Sonos Working on New 'Era' High-End Speakers

[TracesOfArsenic]

How would this actually be comparable/a competitor...by pricing it stupidly high? My current Sonos speakers already trump Apple's efforts and they were priced reasonably. This reads as just another tenuous link to Apple in order to pad out the content on MR.

 

[eicca]

Or for $100 more you can get a pair of Kali Audio LP-8s and have sound quality that is a thousand times better.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Just adding Bluetooth streaming capability will be a bonus. Not sure why they didn't add that a long time ago. If they add AirPlay, now that would be nice.

Both the Roam and Move had bluetooth capability I believe.

Quetion is ... can the Sonos Port work by itself, connected to Turntable for Vinyl playback, connect directly to HomePod OG/Gen 2's for music playback from iPhone or aux connected Cassette player or Turntables? Or does the Sonos Port need Sonos Amp for that to work? it would seem redundant since the Sonos Amp has the necessary connections on its own.

 

[jimmysalg]

About six months ago, I traded in two original Homepods that I had set up as a stereo pair for two paired Sonos Ones with the new Sonos Mini Sub. At least for me, the Sonos system has turned out to be far superior to the paired Homepods for roughly the same price. The hardware/software integration is top notch, and much more flexible and accommodating of various streaming services than Apple. I look forward to seeing what Sonos does with this new Era line.

Im in the same boat as you, my original HomePods started to crap out and decided to go with Sonos.....SO MUCH BETTER!!!!

 

[sw1tcher]

Sonos would have been a logical Apple acquisition. High-end, but tightly integrated with a loyal following. Makes more sense than the Beats acquisition, frankly. Sonos could have been Apple's push into the home audio market the way Beats was into the portable audio market.

The Beats purchase was more than just about the headphone/earphone business though. The Beats purchase allowed Apple to offer a streaming music service.

Building off of Beats Music (now Apple Music) and the Beats headphones/earphones business has allowed Apple to now sell over 100 million AirPods and Beats devices a year. Sonos sells around 6.5 million devices a year.

Apple dominates the headphones/earphone market.

Plus, people replace their Beats (and AirPods) way more often than people do their Sonos (or other home) speakers. Apple's margins and revenue on Apple Music and Beats are much better than what Sonos pulls in.

 

[darthbane2k]

M

Would never buy into the Apple closed system for a speaker. That is really dumb.

The Sonos ecosystem is just as closed. Don’t be fooled just because they support multiple music services. Sonos requires the Sonos app and a myriad of Sonos hardware.

 

[gk_brown]

Yeah, but the hardware and firmware in Sonos are better. Multi room is better. Variety of speakers is better.

Multi-room is better? I've never had an issue with multi-room AirPlay and I've been using it for a LONG time...

 

[gk_brown]

Would never buy into the Apple closed system for a speaker. That is really dumb.

How is AirPlay a closed system?

 

[gk_brown]

Can they fix the issue with mesh networks? I hate having to plug one of my speakers into an ethernet cable....

Unfortunately hard-wired is always going to be better than mesh. I actually wish the HomePod had an ethernet port!

 

[gk_brown]

Now I have to deal with the 2nd Gen Homepod not sounding as good as the first.

All the reviews I've read say that the 2nd-gen sounds just as good as the first...?

 

[eifelbube]

Popular speaker company Sonos is developing new high-end smart speakers that will compete with Apple's HomePod and HomePod mini, according to reports from The Verge. The Era 300 and the Era 100 will launch in the coming months, and have been in development since mid-2022.

A 3D rendering of the Sonos speaker, created by The Verge

​

The multidirectional Era 300 will be the new Sonos flagship speaker, featuring support for Dolby Atmos and spatial audio tracks. The Verge says that the speaker will offer "the richest fidelity of any single speaker" in Sonos' history. Other features will include USB-C line-in, Wi-Fi 6 support, and possibly, Bluetooth playback.

Fewer details are known about the Era 100, but both of the new speakers will have a refreshed design, automatic tuning, and sound optimization. The Era 100 could be a replacement for the more affordable Sonos One.

There is no launch date for the new Era speakers, nor have price points leaked. The speakers will compete with the $299 HomePod 2, which came out last week. Sonos is also developing a second-generation "Move" speaker that will replace the current model, and it is planning to enter a new product category in 2023 that is as of yet unknown.

Article Link: Sonos Working on New 'Era' High-End Speakers

Maybe before they release a new speaker, they should solve the airplay stutter issues several people report in their forum. I got a sonos roam 2 weeks ago, i like the audio quality and that it does not have to be plugged into AC but half of the time airplay stutters badly no matter how close it is to my airport extreme while my HomePod mini works without fail.

