Sonos today introduced two flagship products—the Beam Ultra soundbar and Ace Ultra headphones—while overhauling its audio platform under a new branding: Sonos 27. The update brings native voice control through Sonos’ own assistant, connections with external services like ChatGPT, and revamped app navigation paired with fresh hardware designed to deepen the integration between spaces and personal listening.
Audio Hardware Reimagined
The Ace Ultra headphones benefit from several upgrades. Sonos incorporated a custom 40 mm driver and adaptive active noise cancellation harnessing ten microphones. With ANC active, battery life stretches up to 35 hours—five hours beyond what the original Ace offered. A new “Headphone Engine 2” chip powers a linking feature that lets users seamlessly shift music from compatible Sonos speakers to the Ace Ultra for private listening; the product also supports traditional wired use via USB-C and a 3.5 mm jack.
The Beam Ultra soundbar takes things up a notch with dedicated upward-firing drivers that add real height channels for Dolby Atmos, making it a 7.1.2-channel setup despite its compact build. Dialogue clarity is enhanced with a redesigned center channel and four levels of AI-driven speech enhancement. Additional features include Trueplay room tuning and Night Sound mode, while connectivity comes via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and HDMI eARC. Owners can expand the setup with a Sub or rear surrounds for fuller immersive audio.
Sonos 27: Smarter Sound System
Sonos 27 marks the biggest software leap in the company’s audio line to date. From September 8, users will see updated navigation in the app and gain access to new voice-assist capabilities. Sonos 27voice introduces Sonos’ own assistant, while Sonos 27mcp enables integration with external assistants like ChatGPT. Ace Ultra’s linking feature also enters opt-in Early Access on September 29.
For customers already invested in Sonos’ ecosystem, the new hardware delivers added value—not just in performance, but in how devices cooperate. The linking feature will let you transfer audio playback between headphones and speakers without keeping your phone in immediate range, as long as at least one Sonos component remains connected. Portable surrounds backed by this update will also allow two Sonos Play or Move 2 speakers to serve as rear channels with a compatible soundbar starting September 8.
Price & Availability
The Beam Ultra carries a $699 price tag, positioning it $200 above the current Beam (Gen 2). Preorders begin today, with shipments set for September 29. The Ace Ultra maintains the $449 launch price of its predecessor and follows the same availability timeline. Both are being sold through Amazon, B&H, and other major retailers.
Sonos 27’s rollout will begin September 8, when the updated app and select AI-features will reach existing S2 platform users (hardware-dependent). Ace Ultra’s linking function joins the platform as an opt-in feature later that month.
What this means: Sonos’ move signals a turning point—blurring lines between hardware excellence and AI-driven, software-deep user experience. Beam Ultra and Ace Ultra aren’t just upgrades—they’re part of Sonos’ bid to become a hub for ambient intelligence in home and personal audio.
