Sonos is extending the wait for its affordable subwoofer.
In a report of The Verge earlier this year, the news website unveiled renders of Sonos' next new product. It's a more affordable wireless subwoofer called "Sub Mini," which is bound to join Sonos' home theater lineup.
In June, an FCC filing surfaced confirming that the device was indeed real and the company would be launching the product soon.
However, according to the latest news of The Verge and 9to5Mac, Sonos has confirmed that it is pushing back the product launch of the new Sub Mini subwoofer.
Sonos Spokesperson Confirmed Delay in Product Launch
The FCC filing of the Sub Mini was first confirmed in June. Considering Sonos' typical time frame between a filing and a consumer release, the company would've have been launching the Sub Mini soon.
However, Sonos just announced that the launch has been delayed until the fiscal first quarter of 2023.
"We always consider the kind of product that it is, and the timing. We remain committed to two new product launches each year," CEO Patrick Spence said during the earning call on Wednesday.
In an email to The Verge, Sonos spokesperson Erin Pategas confirmed the news, saying that he is confirming that Sonos, in fact, decided to push an anticipated product launch from Q4 2022 into Q1 2023.
That would mean that the company is supposed to launch Sub Mini sometime between October and December.
Although the company did not specify that the product that they are planning to launch is the Sonos Sub Mini, it was the product that consumers were waiting for to be revealed this summer.
Based on the leaked renders, the Sonos Sub Mini will have a compact cylindrical shape. There are no details of technical specifications and pricing yet, however, the name hints that the product will be a more affordable subwoofer, as per 9to5Mac.
The Sonos Sub Mini is potentially a good partner to Ray and Beam soundbars, as these sound devices are typically not so good at powerful bass.
Sonos devices are compatible with AirPlay 2 technology, thus pairing them with Apple devices would be easy. Consumers can also make use of the same "multi-room support offered with HomePods."
Read Also: Sonos Debuts Ray, the Entry-Level Soundbar and Voice Control, the Alexa, Google Assistant Competitor
Sonos Faces a Challenging Q4
The Q3 earnings of Sonos were below the company's revenue expectations.
Sonos CEO said that the macroeconomic backdrop become significantly more challenging for the company since the dollar's appreciation and high inflation have "adversely affected consumer sentiment globally."
The company reported $371.8 million in revenue Q3 of fiscal 2022, which is down by 1.8% year-on-year.
According to Sonos, the reduction in global TV sales can be attributed to the weak demand for the new $179 Sonos Ray soundbar.
The company is also partially blaming its revenue miss to the soft demand for the $279 Sonos Ray soundbar.
According to Outgoing CFO Brittany Bagley, currently, Sonos is facing a challenging Q4.
But despite the challenges, Sonos remains optimistic that the Ray will be a very successful entry-level soundbar as it provides good audio experience for the consumers. The company also relies on its positive reviews and appealing price.
Related Article: Sonos to Launch Its Own Voice Assistant This Year
