Sonos, the Californian audio company known for its connected hi-fi systems, has just launched a subscription service called Flex, which allows customers to rent its speakers.
Currently only 500 households in the Netherlands have the opportunity to sign up for Flex, but if the trial goes well, Sonos is likely to start rolling out the service worldwide.
three options
Currently, the service is divided into three tiers, each with a different speaker setup.
For €15 a month you can rent two Sonos One smart speakers to pair for stereo use, but for an extra €10 you can add a Sonos Beam sound bar to provide great sound on your TV with additional connectivity options.
However, for a total of $50 a month, you can upgrade to a Sonos playbar, subwoofer, and a pair of Sonos One speakers. connected audio.
Subscriptions can be canceled at any time, and during the subscription period, units will be replaced with newer models as they are released.
Hardware subscription services
This isn't the first audio subscription service we've seen, Melbourne-based Nura is offering its flagship Nuraphone headphones for a monthly subscription earlier this year.
Like NuraNow, the Sonos Flex aims to offer a premium audio experience without requiring customers to spend large amounts of money.
The structure of the two services mentioned above is ideal for customers who still want the latest version of the product, as they are not forced to spend the full price repeatedly on the latest version of the material at its launch.
That said, these services might not make sense for anyone who wants to use their speaker or headphones long-term, as they won't own the device even after paying the equivalent of retail prices during their subscription.
Sonos has also decided to make its speaker range more accessible thanks to its partnership with Swedish furniture brand Ikea. Symfonisk speakers are the most affordable speakers offered by Sonos and are integrated with things like shelves and lamps.
If the trial is successful, we'll learn more about Flex's international availability, but until then, you'll have to pay the hefty price if you want to enjoy the Sonos experience.