Sonos Preparing AirPods Max Rival With Voice Assistant Support

[MacRumors]

Sonos is working on an upgraded version of its Ace headphones that will support AI, reports Bloomberg. The Sonos Ace Ultra showed up in an FCC filing earlier this week, with the product likely set to debut in September.

Sonos debuted the original Sonos Ace in 2024. Reviews praised the sound quality and active noise cancellation, but the headphone market is crowded, and Sonos' product launched shortly after its disastrous app redesign. The headphones also didn't fully integrate with the rest of the Sonos ecosystem, making them unappealing to Sonos users. Sonos ended up selling around 200,000 units, well below the internal one-million target it set.

Bloomberg suggests the new model will kick off Sonos' push into artificial intelligence. The headphones could support voice commands based on info in the filing, allowing them to be used with AI chatbots from third-party companies. Sonos CEO Tom Conrad said last month that AI will be an area of focus, with "conversational computing and predictive intelligence moving into the home."

The headphones will come in Greige, Shadow Black, Agave, Blush, and Sand, according to the FCC filing, but little else is known about them because most of the filing was redacted.

The original Sonos Ace were priced at $449 at launch and were competitive with the AirPods Max. The headphones had an over-ear design similar to the AirPods Max, and the same general feature set. Apple does not have a new version of the AirPods Max coming anytime soon, so the second-generation Sonos Ace headphones will still be pitted against the original AirPods Max design.

Article Link: Sonos Preparing AirPods Max Rival With Voice Assistant Support

 

[OldNewMBP]

Will it be more repairable than the AirPods Max, is the question. Will it be close to as repairable as a Fairphone headphone.

 

[whoknows2597]

Is that a true upgrade though? Just including AI into something doesn’t make it new

 

[ZeroInspo]

I frankly don’t understand what this means. If the headset has a microphone it’s already compatible with AI apps and software.

 

[CoMoMacUser]

AI in your ear. What's not to like?

 

[ISignedUpToAskThis]

The original Sonos Ace were only "OK" when they launched, but over time with firmware updates they've become quite good for a wireless set. Especially now they're heavily discounted in many places. Not quite on par for sound with AirPods Max but not far off. I recommend them mainly if you need a set for watching tv/movies in a quiet house.

I won't buy this 'Ultra' version unless they make a big deal about how much the sound has improved. If it's just AI improvements then not worth it, especially at their price point.

 

[svish]

Good to know about this. Not so keen on AI integration for these headphones.

 

[McWetty]

Sonos was the best consumer audio system for years. I owned 10-12 units from them and now I’m down to 1. The gear is just too expensive (and that’s coming from an Apple fan). On top of that, they wrecked their app, abandoned their old S1 equipment, and paved the way for cheaper options from Arylic/Wiim/etc. I wish them the best, but I think their glory days are behind them.

 

[springsup]

I just want some rear speakers that support Atmos; some scaled down Era 300s. But Sonos refuse to make it.

 

[alfonsog]

I really like my Sonos Ace and Sonos Play. The Play and Move 2 have user replaceable battery kits; I like this new direction they are going. But yes that app fiasco was very bad when they rushed it out for the Ace which didn't take off anyway. Not sure where they are going with AI or which AI they are using but I don't do music streaming. I own my music: 2000+ ripped cd's, lp's, and purchased iTunes albums and I finally figured out how to rip my SACD's DSD layer and play it back with Pine Player Pro. Now I can retire my SACD player which is quite old.

 

[Godspeed8230]

It looks like it might have WIFI capabilities.

 

[matsan]

Sonos users since 2009 and sure they have had their ups and downs. Just last month we replaced our oldest device in the fleet - a Play 1 from 2015 that failed with a bad power supply - with an Era 100 and Play bundle. Impressed by the Play which was a new acquaintance.
Now at 22 units spread over apartment, country house and office.

Will continue to use it as we haven’t been impressed by friends’ alternatives for multi-room and multi-household systems or soundbars for TVs.

 

[JoeG4]

I NEED giant pillowy soft leather headphones to smother my head in awesome BEATS!

yes I tried to find a silly way to say that. 🤣

 

[lamerica80]

This is getting ridiculous. Who is saying ”I wish I could talk to ChatGPT on my Sonos system”?

 

[JoeG4]

This is getting ridiculous. Who is saying ”I wish I could talk to ChatGPT on my Sonos system”?

Some people are all like

ChatGPT is love ChatGPT is life

XD

 

[JJAANN]

The headphones also didn't fully integrate with the rest of the Sonos ecosystem, making them unappealing to Sonos users

I completely disagree with that. If what’s meant is that the headphones can’t be connected via Wi-Fi, OK—but the integration into an existing setup with a Sonos Arc is an absolute USP and perfectly executed! Gaming with Atmos and head tracking is especially outstanding! Amazing! That makes this the best integration into an existing system available on the market. That’s why I find the statement in the article vague and not entirely accurate.

 

[LouisMac90]

The issue isn't the headphones on the current generation its the app that effected the Ace headphones.

 

[aknabi]

Thanks MacRumors for the reminder article... next trip to Shenzhen need to meet up with the 9Eur/unit headphone guys, have them put a "AI" button and silkscreen text on their APM lookalikes and sell these "AiPod Max" units for 15x via Shopify to cash in on the rubes...

 

[Adoniram]

I frankly don’t understand what this means. If the headset has a microphone it’s already compatible with AI apps and software.

Logic need not apply to marketing terms.

 

[WhiteShadow]

Sonos was the best consumer audio system for years. I owned 10-12 units from them and now I’m down to 1. The gear is just too expensive (and that’s coming from an Apple fan). On top of that, they wrecked their app, abandoned their old S1 equipment, and paved the way for cheaper options from Arylic/Wiim/etc. I wish them the best, but I think their glory days are behind them.

What have you replaced your sonos system with?

 

[ducknalddon]

I won't touch Sonos again after all the trouble I've had with their software. Even now they don't have an Apple Silicon build of their macOS app.

 

[McWetty]

What have you replaced your sonos system with?

I took a good look at what I needed instead of what I wanted. In my main room, I paired up HomePod 2’s and connected them to my ATV. That replaced the Sonos Arc and Sub. In my bedrooms, I swapped my Sonos Ones with HomePod minis. Not great for music, but sufficient for home control and alarms. We don’t spend that much time in the bedrooms anyway. In the music room, I replaced my Sonos Amp with a Marantz PM6000N (phono, Qobuz, etc). In the game room, there’s a Denon 250 in lieu of a Play 5. The theater got a Denon X3800H receiver. The only thing left is a Sonos Move in the workshop. Pocketed about $300 net after the changeover and everything works within HomeKit/Home Assistant/Airplay.

 

[schlackattack]

I frankly don’t understand what this means. If the headset has a microphone it’s already compatible with AI apps and software.

Sonos already has a great AI voice assistant that runs locally on their speakers (i.e. the AI processing is on device, not in the cloud) and music focused. Best case scenario is that these headphones will run the Sonos AI assistant on device and allow for direct music streaming over wifi with no need for an external device to send audio over bluetooth. This would be super compelling.