Sonos recently announced new pricing for its new Port and relatively new Amp devices. Port, the successor to the Sonos Connect, allows consumers to add Sonos service to any existing amplified speaker system. Amp, the successor to the Sonos Connect: Amp, includes an amplifier, enabling Sonos over your existing speakers not already powered by an amplifier. Both devices also provide a means of adding an external source to a Sonos system.
Sonos Port will increase $50 from $399 to $449, while Sonos Amp will increase $50 from $599 to $649. Both devices are already $100 more expensive than their respective predecessors. Engadget reports that this new bump is the result of moving manufacturing from China to Malaysia. Sonos is explicitly not identifying this change as a result of tariffs, instead citing supply chain diversification. Either way, it’s odd to see prices of technology go up over time. And with Sonos strategically divorcing this from tariff impacts, we should assume the company has no plans to later reduce the pricing to current levels.
The new prices will take effect on January 9, 2020. Until then, you can purchase both products at their current prices. And remember, if you have an old Sonos device that you’re not using or want to upgrade, you may qualify for the Sonos Trade Up program. For each legacy device you commit to more-or-less “brick” (and presumably recycle responsibly), you can get 30% off a new Sonos device. The discount takes some of the sting out of the already higher prices of the Port and Amp over their predecessors. But if you don’t act before January 9, your overall savings may not seem that significant.
Source: Engadget
