Standard speaker firm Sonos is getting ready to launch new high-end “Period” sensible audio system to compete with Apple’s HomePod vary, and The Verge has obtained advertising and marketing pictures of the merchandise in addition to some tough pricing data forward of their launch subsequent month.

The Period 300, proven within the image above, would be the new Sonos flagship speaker, designed to focus on music in spatial audio. Different options will embrace USB-C line-in, Wi-Fi 6 help, Bluetooth playback, and AirPlay 2 help. The Verge‘s Chris Welch says the Period 300 is anticipated to be priced “within the ballpark of $450.”

The scale of the Period 300 is claimed to fall in between the Sonos One and Sonos 5, and features a complete of six drivers that direct sound ahead, left, proper, and up. A stereo pair of Period 300s, when used with both the Arc or second-generation Beam, will ship rearward encompass sound together with upward-firing audio.

Period 300 might be stereo paired as rear surrounds with the Sonos Arc and Beam (Gen 2)

Regardless of the Period 300 being designed for spatial audio, the Dolby Atmos songs within the Apple Music catalog are “unlikely to be supported right now,” in response to Welch, which means that Apple and Sonos have but to succeed in an settlement. “This might all the time change within the coming weeks or by the point the Period 300 hits cabinets,” he provides.

The Period 100, proven beneath, has a rounder form and will not include upward-firing drivers, as it isn’t geared for spatial audio like the opposite product. Welch calls the brand new speaker “an advanced Sonos One with (ideally) higher efficiency,” due to the addition of a second tweeter for true stereo sound and an enlarged mid-woofer for extra bass.

Like the opposite new speaker, the Period 100 options Wi-Fi streaming, ‌AirPlay‌ 2, Bluetooth, and USB-C. The Period 100 is anticipated to price round $250 and is prone to exchange the Sonos One, which at present sells for $219.

Each audio system are anticipated to incorporate Sonos Voice Management and Amazon Alexa voice assistants, however help for Google Assistant could also be missing. Welch says Sonos will individually promote a line-in adapter for USB-C audio and a “combo adapter” for plugging in over Ethernet, as there is not any built-in jack on both speaker.

Sonos Period 100 in stereo pair linked to turntable through line in

Sonos has reportedly set a late March launch schedule for each audio system, which will probably be obtainable in white and black colours, whereas the corporate can be stated to be planning to launch a tool in a model new product class by the top of the yr.