Sonos is set to expand its product offerings in the coming years, venturing into new markets beyond its current portfolio of smart speakers and soundbars. According to a Bloomberg report, the company is preparing to launch premium over-the-ear headphones, compact wireless in-ear earbuds, and a streaming box designed for TVs. The upcoming headphones will directly compete with Apple’s AirPods Max and AirPods, as well as devices from Sony and Bose. Simultaneously, the streaming box aims to rival products such as Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon’s offerings.
For the over-the-ear headphones, Sonos reportedly plans to price them at over $400, placing them in a similar range as Sony’s well-regarded WH-1000MX5 priced at $400 but more affordable than Apple’s $549 AirPods Max. The streaming box is expected to be priced between $150 and $200, notably higher than devices from Apple, Amazon, and Roku.
Renowned for its high-end smart speakers, Sonos has been working on developing headphones since 2019. These new products are seen as an initiative to revitalize sales, which have experienced a decline this year. During an earnings call earlier this month, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence expressed his anticipation that new products would contribute significantly to the company’s revenue, with expectations set for a substantial impact by the second half of 2024.
Sonos has slated the release of its over-the-ear headphones for April of the upcoming year. As reported by Bloomberg, these headphones will be available in black and white color variants, offering synchronization with other Sonos speakers and enabling users to navigate between songs using voice commands. Simultaneously, Sonos is developing software that will empower users to manage all Sonos devices in their homes remotely via their smartphones.
The anticipated streaming box is expected to hit the market by the end of 2024 or early 2025. Operating on an Android-based system, it will support various streaming apps, akin to existing streaming boxes. Sonos is engaged in discussions with Netflix and live television providers to garner support for its device.
Beyond the headphones and streaming box, Sonos is actively working on updated versions of its current home theater equipment. This includes a new subwoofer, a second-generation Roam speaker, a revamped high-end Arc soundbar, and a more advanced Era 100 speaker featuring an ethernet port, primarily aimed at businesses. While the expected cost of the updated Arc is speculated to be $1,200, a significant increase from the current $900 model, the pricing for the Era 100, Roam, and the subwoofer remains unclear.
