long-rumored pair of wireless headphones in June, according to Bloomberg. The $449 headphones will reportedly be capable of stream audio over Wi-Fi in addition to Bluetooth, and combine into Sonos’ current wi-fi audio ecosystem.
Based on Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Sonos originally planned on releasing the headphones even earlier, however needed to push again its launch to the summer season because of a software program subject “tied to how the wi-fi over-ear headphones connect with Wi-Fi networks.”
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The headphones’ skill to stream higher-quality audio over Wi-Fi, and theoretically, go audio to your audio system if you obtained in vary of your wi-fi community, are simply two doable options that will depend on stable connectivity to tug off. It is smart Sonos would wish to get this proper.
No matter what state the headphones arrive in, the corporate is assured it could actually compete with the likes of Apple, Sony, and Bose. Sonos reportedly plans to make “between 650,000 and 1 million models over the subsequent 12 months” to maintain up with predicted demand for the brand new headphones, based on Bloomberg, and its even contemplating creating in-ear headphones to compete with the AirPods Pro.
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How Sonos stacks up in opposition to the competitors thus far
Whereas transferring from audio system to one thing you put on in your head looks like an enormous departure for Sonos, the corporate’s been more and more serious about transportable audio system, whether or not it is the backpack-sized Sonos Roam or the extra backyard-friendly Sonos Move 2. The distinction between these comparatively inexpensive audio system and Sonos’ rumored headphones is the value. $449 shouldn’t be a small sum of money.
Charging that a lot places Sonos someplace in-between Apple’s AirPods Max, which begin at $550, and headphones from Sony and Bose, just like the $400 Sony WH-1000XM5 and the $429 Bose QuietComfort Ultra. All three corporations had earned a popularity for private audio merchandise earlier than asking that a lot for headphones, and in Apple’s case, may need even requested an excessive amount of for what was a first-generation product on the time.
For a pair of wi-fi headphones that prices $350 and up, you’ll be able to sometimes anticipate wonderful audio high quality, energetic noise-cancellation (typically a number of ranges of it), and additional software program options like immersive 360-degree audio. All of those headphones excel at one factor or one other, however the level is that they cowl all of your bases and offer you a greater audio expertise than you would possibly get from a pair of wi-fi earbuds.
Potential Sonos headphones benefits
With out an official announcement, we are able to solely speculate, but it surely looks like the benefits Sonos presents might be similar to Apple’s choices. Sonos has a complete product ecosystem that it is maintained for many years. The benefit of Sonos’ audio merchandise is that all of them work collectively, enhancing your at-home audio expertise the extra audio system you purchase. Sonos additionally makes it easy to arrange audio system, tune them to your acoustic atmosphere, and transfer audio between audio system all with the identical app.
With out an official announcement, we are able to solely speculate, but it surely looks like the benefits Sonos presents might be similar to Apple’s choices.
Equally, one among Apple’s key benefits is that every one of its merchandise work higher collectively than they do absolutely anything else. Undergo the method of syncing your AirPods to your telephone for the primary time and, like magic, your Apple TV and MacBook Professional instantly acknowledge them and allow you to connect with them. Sonos has the potential to tug off the same trick with its personal headphones. As The Verge notes, these rumored headphones might theoretically pull audio from any TV with a Sonos soundbar related to it with out you ever having to cope with a Bluetooth menu.
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And identical to Sonos makes it straightforward to go audio from its transportable audio system to its stationary ones, headphones might take that to the subsequent stage. Listening to music when you prepare within the morning and wish to maintain listening as you head out the door? Think about simply holding your headphones close to the speaker to choose up the track, slipping them on and heading out, with out ever having to get your telephone out of your pocket. That is the type of seamless connection that, paired with nice audio efficiency, might be value paying $449.
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