Multi-room music streaming giant Sonos has been heavily tipped to make a play for the streaming box market, with a fully fledged Apple TV 4K competitor said to be in the works.
It’s fair to say that 2024 wasn’t the best year for Sonos, with a catastrophic app relaunch leading to all manner of logistical and financial struggles. However, it could be ready to come out swinging in 2025 with a bold launch into a brand new market.
According to The Verge, Sonos will be launching a new streaming box in the coming months. With a premium price of between $200 and $400 (likely similar in pounds), it could make the Apple TV 4K look like an Amazon Fire TV Stick.
It will also rival the likes of the Google TV Streamer and Roku Streaming Stick 4K.
So far so familiar
The reporter claims to have seen pictures of a product known internally as ‘Project Pinewood’, which is described as a nondescript black square not much thicker than a deck of cards.
So what does this streaming device have to offer that the Apple TV 4K and similar devices do not? It had better be something special at that price.
It seems a snazzy interface (built on top of Android or Google TV) is one thing, with content from various third-party platforms combined into one cohesive experience, joined by a powerful universal search system and Sonos Voice Control.
We’re a little alarmed at the suggestion that this “beautiful interface” of a UI has been built in partnership with a digital ads firm, though.
Each Pinewood unit will ship with a remote control, which will pack shortcuts for popular streaming apps – presumably the likes of Netflix and Disney+ et al.
So far, so every-other-streaming-box-worth-its-salt.
Foundry
Are you worried yet, Apple?
Things get a whole lot more interesting with the mention of HDMI passthrough functionality. Apparently, you’ll be able to plug your games console, Blu-Ray player, and other connected devices into the Sonos box, which will then supply lag-free wireless audio to Sonos-branded soundbars and speakers.
Now that’s something unique.
Continuing with that theme, the Sonos streaming box will enable Sonos users to configure a surround sound system using assorted Sonos speakers. Imagine combining a pair of Sonos Era 100 speakers and a set of Sonos Era 300 speakers for your home cinema set-up.
It could be amazing if executed right.
Throw in Gigabit ethernet and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and Sonos’s streaming box debut certainly sounds like it’ll hit the ground running.
We’re certainly keen to hear more and will report back when we do.
