After the fantastic announcement of the new Ace headphones, Sonos may be preparing for an even more compelling product debut with the successor to the Sonos Arc soundbar

This report, sent via The Verge with a dash of evidence from Bloomberg, highlights a beta trial of the soundbar's design It indicates the possibility of supporting Bluetooth audio playback, something the Arc (or previous Sonos soundbars) did not

In addition, according to Bloomberg, Sonos is working with Mayht, a Dutch startup it acquired for $100 million in 2022, to include enhanced audio transducers (aka speaker drivers) in the new Lasso soundbar This should give Lasso an edge in the market, but at a hefty premium

Press reports have already suggested that the new Sonos soundbar could exceed $1,200, which is already $300 more than the previous model at launch and well above even the best soundbars Sonos has not yet confirmed an official release date, but all signs point to an inevitable launch later this year

Images provided by The Verge suggest that the design has changed little from the Sonos Arc, but the Lasso may still be slightly modified before its public release In terms of performance, however, Lasso is expected to feature enhanced bass and Sonos' first audio driver utilizing Mayht transducer technology

According to The Verge, it is precisely this technology stack that is delaying Lasso's production, as Mayht's transducers are not necessarily the most cost effective Neodymium magnets are the strongest natural magnets in the world and are known to be expensive

However, Myaht's technology is rewarding for Lasso, and when the Dolby Atmos soundbar is released, it may join the ranks of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars It is no secret that its predecessor, the Sonos Arc, required a bit of extra work, often requiring a companion subwoofer, the Sonos Sub Mini or Sub (starting at $429 and $800, respectively), in order to get adequate audio output

Also, a photo of the rear I/O suggests that Lasso may be able to play Bluetooth audio, as there is a dedicated Bluetooth button right next to the physical microphone on/off switch This could be another game changer, as no previous Sonos soundbars have supported wireless connectivity options

That said, at over $1,200, the Sonos Lasso needs to stand apart and sell with enough reason and performance to justify its premium Sonos' lack of PR in recent months, largely based on its lackluster new mobile app, will not help its efforts, but Lasso, with the right internals at the right price, could lead public opinion in a positive direction

Lasso is just a codename for the new device, and Sonos has yet to confirm an official brand name, so expect the name to change significantly No official release date has been set yet, but the company is aiming to launch its next ultra-premium soundbar by the end of the year