Sonos Unveils Beam Ultra Soundbar, Ace Ultra Headphones and Sonos 27 OS in Major Audio Refresh
Sonos is making one of its biggest moves in years with the launch of three major additions to its audio ecosystem: the Beam Ultra soundbar, the Ace Ultra headphones and the new Sonos 27 operating system. The announcement marks a significant refresh for the brand, combining upgraded hardware, improved sound performance and deeper multi-room integration.
The new lineup arrives after a challenging period for Sonos, following criticism of its redesigned app. With Sonos 27 and its latest devices, the company appears focused on rebuilding confidence while pushing its home audio platform forward.
The Sonos Beam Ultra is the standout home theater product in the announcement. It is a redesigned compact soundbar built around a 7.1.2-channel speaker layout, a notable upgrade for users who want more immersive sound without moving to a larger soundbar system. The addition of two up-firing drivers brings enhanced Dolby Atmos spatial audio, creating a wider and more vertical soundstage for movies, TV shows, games and music.
Sonos has also reworked the center channel, combining new hardware with updated audio processing. This should help improve voice clarity, especially in scenes where dialogue competes with music, explosions or background noise. The Beam Ultra also includes AI-powered speech enhancement with four adjustment levels, giving users more control over how clearly dialogue is presented.
Although the Beam Ultra remains designed for smaller spaces and minimalist setups, it is slightly larger than the previous Beam model, measuring nearly four inches longer. It will be available in matte black and white, keeping the clean design language Sonos is known for.
The Ace Ultra headphones bring a bigger leap for Sonos’ personal audio lineup. The new over-ear headphones feature redesigned 40mm drivers and a 10-microphone system, up from eight microphones in the previous generation. Sonos says the upgraded microphone array delivers much better active noise cancellation, particularly at lower frequencies such as engine rumble, traffic noise and other persistent background sounds.
One of the most important upgrades is how the Ace Ultra connects with the broader Sonos ecosystem. With a single button press, users can move audio between Sonos speakers and the headphones without needing a phone nearby. This makes it easier to switch from room-filling sound to private listening, whether watching TV late at night or moving from a speaker setup to headphones while working.
This deeper integration addresses one of the biggest limitations of the original Ace headphones, which did not fully blend into the Sonos multi-room experience. With the Ace Ultra, Sonos is positioning its headphones as a more natural part of the home audio system rather than a separate Bluetooth accessory.
Battery life is also improved. The Ace Ultra is rated for up to 35 hours of listening with active noise cancellation enabled. Fast charging is included as well, with a three-minute charge providing up to three additional hours of playback. For audio quality, the headphones support aptX Adaptive Lossless over Bluetooth and 16-bit/48kHz playback through USB-C.
Alongside the new hardware, Sonos is introducing Sonos 27, the next version of its operating system. The update brings changes to the app experience, system controls and AI features, with a focus on making the ecosystem feel more reliable and connected. Sonos 27 will roll out gradually to existing S2-compatible products starting September 8, 2026.
Pre-orders for the Beam Ultra and Ace Ultra begin September 1, 2026, through Sonos and select retailers. Wider availability is expected from September 29. The Sonos Beam Ultra is priced at $699, while the Sonos Ace Ultra headphones will cost $449.
With the Beam Ultra, Ace Ultra and Sonos 27 OS, Sonos is clearly aiming to strengthen its position in premium home audio and wireless headphones. The new products focus on better Dolby Atmos performance, stronger noise cancellation, clearer dialogue and smoother multi-room listening. For existing Sonos users, the tighter ecosystem integration may be the most compelling upgrade of all.
