AliceBrand new from Sonos is its speaker-tuning software, Trueplay and an all-new flagship SONOS PLAY:5 smart speaker.
Acknowledging that no home is acoustically perfect, Sonos created Trueplay to allow users to tune their existing Sonos speakers to optimise the sound, no matter where the speaker is placed.
Using the Sonos App, the microphone on an iPhone or iPad and a special tone emitted by the Sonos speaker, the system analyses how sound reflects off walls, furnishings, glass and other surfaces in any given room. Sonos then tunes that speaker so that the sound is optimised in its environment.
Initially, Trueplay will be available on all Sonos PLAY:1, Sonos PLAY:3, Sonos PLAY:5 products and iOS controllers and will continue to be added to the Sonos line up over time.
“Trueplay is a revolutionary system that gives music lovers confidence that they’re hearing what their favourite artists laboured to produce, independent of the room’s acoustics and speaker location,” states CEO John MacFarlane. “Finally there’s a simple, reliable process that delivers studio-quality listening experiences in each room of the home.”
“Our remit at Sonos has evolved from constantly working to improve the general sound of all of our speakers to customising them: first by room and in the future, by person, activity and content,” adds record producer, composer and Sonos sound experience leader Giles Martin.
“We are obsessed with improving the home music experience, which must take into account acoustically unfriendly rooms. Tuning a room is the first of many software enhancements that make the experience richer and more personal for listeners whilst giving artists a whole new creative arena.”
Meanwhile, the new Sonos PLAY:5 has been designed to deliver a listening experience that is ‘closer than ever’ to how every track was mastered in the studio.
Built with six synchronised, custom-designed drivers, the speaker’s three mid-woofers and three tweeters combine to produce a soundstage that the manufacturer says is ‘much wider than expected in a single speaker,’ creating room-filling sound.
For the first time, Sonos PLAY:5 has three orientations, as well as featuring Trueplay tuning.
Two Sonos PLAY:5s paired together vertically deliver stereo sound with a focused sweet spot.
Paired horizontally, they create a larger stereo image for an immersive, room-filling listening experience.
The Sonos PLAY:5 employs an effective wireless performance to ensure that music remains in sync without dropouts and like its predecessor, it works with all Sonos smart speakers and even acts as rear speakers in home theatre setups paired with Sonos’ PLAYBAR and SUBtm.
New touch controls offer an intuitive, easy way to play, pause, adjust volume and change the track, while smart sensors make these touch controls responsive to all orientations, so the volume-up is always facing up.
Available in a custom matte black and matte white finish, the all-new Sonos PLAY:5 will retail for £429, €579, $499 USD, $549 CAD and $749 AUS.
Both Trueplay and the Sonos PLAY:5 will be available later in 2015.
What else does Sonos have to offer?
Ingenious marketing campaign or happy accident? Check the new logo and decide for yourself
Sonos Play:1 Tone Promises Minimalist Design At A Higher Price