Sonos unveils New York concept store

Sonos has unveiled its first flagship store – a sprawling, two-floor space inspired by the fact that most listening experiences happen in the home

(Image credit: Sonos)

By Pei-Ru Keh

last updated 7 October 2022

Two years is a considerable length of time to realise most things, let alone a retail store. Yet true to form, the audio company Sonos refused to be rushed when it came to conceiving and unveiling its first flagship store, located in the heart of Soho in New York.

Armed with an enticing design concept from Partners & Spade, the sprawling, two-floor space is centred on the fact that most listening experiences happen in the home. It was thus a no-brainer for the Sonos team to recreate several different home settings as the backbone of the in-store experience.

The focal point of the 4,200 sq ft space is a series of seven listening rooms, each kitted out with Sonos’ range of equipment, from its single smart speaker 'Play 1' to the all-encompassing 'Play 5' speaker, in various configurations. Custom-built and insulated with four layers of acoustic sheet rock for walls, and a 2,000lb steel and beveled glass door that ensures sound is perfectly contained and reflected in each cosy space, the listening rooms are also individually appointed with specially commissioned artwork from local artists featuring strong music connections.

‘The intention is to allow the music to do the talking, making it easy for everyone to experience Sonos exactly as they would at home, even though they are in the retail environment,’ says Sonos’ Giles Martin. ‘Each room has been acoustically designed to replicate a great home listening environment.’

Optimised listening conditions are present all around the store too. The space’s decorative ceiling actually conceals black, sound-absorbing foam to balance out the audio bounce back from the store’s reflective surfaces, while perforated steel doors for storage areas and panels for walls allow sound to pass through them, while also referencing the design of Sonos’ products.

One of the store’s most memorable features comes in the form of a seventh listening room located on its lower level. Fitted with Dieter Rams’ iconic music control unit, tape recorder and loudspeaker (currently only for display) and his record player for Braun, visitors can listen to an extensive collection of records on the player, which is hooked up to Sonos’ 'Play 5' speakers. The compelling display of music past and present proves that we don’t have to choose one option; rather, we can have it all.

Sonos flagship store listening rooms — The focal point of the 4,200 sq ft space is a series of seven listening rooms, each kitted out with Sonos’ range of equipment in various configurations

Sonos flagship store listening room shelves — A detailed look at one of the listening rooms, featuring the ’Play 3’ speaker (pictured right) on the middle shelf

Sonos flagship store listening room interior — Another listening room is decorated with a series of hand-painted classic patterns by the New York-based painter Mark Chamberlain

Sonos flagship store listening room — Downstairs, the seventh listening room presents a picture of of music past and present

Sonos flagship store listening room speaker system — Fitted with Dieter Rams’ iconic music control unit, tape recorder and loudspeaker (currently only for display) and his record player for Braun, visitors can listen to records piped through Sonos’ ’Play 5’ speaker system

Sonos flagship store collection of rare cassette tapes in listening room — The room also features a collection of rare cassette tapes owned by ex-Sonic Youth guitarist Thurston Moore

blue sofa — Optimised listening conditions are present all around the store. The space’s decorative ceiling conceals black, sound-absorbing foam to balance out the audio bounce back from the store’s reflective surfaces

Sonos flagship store wall covered in products — The store’s back wall is completely covered with Sonos’ family of products

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Sonos website (opens in new tab)

Photography courtesy Sonos

ADDRESS

Sonos
101 Greene Street
New York, NY 10012

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Pei-Ru Keh is the US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru has held various titles at Wallpaper* since she joined in 2007. She currently reports on design, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru has taken a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars and actively seeks out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.