Sonos looking to battle Apple & Beats in high-end headphone market
Sonos is reportedly poised to challenge Apple and other high-end headphone makers, entering that market by 2020 with some unique features in tow.
The company is in early development of a wireless over-the-ear set expected to ship for $300 or more, Bloomberg sources said. As with its most recent room speakers, the product will allegedly support multiple music services and voice assistants.
The sources didn't identify those assistants, but some Sonos products already support Amazon Alexa, as well as limited Siri control by way of AirPlay 2. Google Assistant compatibility is due sometime this year.
Offering native multi-assistant support would give Sonos a clear advantage over Apple's Beats products, which can only interact with assistants on a connected iOS or Android device. AirPods do have Siri integration, but don't go any further.
Apple has been rumored as working on self-branded over-the-ear headphones with high-end features like noise cancellation. At one stage it was thought that they could ship by the end of 2018, but the project may have been delayed by multiple redesigns, joining other vaporware accessories like a wireless AirPods charging case and the AirPower charging mat.
The company is in early development of a wireless over-the-ear set expected to ship for $300 or more, Bloomberg sources said. As with its most recent room speakers, the product will allegedly support multiple music services and voice assistants.
The sources didn't identify those assistants, but some Sonos products already support Amazon Alexa, as well as limited Siri control by way of AirPlay 2. Google Assistant compatibility is due sometime this year.
Offering native multi-assistant support would give Sonos a clear advantage over Apple's Beats products, which can only interact with assistants on a connected iOS or Android device. AirPods do have Siri integration, but don't go any further.
Apple has been rumored as working on self-branded over-the-ear headphones with high-end features like noise cancellation. At one stage it was thought that they could ship by the end of 2018, but the project may have been delayed by multiple redesigns, joining other vaporware accessories like a wireless AirPods charging case and the AirPower charging mat.
Comments
Bet your ass Apple is high end.
If you compare $1,000 wired Seinnheisers to tiny AirPods then sure, but who even comes close to the quality and innovation in an earpiece that tiny? No one.
While I agree that at present AirPower and wireless AirPods fit the description of vapourware, it’s a bit harsh to say the rumoured over the ear headphones are also when they are in fact only rumoured. As in not announced.
also, beats are mid range, not high end.
also also: Mark Gurman? Probably bullshit.
I'll stick with my B&W P7 phones.
However for the gym, the beats are perfect, the Bose are great for flying and the B&O were just a disappointment, then again B&O consumer audio is nothing like B&O hi fi equipment where a speaker may cost you 25k and a whole home theater setup over 100k.