Sonos streaming device will compete with Apple, Roku

In keeping with long-running rumors and speculation, Sonos will release its first wireless headphones in 2024, according to a report from Bloomberg that cites sources familiar with the matter.  The headphones are projected to cost between $400 and $500 which would place them in direct competition with Apple’s AirPods Max and Sony’s WH-1000XM5, two of the leading noise-canceling headphones on the market. The report suggests the new wireless cans,  code-named “Duke” could appear as early as April, and will come in Sonos’ two main colors, black and white.

The headphones will be designed to work with the rest of the Sonos ecosystem, including voice support through Sonos Voice Control, though there was no mention of whether the cans will use Wi-Fi, something that has been widely speculated will be needed to give a set of Sonos headphones full compatibility with the Sonos sofware.

The report also says that Sonos is considering following the headphones with a set of wireless earbuds, but more surprising is Bloomberg’s claim that the company is also working on a Roku-like streaming device for late 2024 or early 2025. The device, reportedly code-named “Pinewood” will be based on the Android operating system and feature streaming apps from Netflix and others. As with most flagship streaming devices, it’s expected to support both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and presumably 4K resolution, but the report did not specify its resolution capabilities.

Earlier in November, Sonos CEO, Patrick Spence told investors that in 2024, the company will enter into a “new multibillion-dollar category in the second half of the year that will complement our current offering, delight customers, and drive immediate revenue.” Given the timing cited by Bloomberg, it seems likely Spence was referencing the as-yet unannounced Sonos headphones.

The report goes into even more detail regarding Sonos’ future plans, saying that it’s going to release a new soundbar that will offer better performance that its existing Sonos Arc (with a price that may be considerably higher too) based on speaker technology developed by Dutch audio company Mayht, which Sonos acquired in 2022.

Also in the works: a new amplifier and architectural speakers aimed at the professional installer market and a version of the Sonos Era 100 for businesses that will have a built-in Ethernet port instead of requiring that you use an add-on USB-C dongle.

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