ok my thoughts on this, maybe (probably) not yours but interested in constructive opinions and viewpoints (excuse typo in heading).
I’m not sure how many in here now will have ever used the CR200.
I’m sure back then it cost a lot to make and that Sonos didn’t sell too many and that phones/tablets seemed the way forward.
We now have voice control which is of course amazing, but it’s not good for browsing and discovery. And the app we have now is — well, it’s ok. It doesnt look great, it works and it’s ok. But does anyone else think it doesn’t feel like 15yrs of evolution from the CR200?
Android tablets can be bought cheap from China in bulk and I don’t understand why Sonos don’t just buy in an unbranded model, lock it in with the Sonos app and have a known stable hardware platform that they can develop on, and that will appeal to the install market they are courting. A dedicated controller feels premium as a controller in a way your phone doesn’t.
I love my Sonos and would never be without it. But it never felt more fun than when you were able to pass round the CR200 and it was SO well designed that anyone could just use it.
Andrew