Particle physics experiments are huge—they have to be, in order to accelerate particles with enough energy to properly study them. The Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland is nearly 17 miles around, while others are closer to the 2-mile range. But scientists working on a new experiment reported Wednesday that they’ve…
Sonos has partnered with plenty of software companies over the years to enhance its own offerings — after all, if streaming music services don’t want to play ball with the company, its products aren’t very useful. Starting in September, the Sonos so…
Over the last decade, Sonos has slowly built up a reputation for making excellent speakers built for the age of streaming music. The company started in 2005 with the ZP100, a product that let buyers connect their speakers to the internet for st…
Sonos is doubling down on the custom in-home audio market with new products and partnerships. The company today announced a new version of the Sonos Amp and a partnership with Sonance that will result in three architectural speakers — in-wall, in-ceiling and outdoor — that Sonos says will gain additional functionality when paired with a Sonos system.
Sonos is also announcing upcoming Control APIs that the company says will make it easier to integrate Sonos into the ever-evolving smart home. This jibes with Sonos’ long-standing approach of working with other platforms to offer its customers as many services as possible.
The new Amp allows owners to use traditional home audio speakers with a Sonos system. Connect a turntable or stream media with just the Amp and power a set of bookshelf speakers. According to the spec sheet, the Amp has enough power to push most high-end bookshelf speakers.
The Amp replaces the Connect:Amp. The new version is more powerful, works with more platforms and is more expensive at $599 rather than $499. This new version outputs 125 watts per channel at 8 ohms; it can power four speakers instead of two. The additional power makes the Amp more versatile than its predecessor, too. Sonos says the Amp can be used to add stereo sound to a TV (thanks in part to HDMI Arc support) or add wireless rears to a Sonos theater setup. Or, two Amps can be used to add a complete surround sound system. Multiple Amp units can be stacked or mounted in a rack.
The Amp works with AirPlay 2 and with Alexa when used in conjunction with an Amazon Alexa-enabled Sonos device like a Sonos One or Beam.
With a product like the Amp, Sonos has a new offering for those customers looking to integrate the convenient Sonos line into their high-end home theater setup. That’s a serious market, too, and the company’s new partnership with Sonance shows Sonos is committed to addressing the home audio enthusiast while building products to compete with Apple and Amazon.
Together, they will produce in-wall speakers that when used with a Sonos Amp will offer additional functionality. The company stopped short of detailing the added functionality. These speakers are set for an early 2019 release.
This is Sonos’ first large announcement after going public on August 2.
Today, Microsoft announced that a few items in its product lineup are getting something of a makeover. The company revealed that one upcoming Xbox One X bundle will be available in a color it’s calling “robot white.” Alongside it, the Xbox Elite Controller and the Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 headset will receive new models in the same color. This … Continue reading
Sonos has revealed a new connected amplifier, the Sonos Amp, delivering streaming music, AirPlay 2 support, and more for installations where third-party speakers are preferred. Targeting professional installers, the new Sonos Amp is designed to fit into a standard AV rack. It’s a return to some of Sonos’ earliest products, back when the company launched with its Zone Player amplifiers. … Continue reading
Casio revealed a smartwatch this week with Google Wear OS on-board – and metal outside. This smartwatch was revealed with three color options for exterior casing metal – black, blue, and orange. This is the sort of smartwatch you’d wear if you were risking your life to go on a James Bond-type adventure scaling the fully-vertical side of a jagged … Continue reading
Suddenly there was a Wear OS by Google smartwatch that looked different from the rest, and it was made by SKAGEN. This is a so-called “Danish-inspired lifestyle brand” that’s just shown a surprisingly nice looking watch at IFA 2018. “The Falster 2 represents everything SKAGEN stands for: beautiful, design-focused products that are functional for the way people live,” said Frederik … Continue reading
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