Latest news with #Sonos'
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I test soundbars for a living — upgrade your TV audio for under $300 with these budget picks
Your TV speakers suck. I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but it's important that you're aware. As TV manufacturers make ever-thinner TV sets, the space your speakers have to breathe becomes ever more tight and restrictive, the speakers inside your TV sound worse and worse by the year. You could be cynical — "It's because the manufacturers want you to buy the matching soundbar!" — and there's a part of that which could be close to the truth. But. That doesn't mean you have to go out and buy the expensive matching soundbar option for your TV. We've tested loads of the best soundbars at Tom's Guide, and there are some great options out there that won't stretch your budget. Here are three at slightly different price points to give you what you want for less. If you're looking for the best way to get excellent sound for your TV without spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars on a more expensive option, the Sony HT-S100F is an excellent way of making dialogue clearer and movies sound bigger for only $150. You're not going to get a full surround experience or a big, floor-rumbling subwoofer with this option, but you are going to get some very good separate speakers that make watching TV a joy. Voices that are muffled and annoying on your TV are now much clearer and easier to make out, and soundtracks sound much fuller and exciting. The soundbar earned 4 stars in our review thanks to its boost in sound quality over your (awful) TV speakers. Just plug it in and you're away, with a simple-to-use remote control to keep on top of volume level and sound mode. You're not going to do better for $150. A very solid soundbar for a very solid price, the HT-S100F brings excellent sound for your TV without emptying your wallet. It's even been spotted for under $100, so it might be worth watching that price over deals events like Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day. "Oh, it's a Sonos, that means it's going to be really expensive, right?" Not so, weary soundbar traveler, your patience wearing thin as you scan the Amazon listings for 'cheap soundbars.' The Sonos Ray is the cheapest of the Sonos family, and it's actually really not all that expensive when compared to the competition. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. It's $200, and brings all the smarts of the more expensive models into a more affordable package. That means AirPlay 2 and the Sonos app so that you can stream all your favorite tunes without the need to dip into a Bluetooth menu. It connects to the TV really easily as well, and then plays some excellent sound for your movies and TV. There's no Dolby Atmos or surround sound here, but it's a great option for smaller TV sets and smaller rooms. A great option for a not world-ending price. Sonos' smallest soundbar still packs a massive movie punch, with massive bass and excellent dialogue. The smart features are what make it though, with AirPlay 2 and connection to the Sonos app so that you can stream music to it. The compact Samsung HW-B650 sounds much bigger than it's size would suggest, thanks to a 3.1 setup inside. That's about as surround-y as you're going to get for this price, and it does a marvelous job of making your movies and TV sound larger than life. It's the seperate subwoofer that comes in the box which really comes in clutch, though. It produces some lovely bass for explosions, music, and other sounds that need some more power behind them. It's the most expensive on the list, but if you want your movies to get more cinematic on a budget, this is the way to go. The HW-B650 is a great soundbar, especially if you're after a bit more bass. There's a dedicated subwoofer in the box for the low stuff, and the soundbar itself does a great job at some pseudo-surround thanks to its 3.1 setup. The price is right — this could be the soundbar for you. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Engadget
23-07-2025
- Engadget
A year later, the Sonos Ace is finally fulfilling its potential
2024 was an awful year for Sonos. Its long-awaited entry into a crowded headphones market was eclipsed by a bungled app launch which had a knock-on effect that impacted everything the company had planned to do for the rest of the year. Plus, those Ace headphones were missing a major feature. One year later, that TrueCinema spatial audio enhancement is finally ready . And with that update, Sonos added a few more improvements to the Ace, including two-person TV Audio Swap, adaptive noise cancellation and better calls. I spent some time testing every aspect of the update that arrived in June to determine if Sonos' headphones really are better after the tweaks. The first time I tried the Ace at a press event last spring, TrueCinema was one of the main parts of the demo. From the jump, Sonos was clear this wouldn't arrive when the headphones first went on sale, but I also didn't expect the company to take a full year to have it ready. As a refresher, TrueCinema is a feature for the Ace that takes into account the acoustics of the room where one of its soundbars is located. It then creates spatial audio for the headphones based on that info when TV Audio Swap is active. According to Sonos, it supposedly 'understands the dynamics of your space, acoustically treats it and makes it sound like you have a beautifully tuned 3D audio system right in your headphones.' It's similar to the company's TruePlay tuning that calibrates its soundbars to your living room or home theater space. Sonos has championed TrueCinema as a more realistic listening experience. Since it simulates the characteristics of the room, it's supposed to