Jordan O'BrienSamsung has revealed three new wireless multi-room audio speakers at IFA 2015, with the company taking direct aim at Sonos.
Joining the company’s Wireless Audio 360 speaker range, the R5, R3 and R1 are designed for easy deployment of a multi-room audio system.
The speakers can be controlled using an array of devices – including a customer’s smartphone, tablet and smartwatch.
“With these additional models we are bringing a new kind of high quality sound to the market, with design that is simple, yet premium, and offers a more intuitive user interface,” says Jurack Chae, senior vice president of the visual display business at Samsung Electronics.
“The R5, R3 and R1 will help cement Samsung’s position as a world leader in home audio.”
Those who have experienced Samsung’s R7 and R6 will already be familiar with the new speakers joining the range and the proprietary ring-radiator technology that Samsung uses.
There are however some differences in these new speakers – including new physical control options for changing the volume, playing and pausing content, or to select a different music source.
Samsung’s Multiroom App for Android and iOS will enable users to share music wirelessly across multiple speakers around the home.
Thanks to a recent update, the App now also works with the Gear S and Gear S2 smartwatches.
That means users will soon be able to control their audio directly from their watch; which includes changing the song, searching playlists and even controlling the volume.
Samsung is going a step further than just adding functionality however, as the company has announced a partnership with Qobuz, the online high-fidelity music service.
Through this partnership users of Samsung’s Wireless 360 audio system will be able to benefit from high-resolution music.
All the new models will be made available in the UK, US and select European markets in the last quarter of 2015.