Sonos Reportedly Planning to Release High-End Wireless Headphones

Citing people familiar with company’s plans, a report by Bloomberg is claiming that Sonos is planning to expand beyond the home with the release of wireless, high-end headphones, with an expected price of around US $300. The over-the-ear headphones are said to be in the early stages of development and could release early next year.

The California-based company has also started approaching overseas manufacturers about producing the headphones, said the people who asked not to be identified.



Sonos recently highlighted in a letter to shareholders that half of the music listening occurs outside the home and suggested it will tackle this part of the market. “We plan to push our boundaries by investing resources to make the experience of Sonos outside the home a reality”, wrote Sonos.

Sonos is focusing on audio quality and the ability to work with multiple music services and digital assistants, like its latest internet-connected speakers.

The headphones represent a potential new growth area for Sonos. The company went public in August and the stock has lost about a quarter of its value since then. It will be competing in a growing but crowded headphone market that includes Bose Corp., Sennheiser, Apple Inc. unit Beats, and Skullcandy Inc. 

Meanwhile, Apple is also said to be developing its own over-ear headphones for release later this year.