Sonos Introduces Sonos 27, the Next Generation of Its Audio Operating System

Sonos introduced Sonos 27, the latest version of the audio operating system the company has spent more than two decades building. Sonos 27 brings a new set of features that expand its open platform and adaptability: AI control through multiple assistants and agents, new ways to move sound around the home, a redesigned app, and two new flagship products globally, Sonos Beam Ultra and Sonos Ace Ultra. General availability for both in India will be announced soon. 

Additionally, the India market will see the general availability of Sonos Play on Sept 8, the brand’s most versatile speaker with rich stereo sound that’s designed to live at home and move seamlessly beyond it.

Tom Conrad, CEO of Sonos, said, “Twenty years ago, we made a bet that the rest of the industry is only now arriving at – a home deserves an audio operating system made just for it. We built our system around a shared love of music and the belief that nothing sets the mood like great sound. Sonos 27 takes that further, bringing acoustic engineering, adaptable software, intelligence and design together in a way only Sonos can. This is just the start of what our audio operating system can do.”

An open approach to AI

Sonos 27 gives listeners the option to control their system using any AI they prefer, a natural progression of the company’s open platform philosophy. Sonos is introducing Sonos 27voice, the company’s own assistant built for music and mood curation, and Sonos 27mcp, which lets you connect any outside AI assistant or agent to your system, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

“With this Sonos integration, people can ask ChatGPT to play music anywhere in their home from their phone or computer, without leaving the conversation they’re having,” said Atty Eleti, product lead for ChatGPT Voice at OpenAI. “It’s a simple way to stay in the moment, and we’re excited to bring it to Sonos listeners around the world.”

Sonos also previewed where its open platform goes next with Sonos Custom Agents, which will let people create their own agents through the system, each with its own model, persona and voice.

“The smartest home isn’t run by one do-everything assistant, it’s run by people having the ability to pick – or create – the right agent for each job. That’s what Sonos’ open platform gives you.” said Nick Millington, Chief Innovation Officer.

Sonos Fabric, moving sound in new ways

Sonos Fabric is the system capability that enables Sonos products to sense each other and adapt to the moment. This fall, it powers two new features that show what a system built for adaptability can do.

Headphone linking connects Sonos Ace Ultra directly to the Sonos system as an Early Access feature, giving listeners the ability to push and pull sound between nearby speakers and their ears.

Sonos Positioning Technology uses high-frequency sound to sense a speaker’s location and change its role within the system based on that. This enables the new portable surrounds feature, which lets compatible portable speakers become rear surrounds the instant they’re moved into position.

Sonos 27app

Sonos is also rolling out new features and improvements to its Sonos 27app, making it easier and more intuitive to navigate. Shaped and tested by the Sonos community, Sonos 27app is one of many ways listeners can control their Sonos system, alongside Sonos 27voice and Sonos 27web.

Sonos Play available in India Sept 8

• Part of Your Sonos System: Connect over WiFi to group across rooms or pair for stereo, with a Charging Base to anchor it in your home.
• Portable Listening: Designed for everyday carry with a removable utility loop, you can listen on the go with 24 hours of battery life in a durable, IP67-rated waterproof design and a built-in power bank to charge your phone.
• Extend Your System Anywhere: For the first time, group multiple speakers directly from a Bluetooth connection when away from home. Connect Sonos Play to your phone, then press and hold Play/Pause on up to three additional Sonos Play or Move 2 speakers to sync them together. Automatic Trueplay™ tuning dynamically adapts the sound to any environment.
• Sustainable by Design: Built with optimized power management and a replaceable battery for a lifetime of listening.
• Control Seamlessly: Use voice services, Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, and the Sonos app to bring your music, rooms, and devices together in one experience.

Two new additions to the Sonos system

Alongside Sonos 27, Sonos is introducing two new products designed to take advantage of the expanding capabilities of its system.

• Beam Ultra is a mid-size soundbar delivering true 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos, bringing a more immersive home theater sound to a smaller form factor.
• Sonos Ace Ultra builds on Sonos’ headphone portfolio with hardware designed to enable deeper integration with the Sonos system, including headphone linking, launching in Early Access.

Together, Sonos 27, Beam Ultra and Sonos Ace Ultra represent the next stage of Sonos’ evolution from a collection of connected audio products into an increasingly intelligent and adaptable audio operating system for the home.

Availability

Sonos 27’s new app navigation, portable surrounds and Sonos27mcp (Early Access) start rolling out Sept. 8, alongside Sonos Play’s general availability. Beam Ultra and Sonos Ace Ultra will be available at a later date in the country.