Sonos isn't limiting its next major update to just new software features. Coinciding with the arrival of the Sonos 27, the company is also expanding its lineup with two devices that directly target two of its most important categories. The Beam Ultra takes over as the mid-sized soundbar, while the Sonos Ace Ultra represents an evolution of its premium headphones. Both products will be generally available in Spain on September 29th, although they can already be pre-ordered for €699 and €449 respectively. This refresh, beyond the hardware, begins to reveal where Sonos wants to take its entire home audio ecosystem.
The Beam Ultra retains one of the main selling points of the current Beam (a compact form factor that doesn't require placing a huge soundbar under the TV), but significantly enhances its performance. Sonos now promises true Dolby Atmos 7.1.2 surround sound, along with clearer dialogue and warmer bass. This is a particularly interesting improvement because the Beam has always made sense precisely for those seeking a near-high-end experience without filling their living room with speakers. Meanwhile, the Sonos Ace Ultra focuses on improving the experience outside the living room. The new headphones incorporate adaptive active noise cancellation using ten microphones and offer up to 35 hours of battery life. They also debut headphone linking, a feature that allows direct connection to the Sonos system for easier playback between devices. For now, this feature will be available in Early Access, so we'll have to see how seamlessly it works in everyday use. All of this is integrated within Sonos 27, the company's latest platform, which includes Sonos 27voice and opens the door to connecting external assistants like ChatGPT.
Here's probably the most interesting part of the announcement. Sonos has spent years building one of the most recognizable home audio ecosystems on the market, but now it seems to want that system to be smarter and more capable of anticipating our needs. The Beam Ultra and Ace Ultra don't reinvent their respective categories, but they do fit quite well into that strategy. The soundbar may appeal to those who want Dolby Atmos without having to jump to much bulkier setups, while the Ace Ultra faces the difficult task of justifying its € 449 price tag in a particularly competitive premium headphone market. Sonos has good ingredients on paper, but its real advantage will lie in getting hardware, software, and artificial intelligence to work as a single system (and not as a collection of add-on features because we're talking about AI).