Sonos has rolled out a new capability in its Sonos27 operating system that allows portable speakers to act as temporary rear surround channels in a home theater setup. The company tested the feature with the recently released Beam Ultra soundbar and Sonos Play speakers, and described an automatic process that detects when a speaker is picked up and reassigns it from home theater duty.
How the feature works
According to Sonos, the system uses an internal accelerometer in the portable Play speakers to detect movement. When motion is sensed, the speaker will automatically disconnect from the home theater configuration; Sonos says its “advanced positioning technology” then allows the speaker to function independently in its new location. When returned, the speaker reconvenes with the home theater system and resumes its role as a surround channel.
Testing and early behavior
Sonos reported that the feature was tested with the Beam Ultra soundbar and Play speakers. In those tests, the Beam Ultra provided strong standalone performance, with substantial bass and an expansive soundstage. Adding Play speakers as surrounds enhanced the immersive effect, particularly in smaller rooms where the discrete design of the speakers preserved a clean aesthetic without compromising audio coverage.
Initial trials showed mixed results on automation. There were occasions when the user had to intervene in the Sonos app to re-establish the surround configuration after moving a Play speaker, but Sonos observed that the connection process improved with repeated attempts.
Implications for installers and integrators
For dealers and integrators designing flexible home theater systems, Sonos’s approach introduces a way to repurpose portable speakers without permanent wiring or fixed placement. The company frames the feature as enabling users to move speakers between rooms while maintaining sound quality and typical home-theater performance when the speakers are returned to surround duty.
- Operating system: Sonos27
- Tested with: Beam Ultra soundbar and Sonos Play speakers
- Key tech: internal accelerometer; advanced positioning technology; automatic disconnect/reconnect
Sonos’s description of the feature focuses on user convenience and on-room flexibility. The company’s testing notes that, while automation works in most cases, occasional manual reconnection via the Sonos app may be required during the feature’s current behavior pattern.
| Manufacturer | Product / software | Role in test |
|---|---|---|
| Sonos | Sonos27 operating system | New surround reassignment feature |
| Sonos | Beam Ultra | Primary soundbar in test |
| Sonos | Play speakers | Portable surrounds used in test |
The company highlighted the arrangement’s suitability for smaller spaces, noting that the Play speakers provided added immersion without adding clutter. Sonos also reported that the Beam Ultra alone delivered “impressive sound,” and that the combination of Beam Ultra and Play speakers produced a fuller home theater experience during movie content.
Sonos characterized the new functionality as a change in user experience, allowing speakers to be reassigned for other uses after being relocated. The company’s own testing showed the feature operating automatically in many cases, with occasional need for manual intervention that diminished with repeated attempts.
What Sonos reported
Sonos wrote that speakers will automatically disconnect when moved and will reconnect seamlessly to the home theater system upon return. The company also stated that adding Play speakers as surrounds enhances audio performance and that the compact design is effective in smaller rooms.
Integrators and dealers who specify Sonos systems will want to note the feature’s current behavior as described by Sonos — particularly the reliance on speaker motion detection and app-driven reconnection in some test instances — when counseling clients on flexible or multi-use speaker deployments.
