9+ months later and Sonos is still floundering and it's NOT JUST THE APP!

Oh, I guess we did hear from Tom Conrad after all - inadvertently that is.  He let go 200 more employees.  Yay team! 

https://www.theverge.com/news/607022/sonos-february-layoffs-app-problems

For all of my and many other’s observations on here (and the many other forums + the press) it’s been the poor leadership, arrogance, and ignorance of the C-Suite holders and lazy board the caught our ire, not the folks at Sonos actually doing the heavy lifting, support, and more.  They deserve our gratitude and best wishes they all end up at a better run company with a bright future.  

The continued ens***ifacation of a once great product line in the increasingly rotting tech sector. 

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/02/as-internet-ens***tification-marches-on-here-are-some-of-the-worst-offenders/

What a kick in the gut for those employees today… and for those left to pick up the pieces. 

Moderator Note: Modified in accordance with the Community Code of Conduct.

Going on a year after the ‘new and improved’ app release, basic features are still missing like in-app playlist editing; return from full page display of the track playing to that track’s place in the queue list; reliable volume and EQ control (instead we get intermittent control freeze and lag); reliable connection (never a problem before, now one or more speakers will drop off far too often); and most disturbing, for some reason sound quality has degraded significantly with the most recent system update.

It’s a bit tragic. Inertia keeps me from throwing my Sonos hardware in the trash and starting over with another system. As a result I listen to music less often; when I do, too often I’m frustrated by limitations of the app or control, connection, and lately sound quality issues.

Depressing, really. A few thousand dollars worth of equipment sits here that I don’t really enjoy using anymore. And until the ‘Big Upgrade’ last year, I was a Sonos fan who recommended Sonos to friends. Now if anyone asks, I tell them to steer clear.

Sonos had a good thing going until management fouled its own nest. 

More background on Sonos’ direction. 

https://www.trustedreviews.com/opinion/sonos-pinewood-tv-box-too-expensive-4588010

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/08/tech/sonos-app-update-redemption-2025/index.html

It would not be a good idea to offset a lower device price with a subscription model, I think. I pay subscription (too much already) for content, not for a device to watch content…..

I’ve gotta face one inescapable fact: I’ve lost confidence in Sonos. There’s been a few blips in the past - notably the S1/S2 issue - but nothing like this. I genuinely hate the “new” app (only 9 months old, enough time to grow a viable human baby). I hate its lack of functionality, I hate the UI, I hate the way it has all but ignored those of us who keep our music on a NAS and have little interest in streaming services. I hate it, and my previous, genuine love for Sonos products has soured along with it.

It will be expensive, but if they don’t address these issue by the anniversary of their failure (May 7th), I think I’m out. Currently looking at the Bluesound system. I can half commit by replacing all my Sonos items except my home cinema setup, though if happy that would go too later.

In business, consumer confidence is very important, once lost it’s hard to regain and I do not see Sonos’s future as bright. 

For the fanbase on here who keep stating that the new Sonos app has been and is working great.  You lucky folks!  Sadly you’re in the rare Goldielocks zone.  The app is still AWFUL and forcing us through their servers for simple controls is sill failing! 

App store reviews are still in the 1-star ratings as are reviews on TrustPilot  and more. 

https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.sonos.com?sort=recency

This is NOT getting better and the acting CEO appears to be hiding from its customers/users. 

Come ON TOM!  Address this in the forums NOW!  At least P.Spence had the guts to!

https://www.techradar.com/televisions/soundbars/setting-up-the-sonos-arc-ultra-soundbar-was-one-of-the-worst-tech-experiences-of-my-life-but-damn-it-sounds-incredible

Yup, it’s not just a few of us.  Too many bad reviews of the app and YET, Sonos still arrogantly refuses to let us go back to any form of the prior app so we can actually use our expensive gear! 

Why?  Because they WILL NOT give up the ability to wedge their servers between the controller app and our Sonos gear.  Almost a year now and this insistence on using the CLOUD for such simple functions as Volume have a pretty stupid excuses now after all this time. 

And it is STILL BROKEN!  Sure there are a few in the Goldilocks zone, but too many, even tech reviews, know personally what a pain-in-the-arse this app is. 

Come on TOM, finally level with your customers why you insist on inserting your severs between us an our Sonos equipment!!!! 

Interesting and relieving article in the WSJ/podcast and transcript.  My take-away:

1. they keep admitting they knew all along this was a huge mistake!
2. over $600mil in losses due to this screw up
3. app still NOT fully fixed.
4. Refusal to tell the press the key reason so many are having issues who weren’t prior to May 7th.  It’s NOT your local network folks, it’s Sonos’s continued stubborn decision to FORCE their servers between your control and your speakers!  That’s a recipe for lags, dropped data packets, security issues, on and on.  

And why continue to risk the entire company and brand?  Hmm, monetization of that captured data comes to mind despite their initial denial (maybe not our personal data initialy, but the aggregate is valuable!).  It’s a nice constant, forecast-able, revenue stream.  Every tech company does it now (sadly),  WE ARE THE PRODUCT not the CUSTOMER in this modern tech world. 

https://www.wsj.com/podcasts/the-journal/the-botched-software-update-that-cost-600-million/98BEDE46-A380-4FBF-BEE0-F320F1A19D90

What do you think, and WHY THE HECK IS TOM CONRAD still hiding from the people who make his salary possible?