App update broke the system- Tech supported admitted the features are broken

What you describe is really the world we live in.  All the tech companies are so insecure about their products, they feel they need to keep ``improving it``to keep up with others.  Kind of like lowes moving in next door to home depot.  WHY?

The original version of sonos was great.  I once installed a 5 amp and 2 playbar system, added a library, and  left the customer to play for the night.  When I arrived back the next day to teach her how to use it,  she was listening to elvis across the whole house.  She was 80 years old.

I install for a living,  and Sonos was a revelation.  

Now,  there isnt a single installation that goes the same or operates exactly how it should.  The network procedure is * up.  The ridiculous PIN no idea is laughable.  You need a magnifying glass to read them. WHY?

This update is a such disaster,  I wonder if they have been hacked by one of the other companies.  There is no other explanation.

I probably have installed $200k worth,  not kidding.  One can only hope they turn back the clock real click.  My phone has been ringing off the hook today for clients complaining, and needing help.

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

Since you’re in the business of installing these things, what systems do you know that are like Sonos  and recommended?  I’ve had enough of downhill ride with Sonos and the extremely difficult way they allow management of speakers, whether for TV to music.  I’ve been there with Sonos when it was first introduced and my brother in law was even CFO of Sonos.  Not the same company anymore. Any recommendations? So i can sell this unusable system. 

Consider Heos. I’ve just added 3 Denon products, Playbar550, Speaker 350 and Home Sub. Waiting on 2nd 350 to create surrounds.  The Heos app goes far above and beyond the SONOS crAPP which has been failing me the 5 years I’ve had my units (Playbar, Play1s, Sub, Play5 and Roam).  I’ve disconnected the Playbar, 1’s and Sub…. they are going out the door.  Keeping the Play5 in my bedroom now… initially it was to drive my turntable, and bridge it to the other pieces…. Denon & Heos has made that incredibly easier now [for me].  Not saying there weren’t bumps to start, or to come but, a completely better, frustration free, scenario.  On top of that, Denon was immediate to respond, and the rep who helped via email, actually phoned me, unsolicited from California to discuss and help resolve minor hiccup (which was an issue of misunderstanding on my part of linking Sub to Playbar and my WIFI SSID).  *Bear in mind I have no choice but to use a WIFI network as the router is upstairs in my landlords part of the house, and not about to ask him to send wires down here… enuf for him to deal with with 3 kids.  He & the family have been too good to me since I’ve moved here, in may ways. 

The Play5 and Roam are the only units I’ll keep. That much I was able to get sorted on a new account after transferring ownership over… which created another nightmare on my original account but, meh, those items registered to that account are headed out of here eventually.  They’re disconnected and sitting in front of my new soundbar… looking embarrassed and ashamed for the parent company that has seeded them and now  rendered them orphans, all because SONOS DEVELOPERS DO NOT KNOW HOW TO CREATE A WELL FUNCTIONING APP TO CONTROL THE SYSTEM, OR THEY JUST DON’T CARE BECAUSE SONOS IS PROBABLY  HEADING TO BE A PAY FOR STREAMING A SERVICE OF THEIR OWN.   The Heos app gives my full access to my HUGE library of my own music. I don’t use pay for streaming services;  TuneIn and Soundcloud in their basic form is sufficient outside my own collection nearing 95,000.

Bottom line… good hardware from sonos… bad company, practices and above all utter lack of respect for clients as far as the horrendous crAPP they’ve produced and continue to do nothing about to remedy over the 5 years I’ve been constantly frustrated and had to fuss with to listen to an LP.  Moving on in part for complete disgust of their greed. 

PS, the topic of your post hits it best.. it’s not about particular features of an app, it’s about integrity and functionality of the hardware, driven solely by their app. 

Thanks, didn’t know about the HEOS app. Knew about Denon but seems they now have a good competitive product to SONOS.  I was looking at AUDIO PRO multihome speakers too.  The >$5k i invested in Sonos bc i thought i couldn’t get away from them. But now so anymore. 

SONOS is now the talk of NY Times! Congrats! (ouch)

An article out on this debacle of an app? I can’t find it.

…. and thank you too @akg3333 for giving me voice here too.  aka, kind of rant.  Still learning the ins and outs of the Heos app (the fact that Marantz and other notable companies  produce product using it alone should give one reason to consider) , and considering I’m still not fully set up as it was in my Sonos world but, the calm it’s been bringing is appreciated.  No question of doubt the Sonos hardware sound fantastic -- but,  now there are many other options.  I’ll probably have to eventually disappear from this profile when I close this account, and pick up on the other account for the units I’ll keep  -- so perhaps  hairy_chacha will see you again on the other side.  Happy listening until. 

 

thanks for sharing.  It’s becoming more obvious that accountability and transparency are not high on the Sonos top tier or vested leadership’s  list of strong points.

Heos sounds interesting, I’ve totally lost all faith in Sonos.

I just want play my iTunes library around the house