Skip to main content
StephaneBegue
Contributor I
March 14, 2021

incompatibility S1 and S2

I bought 1 Sonos S5 and 3 Sonos 3 a few years ago.

it cost me some amount of money thinking that I had a system that could last for a certain time.

then Sonos developed  S2 which is not compatible with the previous generation. This forces the customer to let down their previous equipment and change the whole system.

This is and stupid scheme 

of planned obsolescence which not acceptable with current sustainable policies and for this reason, I DO NOT RECOMMEND TO ANYONE TO BUY SONOS EQUIPMENT ANYMORE UNLESS THEY CHANGE THEIR POLICY AND FIND A WAY TO MAKE THEIR 1st gen system compatible with the S2 App.

Next time I buy a music equipment I’ll avoid SONOS.

What a disappointment !!!

Stéphane Begue.

 

 

    This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

    18 replies

    Show previous replies
    jgatie
    jgatie
    April 21, 2021

    Of course older equipment is likely to have less features but surely the main reason for having a Sonos system is grouping.   By ensuring that  it is not possible to group S1 and newer S2 devices Sonos have confirmed to their established older customers that they want S1 devices made obsolete.    And they sent an unambiguous message to their newer customers which says they are likely to introduce S3 at some point with the same intention.

     

    They didn’t “ensure” it’s not possible, it is, in fact, not possible.  I can go into an explanation as to why this is a fact, if you wish.  However, it is fairly technical.

    melvimbe
    melvimbe
    April 21, 2021

    Of course older equipment is likely to have less features but surely the main reason for having a Sonos system is grouping.   By ensuring that  it is not possible to group S1 and newer S2 devices Sonos have confirmed to their established older customers that they want S1 devices made obsolete.    And they sent an unambiguous message to their newer customers which says they are likely to introduce S3 at some point with the same intention.

    You’re assigning motivations to the S1/S2 change over that ignores much of reality of the system.  Sonos could not continue adding features to a system that was using older hardware for processing and communication, and Sonos didn’t think they could stay competitive without adding features.    While features are speaker specific, not system wide, that is not the case for all features.    

    The idea that this is just about getting old customers to buy new gear doesn’t make a ton of sense since  it was a PR nightmare for them.  No way Sonos does this for that reason alone.  I’d argue that if that was there actual intention, they should have done that many years ago, rather than wait till 2020.

    As far as S3 at some point, if you’re going to use history to determine that’s coming, then you would have to estimate that is at least 10 years off.   With S2, you could some what see the writing on the wall considering the popularity of high res music and increased smart speaker competition.  There is nothing on the horizon like that that would point to a need for an S3.

     

     

    Danny
      fmendyka
      Lyricist I
      May 12, 2021

      Joined the forum today.  Interesting reading.  

      I mistakenly downloaded S2.  Now my Play5 will not play; incompatible.  My question is, how to I revert my Play 1 and One to S1?  Appreciate a clear process.

      Regards,

      Fred

      Airgetlam
      Airgetlam
      May 12, 2021

      It requires an existing S1 device/system.

      1. remove the S2 controller from your device.
      2. download and run the S1 controller. If presented, make sure you ‘connect to existing system’, which will be your S1 device(s).
      3. factory reset the Sonos device that was upgraded to S2.
      4. use the ‘add a device’ in the S1 controller to re-add the ‘new’ device.
      Bruce
        Billina
        Lyricist I
        May 14, 2021

        Given the environmental impacts associated with disposing of electronic equipment every few years, it seems to me that it is fair to ask SONOS, and others, to design upgradable equipment. 

        And ultimately, if I SONOS is not responsive, and I am likely to need to replace wireless speakers every few years, or use multiple apps, perhaps as a consumer I should stop thinking of “grouping” as the overriding factor and start considering whether to remain a SONOS-only home, as opposed to buying speakers (Marshall, KEF, etc.) that may work better for particular rooms and settings. 

        John B
        May 14, 2021

        @Billina . Which Sonos speakers are you referring to that have needed to be replaced every few years?

          jgatie
          jgatie
          May 17, 2021

          Given the environmental impacts associated with disposing of electronic equipment every few years, it seems to me that it is fair to ask SONOS, and others, to design upgradable equipment. 

          And ultimately, if I SONOS is not responsive, and I am likely to need to replace wireless speakers every few years, or use multiple apps, perhaps as a consumer I should stop thinking of “grouping” as the overriding factor and start considering whether to remain a SONOS-only home, as opposed to buying speakers (Marshall, KEF, etc.) that may work better for particular rooms and settings. 

           

          Blah, blah, blah, "or the bunny gets it!"

          *YAWN*

           

          cavan
          Lyricist I
          May 24, 2021

          Open letter

          Hi Sonos,

           

          I have been an avid fan and grass-roots supporter of Sonos for over 10 years.  Buying more than 6 different devices that covers my whole home. You were my “go to” guys.

           

          However, as you are already aware from community reaction, most of these devices are regarded as obsolete S1 and seem unworthy of your support or attention.

           

          And Look, I get it, I understand that as a company you will move forward with technology and the devices you create to support this.

           

          However as an early fan and advocate for your company I am getting really fed up being made to feel unwanted and unloved.  The reminder to check my App. updates for S2 devices and then to be told that Uh uh no no no… you  only have our old S1 stuff, so cannot look forward to any system improvements or new services, really is tiresome and annoying.

           

          To give you a reality check, the reason we bought your devices, all those years ago, and spent so much more money on them, was because they worked seamlessly with our home wifi’s and had such great sound.

           

          And that’s really all we want them still them to do.  Play our music and make it sound fabulous.  And S1 does…… Yes it does, Sonos 5 is brilliant.  Congrats you built a brilliant system.

           

          So lets stop making us S1 people feel bad.  Sure we cant expect to get new features or system upgrades…… but that does not make your S1 a bad thing or us bad people.

           

          So lets stop the guilt trip and let us enjoy what we have, for now.  Because when we return to the market for a sound system, in the not to distant future, SONOS will be still be considered a Company to buy from, but at the moment, however, all I want to do is find another system to replace yours.

           

          I hope you take this to heart, and consider other ways of marketing S2.

           

          with kindest regards

           

           

          Andrew  
           

          Sent from my iPad

            Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement