Sonos' streaming device has the potential to be fantastic... provided it doesn't disappoint.

      New insights about a Sonos streaming media device that has yet to be officially announced have surfaced, bringing both hope and concern. The device, internally codenamed “Pinewood,” could potentially retail for as much as $400, as reported by Chris Welch at The Verge, referencing sources “familiar with” the initiative.

      Welch notes that this price point is quite high, especially when compared to competing products like the $200 Apple TV 4K, $200 Nvidia Shield TV Pro, and $100 Google Streamer. However, it seems that the Sonos device may offer features that these alternatives do not.

      Among its most intriguing attributes are several HDMI inputs, the capability to stream audio wirelessly to various Sonos speakers (not just the dedicated home theater soundbars), voice command support, and a software experience that aims to replicate what many consider the best feature of the Sonos app: universal search.

      Digital Trends reached out to Sonos for a comment regarding the report, but was met with the standard response of, “we do not comment on rumor or speculation.”

      An earlier patent application hinted that Pinewood (referred to in the application as Sonos TV) would not include a physical remote. However, Welch suggests that Sonos may have reassessed this decision.

      The inclusion of multiple HDMI inputs is particularly compelling. To my knowledge, no other media streamer has offered this feature before. If you seek this type of functionality, you typically have to invest in an AV receiver or an HDMI switcher. The former is impractical for homes with Sonos soundbars, while the latter often feels like an imperfect solution—an extra device to compensate for insufficient TV inputs, which most people do not desire.

      Conversely, a Sonos streamer equipped with multiple HDMI ports addresses several issues. By transmitting audio via Wi-Fi to your chosen Sonos speakers, it removes the need for an HDMI ARC/eARC connection between your TV and soundbar. This also allows Sonos speakers that lack their own HDMI port (like the excellent Era 300) to deliver full-range TV sound without needing one. Welch correctly notes that this could allow users to employ any pair of Sonos speakers for TV audio and might even enable the use of true height-channel ceiling speakers with a Sonos Amp.

      Enabling “Pinewood” to serve as the central hub for gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and other devices in relation to your TV could allow for voice command control over your entire home theater, similar to what Amazon achieved with the first Fire TV Cube.

      According to the report, “Sonos plans to combine content from numerous platforms including Netflix, Max, and Disney+ under a single, unified software experience. Universal search across streaming accounts will be supported.” It remains unclear whether this means Sonos has managed to negotiate with Netflix for its content to be accessible within an app that Sonos does not directly control, or if it simply implies that the Netflix app will come pre-installed (Pinewood is rumored to operate on Android).

      A fully integrated Netflix would be a significant achievement if Sonos can manage it. Historically, there’s reason to believe it could succeed: the Sonos music platform is currently the only wireless speaker system that grants users native access to Apple Music through the Sonos app.

      However, recent history indicates that the software could become Pinewood’s biggest challenge, rather than the hardware. As many users can attest, Sonos is still recovering from one of the most problematic software launches in recent memory.

      To say I have doubts about the company's capacity to successfully enter the video streaming market without major issues would be an understatement. However, these concerns are somewhat alleviated by earlier reports suggesting that Sonos is enlisting a third party, an online advertising company named The Trade Desk, for Pinewood’s software.

      While I don’t particularly welcome the notion of an ad-focused company influencing a streaming media device—given numerous past examples—it may be better under the current circumstances at Sonos. Moreover, while it might seem unusual for a company like Sonos to operate two distinct software platforms, Pinewood may not gain from a closer integration with the existing Sonos app.

      If the reported details are accurate, Sonos’ media streamer would function as an additional control for your Sonos speakers. Currently, users can stream to Sonos speakers from the Sonos app or through AirPlay 2, switching seamlessly between the two. Pinewood’s software would simply present another source for Sonos products.

      There remain numerous potential pitfalls, including the pressing question of whether consumers will be willing to spend $200-$400 on such a device. Nevertheless, if successful, it could mark a pivotal product launch that revives Sonos’ reputation, a development that is much anticipated.