Sonos, the audio company known for its high-fidelity wireless speakers, is embarking on a new venture – one that will put it in direct competition with industry giants like Apple and Bose. According to recent reports, the company is gearing up to launch its very first pair of premium headphones, marking a significant expansion beyond its core product lineup.

The rumors surrounding Sonos’s foray into the headphone market began to swirl last year when the company acquired T2 Software, a startup specializing in Bluetooth audio technology. However, it now appears that this was more than just an exploratory move; Sonos has ambitious plans to establish itself as a formidable player in the highly competitive headphone arena.

At the heart of this strategic shift lies a multi-product offensive that aims to solidify Sonos’s position as a comprehensive audio solutions provider. While the upcoming high-end headphones, expected to cost between $400 and $500, are undoubtedly the most talked-about product in the pipeline, they are not the only items on Sonos’s ambitious roadmap.

According to a Bloomberg report, the company is also working on a $150 to $200 TV set-top box (STB) that will directly challenge Apple and Roku‘s dominance in the streaming device market. This STB is slated for release around the end of 2024, positioning Sonos as a contender in the increasingly crowded world of home entertainment.

But that’s not all. Sonos’s expansion plans extend to a range of other audio peripherals, including new amplifiers, in-ceiling speakers, a higher-end TV soundbar, updated subwoofers, a refreshed version of the portable Roam speaker, and even a business-oriented iteration of its Era 100 speaker. Additionally, the company is reportedly developing an advanced voice control system dubbed “Voice 2.0,” as well as exploring the possibility of a video streaming service.

Sonos’s foray into the headphone market has been a long-standing ambition, with the company reportedly experimenting with various product iterations since 2019. However, none of these prototypes made it to the market, making the upcoming release a significant milestone for the brand.

While details about the highly anticipated Sonos headphones remain scarce, a few key features have emerged. The over-ear design is expected to rival the popular AirPods Max from Apple, offering both black and white color variants. Seamless integration with Sonos’s existing ecosystem of speakers is a given, with voice control capabilities that will allow users to navigate between songs using voice commands.

To complement the headphones, Sonos is also developing a dedicated smartphone app, enabling users to control and customize their audio experience with ease. The voice commands available on the headphones will mirror those found on Sonos’s speaker lineup, but the company has promised a more advanced version, dubbed “Voice 2.0,” slated for release in the second half of 2024.

The coming months will undoubtedly be an exciting time for Sonos and its audiophile following, as the company aims to redefine the boundaries of its brand and solidify its position as a true multi-faceted audio powerhouse.