Sonos may enhance its upcoming headphones by integrating built-in voice controls.

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      Sonos is preparing to launch a new set of wireless headphones named the Sonos Ace Ultra, with a significant focus on artificial intelligence this time.

      Details about the headphones emerged from an FCC filing, first reported by Lowpass, although much of the information was redacted. The documents confirm the name Ace Ultra and suggest that the headphones might be available in as many as five colors, a notable shift from the original Ace, which was released in 2024 in only black and white.

      This launch coincides with Sonos’ plans for a product reveal in September. Bloomberg reports that CEO Tom Conrad announced this during a recent earnings call, making the FCC filing a strong indication that the Ace Ultra will be part of the upcoming product announcements.

      The Ace Ultra could finally introduce practical AI functionality to Sonos products.

      The more intriguing aspect of this development isn't just the additional color options. Technical information in the FCC documents indicates that the new headphones might support voice commands, enabling users to interact with AI assistants directly via the headset. Bloomberg highlights that this improvement addresses a major gap in the first-generation Ace, which did not support voice interactions with AI chatbots.

      This aligns well with the broader strategy Sonos is now pursuing for its offerings. Conrad has expressed that the company views AI as a means to integrate “conversational computing and predictive intelligence” into the home rather than merely adding another chatbot to its devices.

      Sonos has already developed its own voice assistant, Sonos Voice Control, which has expanded to manage devices such as Philips Hue lights and Lutron Caséta accessories. Conrad aims for voice interactions to feel intuitive rather than something users need to consciously engage with.

      The company is also positioning its whole-home audio system as an advantage as AI becomes more prevalent in everyday technology. Instead of having an assistant confined to a single device, Sonos wants its hardware to comprehend the layout of a home and how different rooms are utilized.

      Sonos has more at stake with its second attempt.

      The Ace Ultra also serves as a second chance for Sonos. The original Ace, while well-designed, faced challenges due to its limited integration with the broader Sonos ecosystem. Users reported being able to privately listen to TV audio through Sonos soundbars, but they could not easily switch music between home speakers and headphones.

      This launch followed a problematic 2024 mobile-app update that negatively impacted sales and forced Sonos to pause new hardware releases. CEO Conrad has since recognized that launching the Ace without deeper system integration was a misstep.

      Now, Sonos has another opportunity. The Ace Ultra seems to combine a more refined headphone strategy with the company's wider push into AI and connected-home technologies.

      For Sonos, the challenge extends beyond creating a quality pair of headphones. It needs to offer headphones that provide compelling reasons for consumers to opt for Sonos over competitors like Apple, Sony, or Bose, and its ambitions in AI may be its best chance to achieve this.

      Moinak Pal has been working in the technology sector, focusing on both consumer technology and automotive innovations.

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