Sonos FCC suggests it’s coming to UE Boom and other small Bluetooth speakers

Sonos FCC suggests it’s coming to UE Boom and other small Bluetooth speakers

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Sonos is preparing to launch a new product that, according to the FCC documentation, is likely to be the company’s second portable speaker with a rechargeable battery. The unannounced device, listed on the FCC as model number S27, is shown in the test diagrams as having a wireless charging dock and offering Bluetooth wireless technology and Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac).

The FCC diagrams reveal a wireless charging dock.
Image: FCC

The mandatory FCC label reveals that this new product uses less energy than existing Sonos speakers, such as Sonos Move, giving more credit to a smaller overall size. The circular label design, and the fact that Sonos says the label is visible on the bottom surface of the product, suggests that this Sonos speaker could feature a cylindrical design similar to Bluetooth speaker stands like the UE Boom.

Image: FCC

The size and weight of the current Sonos Move helps to make a strong sound, but also makes it a less practical speaker to take on the move. Weighing in at 6.6 pounds, it’s something you would bring from the inside out to your porch, perhaps, but Sonos still doesn’t have a portable speaker enough to play in a bag and travel with. S27 may be the answer to that. The original Move, which leaked shortly after its own deposit with the FCC, is model number S17.

The current Sonos Move is much larger than many portable Bluetooth speakers.
Dan Seifert / The Verge photo

This would also be the first Sonos speaker to include Wi-Fi 5; Move supports Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n). Bluetooth kicks in more often when using the loudspeaker outside, but enhanced Wi-Fi can help performance when playing it at home as part of Sonos’ multi-room systems.

Other products that Sonos is actively developing include a pair of premium headphones. But a line in one of the FCC documents seems to rule out that we are looking at them. “To meet the FCC RF exposure compliance requirements, the device must be used with a separation distance of at least 20 cm from everyone,” he says. So all the signals – especially that wireless charger – point to a small rechargeable device. As much as I would love to see a Sonos shower speaker or something a little unconventional, I am betting on a Move Mini. And, hopefully, for a price significantly lower than the $ 400 Move.

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