SONOS EXPANDS SUPPORT FOR THE INSTALLED SOLUTION CHANNEL

At a recent UK installer event, Sonos revealed its drive to strengthen its position in the installed solutions (IS) market. Stephen Rhead, Installed Solutions Manager UK at Sonos explains more.

Tell us about your event in London?

SR: We recently welcomed 20 of our top installed solutions partners to an exclusive event at the incredible DC-inspired venue, Park Row, in London. This was the first installer event Sonos has hosted in the UK since the pandemic, providing an opportunity to get feedback from the IS community and share our plans for strengthening the professional business of Sonos installers.

SR: Sonos is a respected audio brand with a powerful appeal to consumers, but the professional installer channel is where Sonos actually started. For 17 years, installers have been a key partner in our journey to becoming the leading sound experience company, which is why the developments that we are working on –specifically for the benefit of professional installers – are so exciting. This is a market that is incredibly important for us.

Take AMP, for example. Four years ago, Sonos completely redesigned AMP based on direct conversations and feedback from installers. This feedback allowed us to deliver a product that is twice as powerful as its predecessor and fits perfectly into standard AV racks. HDMI and line-in ports make it easy to bring TVs, turntables,

Blu-Ray players, CD changers, and other audio sources into the Sonos system, as well as enabling installers to incorporate AMP into integrated smart home set-ups, including smart lighting and centralised control systems.

How else is Sonos supporting installers?

SR: We’ve already started to roll out our open developer platform, making it easier than ever for partners to innovate on the Sonos listening experience. We provide access to the tools, documentation, and support our partners’ need to drive faster innovation, enabling partners like Control4 to develop new ways to control Sonos speakers and interact with the Sonos system. As part of this platform, partners can secure the ‘Works with Sonos’ certification so Sonos owners can be assured that companies building and innovating on the platform deliver experiences that meet Sonos’ high bar for quality.

In addition, we recently announced ‘Multi-Product Setup’, the first installerdriven feature on the S2 app. The new setup experience allows installers to defer individual firmware updates for newly added products. Once all new Sonos devices are on the network, a single firmware update and registration process can be performed to cover all newly added products at once, reducing set-up time. We’ve just introduced the much anticipated Sub Mini, a wireless subwoofer that delivers bold bass in a more compact size - making it ideal for smaller room applications. Dual custom woofers face inward within the unique cylindrical design, to create a force-cancelling effect that neutralises distortion. Advanced processing generates deep, dynamic low-end bass for a richer, more immersive sound without any buzz or rattle, while Trueplay technology adapts the bass to the acoustics of the room – even when placed against a wall.

What’s next?

SR: We’ve built a strong portfolio of solutions that are quick to install, simple to use and built to last for installers and their clients. From TV rooms to architectural sound and home cinema, the Sonos ecosystem can be applied to almost every residential application. We have you covered in terms of product, but we know there is work to do, and that’s why feedback from our IS community is so valuable. Right now, we’re talking to installers and working on professional tools to better support them and their businesses. Watch this space!

Sonos, sonos.com