Ace Headphones - no system integration !!

Good catch.

I echo the first half of this part from the link, what I have said here since 2020

Observers claim that Sonos who have no qualms trying to force consumers into speaker upgrades despite their being nothing wrong with their existing Sonos speakers are now punting the future of the business on new products because of waning demand for their current offering.

So true

Exactly as I suspected.  And my post about how Sonos customers move forward and away from a dying product line was deleted - thanks mods.  I thought I’d go to the AVS forum to see if there was any wisdom there on Sonos alternatives.  Nope, in fact almost zero posts about Sonos since 2021.  Except for a Headphone announcement post.  On a major AV forum, they have almost zero buzz.  Yikes!

After reading that article, I think the CEO is delusional.  He cannot convince analysts that the strategy makes any sense.  Because it doesn’t.  Who wanted these unremarkable headphones?  He’s tripping and blowing smoke to prop up the stock.  That won’t last.  This is the second time in a few years Sonos has given customers the finger.  How can a business like that survive?

With a change at the top. So says corporate history in companies across the world over many years.

This particular journalist consistently writes negative articles about Sonos.  He’s been doing it for years.  I’m not suggesting his numbers and quotes should be challenged, just that he is not an objective reporter on the state of Sonos. I would look for financial analysis of Sonos elsewhere if you want something more objective, which likely shares a negative outlook.

A google search of “Sonos News” generally pulls up reviews and comments about the new headphones currently though.  Financial articles mostly seem to talk about the recent qtrly before all of this started happening.  These are what I found, your search may vary.

https://www.strata-gee.com/will-sonos-ace-help-the-company-return-its-business-to-growth/

https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/consumer-durables/nasdaq-sono/sonos/news/sonos-incs-nasdaqsono-popularity-with-investors-is-clear

I haven’t kept track and you may well be right.

On the other hand, I was not impressed with the performance of the analysts in the latest Sonos earnings call; they just seemed to be a Sonos echo chamber.

As always, time will tell.

I didn’t realize that they sold a lot fewer units in the last year compared to the year before. (747000 vs 998000). That’s a big drop.

I guess when you have such big drops you need to take gambles on releasing a bug riddled app to support your next big thing,

Can see why many are saying they may bring more sub options to the platform.

Hopefully the headphones do well as getting our players back to what they once where and beyond before this dumpster fire may depend on it

As good a reason as any for what seems to be a knee jerk reaction bred by executive level panic. Both the app and the headphones are rush jobs.

I don’t follow the guy, but have seen articles pop up from him over the years, always negative, even at the times when others are reporting positively. I’m just saying I would look elsewhere for information whether it confirms what this guy is reporting or not.

If I held Sonos stock, I would do the digging needed to confirm what he says. I read the earnings call transcript out of curiosity. 

What I can say though from experience is this: the last time Sonos were in an existential crisis situation was in about 2016, when they were blindsided by the Echo success. Lots of panic and letting go of people. But users perceived no dislocation of any kind, although I think customer service started going downhill from about that time.

This one feels different, that's all.