Sonos and Ikea end their collaboration on 'Symfonisk' home audio products
In a recent development, Sonos and Ikea have announced the end of their collaboration on audio products. The partnership, which yielded multi-room speakers compatible with the Sonos ecosystem, including a first-gen lamp and bookshelf speaker, has come to an amicable close as both companies aim to focus on their individual strategies.
The collaboration, which started with the launch of the Symfonisk speakers, was successful in creating products that blended seamlessly into home decor while delivering high-quality audio. The first-gen lamp and bookshelf speaker, in particular, generally earned four stars in reviews.
However, Ikea found the existing Symfonisk speakers, priced between $180 and nearly $270, too expensive to align with their aim of serving "the many people." As a result, they have decided to shift their audio strategy towards affordability and broader accessibility for a wider customer base.
Ikea will now develop its own ecosystem of smart speakers, emphasizing simplicity, affordability, and integration with Spotify Tap and Bluetooth. They plan to release up to ten new Bluetooth speakers starting January 2026, many designed by Tekla Evelina Severin, and over 20 Matter-compatible smart home products for better cross-brand compatibility.
Meanwhile, Sonos continues its focus on high-quality, Wi-Fi-enabled audio. In a move to make its products more accessible, the price of Sonos' five-star Era 100 speaker has been cut to £199 from its launch price of £249.
It's important to note that Sonos has not released any new information about the Sonos streaming box, and the rumored device remains on hold. The company will, however, support existing Symfonisk devices with software updates for the foreseeable future, and they will stay on sale while stocks last.
The past year has been challenging for Sonos, with its May 2024 app update removing much-loved features and introducing numerous bugs. The CEO of Sonos stepped down at the start of 2025 following customer complaints about the app. The growth in revenue, reported in Sonos' quarterly earning report this week, is largely due to a 14% reduction in operating expenses.
The focus for Sonos is now on winning back customer trust with its core audio products. As the company moves forward, it will be interesting to see how it continues to evolve and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the audio industry.
[1] The Verge, "Ikea's Symfonisk speakers are no longer being made, but existing models will stay on sale," 2025. [3] The Verge, "Ikea is making its own smart speakers and other home gadgets," 2025. [5] The Verge, "Ikea's new smart speaker line will include 20 Matter-compatible products," 2025.
- Sonos and Ikea's collaboration on audio products, which included the first-gen lamp and bookshelf speaker, has come to an end, allowing both companies to focus on their individual strategies.
- The Symfonisk speakers, priced between $180 and nearly $270, were generally well-reviewed, earning four stars.
- Ikea is currently shifting its audio strategy towards affordability, planning to release up to ten new Bluetooth speakers starting January 2026, and over 20 Matter-compatible smart home products for better cross-brand compatibility.
- Sonos' Era 100 speaker, initially priced at £249, has been reduced to £199 to make the product more accessible.
- The Verge reported that Sonos has not provided any new information about the Sonos streaming box, leaving the rumored device on hold.
- Sonos has confirmed that they will support existing Symfonisk devices with software updates for the foreseeable future despite ending their collaboration with Ikea.
- As the landscape of the audio industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Sonos adapts and wins back customer trust with its core audio products.
