SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Aug. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Sonos (Nasdaq: SONO) unveiled the all-new Sonos Amp, a powerful
and versatile home audio hub that powers traditional wired speakers with sound from nearly any source, and fully integrates these
speakers into Sonos’ easy-to-use wireless home sound system. The all-new Amp is twice as powerful as its predecessor, supports
Apple’s AirPlay 2 and more than 100 streaming services, and includes an HDMI Arc port for TVs. Launching globally in February 2019,
the $599 Amp will be available to professional installers in the United States and Canada starting Dec. 1, 2018.
Amp is designed to fit perfectly into standard AV racks used by custom install professionals, and can power up to four speakers
with 125 watts per channel—more than enough for even the most demanding set-ups. Onboard HDMI and line-in ports means TVs,
turntables, CD changers, and other audio components can easily connect with Amp and become part of the Sonos system.
Amp’s thoughtfully designed and versatile hardware was built to power the Sonos software platform. New updates to the platform
make it easy for installers to incorporate Amp into integrated smart home set-ups, including smart lighting and centralized control
systems. It is also AirPlay 2 compatible, meaning music and other audio from any iOS device can be played wirelessly through
Amp. And when wirelessly connected to an Amazon Alexa-enabled device like a Sonos One or Beam, Amp is controllable with voice
commands. Finally, like other Sonos devices, Amp will gain new features, services, and integrations over time through free software
updates, ensuring customers will get the best from their set-up for years to come.
“The growth of the Sonic Internet – the convergence of paid streaming, the smart home, and artificial intelligence through voice
technologies drives everything we do at Sonos,” said Sonos CEO Patrick Spence. “While plug-and-play options like Sonos Beam and
Sonos One are an important part of the equation, architectural sound and making it even easier to integrate with lighting and home
control are equally as important. We’ve listened to custom installers and dealers to create Amp, a versatile product designed to be
at the center of the smart home sound experience.”
Sonos Amp Product Specifics:
- More Power. More Possibilities. Packing 125 Watts per channel, Amp powers even the most demanding
speakers. You can now power up to four speakers instead of two.
- Enjoy music, TV, and more. Amp has an HDMI ARC port and an input for an additional audio source,
whether listening on floor standing speakers, integrated home theater, or through a turntable.
- Power home theater sound. Use Amp to add stereo sound to TV, add wireless rears to a Sonos home-theater
setup or two Amps for surround sound.
- Stream everything. Listen to music, podcasts, radio, audiobooks, and more. Also, play all the music
stored on a computer or other devices.
- Works with AirPlay. With Amp, use AirPlay 2 to send the sound from an iPhone or iPad to any speakers in
the home sound system.
- Choose how to control. Use the Sonos app on a phone or tablet, TV remote, keypads, AirPlay 2, or
through voice with Amazon Echo and Alexa-enabled devices.
- More ways to customize the experience. New APIs and deeper integrations with the Sonos platform
partners create seamless smart home control.
- Wireless. Or not. Enjoy solid and reliable WiFi performance, or connect Amp to an ethernet cable and
easily turn the WiFi off in the Sonos app.
- Stereo or dual mono sound. Whether configuring Amp for an open floor plan or a custom listening room,
create the best experience.
- Engineered for reliability. With a centralized heatsink, air inlets, and a discrete output stage, Amp
is built to keep its cool and deliver lasting power.
- Amazingly pure sound. Direct digital input eliminates the need for analog conversion, so you get clear,
undistorted sound for music streaming and your TV.
- Custom speaker connectors. A pair of threaded connections for left and right channels guarantee
high-quality performance. Plus, they’re standard diameter so you can remove them and use your own banana plugs.
Sonos and Sonance Collaborate on Architectural Sound
Sonos and architectural audio leader Sonance have announced a collaboration aimed at delivering a series of three architectural
speakers - in-wall, in-ceiling and outdoor - that gain additional functionality through software when paired with the new Sonos
Amp.
This collaboration will provide a complete offering for professionally installed architectural sound, exclusively enabling
Sonos’ Trueplay tuning capabilities to ensure the best sound for the space as well as the benefits of Sonos’ software platform.
These products, which will be sold and marketed by Sonos, will launch in early 2019.
Open Developer Platform and New Control APIs
Sonos has been a platform company since day one, with a goal of giving customers unparalleled freedom of choice, starting with
an open approach to music services and expanding to support dozens of additional content and control partners, including multiple
voice services.
Starting in early September, Sonos will further evolve the developer platform by fully opening up to all potential partners and
will also add a new set of Control APIs, making it easier than ever to integrate Sonos into the smart home.
The platform will continue to expand with new APIs that allow partners to innovate on their integrations with Sonos. New Control
APIs and features make the experience better for customers, especially those with integrated control systems, such as Control4 and
Crestron.
These include:
- Line-in switching (for both analog and home theater), to allow for line-in components to be selected within
the third-party control interface
- Volume pass-through for easier and more predictable volume control
- The ability to add Sonos playlists within a third-party interface
- In an early preview phase, capabilities to provide notifications and alerts from third-party devices, like a
doorbell, through Sonos speakers
Sonos will invite partners to get certified and earn the “Works with Sonos” badge. The badge will signal to Sonos owners that
companies building and innovating on our platform deliver experiences that meet the Sonos high bar for quality. For those
interested in building on the Sonos platform, check out the developer portal.
About Sonos
Sonos is the leading multi-room wireless smart home sound system. As the inventor of multi-room wireless home
audio, Sonos innovation helps the world listen better by giving people access to the content they love and allowing them to control
it however they choose. Known for delivering an unparalleled music listening experience, thoughtful home design aesthetic,
simplicity of use and an open platform, Sonos makes the breadth of sonic content available to anyone. Sonos is headquartered in
Santa Barbara, California. Learn more at www.sonos.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements regarding
product releases, collaboration with Sonance, availability of product features, services and integrations, future product
development, market growth, timing of opening the developer platform and expected platform expansion, among others. These
forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual results due to a variety of factors,
including, but not limited to: our ability to successfully develop and introduce new products and enhance existing products;
manufacturing delays or component supply shortages; product liability issues; our ability to maintain, protect and enhance our
intellectual property; changes in market conditions; or other risks as set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our final
prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) on August 2, 2018 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC), copies of which are available at the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov or upon request from our investor relations department. All forward-looking
statements herein reflect our opinions only as of the date of this news release, and we undertake no obligation, and expressly
disclaim any obligation, to update forward-looking statements herein in light of new information or future events.