make it seem like you aren't wearing headphones at all. I'm not convinced on that point, but the feature does significantly enhance the spatial audio capabilities of the Ace for TV Audio Swap. For example, subtle details in movies — things like footsteps, as well as various beeps, clicks and taps in Rogue One — are a lot more obvious with TrueCinema. There's more overall depth and direction to the sound as well, which makes this the optimal mode for watching TV or movies with Sonos' headphones. I'm confident my review score would've been higher if this was part of the original package since it makes such an obvious improvement to sound quality. Billy Steele for Engadget The marquee feature for the Sonos Ace for the last year has been TV Audio Swap. This allows you to send the sound from a compatible Sonos soundbar to the headphones for an individual listening experience. Of course, this means you can watch an action flick at full volume after your family goes to bed or to tune in to a sporting event without annoying your partner. This has worked well for me both during my review and in the time since. Unfortunately, I don't have a second pair of the Ace, so I can't vouch for how well TV Audio Swap now works with a companion. But since the ability to send soundbar audio to two sets of Ace headphones is one of the main items in the recent software update, I can't discuss the overall state of the device without mentioning this feature's availability. Another aspect of the Ace's update is improved active noise cancellation (ANC), but not in the way you might expect. The company didn't figure out a way to block more noise per se, but it does account for any sound leaks that may impact performance. Sonos says its refined ANC setup can adapt to changes in fit caused by hair, glasses and hats in real time using the sensors inside the Ace. With that tweak, I noticed the slightest difference in ANC performance when sunglasses or a hat kept the ear pads from sitting flush on my face, but it's not quite as good as a tight seal. I'd characterize this update as a modest improvement, but it's still an improvement nonetheless. Sonos also claims that this software update offers an improved call experience thanks to higher resolution audio. The company also added Sidetone, or the ability for you to pipe in your voice during calls when ANC is enabled. Plenty of companies have this, to varying degrees, and the effectiveness depends on how natural the sound is and whether or not you're able to make any adjustments. In the case of the Ace, Sidetone acts as an enhanced ambient mode, and it definitely improves the call experience. Since I could speak normally and didn't feel the need to shout to hear myself, video and voice calls felt more natural. A year after their debut, the Sonos Ace is living up to the lofty expectations the company set when the headphones arrived. After spending time with this batch of updates, I'm convinced the Ace would've benefitted from having all of this ready at launch, especially TrueCinema. Since one of the Ace's main functions is personal living room listening, taking so long to deliver the feature that would boost sound quality this much is another misstep. On the other hand, it's good to see Sonos is still working to improve the Ace. When you consider the company spent most of 2024 fixing a majorly botched app redesign , it would have been understandable if Sonos left the Ace to languish until it was time for version 2.0. The company had to delay products last summer , and according to a report in March , it even canceled another entirely. When CEO Patrick Spence resigned in January , interim chief executive Tom Conrad expressed the need for 'getting back to basics' (Conrad was named permanent CEO on July 23). Improving a major new product that was overshadowed by a poor run of form is certainly one way to reclaim some of your reputation. It also doesn't hurt that the Ace is currently available for $149 less than its original $449 price. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
Engadget
23-07-2025
- Business
- Engadget
Sonos gets to keeps its CEO, as a treat
Sonos' Very Bad 2024 is well documented. Its redesigned app endured a disastrous launch, to the extent that it was initially fundamentally broken. The company was then forced to delay two product launches in order to fix the botched software that its devices are so reliant on. And in the wake of the mess, the company's then CEO Patrick Spence stepped down at the beginning of 2025. He was replaced by Tom Conrad on an interim basis, but after seemingly steadying what looked like a sinking ship, the former Snap executive has been handed the job permanently. Conrad had been on the board of directors at Sonos since 2017 and conceded after taking the top job back in January that the company had "let far too many people down." Shortly after that he announced that around 200 jobs would be cut as part of a "reorganizing' of the company's product division, before it reportedly canceled its long-rumoured video streaming device far into its development. This was followed by Sonos ending its partnership with IKEA in May. Former CEO Patrick Spence said in an earnings call last year that the total cost of fixing the many issues with the Sonos app was between $20 and $30 million. In a significant recent update to its flagship Sonos Ace headphones, the company finally introduced the TrueCinema feature that was promised when the headphones launched in 2024. This uses a supported Sonos soundbar to measure the acoustics of your room and then channels the data into the delivery of spatial audio in the headphones, making it sound more convincing. In a statement, Sonos' now-permanent CEO said he was "excited to move from rebuilding to imagining the next generation of experiences."
