Sonos account now required just to add a speaker?!

Not sure what the issue is really... Are you trying to add a Sonos One? If so, you need to link the Sonos Cloud to the Amazon Cloud, this requires an account in both.

No, my speakers consist of Play 1 and Play 3 only. It doesn't even let me proceed without signing in to a Sonos account.

The issue is, I shouldn't need to. I have no requirement for it. I should be given the option to skip it since it adds no benefit to me.

Sonos? Anyone? Please explain how this is acceptable? Will you be issuing refunds to those who bought speakers before this was a "requirement". No where in your product documentation or the packaging stated this was a prerequisite, nor should it be expected.

I think the Australian Consumer Law would come into affect here for those choosing to seek a refund from Sonos.

This is a requirement in the set-up for the new Sonos One. I expect that Sonos wanted a consistent process for all speakers and to enable people with older players without Alexa to have voice control if they chose too, via echo devices. Why is this such a major issue for you?

This is a requirement in the set-up for the new Sonos One. I expect that Sonos wanted a consistent process for all speakers and to enable people with older players without Alexa to have voice control if they chose too, via echo devices. Why is this such a major issue for you?

Because I don't want to link my controller or speakers to a Sonos account. Why? Because they work perfectly fine without it and I shouldn't need to. I should have the option to "skip" and add the old speakers anyway. Sure, if this is now a "requirement" for the Sonos One, then fine, do it for those devices, but not for the older stuff.

Sonos is going down a very dangerous path, like Apple, instead of letting the consumer use their devices how they want, Sonos are forcing their customers into a corner, this is only one example. The end result is you end up pissing off the majority of your customers and forcing them to look at alternatives. I am very close to getting rid of all my Sonos gear in favour of other products.

I also have no intention of using Alexa, not now, not ever. My speakers are for playing my offline content and a few select internet radio stations. Nothing more. I shouldn't need to go start creating accounts and linking things to make it work. It's not acceptable and this is not why I bought Sonos products in the first place.

In 10 years time, I should be able to use my Sonos speakers just as they have been for the past year without the planned obsolescence and reliance on online services which have nothing to do with me.

I would prefer an option to set up without an account as well. I seem to remember this wasn't always required.

The point I'm making is this kind of cloud-connected, online crap is a huge problem for consumers. If Sonos packed up shop and stopped existing tomorrow, all the current speakers SHOULD work just as they have been (albeit with no further software updates etc...) I shouldn't have to authenticate against some kind of online service just to be able to perform basic system functions (such as add a speaker). Sure online content may no longer work in this scenario, but I can still listen to my music collection stored on my NAS.

I should be able to use Sonos completely offline and independent of anything outside my own home if I wanted to, now and until the day the devices physically die from age. Sonos products aren't cheap and I don't resign to this "planned obsolescence" model.

Totally agree with you, we just returned all the Sonos products we purchased last week due to this. Absolutely ridiculous to force you to make a Sonos account now just to listen to offline music or Google Play music. I will never use Alexa EVER (plus she's completely stupid in Canada and does about 20% of what she can do in the US).

1: I have purchased a hardware to listen music in my own premises. With the purchase over the counter, I have paid the amount due and the deal was closed (actually few years ago). No matter what some terms and conditions say: I do expect the purchased goods to work without any further and hidden requirements, e.g. to give private information before the goods start to work.

2: I do not want to use Spotify. If I change my mind, I accept to have an account with Spotify. I do not want to use Alexa or all the others which hear everything you say and which support you in shutting down your brain - hence, I don't need an account.

3: Whenever possible, I give my data only when I can see the direct relation with a service (other users might decide in a different way). I cannot see why Sonos should know my position on the globe just for a speaker to work (please do not bore me with local radio which I can find via search as well). Are there some hidden features which might not be in my favour?

4: GDPR takes up this concerns and therefore Sonos should as well take up this concern (better before somebody asks officially to do so - this might be too expensive).

1: I have purchased a hardware to listen music in my own premises. With the purchase over the counter, I have paid the amount due and the deal was closed (actually few years ago). No matter what some terms and conditions say: I do expect the purchased goods to work without any further and hidden requirements, e.g. to give private information before the goods start to work.

2: I do not want to use Spotify. If I change my mind, I accept to have an account with Spotify. I do not want to use Alexa or all the others which hear everything you say and which support you in shutting down your brain - hence, I don't need an account.

3: Whenever possible, I give my data only when I can see the direct relation with a service (other users might decide in a different way). I cannot see why Sonos should know my position on the globe just for a speaker to work (please do not bore me with local radio which I can find via search as well). Are there some hidden features which might not be in my favour?

4: GDPR takes up this concerns and therefore Sonos should as well take up this concern (better before somebody asks officially to do so - this might be too expensive).

You're perfectly entitled to request Sonos remove some or all of your data

https://www.sonos.com/en-us/legal/privacy#types-information

Depending on what you request they do your system may become unusable s per YOUR agreement with Sonos (despite your assertion that that contract is worthless and you should be free to ignore it!).