Sonos Era 100 Pro & new Zones feature now available

Photo: Sonos

Sonos announced the availability of its first speaker designed specifically for professional installers: the Era 100 Pro. This Ethernet-powered speaker is sold in pairs through authorized Sonos installation partners. Pricing is set by these partners, with one Toronto installer estimating a price of $409 each, or $499 CAD with a wall mount. Buyers should note the Era 100 Pro requires a powered Ethernet connection because it won't work with typical wired home networks.

Alongside the new speaker, Sonos has introduced Zones in its app. This new feature allows for the creation of semi-permanent speaker collections of up to 16 compatible devices, simplifying control in commercial settings. Zones offer synchronized content and volume, with individual speaker trim and EQ adjustments. 

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Sonos weighs old app revival

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Sonos has been grappling with the issues surrounding the redesigned app it launched in April. The buggy, incomplete app was met with widespread criticism and customer dissatisfaction. Despite the company's efforts to address the issues, the app continues to cause frustration for users.

In an attempt to alleviate the situation, Sonos leadership is reportedly considering a return to its previous "S2" app. This move would provide a temporary solution for users while the company works to resolve the problems with the newer app.

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The Sonos app overhaul: A costly miscalculation

The new Sonos app (Photo: Sonos)

Sonos’s ambitious redesign of its app promised a more modern, customizable, and user-friendly experience. However, two months later, the overhaul has proven to be a colossal misstep. While the company has been frantically backtracking with frequent updates to restore missing features, widespread customer frustration persists.

In a damage control effort, CEO Patrick Spence issued a public apology, acknowledging the significant disruption caused by the new app. The mea culpa comes after initial responses were perceived as tone-deaf, given the app’s numerous bugs and shortcomings.

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Sonos debuts premium headphones, the Sonos Ace

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Sonos is expanding its audio expertise beyond speakers with the introduction of the Sonos Ace, its first pair of headphones. The Ace stays true to the Sonos brand, offering a sleek design, exceptional sound quality, and seamless integration with the Sonos ecosystem.

While independent reviews are yet to come in, Sonos promises a captivating audio experience with custom-designed 40mm drivers. Beamforming microphones ensure clear voice calls and effective active noise cancellation (ANC).

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