No More Sonos for Me

now I need to ... keep a phone or tablet with me all the timeWhy? Are you carrying out system setup and configuration tasks on a regular basis? The PC controller is still perfectly functional for music playback control, together with library and playlist management.

I own 6 Sonos speakers now and was interested in upgrading to newer models

While the move to "PC is a player only, an Android or iOS device for controlling the system is a requirement" is a bad move, if you don't already own compatible Android/iOS hardware, you maybe just need to think of buying additional dedicated controller hardware (ie. a cheap Android tablet) as a tax. Sonos just got more expensive for some users, but if you're already heavily invested in Sonos (and six speakers says that you are), consider the per-room cost of maintaining your Sonos system, against the cost of an alternative.

I do need to restore and change my setup frequently, and now Sonos just made it more complicated because it will required two different devices to be used instead of just my computer. Since I'm heavily invested in Sonos speakers already, I will continue to use what I have but I am no longer considering a playbase, beam, or sub.

I do (did) all system management from my PC, which is the admin hub for my entire network. I need to do it here because I have accessibility issues which make doing system admin on a smartphone especially difficult. i use the smartphone app as rarely as I can, mostly for pausing music.

Thanks a bunch Sonos. You clearly didn't think about people with accessibility problems one tiny bit.

Ha, same thing here. I wrote a question about this a few hours ago (https://en.community.sonos.com/setting-up-sonos-228990/no-more-sonos-system-6814922) and didn't see this one before I posted.
But it's my sentiments exactly. As an admin I need to control traffic, network and attached devices regularly. Removing this functionality from the Sonos desktop controller is a big issue and a bad move. We invested in this system to play music and frequently group / ungroup speakers for different venues and reasons. There is no way in hell this can be done with the same security and privacy using a phone app. I am very disappointed. And I fear the only thing Sonos will say is 'thanks for the bucks but now we want this and we're gonna remove the desktop app soon anyway'. Saves Sonos more money but frankly, this is an arrogant move.

Where is everyone getting the idea that grouping and ungrouping is no longer possible from the Desktop Controller? :?

This is the second thread claiming they removed this function and it is just not so. They removed items from the Settings menu, not any basic controls.

I do need to restore and change my setup frequently, and now Sonos just made it more complicated because it will required two different devices to be used instead of just my computer. Since I'm heavily invested in Sonos speakers already, I will continue to use what I have but I am no longer considering a playbase, beam, or sub.

Whilst I am not a fan of Sonos removing desktop functionality from the controller I find it hard to believe you need to "restore" your system regularly. The only thing I can imagine you doing is un-breaking stereo pairs, moving speakers around and/or adding /removing subs.

I have 11 speakers in my small house and I rarely need to access the set-up options.

If you're restoring or adding speakers because they are dropping off you have network issues that it would be beneficial for you to resolve

Where is everyone getting the idea that grouping and ungrouping is no longer possible from the Desktop Controller? :?

Everyone? As in one person?

I do need to restore and change my setup frequently, and now Sonos just made it more complicated because it will required two different devices to be used instead of just my computer. Since I'm heavily invested in Sonos speakers already, I will continue to use what I have but I am no longer considering a playbase, beam, or sub.

Whilst I am not a fan of Sonos removing desktop functionality from the controller I find it hard to believe you need to "restore" your system regularly. The only thing I can imagine you doing is un-breaking stereo pairs, moving speakers around and/or adding /removing subs.

I have 11 speakers in my small house and I rarely need to access the set-up options.

If you're restoring or adding speakers because they are dropping off you have network issues that it would be beneficial for you to resolve

Your disbelief doesn't change the fact that people have specified valid use cases for the Desktop Controller.

I do need to restore and change my setup frequently, and now Sonos just made it more complicated because it will required two different devices to be used instead of just my computer. Since I'm heavily invested in Sonos speakers already, I will continue to use what I have but I am no longer considering a playbase, beam, or sub.

Whilst I am not a fan of Sonos removing desktop functionality from the controller I find it hard to believe you need to "restore" your system regularly. The only thing I can imagine you doing is un-breaking stereo pairs, moving speakers around and/or adding /removing subs.

I have 11 speakers in my small house and I rarely need to access the set-up options.

If you're restoring or adding speakers because they are dropping off you have network issues that it would be beneficial for you to resolve

Your disbelief doesn't change the fact that people have specified valid use cases for the Desktop Controller.

I didn't suggest by any streeeeeeetch of the imagination that others didn't or don't have valid use cases and there are clearly some people who can't control their systems or those they manage without a desktop app. I simply stated that I find it hard to believe that annanemas HAS to "restore " their set-up (Whatever that actually means).

Either way I do believe that Sonos have made a wrong decision here.