A few months back, Sonos released the Ace, their first headphones. Sadly, these high-end headphones, priced at $449, haven't performed as well as the company had hoped. A recent report suggests that Sonos is thinking about creating a new top-tier model.
Sales Numbers Disappoint
This information comes from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg. He mentioned that the Sonos Ace isn't selling great, with only around 20,000 units sold last month. Earlier reports indicated that the headphones' lackluster reception led Sonos to cut its yearly production targets from 1 million units down to a mere 100,000 units.
Product Quality in Question
It’s not that the Sonos Ace (currently available on Amazon for $439) is a bad product. In fact, it has garnered mostly positive feedback. However, issues with the Sonos app and the Ace's steep price compared to competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM5 (which goes for $399 on Amazon) might have hurt its sales figures.
New Headphones on the Horizon
Rumor has it that Sonos is working on a new pair of headphones that will be even more upscale than the Ace. The project, codenamed "Roundhouse," is still in its infancy and details are not finalized. Nonetheless, the plan includes launching these new headphones at a price of $450, while also making a permanent price reduction for the Sonos Ace to $399.
Potential Impact of Price Cuts
While introducing a new headphone model less than a year after the Ace's debut might not seem like the best move, fans of Sonos will likely welcome a price drop for the Ace. The sooner this price adjustment happens, the better, especially with the holiday season approaching, which could lead to an increase in sales.
Sonos Stays Active
Despite these challenges, Sonos has been busy lately. They recently unveiled the Arc Ultra, a premium smart soundbar priced at $999, alongside the $799 Sub 4 wireless subwoofer. Both new products are available for pre-order and are set to ship on October 29.
