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Sonos 27 adds AI control and ChatGPT integration to the platform. Beam Ultra and Ace Ultra join the lineup, launching September 29.
Sonos has made one of its most significant announcements in a good while, announcing Sonos 27, the latest version of its audio operating system, alongside two new products: Beam Ultra (soundbar) and Sonos Ace Ultra (headphones).
A Sonos operating system rollout understandably makes people a bit nervous at the moment, so there will be plenty of crossed fingers ahead of its release on September 8. On paper, it sounds interesting though. Sonos 27 introduces Sonos 27voice, an update to the company's own voice assistant, and Sonos 27mcp, which connects the system to external AI assistants including OpenAI's ChatGPT.
Presumably other agents are available, but the PR then moves directly into a quote from OpenAI, so that’s why it’s getting the specific callout. This is just the start of the AI journey too, with the company also previewing Sonos Custom Agents, a feature that lets users build personalized agents with their own models, personas and voices.
A new feature set called Sonos Fabric allows Sonos products to sense and adapt to one another. It includes headphone linking, connecting Ace Ultra directly to the system, and Sonos Positioning Technology, which uses high-frequency sound to detect speaker locations and automatically reassign channel roles.
The Sonos app is also getting redesigned navigation, the track record of which suggests users will either adore passionately or viscerally hate.
Beam and Ace Ultra
There are two new products to talk about as well. Beam Ultra is a new mid-sized soundbar, and keeps a fairly compact form factor while adding nine custom drivers, including two up-firing drivers, for true 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos and enhanced bass. It includes four levels of AI Speech Enhancement and a Night Sound mode, integrates with other Sonos speakers, and can use compatible portable speakers as rear surrounds. It does not, however, appear to support DTS:X.
Sonos Ace Ultra is an over-ear headphone built around a 40 mm driver and Adaptive ANC powered by ten microphones, with up to 35 hours of battery life with ANC enabled. It's the first headphone built on Sonos's Headphone Engine 2, which enables direct linking to a Sonos system.
Pricing and availability
Pre-orders for both products are open now, with general availability from September 29. Beam Ultra is priced at $699, Sonos Ace Ultra at $449. Sonos 27's redesigned app navigation, Sonos 27mcp Early Access, and portable surround support for Move 2 and Sonos Play owners all roll out September 8. Headphone linking is available on Ace Ultra as an Early Access feature at launch.
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