 

[pup]

M
The Sonos ecosystem is just as closed. Don’t be fooled just because they support multiple music services. Sonos requires the Sonos app and a myriad of Sonos hardware.

How does Sonos require a "myriad of Sonos hardware"? Buy one and airplay to it.

 

[bodonnell202]

Just adding Bluetooth streaming capability will be a bonus. Not sure why they didn't add that a long time ago. If they add AirPlay, now that would be nice.

All the current Sonos speakers already have AirPlay.

 

[flashflood101]

Sonos speakers are already superior to anything produced by Apple.

 

[waterfta]

for people using the homepods for dual purposes (TV and room audio), is there a way to use them with other sources besides Apple TV? I mean the fact that I can use my Sonos Arc/surrounds to watch Netflix, switch to PS5, then switch to streaming music from Spotify via WiFi has been a gamechanger. Anyone that stops by the house doesn't need to switch to bluetooth or something to switch tracks, regardless of their phone eco-system.

I'm hoping one of these new sonos speakers will add height speakers for the surrounds. That's my only upgrade I'm after compared to the current Sonos One

 

[coolfactor]

They must have some type of operating system running on their hardware. Any idea what they use?

 

[playaproved]

WiFi 6 isn’t going to make a huge difference for a speaker.
When Apple discontinued OG homepod , I started a switch to Sonos. The quality of their speakers are superb, but the app is awful - absolutely awful and as an Apple music user I’d have to clumsily negotiate between it (with services disappearing from the App Library on a weekly basis) and the iOS music app - which requires everything to be airplayed to a Sonos. I (as a HomeKit user) also missed Siri integration and voice commands to switch on/off the lights , to add music to my library etc..
The experience was so frustrating that I welcomed when Apple announced they would be bringing back the Homepod, and sold my Sonos gear. Now I have to deal with the 2nd Gen Homepod not sounding as good as the first. It’s so frustrating that there isn’t a dedicated premium home audio solution for the Apple Ecosystem.

I ended up with a hybrid approach using HomePod Minis and various Sonos products.

I strategically placed HomePod Minis around the home, so that no matter where I am, I can say a “Hey Siri” command. I use Sonos products to play audio throughout the home as they are more versatile and sound better than HomePods on their own.

This has allowed for a great experience on both sides of home control and audio experience.

 

[Fyrus]

Sonos speakers are already superior to anything produced by Apple.

In what way? The Quality and clearity of my OG HomePod was superior to that of the Sonos Five.

 

[coolfactor]

...
Now I have to deal with the 2nd Gen Homepod not sounding as good as the first. It’s so frustrating that there isn’t a dedicated premium home audio solution for the Apple Ecosystem.

Whatcha ya talking about, Willis? Every review that I've seen says that the second gen sounds just as good as the first gen. It doesn't matter than they removed physical hardware if the software is smarter. Why charge for more hardware when it's technically not needed to reproduce excellent sound?

Point me to a review that the second gen is a downgrade in sound quality.

 

[pup]

In what way? The Quality and clearity of my OG HomePod was superior to that of the Sonos Five.

OK, that's a joke, right?

 

[jayb3]

I would say Apple is aspiring to just compete with Sonos on sound quality...not the other way around. The audio quality of a single Sonos soundbar is so much better than HomePods. I just setup a stereo HomePod pair and compared to my Sonos Beam Gen2 in a listening test(music and movies). I was really hoping the HomePods would sound better but it wasn't even close and I was so disappointed. Sonos punches way above their weight even though they are relatively expensive.

I also want to add a sub but Apple doesn't have a solution for that. Selling my HomePods and moving towards more Sonos gear because they have the solution that Apple should have been moving towards. Can you imagine how long it would take Apple to produce all the hardware Sonos has put out? I don't have that long 🤣

 

[itsamacthing]

After many years with Sonos, just got my first pair of KEF and I’m impressed. Probably getting another pair instead of another Arc, of which I have 2. Tidal and Columbia partnership might finally give Apple and Spotify competition

 

[pup]

Point me to a review that the second gen is a downgrade in sound quality.

Apple’s HomePod Can Hear You. You Might Not Want To Hear It

The revamped full-size Siri smart speaker has good mics, but it can’t compete on sound.

www.wired.com

Also read the forum posts. Not many happy listeners.

 

[Fyrus]

OK, that's a joke, right?

Not at all, the Sonos Five doesn’t sound super clear until you put it past 40%-ish.

 

[pup]

Not at all, the Sonos Five doesn’t sound super clear until you put it past 40%-ish.