We ’ve been thirstily awaiting more detail onSonos ’ wireless earpiece plansever since Bloomberg let it be known in January 2019 that the multiroom audio company was actively developing them . Now , almost two long time later , we have our first look at the innovation thanks to arecently awarded patentfrom the United States Patent Office ( USPO ) .
inter within the 45 - page letters patent document are drawings that instance two possible phone designs — one that use a single - sided earcup fork , interchangeable to aBowers and Wilkins PX7orMicrosoft Surface Headphones 2 , and another that uses what is likely a forkless access that reminds us a peck of theBose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 .
The patent of invention also discuss several feature film , which supply a strong sense of how the Modern designs could do work — keep in mind that patents are merely possible outcome , not guarantees of what a ship’s company will launch .
Sonos / USPO
It ’s clear-cut that Sonos see the earphone as being intact parts of a Sonos whole - habitation sound system . They ’ll be able-bodied to maneuver over Bluetooth and Wi - Fi , just like the Sonos Move , and you ’ll be capable to rain cats and dogs audio to them from a smartphone , from another Sonos production that has built - inApple AirPlay , like theSonos Beam , or from a TV if it ’s connected to a Sonos soundbar like theArc .
But it will also — just like every other Sonos gimmick — be able to get at streaming service likeSpotifyandApple Musicdirectly , without the penury for a constant connection to a smartphone or tablet . This part would require Wi - Fi , and would likely enfeeble stamp battery lifespan faster than using Bluetooth . peculiarly , the patent also makes elbow room for the possibility that the headphone could have onboard storage for media file , something no other Sonos gimmick currently offers .
Another feature the key out headphones could bid is hands - free admission to a voice helper , using just a wake - Word of God like “ Alexa ” or “ Hey , Google . ” Sonos already offer its customers the ability to use either Amazon or Google ’s voice assistant in this way via its spokesperson - enabled products , which now let in the Arc , Beam , One , andMove . This would also require Wi - Fi unless the phone were being used with a smartphone over Bluetooth .
Sonos / USPO
talk of Bluetooth , we ’ve long wondered if a circle of Sonos wireless earpiece would work both inside and outside the house . That sounds like a dumb question , but the reason for the doubt is well - establish . The Sonos app , which moderate the entire Sonos experience at base , does not let you control the Sonos Move when outside the home .
In those scenarios , the Move is no different than any otherBluetooth speaker , which means you must choose another app , like Apple Music or Spotify orTidal , to check mental object and playback .
But the patented Sonos headphone design does admit a way of transfer playback Roger Huntington Sessions from the phone to other Sonos devices and back again . This might be used to continue listening sessions that come outside the home once you get back inside or vice versa , asProtocol points out .
Sonos / USPO
In many respects , these headphones will function just like other top - tier wireless headphones like Sony’sWH-1000XM4 . There will be a path to control play / pause , intensity up / down , and track vamoose forward / back . These will likely be touch controls of some sort , but could also be physical push . The patent of invention suggests there could also be great deal of sensing element that discover everything from cutaneous senses , to phonation , to whether or not you ’re weary the earphone .
There are references toactive randomness cancellation(ANC ) so clearly Sonos anticipate that folk will require this very pop feature on its headphones . One of the designs lease citizenry control both volume and ANC through the use of physical knobs at the end of the headband stems , similar to how Microsoft ’s Surface Headphones 2 apply a strong-arm telephone dial for ANC feature .
The patent does n’t admit any pricing information or when ( if ever ) Sonos will found its own wireless earphone . In January 2019 , Bloomberg reported that they could cost $ 300 . This would be on the low side of comparably equip earpiece from Bose , Beats , Sony , and Sennheiser , especially when you consider their singular compatibility with the Sonos ecosystem .
Sonos / USPO
When Digital Trends asked Sonos to comment on the letters patent , we were provided with the following statement from the ship’s company : “ As a company founded in creation , we ’re always working on unlike idea and innovations that can aid the world listen considerably . We continue to make investments in our strong patent portfolio with dozens of new patent each yr . We do not have extra information to share at this time regarding our future mathematical product roadmap . ”
In other words : No comment .
We ’ll keep you send as soon as we get a line more about Sonos ’ wireless headphone .
Sonos / USPO
Sonos / USPO
Sonos / USPO
Sonos / USPO
Sonos / USPO
Sonos / USPO
Sonos / USPO
Sonos / USPO
Sonos / USPO
