When Sonos first notified me, a couple of years ago, that they would be bricking the Sonos Dock in a future update, I immediately took my entire Sonos system offline, and re-connected it to a spare router that does not have internet access. This has allowed me to continue using the following:Sonos Connect Amp Sonos Play 5 (2 stereo paired) Sonos Play 3 (2 stereo paired) Sonos Play 1 (2 stereo paired) Sonos Dock (I attached my internet connected Sonos app free iPhone - to access online streaming accounts )All of my other lossless music collection is accessible via the USB port of my spare router.I’m still using a Sonos 4.1 controller, and as long as I’ve remained isolated from a live internet connection (via the non-connected router), I’ve had no forced update issues.Does anyone who might be using a similar workaround know whether or not the S1 Sonos Controller for Windows still supports the Sonos dock? Or was the ‘bricking’ update already built into that version of the controller?

Contributor I

Answered

S1 app for Windows and 'legacy' Sonos Dock

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When Sonos first notified me, a couple of years ago, that they would be bricking the Sonos Dock in a future update, I immediately took my entire Sonos system offline, and re-connected it to a spare router that does not have internet access. This has allowed me to continue using the following:

Sonos Connect Amp
Sonos Play 5 (2 stereo paired)
Sonos Play 3 (2 stereo paired)
Sonos Play 1 (2 stereo paired)
Sonos Dock (I attached my internet connected Sonos app free iPhone - to access online streaming accounts )

All of my other lossless music collection is accessible via the USB port of my spare router.

I’m still using a Sonos 4.1 controller, and as long as I’ve remained isolated from a live internet connection (via the non-connected router), I’ve had no forced update issues.

Does anyone who might be using a similar workaround know whether or not the S1 Sonos Controller for Windows still supports the Sonos dock? Or was the ‘bricking’ update already built into that version of the controller?

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K

KumarAnswer

whether or not the S1 Sonos Controller for Windows still supports the Sonos dock? Or was the ‘bricking’ update already built into that version of the controller?

It does not, and the dock will no longer work with the rest of the system if you move it to S1.

K

KumarAnswer

whether or not the S1 Sonos Controller for Windows still supports the Sonos dock? Or was the ‘bricking’ update already built into that version of the controller?

It does not, and the dock will no longer work with the rest of the system if you move it to S1.

ratty

The Dock was never ‘bricked’. It simply ceased to be supported.

Back then there was an alternative method to play local files off an iDevice wirelessly … an option since withdrawn as a result of Apple’s operating system changes.

Music on today’s iDevices can be sent via Airplay2.

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rcfbz95Author

Contributor I

Thanks for the confirmation @Kumar. Well then, I’ll keep using my Sonos devices (legacy, all of them) networked on the internet free wi-fi only router, so that I can keep using my Sonos Dock to stream current radio / podcast content from my iPhone. It has served me well for the last 3 years, so I won’t mess with any more controller upgrades.

106rallye

Just posted a link to this device in another part of the forum: https://www.amazon.com/Belkin-SoundForm-Connect-AirPlay-Receiver-Streaming-3-5mm-Speaker-Other-AirPlay-Enabled/dp/B094LGLJB9

This could do the same as the dock is doing for you now. Though I understand contact with Sonos might be necessary if you ever would want to update a system that has been without updates for a long time.

ratty

Sonos v4.1 is certainly pushing things. A while back it was established that v3.6 was too old to be able to update itself. Maybe 4.1 is now also over the hill.

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rcfbz95Author

Contributor I

@ratty My bad, I meant to type 8.1 (not 4.1) as the most recent Sonos controller that I am using

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rcfbz95Author

Contributor I

@106rallye thanks for posting that link. So far my Sonos Dock is still fully functional, but wow, that Belkin product does look like a tempting option, should I ever accidentally initiate an upgrade to any of my legacy Sonos devices.

K

Kumar

If the Sonos dock is serving a useful function for you, there is little to be gained by moving up from 8.1 other than controller eye candy changes and some minor conveniences in the UI. In theory, there is the security issue by not updating the version, but for something like Sonos, even if connected to the internet, I am not sure how real that is in terms of a threat of any kind. If not connected, there is no threat.

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amun

Like you, I locked off for a few years - which was fine until one of the units went wrong and I needed to add a new device - so S1 it was, unfortunately.

I can’t say that I’m impressed - it seems much slower to start up and makes one even more dependent on internet access, so my advice would be to stay with what you have.

Currently I have update access blocked at router level, but have allowed access so that I can use some streaming services, but as I hardly ever use them I may well lock the while thing off again.

controlav

Lead Maestro

If you are still using a Dock then your iOS device uses the old enormous 50-pin connector, which means your iOS device is too ancient run any current Sonos app anyway. SonoPhone/SonoPad might still work though, assuming your device even has a working App Store.

I still own a Dock and it still lives on my network purely for test purposes: its alive and still exposes itself via UPnP), but of course it is of zero practical use unless I want to charge my ancient iPod.

Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.

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