Sonos has introduced Sonos 27, the latest version of its audio operating system, bringing AI-powered controls, new ways to move audio around the home and a redesigned app experience.
The update coincides with the arrival of its latest products in its Ultra series, the Beam Ultra soundbar and Sonos Ace Ultra headphones.
The biggest change with Sonos 27 is its approach to AI. Sonos has opened its system up to multiple AI assistants and agents, with its own Sonos 27 voice assistant designed specifically for music and mood curation, while Sonos 27 MCP allows external AI assistants and agents, including ChatGPT, to connect to a Sonos system.
That means users will be able to ask ChatGPT (or Claude, or Gemini) to play music in their home directly from a phone or computer. With this update, Sonos is also previewing Custom Agents, which will eventually let users create their own agents with a chosen AI model, persona and voice.
The Sonos Fabric system looks to tie all its devices together in ways that weren’t possible previously. One of the first applications is Sonos Positioning Technology, which uses high-frequency sound to determine where a speaker is located and automatically adjust its role within the system.
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This new platform also enables a new portable surrounds feature that’s launching for the Move 2 and Sonos Play. Move one of the supported speakers into position and it can automatically become a rear surround, rather than requiring users to manually configure the system.
Sonos is also introducing headphone linking with the new Ace Ultra. The Early Access feature allows audio to move between nearby Sonos speakers and the headphones, making it easier to switch between listening privately and using the wider home setup.
The Sonos 27 app is getting navigation improvements shaped by feedback from the Sonos community, with the app sitting alongside the Sonos 27voice control and Sonos 27web portal as different ways of controlling its audio system.
Alongside the software update, Sonos has announced the Beam Ultra, a compact soundbar with 7.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos, and the Ace Ultra headphones, which are designed for deeper integration with the Sonos ecosystem.
The new app navigation, Sonos 27mcp Early Access and portable surrounds begin rolling out on September 8. Beam Ultra and Ace Ultra are available to pre-order now, with general availability starting September 29.
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