Tom's Guide
09-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
I can't live without my over-ears — here are the best Prime Day deals I've seen in the sale
Over-ear headphones — they're the kind that cover your ears fully, giving you a more immersive and encompassing soundscape. That design also helps their noise canceling work better and stop sound from escaping to the outside world. So it's no wonder they're my preferred style of headphones. There are some great deals on over-ear headphones in the ongoing Prime Day sales. Take the Sony WH-1000XM5, which are now just $298 at Amazon. Or the Sonos Ace, down to $299 at Amazon thanks to a $150 discount. There are other deals, of course. So here are my favorite over-ear headphone deals in the Prime Day sale. The WH-1000XM5 topped our list of the best headphones up until a short while ago, and they're still a great pair of headphones. Great sound, excellent noise canceling, and a comfortable fit combine for their 4.5 star review score. The listed 30 hours of battery is very good too. This deal brings them very close to their lowest price ever — well worth picking up. First things first — this is wired pair of headphones, so you need a headphone jack. Second of all, they're open back, so everyone around you will hear your music. With those out of the way, this is a great stepping point for the new audiophile. They sound incredible, with effortless detail and wide soundstage, while packing in some excellent bass extension. They're my audiophile cans of choice. Sennheiser's flagship cans earned a 4.5-star review from us thanks to their excellent sound and solid ANC. They're comfortable as well with some very impressive cushioning, and they feature some of the best touch controls around. This $150 saving isn't quite the lowest we've seen for this pair, but it's a great way to save some money on some top-notch over-ears. And 60 hours of battery is pretty special as well. Sonos' Spatial Audio kings are down to their lowest price ever. We loved the Sonos Ace when we tested them, awarding them 4.5 stars in our review. They sound amazing, and thanks to Sonos' spatial engineering, the spatial audio is pretty special. A premium feature set is rounded out by 30 hours of battery and good ANC. This $150 discount is the biggest we've ever seen on the headphones. There are plenty more deals to be had this Prime Day — make sure you check out our Prime Day live blog to stay on top of all the latest sales and offers.
Tom's Guide
08-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Best Sonos Prime Day deals — save up to $150 on soundbars, headphones and more
Sonos and its many devices make for a great way to fill your house with music — although they can be quite expensive. Thankfully, Prime Day is now here to reduce prices across the board, with some new lowest prices in tow. Perhaps you want some headphones — the Sonos Ace are now just $299 at Amazon, thanks to a $150 discount. Maybe you want some more bass for your movies? The Sonos Sub Mini is down to $343 at Amazon as well. There are some great Sonos deals out there right now — here are the best. The Sonos Ace were Sonos' first foray into headphones, and the firm did a great job at bringing its Dolby Atmos expertise to the headphone space. They sound big, airy, and spatial tracks work very well. 30 hours of battery is a big bonus of course, and it helped them earn a 4.5-star review on launch. This is their lowest price ever thanks to a $150 discount. The Beam Gen 2 is a great way to get Spatial Audio into a smaller room. It sounds great for normal TV watching as well, thanks to Sonos' excellent tuning — tuning which earned it a 4-star review. The Beam Gen 2 can connect to the sub and Era 100 on this list as well for extra surround and extra bass. This isn't quite the lowest price we've seen on the Beam Gen 2, but it's very close. The Sub Mini is a great way to add some extra bass to your Sonos soundbar. It's surprisingly powerful for something so compact, and gives out clear, musical bass. Great for some extra rumbles in your movies or power to your music. This is the lowest price ever for the Sub Mini as well. The Sonos Era 100 is a very flexible smart speaker, with great sound quality, no matter where you put in the house. We gave it 4.5 stars in our review, thanks to its excellent sound quality and compact size. This deal isn't quite the lowest we've seen on the speaker, but it's a solid saving nonetheless. There are plenty more deals to be had this Prime Day — make sure you check out our Prime Day live blog to make sure you're staying on top of all the latest sales and offers.
