Here’s everything you need to know about Sonos’s debut headphones.
Sonos, known for its wireless home sound systems, is poised to deliver its first headphones in 2024.
Despite the anticipation, most of us are still in the dark about the actual features, specs, and details of the upcoming Sonos headphones.
That’s why we’ve gathered all the rumors about the new Sonos headphones to shed light on this. So, read on to learn more about what we can expect with our comprehensive overview.
When Is the Sonos Headphones Release Date?
Sonos CEO Patrick Spence indicated in the Q1 2024 earnings call that the Sonos headphones will launch in Q3 of 2024:
In 2019, a Bloomberg report revealed that the new Sonos headphones were “in the early development stages.” This hinted at a potential launch the following year.
In 2020, enthusiasts discovered headphone designs and patents filed by Sonos, fueling further interest. By December 2023, Sonos hinted at new products on Threads, fueling speculation about a possible headphone launch.
Bloomberg later reported that Sonos intended to release a new product in early 2024. However, it faced delays due to the headphones’ Wi-Fi functionality issues, so we can expect it on or after June 2024 instead.
What Will the Sonos Headphones Look Like?
The Sonos headphones appear conventional based on initial design schematics (pictured on the left). They have oval-shaped ear pads, rotating cups, and a padded headband, traits common to many headphones.
Another patent filing for an adapter suggests the Sonos headphones might feature snap-on, replaceable ear pads. The schematic drawings hint at buttons but don’t rule out touch or voice controls. Lastly, insiders predict that the new headphones will come in black and white.
That said, their stylistic elements and materials will distinguish these headphones from competitors.
What Features Can We Expect From the Sonos Headphones?
The Sonos headphones aim to compete with top audio brands, so we can expect them to offer similar, or better, flagship features. Here’s a quick overview of those potential features:
- Better wireless connectivity
- Advanced active noise cancellation
- Seamless integration with Sonos products
- Adaptive sound and spatial audio
- Battery life
Better wireless connectivity
We anticipate the Sonos headphones will feature Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring they are future-proof. This upgrade enhances connection stability, speeds up data transfers, and reduces power use. As such, users can expect more reliable connections, faster pairing, improved audio quality, and longer battery life, enhancing the listening experience.
Likewise, we look forward to Wi-Fi connectivity since the reported launch delays were linked to Wi-Fi software issues. This delivers improved audio quality due to its higher bandwidth and broader range, making it ideal for streaming uncompressed audio.
Moreover, this would allow the headphones to connect to the SonosNet network like other Sonos speakers, ensuring stable connections and minimizing Bluetooth interference or range limits issues.
Advanced active noise cancellation
Leading wireless headphones feature sophisticated active noise cancellation (ANC) that adjusts to your environment. Given Sonos’s goal to compete with top audio brands, we can expect the Sonos headphones to offer similar ANC features you can customize.
Seamless integration with Sonos products
Sonos’s multi-room listening feature lets users simultaneously play the same content on speakers in different rooms. This functionality could be extended to their new headphones, enabling users to join the same audio stream as the Sonos speakers or set a different one.
The Sonos headphones would be manageable via the Sonos app, giving users full control when switching between Sonos speakers and headphones. And since Sonos products support voice assistants via Sonos Voice Control, we expect the headphones to have this function as well.
Adaptive sound and spatial audio
Many premium headphones use adaptive sound and spatial audio to optimize audio output. For instance, Apple’s dynamic head tracking creates a theater experience based on your head position. On the other hand, Sony’s WH-1000XM4 uses Adaptive Sound Control to tailor noise cancellation to your activities.
Trueplay is Sonos’s version of this and enhances speaker sound for room acoustics. We expect to see this adapted for Sonos headphones, enabling them to adjust volume and noise-canceling levels to enhance spatial audio in real time.
Battery life
We expect the Sonos headphones to feature exceptional battery life alongside wireless and rapid charging support. With potential heavy-duty specs, a robust battery is vital for long listening sessions minus constant recharging. Many flagship headphones set performance benchmarks with such features, so Sonos must excel in these areas to stay competitive.
What Do Users Want From the Sonos Headphones?
The upcoming release of Sonos headphones has elicited excitement and skepticism among fans and enthusiasts. Many are eager about the Sonos experience in headphones, though some question the quality of a first-generation product.
Here’s a look at what enthusiasts anticipate from the new model:
- Immersive audio: Users are eager for the Sonos headphones to support Atmos sound or UHD audio playback, similar to what they get on Sonos speakers. This would make them excellent for watching movies and position them as a compelling alternative to other premium headphones.
- Adaptive listening for seniors: A user suggested a feature to enhance sounds to better suit older adults’ hearing needs.
- Comfort and portability: One Redditor stated they would buy the new Sonos headphones if they had memory foam and fabric ear pads like the AirPods Max and could fold up like Beats headphones.
- High-quality ambient mode: Fans hope the Sonos headphones will have TV audio playback with a top-notch pass-through feature. This would allow users to watch TV and hear conversations in the same room, improving shared viewing experiences.
- Easy setup: Another proposed a “universal connection” for hassle-free pairing with different devices. An auto-connect function to easily link the headphones with their existing Sonos setup is also hoped for.
How Much Will the Sonos Headphones Cost?
The Sonos headphones are rumored to cost $449, placing them between the AirPods Max at $549 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra at $429. This pricing strategy gives them a competitive edge in the premium headphone market.