Of us searching for an reasonably priced Wi-Fi speaker to suit between their Jättebo sectional and Dyvlinge swivel chair might be upset to study that Sonos and Ikea are parting methods. After eight years of partnering on all the things from an odd wall-mountable speaker in a body to a surprisingly respectable pair of bookshelf audio system, the Ikea fashions are being discontinued.
You may in fact get basically all the things the Ikea-Sonos collabs provided (and extra when it comes to sound high quality) by simply shopping for Sonos-made audio system just like the Period 100 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) and Roam (9/10, WIRED Recommends). The model even makes an honest pair of headphones (8/10, WIRED Recommends). However there’s one factor we at WIRED will really miss when this partnership ends: The Symfonisk Sound Distant ($19).
This unassuming rectangular puck acts like a thermostat controller on your music, with play/pause, skip, and quantity controls that pair seamlessly with the Sonos app (now that it is working once more). Amazingly, Sonos nonetheless would not provide a glossy, wall mountable distant, as a substitute forcing me to succeed in for my telephone or TV distant once I’ve obtained gobby sourdough on my fingers or my 1-year-old is seconds away from a meltdown if I do not instantly choose her favourite music. Sure, there are different Sonos remotes, however they solely management TV audio system.
This wall distant (which needn’t be wall mounted in any respect) is straightforward to make use of with an elbow, and it’s discreet and handsome sufficient that you just will not really feel like a kind of outdated people with these wired telephones with large numbers. And, sure, it really works with all Sonos audio system. It is also hilariously low cost, at $19 per unit after the preliminary purchase of a hub and distant collectively ($89). On this financial system? If I used to be a Sonos consumer, I might purchase one for each room in the home earlier than they promote out. And you must, too.
Sonos has been struggling since a poor rollout of a brand new app model final 12 months left many longtime customers struggling to maintain their once-reliable techniques operating. This might clarify the tip to this partnership from Ikea’s aspect of issues, as it is a main retailer that diligently retains monitor of what’s promoting and what is not.
From Sonos’ aspect, this might simply be a logical conclusion to a considerably unfruitful partnership with mid-tier merchandise that the model itself more and more competes immediately with. Sonos has pivoted to be much less of a premium model in recent times, and simply final month it dropped the worth of two of its merchandise: the wonderful entry-level Period 100 speaker and equally spectacular Ray soundbar.
In both case, we’re unhappy to see the partnership go, and as soon as the Symfonisk Sound Distant Gen 2s are all gone, we hope Sonos will make a brand new controller that’s pretty much as good now that there’ll now not be a third-party choice. There’s room to make one that appears extra “Sonos,” for positive. For Ikea’s half, the model says all its Sonos-compatible gadgets—together with the distant—will stay supported. I do not assume many individuals will miss the speaking lamp, but it surely’s comforting to realize it nonetheless works.
