Sonos will hold its next event on Tuesday, March 9, the company has confirmed, with rumors already circulating about just what the connected speaker company could have in the works. It's the first big product announcement from Sonos since the unveil of the Arc Dolby Atmos speaker bar, though this time around there's chatter of a set of Sonos headphones or another portable speaker.
Bang & Olufsen has a new wireless home speaker, with the Beosound Level offering striking, pared-back style while cutting the cord with battery power. Since anything with the B&O badge tends to carry a fairly hefty price tag, meanwhile, the company is aiming to make it last longer than the average portable speaker.
It has been half a decade since French acoustics master Devialet launched its unique all-in-one speaker that has split audiophiles into camps. While few would deny that it sounds great, its price tag and design also left some less enthralled by the capsule-like audio marvel. Of course, Devialet has always dabbled in more luxurious products that try to give buyers their money's worth, and the new Devialet Phantom I is proof that it hasn't turned away from a product that it describes as one of its most revolutionary and iconic masterpieces.
It seems that UWB, short for ultra-wideband, will be the new buzzword for this year, with more and more tech companies and device manufacturers adopting the short-range wireless technology in products ranging from phones to smart home appliances to even cars. That said, Apple already laid the groundwork for that quite some time ago with its U1 chip but it is only now that it's turning on that functionality for the HomePod mini that it promised would be ready before 2020 ended.
Polk Audio has introduced React, a soundbar with Alexa made for home theaters. The model packs a bunch of high-end features, as well as support for 'virtually any TV' and remotes, according to the company. Among other things, React supports Alexa multi-room playback for users who have invested in the Alexa ecosystem.
Sonos has announced a replacement battery kit for the Sonos Move, the wireless speaker it launched back in 2019. Move connects to both a Sonos network of multi-room speakers or to a Bluetooth source directly, with the company suggesting that the battery should last for around three years or 900 charges.
Back in 2019, Sony looked into the future with a sound mapping system they called 360 Reality Audio. Here in 2020, they've developed that idea to the point where they're able to provide artists access to the tools and 360 Reality Audio-enabled speakers and headphones to the everyday average user. With new speakers released this year and new tools for creators, Sony's made it possible to bring next-generation spherical audio concert-like experiences to the masses.
Joining its new headphones and speakers comes the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Soundbar, a long speaker designed for use with your home entertainment system. JBL describes its new soundbar as compact enough for use in a variety of spaces. Key to the new model is MultiBeam beamforming technology, offering a surround sound experience without extra speakers.
Amazon has announced new features for its Alexa assistant and related Echo products, including group calling and support for new video conferencing options on its Echo Show 8. The features come just ahead of the year's biggest holidays, giving users new ways to connect with their friends and family while staying socially distanced.
Sonos is adding support for two subwoofers in a home theater setup, allowing those wanting maximum bass to wirelessly connect two Sonos Sub to the system. The update will double up the low-end for those with bigger rooms - or just an unstinting appetite for bass in their action movies - while keeping it all wireless still.
Google has added Apple Music support to its smart home system, meaning subscribers can now ask the Google Assistant to play tracks on their Nest Audio and other smart speakers. The new integration further bridges the divide between Apple and Google's media and smart home platforms, which can at times prove a headache for those trying to make the most of all their content subscriptions across all their devices.
Sonos is adding a much-demanded feature to its Arc soundbar with a new software update, bringing multi-channel LPCM support to the flagship Dolby Atmos product. Meanwhile, the company is retiring its controversial Sonos Trade Up program, replacing it with a new Upgrade Program which promises hardware discounts for those users with older devices.