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Sonos has released the Beam Ultra, a compact soundbar reviewed as delivering strong audio performance for home theater setups. The review notes it works well as a standalone device but offers added benefits when paired with other Sonos products.
Sonos has released the Ace Ultra headphones at $449, replacing the original $349 Ace as its flagship model. The new headphones retain the Ace's comfortable build and tactile controls while adding the ability to send audio from a broader Sonos speaker system to the headphones and back, a feature currently offered in "early access." Both ear cups and the battery are user-replaceable via separate accessory kits.
Google's new Home speaker acts as a Gemini-powered voice assistant that also handles multi-room music playback without requiring any subscription beyond a music streaming service. It works with Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and Amazon Music, and is set up and controlled through the redesigned Google Home app, which also supports speaker groups and moving audio between rooms. The speaker uses a single 58mm driver, making it noticeably quieter and less clear than pricier alternatives like Sonos' Era 100, though two units can be paired for stereo sound.
Beats has released the 360, an over-ear headphone with a detachable headband and ear cups that let users mix and match colors and swap between two cushion materials: Performance Knit and UltraPlush. The design allows for easier cleaning and replacement of worn parts compared to most rival headphones.
Home Assistant is open-source software that can run on an old laptop to unify smart home devices from different brands, including Philips Hue, Google Nest, Ring, Sonos and Ecobee. It supports automations, scenes and scripts, letting users link devices together, such as starting a coffee maker with an alarm dismissal or dimming lights when a movie starts.
Sonos has released the Ace Ultra, an update to its original Ace headphones that keeps a similar design but overhauls internal technology. The headphones run on Sonos' new Headphone Engine 2 software, enabling 'headphone linking' that lets users send audio from Sonos speakers or turntables directly to the headphones, alongside expanded noise cancellation and EQ customization.
Sonos has released the Beam Ultra, a wider version of its compact soundbar that now supports genuine Dolby Atmos rather than simulated surround sound. The device packs five tweeters, four woofers and nine amplifiers, compared to the simpler single-tweeter setup in the previous Beam generation, and is best suited for TVs 55 inches or larger.
Sonos has outlined its official process for setting up speakers using the Sonos smartphone app, available on both the App Store and Google Play. Users must create an account, connect their speaker and device to the same Wi-Fi network, then follow in-app prompts to name the speaker's room and add further devices later through the settings menu.
WIRED's latest soundbar roundup highlights the Focal Mu-So Hekla as a standout premium option, praising its 15-speaker array, powerful bass, upfiring Dolby Atmos drivers and intuitive companion app. The guide also names honorable mentions including the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Sony Bravia Theatre Trio, noting each device's tradeoffs in sound quality, price and expandability.
Sonos has released its Sonos 27 app update for all S2-compatible hardware, adopting a new year-based naming convention similar to iOS. The update lets pairs of portable speakers like Move 2 or Sonos Play act as rear surrounds with a compatible soundbar, introduces a redesigned navigation interface with swipe gestures and pinned rooms, and adds early-access features for headphone-speaker audio handoff and third-party AI assistant integration.
In a Decoder interview, Sonos CEO Tom Conrad, who became interim chief after the botched 2024 app redesign and took the permanent job a year ago, said the company has moved past that turmoil. He outlined the launch of Sonos 27, a new software platform meant to unify the company's speakers into a smarter, more interconnected system.
Philips Hue is rolling out Custom AI Behaviors, a feature letting users describe desired lighting automations in plain language instead of manually configuring rules. Announced at IFA alongside a new Sonos speaker integration for Hue switches, both updates arrive via a software update in November. The AI feature requires the Hue Bridge Pro's processing power to run.