Sonos has introduced Sonos 27, the latest version of its audio operating system, with support for external AI assistants through an open Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, a redesigned app interface, and new features that allow speakers to adapt automatically to their surroundings.
The update begins rolling out on September 8 to Sonos products running on the company’s S2 platform.
Sonos 27 Opens the Platform to External AI Assistants
The most significant addition is Sonos 27 MCP, which allows external AI assistants and agents to interact with a Sonos system.
Sonos is providing a public MCP server that compatible AI services can discover and connect to. This allows an AI assistant to control common Sonos functions without requiring a dedicated integration for every individual service.
Supported actions include:
- Starting and controlling music playback
- Adjusting volume
- Controlling speakers and rooms
- Grouping rooms together
- Moving playback between rooms
OpenAI’s ChatGPT is among the first confirmed partners. According to Atty Eleti, product lead for ChatGPT Voice at OpenAI, users will be able to ask ChatGPT to play music throughout their homes without leaving their conversation.
The approach could make Sonos control more flexible as users increasingly interact with multiple AI assistants rather than relying on a single voice assistant.
Sonos Custom Agents
Sonos is also previewing Sonos Custom Agents, which will allow users to create their own AI agents.
Users will be able to select different models, personas, and voices for individual agents. The idea is to allow different assistants to handle different tasks rather than relying on one general-purpose assistant for everything.
Sonos Chief Innovation Officer Nick Millington said the company believes the smartest home should allow people to choose or create the right agent for each task.
Sonos 27 Voice
Sonos is introducing its own AI-powered assistant, called Sonos 27 Voice.
The assistant is focused specifically on music, with capabilities designed around mood-based music curation and playback control.
Sonos has not yet provided detailed specifications explaining how Sonos 27 Voice differs from the company’s existing Sonos Voice Control feature.
Redesigned Sonos App
Sonos 27 also brings a redesigned navigation system to the Sonos app, following feedback from the company’s user community.
The new interface introduces persistent tabs for:
- Home
- System
- Search
Users can also pin favorite speakers and rooms for faster access.
The iOS app is gaining additional controls, including lock-screen playback controls and a virtual volume knob that can be operated with a two-finger twisting gesture.
The iPad version is being redesigned for larger displays, while Sonos is adding support for Apple’s Shortcuts app. This will allow users to create automations that can be triggered through Siri.
Presets
The updated app also introduces presets.
A preset can save a combination of speakers, content, and volume settings. Users can then activate the entire configuration with a single tap instead of manually configuring each component.
Sonos Fabric Enables Automatic Speaker Role Switching
Sonos Fabric is a new system-level capability that allows Sonos products to detect and respond to other Sonos devices around them.
The first features built on Sonos Fabric are portable surrounds and headphone linking.
Portable Surrounds
Portable surrounds allow compatible portable Sonos speakers to automatically become rear surround speakers for a Sonos soundbar.
The system uses high-frequency sound to determine when a Move 2 or compatible Sonos Play speaker has been positioned behind the listener. When detected, the speaker can automatically switch into a rear-surround role without requiring manual configuration.
Portable surrounds will begin rolling out on September 8.
Headphone Linking
Headphone linking connects the new Sonos Ace Ultra headphones with the wider Sonos system.
Users will be able to send audio from Sonos speakers directly to the headphones and move playback back to the speakers.
The feature will initially be available through early access beginning September 29 and will be exclusive to the Ace Ultra.
Availability
Sonos 27 will be delivered as a software update to products using the S2 platform.
The initial rollout on September 8 includes:
- Redesigned Sonos app navigation
- Sonos MCP AI features in early access
- Portable surrounds
Headphone linking will follow on September 29 for Sonos Ace Ultra users.
Sonos is also launching two new hardware products alongside the operating-system update: the Beam Ultra soundbar and Sonos Ace Ultra headphones. Both are scheduled to ship on September 29.
The Beam Ultra supports a 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos configuration, while the Ace Ultra is designed to integrate more closely with the Sonos speaker ecosystem.
A Major Change for Sonos
Sonos 27 represents the company’s first major software release since the heavily criticized 2024 app redesign, which removed several existing features and introduced significant bugs.
That rollout contributed to customer dissatisfaction and was followed by the departure of then-CEO Patrick Spence.
The company is also changing how it names its operating systems. Rather than continuing with its previous versioning system, Sonos will use annual version numbers going forward.
With Sonos 27, the company is positioning its platform around three broader ideas: an open ecosystem for external AI assistants, more adaptable speaker hardware, and a simpler app experience.
The MCP integration could be particularly significant as AI assistants become more capable of controlling connected devices. Instead of Sonos needing to build and maintain separate integrations for every AI platform, compatible assistants can potentially interact with the system through the common MCP interface.