It sounds similar to how iPhones can ‘hand-off’ music to a HomePod or HomePod mini (and vice versa) by simply putting the devices close to one another, but this would mark the first implementation of this kind of feature in a pair of headphones. ![]() The patent reads: "For example, if a particular piece of content play is currently playing on the wireless headphone, a swap changes the playback to play that piece of content on one or more other playback devices on the local network." In the approved patent is mention of a ‘swap’ feature, which would let owners simply and easily pass the music playing on their Sonos headphones to one (or more) of their Sonos speakers. Sonos users will undoubtedly want a Sonos-savvy pair of headphones – otherwise, what’s the point? – and Sonos appears to be on the same wavelength. Sonos products are all about working together, so it’s impossible to imagine a beatnik Sonos outsider that sits on the edge rather than properly inside the ecosystem. Apple recently managed to separate its AirPods Max from Sony, Bose and Sennheiser rivals with Apple-centric features and a significantly higher price tag (which we found to be justified thanks to their superior sound quality). ![]() But in a wireless headphones market awash with excellent pairs, Sonos needs a unique selling point or two, not to mention competitive sound quality. The prospect of this inevitable Sonos expansion excites us, anyway. The question is, does the world want them? ![]() Wherever they appear on our timeline, Sonos wireless headphones are almost certainly coming. Alternatively, the Sonos headphones could arrive later in the year as the company's second new product promised for 2021. This is almost twice the diameter of a typical headband cable in a Bluetooth-only headphone.They could be officially unveiled as soon as next month – Sonos is hosting a product launch on 16th March for, as suggested by the event’s invite, a ‘portable’ product, although behind the curtain could just as likely be a smaller version of the Move Bluetooth speaker (also heavily rumoured). The patent continues: “…a cable assembly containing each of the required conductors for the improved wireless headphones discussed in the examples described herein may be greater than 4 mm in diameter. It would be crucial to ensure this cable is protected when the headphones are folded and unfolded. This would require a different hidden cabling system running between the earcups. Otherwise the signal would need to pass through the wearer’s head on occasions. The patent itself is called “Cable retraction mechanism for headphone devices” and pertains to the extra engineering required to bring of Wi-Fi antennae to a set of headphones.Īs Digital Trends points out, adding Wi-Fi connectivity with any considerable range, would require an antenna in both ear cups. One (translated) sentence reads: “…a consumer expects from Wi-Fi-enabled headphones the same type of reliable internet connection to their wireless access point that they experience when using a tablet”. Judging by the patent filed in Germany, Sonos is exploring introducing wireless internet connectivity to by pass those limitations. Bluetooth, by comparison, just doesn’t have the bandwidth to manage it. ![]() However, should Sonos get around the technical challenges, it would open the door to true lossless audio content without the need for wires. Traditionally, headphone makers have eschewed using Wi-Fi because it isn’t as power efficient as Bluetooth and would require an increase in weight to maintain the same battery life.
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