Known for innovative speakers with exciting features, Sonos creates speakers that you can sync together, allowing you to play music throughout the house simultaneously. Still, the brand seems to have a few more tricks up its sleeve, as it recently announced a new voice assistant feature, a radio collaboration with Lorde and several new colors for the Sonos Roam.
Sonos is rolling out a software update with a new voice assistant feature, similar to Amazon Alexa and Google Voice Assistant. The feature will be available on all voice-capable Sonos speakers, including the One, Roam, Arc and Move. After adding it to your device, it will respond to the phrase, “Hey, Sonos.” Although the international release date has yet to be announced, it will be available in the United States on June 1.
Sonos speakers usually produce a better-quality sound than the Amazon Echo, making this an exciting announcement for music lovers interested in voice-assistant capabilities. Those concerned with privacy will be happy to know that the commands are only processed on the speaker and never sent to the cloud.
This feature is designed primarily for interacting with streaming services; it lets you request songs, artists, playlists and podcasts from your default service. It will be compatible with Sonos Radio, Amazon Music, Deezer, Pandora and Apple Music. Unlike Alexa and Google Voice Assistant, Sonos Voice Control can’t answer questions or conduct internet searches. Luckily, you’ll be able to use Alexa and Sonos Voice Control on the same Sonos speaker.
Fans of “Breaking Bad” and “The Mandalorian” will be excited to know Giancarlo Esposito is the official voice of the Sonos Assistant. Although Esposito is known for playing villains in most of his roles, he has an excellent speaking voice that is ideal for a voice assistant feature.
Sonos recently partnered with Grammy award-winning pop artist Lorde to release a Sonos radio station called SOLARSYSTYM. Lorde described the station as a collection of meaningful songs that inspired her throughout her life. According to Brian Beck, head of music for Sonos, “Lorde is an artistic force to be reckoned with, so to follow the trajectory of how and where she’s been influenced is an invaluable experience for her fans.”
The Sonos Roam is one of the brand’s most popular speakers. Until recently, they were only available in black and white, but Sonos recently launched three new colors: olive, wave and sunset. Although the new colors aren’t listed on Amazon yet, all five options are available on Sonos’ website.
Before Sonos announced the new colors officially, they were leaked by Chilean retailer, MusicWorld. The new options were visible on their site for a short time before Sonos’ announcement but were removed soon after.
The Roam is known for being waterproof, voice-capable and easy to use. It has a 10-hour battery life and a durable design, plus it is relatively affordable. Despite its compact size, most people are impressed by how rich and full the sound is.
A. Sonos and Bose make excellent devices, but Sonos is generally a better choice for portable speakers. Bose speakers usually have a better sound quality overall. Still, the Sonos’ Automatic Trueplay feature lets speakers tune themselves to specific environments, making them sound crisp and clear regardless of the acoustics.
A. Although they’re best used with paid streaming services, Sonos doesn’t charge a monthly fee for its app or voice assistant.
A. It depends on the speaker you’re using. Many Sonos speakers require a Wi-Fi connection to interact with streaming services. The Sonos Roam and Sonos Move pair with your phone via Bluetooth, letting you stream music from your phone without connecting the speaker to Wi-Fi.
A. According to Sonos, this is due to Google’s distribution agreement restrictions. Google’s agreement states that it cannot operate concurrently with other voice assistants. You can use Google Assistant on a speaker tied to the same network as another Sonos speaker, even if the second speaker has Sonos Voice Control installed. Alternatively, you can use Sonos’ voice assistant and Alexa on the same speaker.
It’s a durable speaker that is ideal for indoor or outdoor use. It is available in black and white and features voice-assistant compatibility. Many were impressed with its powerful bass tones and felt the sound quality was superb.
This is a voice-compatible speaker with top-notch sound. You can pair two Sonos One speakers to play the same song in multiple rooms. They’re available in black or white, and you can mount it to your wall.
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This soundbar features cinematic Dolby Atmos sound, touch controls and voice controls. You can purchase it with a subwoofer and rear speakers for surround sound. It’s available in a stylish black or white design.
Set up a dedicated network for your Sonos speakers with this device. It’s ideal for anyone with a weak Wi-Fi connection or interference from other devices. It features a sleek design but can’t connect to non-Sonos devices.
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Cody Stewart writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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