Currently, Sonos has been making headlines for what it’s not going to do. It’s not bringing again the previous model of its once-beloved app, it’s (reportedly) not going to make a streaming video participant, and now it’s not making any extra audio system with Ikea.
Sonos has confirmed to The Verge that it’s winding down its partnership with Ikea, the enduring residence furnishings model that teamed up with the networked residence audio producer for a few of our favourite wi-fi audio system.
Amongst them had been the very first merchandise developed by the duo, the Ikea Symfonisk lamp and bookshelf audio system, which landed in 2019. The audio system, which gained our Editors’ Alternative award, demonstrated how great-sounding residence audio elements might additionally look terrific in the lounge whereas sustaining Ikea-friendly value tags.
Sonos says it’s going to proceed to help current Symfonisk audio system whereas additionally confirming that no extra new fashions will likely be coming. The audio system will stay on sale whereas provides final.
“Over the previous eight years, we’ve had the pleasure of working intently with Thought and are pleased with what we’ve achieved,” a Sonos spokesperson advised The Verge, including that “our work collectively has largely wound down and we gained’t be releasing new merchandise as companions.”
Moreover the unique Symfonisk lamp and bookshelf audio system, the Sonos/Ikea partnership additionally yielded the Symfonisk ground lamp speaker (which got here with a bamboo mild shade—once more, very Ikea), an up to date Symfonisk Speaker Lamp 2, and a Symfonisk picture-frame speaker. (Tech Advisor, our sibling publication, was solely so-so in regards to the latter product, though it’s nonetheless a nifty concept.)
The breakup between Sonos and Ikea is disappointing for a few key causes. For starters, the partnership impressed a few of the most cleverly designed audio system we’ve ever examined—a ground lamp that’s additionally a speaker? Actually? Sure, actually.
Additionally, Ikea’s Symfonisk audio system had been surprisingly reasonably priced, with the unique Symfonisk speaker retailing for a mere $99, in comparison with $199 for the most affordable (on the time) Sonos speaker.
Phrase that Sonos gained’t make any extra audio system with Ikea comes roughly two months after we realized that Sonos gained’t be going into the streaming-video enterprise—a sensible transfer.
In the meantime, Sonos continues to forge forward with fixes for its much-maligned app. The corporate stays in a defensive crouch over the poorly obtained app revamp, which was slammed upon launch final yr for its spotty efficiency and array of dropped options.
Certainly, Sonos’s app replace was such a catastrophe that then-CEO Patrick Spence, who as soon as floated the thought of bringing again the previous app earlier than strolling again his remarks, stepped down from his place in early 2025.
