Technology
Sonos Launches Ace Ultra Headphones and Beam Soundbar as AI-Powered Comeback
The audio company announced new hardware and software featuring AI assistants and tighter ecosystem integration, marking its largest product reveal since a divisive 2024 app redesign.
The Verge
Sonos unveiled its most substantial product slate in recent years at a New York event, introducing the Ace Ultra headphones and Beam Ultra soundbar alongside Sonos 27, a major operating system update centered on AI capabilities. The announcement represents an attempt to restore confidence after a 2024 app rollout sparked widespread customer frustration.
New Hardware Built for Integration#
The Ace Ultra headphones are positioned as a deeper integration into the Sonos ecosystem compared to the earlier Ace model. They feature an improved Headphone Engine 2 that enables seamless audio handoff between headphones and speakers within a Sonos home. A dedicated button on the ear cup allows users to direct sound without reaching for their phone. The new headphones weigh 10 grams more than their predecessor and offer enlarged ear cups with custom-designed 40mm drivers and 10 microphones (up from 8) that Sonos claims deliver twice the noise cancellation effectiveness, particularly at frequencies from HVAC systems (65Hz) and airplane engine noise (120Hz).
Battery life extends to 35 hours with active noise cancellation enabled, and a three-minute quick charge provides three additional hours. The headphones also support aptX Adaptive Lossless over Bluetooth and 16-bit/48kHz resolution via USB-C. They arrive September 29th in black, white, beige sand, and muted blue agave finishes for $449.
The Beam Ultra soundbar undergoes a complete redesign, expanding from a 5.0 to a 7.1.2 configuration with up-firing drivers for Dolby Atmos support. Though still compact, it stretches just under four inches longer than its predecessor to accommodate additional speakers. AI-powered speech enhancement at four levels sharpens vocal clarity. The soundbar launches September 29th for $699 in black or white matte finishes.
AI Integration and Voice Control#
Sonos 27 places AI at the center of the platform. The company built an in-house Sonos 27voice assistant for music and system control, rolling out this fall as an opt-in early access feature. More broadly, Sonos 27mcp allows users to connect existing AI models—ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and others—though notably Google Assistant remains unsupported natively. This launches in early access September 8th.
By 2027, users will gain the ability to create up to 10 custom agents with distinct voices and roles. Sonos product leaders demonstrated examples like a detective delivering morning news or a motivational coach offering daily inspiration. All current Sonos app-compatible products work with Sonos 27mcp, while Sonos 27voice supports any device with a microphone.
