Samsung unveiled three brand new 360-degree wireless speakers at IFA 2015 in Berlin, Germany, encroaching upon Sonos’ territory by allowing users to “seamlessly share” their music across the Wi-Fi connected devices.
The Samsung R1, R3 and R5 represent a more agreeable design for the line of speakers than the bulb-esque appearance of the previously released R7, and with its high-resolution audio quality paired with a sleek aesthetic, Samsung could challenge the monopoly that Sonos currently holds on this territory. Samsung will attempt to do so by integrating its updated Multiroom app for iOS and Android, which now works with the Gear S, allowing users to pair their devices with one another and browse available music services.
The Samsung R7 was praised for its sound quality, but wasn’t much of a looker. This is set to change with the company’s new speaker line.
Samsung hasn’t revealed much in the way of specs, other than that it will also feature the proprietary ring-radiator technology that made its way into the R6 and R7, and that a new physical user interface located on the top panel of the speaker allows the user to more adequately browse and change the settings of their music, including being able to select between different music services.
The three new speakers will also be available in a variety of colors, so if jet black doesn’t match the color scheme of your home/office, then rest assured that Samsung should have a color available that suits your tastes.
The Samsung R1, R3 and and R5 will be available in the US and Europe in Q4 2015, with prices ranging from $199 to $399. The company will provide more information regarding the speakers and their availability in the coming months.
