I've long been a fan of Sonos and its approach to home audio. My apartment is already filled with the company's speakers, including two home theater systems for movies and TV, and a couple of stereo pairs for music. And while the ability to group speakers and play whatever I want, wherever I want, is already a major part of the appeal, I've always felt there was room to take things a step further.
So when Sonos announced the Beam Ultra soundbar earlier this year, alongside a new feature that would allow its portable Play speakers to double as rear surrounds, my interest was well and truly piqued.
I've already made my feelings about the Play perfectly clear, having previously claimed it could be the only speaker you really need. Its ability to perform just as well around the home as it does on the move makes it an incredibly appealing proposition.
And now, thanks to the new Sonos27 operating system, that versatility extends to home theater. Rather than committing a pair of speakers to permanent surround duties, you can simply pick one up, take it into another room and use it independently, before returning it to its original position and having it automatically rejoin the system.
It's a simple idea, but one that has the potential to fundamentally change how people use their Sonos speakers. And having now put the Beam Ultra and a pair of Plays through their paces, I think it's one of the company's most compelling developments in years.
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