May 13 2025 – TechRadar, a leading tech media outlet, reported today that Sonos has rolled out a groundbreaking AI-powered speech enhancement feature for its flagship soundbar, the Sonos Arc Ultra, via a complimentary software update. This marks the first time Sonos has integrated AI-driven audio processing into its products.
Accessible through the “Now Playing” interface within the Sonos app, the new feature offers four distinct modes—Low, Medium, High, and Max—and became available to all Arc Ultra owners starting May 12. By analyzing audio in real-time, the technology isolates and amplifies dialogue, ensuring it cuts through complex soundscapes and remains crystal clear for listeners.
According to TechRadar’s coverage, Sonos invested four years in developing this innovation, including a year-long collaboration with the UK’s Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID). The company engaged with RNID’s audio experts and conducted extensive testing with individuals experiencing varying degrees of hearing loss to refine the feature.
Originally planning three enhancement levels, Sonos expanded the options to four after user feedback, prioritizing the preservation of immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos. During trials, the Low and Medium settings significantly improved dialogue clarity for standard users, while the High and Max modes catered specifically to those with hearing impairments—though some noted a slightly artificial tone at the highest settings.
Unlike conventional voice-boosting tools, Sonos’s AI system operates dynamically, activating only when background noise threatens to obscure speech. This approach minimizes unnecessary processing, safeguarding bass quality and overall audio fidelity. However, the feature’s advanced demands restrict compatibility to the Arc Ultra’s built-in chipset, leaving older models like the Sonos Ray and Beam Gen 2 unsupported for now.
