Roger Fingas
As anticipated, Sonos and Ikea on Monday revealed two upcoming speakers meant to do double-duty as room decoration, while offering "smart" features like Apple's AirPlay 2.
The Symfonisk table lamp includes volume and track control buttons, as well as two class-D digital amps, one tweeter and one mid-woofer. People wanting smart lighting functions will have to buy their own smart bulb separately.
The second speaker — also under the Symfonisk brand — is meant to sit on shelves or attach to walls. While it can be positioned vertically, when horizontal, it can serve as a small bookshelf in its own right. Internal specs are similar to the lamp but likely not as powerful.
Both speakers will integrate with existing Sonos systems and take advantage of that company's TruePlay technology, which tunes performance based on reverberated sound. Some other control options will include a native Ikea app and Spotify integration.
AirPlay 2 will allow Siri controls, and multi-speaker grouping without having to go through the Sonos app. By extension, the Symfonisk line will also have limited control through HomeKit.
Both the lamp and bookshelf speaker will ship in August, at prices of $179 and $99 respectively.
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25 Comments
I've noticed companies are copying Apples simple material color and design after HomePod.
Buying the lamps.
The lamp is kinda ugly but less ugly than the Sonos One at least. Wouldn't look bad in a student flat I suppose. I do like the concept of functional furniture though, if it's done right. The bookshelf speaker looks like it would do much better on a shelf than as a shelf. A couple of those nestled between books could work.
It's funny how all of these "smart" speakers that have emerged in recent years are being sold as a single device and not a pair.
I have not tried or listened to the Apple HomePod yet, and I am aware that you can hook up multiples, but I assume that most people use only one of them, as they are not that cheap.
What ever happened to stereo sound? Do people just not care anymore?