Sonos x Hay: Smart speakers finally launched in array of new colours

The new hues were first revealed in April

(Sonos/Hay)

Sonos and Hay have finally unveiled the speakers they've been working on together: an array of different colours for the Sonos One.

The collection – which brings a flash of colour to the line that until now has only been available in black or white – will cost slightly more than those more conservative colours.

The array of colours is made up of Forest Green, Pale Yellow, Soft Pink, Light Grey and Vibrant Red, each of which were designed by furniture and homeware company HAY.

On the inside, the speakers are the same as the Sonos One that was released to positive reviews almost exactly a year ago. On the outside they are mostly similar, too, with no real changes to the design beyond the updated colours.

They cost £229, £30 more than the non-HAY speakers, and will be available from 5 November. They'll be sold on Sonos' website, in its stores in New York and Berlin, as well as at HAY's store in Copenhagen and other retailers.

Sonos and Hay first announced the tie-up all the way back in April, and said then that they would be available in September.

The two companies said they had worked together as part of an effort to make smart speakers that blend in with people's homes.

“At HAY, no two products are the same. I believe each object has its own set of colours: a chair, a toothbrush, or a piece of porcelain can’t have the same colours, yet they can still complement each other. For the Sonos range, we were inspired by our daily home life. We wanted to create colours that were for everyone,” said Mette Hay, co-founder of HAY.

“The yellow relates to kitchens and bathrooms that are often kept light and complemented with stainless steel and porcelain. The green hues are meant to remind viewers of pots or plants sitting by windows. The light grey is for everyone. It was important to find the right shade—one that suits both workspaces, homes, and different looks with its neutral tone. Pink is the colour we feel closely connected to in fashion – we feel that all things pink create a special desire right now. The iconic red was the final colour I chose for the collection, as it creates such an important accent with regards to furniture.”

To commemorate the launch, the release date will also see a range of artists take over NTS Live with projects themed around each of the Sonos speakers colours. Erykah Badu will present a themed mix for the green speaker that will be based around plants, for instance, while Sunn O)))'s Stephen O'Malley "will be building a soundscape for all things coloyrless and grey", according to organisers.

The HAY collection is just one of a range of partnerships that Sonos has revealed itself to be working on with other companies. Those also include products being made with Ikea, which is expected to reveal new speakers that use Sonos' technology but integrate it with its furniture.