Sonos, a well known speaker producer, is getting ready to introduce new, costly “Period” sensible audio system to tackle Apple’s HomePod line. Earlier than their launch the next month, The Verge acquired product advertising pictures and an approximate worth vary.

The most recent Sonos flagship speaker, the Period 300, depicted within the picture above, is meant to intensify music in spatial audio. Further options embody Bluetooth playback, AirPlay 2 help, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and a USB-C line-in. Chris Welch of The Verge reviews that the Period 300 is anticipated to value “within the $450 vary.”

The Period 300 has six drivers, which direct sound upward, left, proper, and ahead. Its measurement is believed to fall between the Sonos One and Sonos 5. A stereo pair of Period 300s will produce rearward encompass sound, together with upward-firing music, when paired with the Arc or second-generation Beam.

The Dolby Atmos tracks within the Apple Music library are “unlikely to be supported right now,” in response to Welch, regardless of the Period 300 being made for spatial audio. Because of this Apple and Sonos have but to achieve a deal. He continues by the point the Period 300 hits the cabinets or within the upcoming weeks, “This may all the time change.”

As a result of it’s not designed for spatial audio like the opposite product, the Period 100, as seen beneath, has a rounder form and no upward-firing drivers. Welch refers back to the new speaker as “an upgraded Sonos One with (presumably) superior efficiency with a second tweeter for full stereo sound and an expanded mid-woofer for higher bass.”

The Period 100 has Wi-Fi streaming, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, and USB-C, identical to the opposite new speaker. The Sonos One, which retails for $219, is probably going to get replaced by the Period 100, which is anticipated to value round $250.

Voice assistants from Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Management are anticipated on each audio system. Even but, Google Assistant may want extra help. There isn’t a built-in jack on both speaker. In line with Welch, Sonos will promote a line-in converter for USB-C audio and a “combo adaptor” for hooking in by Ethernet.

These audio system will reportedly go on sale in late March from Sonos in each white and black. By the top of the 12 months, the corporate additionally intends to introduce a tool in a complete new product class.