Sonos announces a new AI-based feature for its Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar (€ 1,799.00 *). The function is designed to do one thing in particular: make dialog in films and series clearer and easier to understand. The new speech enhancement is not only aimed at audiophile users, but also specifically at people with hearing impairments.
Highlights
- The new function uses AI to specifically improve speech intelligibility in films and series.
- Four adjustable levels allow individual adjustment – from subtle support to maximum dialog emphasis.
- The feature was developed in close collaboration with the British hearing aid institute RNID.
- The update will initially be available exclusively for the Sonos Arc Ultra.
Machine learning for more clarity in dialog
Speech intelligibility in modern productions often leaves a lot to be desired – be it due to hectic post-production, changing accents or suboptimal room acoustics. This can be a real problem, especially for people with hearing loss. Sonos is now addressing this issue with a targeted technical solution: the updated “Speech Enhancement” function is based on machine learning, which separates and prioritizes spoken content from other audio tracks in real time.
According to the press release, the heart of the system is an AI-supported speech separation that specifically isolates and highlights dialog from the center channel. According to Sound Experience Engineer Harry Jones, this makes it possible to emphasize speech “precisely at the moments when it is most needed – without distorting the overall sound design”. The algorithm continuously analyzes the audio material and dynamically highlights speech instead of simply increasing the volume or manipulating frequency ranges.
The new feature offers four selectable levels:
- Low: Gentle adjustment to slightly emphasize speech without interfering with the sound.
- Medium: Clearer speech enhancement with a balanced representation of the surrounding sounds.
- High: Stronger separation of dialog from the rest of the mix – ideal for loud environments.
- Max: A specially developed setting for people with hearing loss – with maximum speech focus and reduced dynamics in background noise.
All settings can be adjusted and customized directly via the Sonos app. The developers emphasize that users who are not yet aware of their hearing difficulties can also benefit.
Development with a focus on accessibility
A key feature of the new feature is that it was developed in close cooperation with the RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People). As part of this collaboration, over 37 test subjects with varying degrees of hearing ability were involved in the development process. Not only technical knowledge, but also practical experience was incorporated into the optimization process. The aim was to create a solution that really works in everyday usage situations – from Netflix series and news broadcasts to action films.
Professional sound engineering expertise was also incorporated: Award-winning film sound mixer Chris Jenkins supported the project with his expertise in speech extraction from film productions. Together with the Sonos team, hundreds of hours of listening tests were conducted to ensure that the dialog enhancement did not undermine the artistic integrity of the original sound.
The use of artificial intelligence in this context was not intended to replace creative processes, but to provide targeted support where human hearing reaches its limits. Matt Benatan, Principal Research Scientist at Sonos, emphasizes the emotional value of the project: “When someone is excluded from a shared viewing experience due to unintelligible speech, it’s not just about technology – it’s about participation.”
Conclusion
With the new AI-based speech enhancement, Sonos is taking an important step towards accessible audio experiences. The feature impresses with its technical sophistication, practical development and clear added value – and not just for people with hearing loss. The function will be available from now on via a free software update for the Sonos Arc Ultra. Prices and further information on the soundbar can be found on the official Sonos website.
