I believe there are plenty of real products available, which is why I don’t focus much on those that are still just ideas. However, two upcoming Sonos projects have caught my attention for their undeniable potential.
To clarify, my observations are purely speculative. Yet, they seem reasonable, particularly since Sonos has indicated that there are two products on the brink of announcement and release, currently delayed by issues surrounding its 2024 app.
Let’s begin with the Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar, which has recently had several leaks. There was a post on X in September featuring marketing materials, alongside a hidden Best Buy listing that surfaces in Google searches but leads to a non-functional product page. This scenario often suggests a product that’s been prepared for launch but has been temporarily shelved.
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Most recently, what appears to be specifications for the Arc Ultra surfaced on Reddit. Generally, the features outlined are standard: seven tweeters, six woofers, Trueplay technology, and all the Dolby formats you would expect. The inclusion of a microphone isn’t shocking either; Sonos has integrated them into their speakers for years. There’s also a unique feature that allows users to switch seamlessly between the soundbar and the Sonos Ace headphones. The touted addition of a quad-core A55 processor is hardly groundbreaking—after all, the original Sonos Arc also boasted a quad-core CPU.
What really piqued my interest? The mention of 16GB of RAM and 8GB of non-volatile memory (ROM). In comparison, the first-generation Arc only packs 1GB of RAM and half the NV memory. Coupled with a marketing image from September showcasing a Sonos interface, this suggests a strong likelihood that when the Sonos Arc Ultra finally launches, it will coincide with the introduction of Sonos TV. A noticeable omission in the rumored specs is a remote control, which could present challenges.
As for Sonos TV, that’s an entirely different conversation. One could surmise it will resemble the functionality provided by Roku in its soundbars, likely featuring a fully integrated operating system. It’s probable that it may be a variant of Android, but there’s always room for surprise.
So, what does all this imply? First and foremost, it’s time to stop labeling Sonos TV as a traditional “set-top box.” This term is outdated and doesn’t quite apply anymore, given that modern TVs are too slim to accommodate such devices on top. I am guilty of this as well. During a recent interview with Sonos executive Eddie Lazarus, when I asked about the so-called set-top box, he replied, “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”
In hindsight, I should have inquired about the Sonos Arc Ultra instead.