The new Sonos S2 App Sucks

Try your system with the desktop app. If it works you know it’s the app. If it doesn’t look at your network. 

@Bumper: So what does it mean when it doesn’t work with the desktop app; but it does work (sort of) with the new iOS S2 app for ipad, when used in conjunction with phonos+?

Because that’s what’s going on chez chambolle. Perhaps that’s because I’m using the web/desktop controller via safari on my ipad? I have no idea. I just know what works and what doesn’t; which is all that really matters.

I would suggest taking @Airgetlam’s advice and speak with Sonos Support, even if there is a wait to get through to them on occasions, as that’s usually the best way to get many issues resolved. Anything else is likely not going to sort things for you in the longer term. 

Have you spoken to Sonos Support about whatever issues you are seeing? They have tools that can establish where the problems may lie and even if they can’t resolve them there and then, at least they will become aware of what’s going on and likely be able to fix it with an update. If they’re not made aware and you simply switch to some kind of workaround, then it’s never going to be clear if Sonos are aware of your matter and it may not get fixed. So, if not done already, make sure you report your issue and see what the Staff perhaps recommend.

@chambolle The desktop app (not the web app) primarily uses ssdp/upnp to communicate with the players. This is the way Sonos has done this forever.

The update  changed the comms, it’s now encrypted mdns (aka Bonjour). The hypothesis is that older Sonos units are not interacting well with the new controller because they are being overwhelmed due to a large increase in encrypted traffic. They don’t have the cpu and memory to keep up. 
 

Also Some of this traffic appears to leave your network and communicates with Sonos servers. You can’t control how fast or reliable this works or even if the Sonos servers respond 
 

Using the desktop app changes this back to the old way. It takes these changes out of the equation.

So If your speakers don’t work with the desktop app you probably need to fix something on your network. You may want to contact support if this is the case cause they might be able to help you  

But If it does and the new app doesn’t work chances are you need Sonos to fix something on their end. Support prob can’t help you cause they don’t actually know wtf the problem is or it’s one of many bugs in the app and there’s no solution. 

It seems In most, but not all cases, simply changing to desktop app, using SonoPhone, going back to 16.1 or like in your case using Phonos plus just works because it’s the app not your network. 
 

@Ken_Griffiths and @Bumper: Maybe I’m not using the ‘desktop app’ — it’s whatever I get when I click the link on the Sonos site where they provide a left button to go to the app store and a right button to go to the internet [which I do via safari]. I don’t know what that all means; and shamefacedly admit I would rather not delve into it. 

Unfortunately, all of those acronyms you’ve provided go in one of my ears and out the other. And given it takes hours to get Sonos support, and I’m doing just fine using the ‘new’ S2 with phonos+ as an adjunct, and I’ve never used the desktop or web app before and don’t intend to again unless somebody puts a gun to my head, I think I’ll just leave well enough alone.

I’ve had Sonos run diagnostics before, to no avail. The last advice I received was ‘you probably have a defective ethernet cable’ which was in reality my Xfinity service going wonky following a windstorm as a crew out here on the Island fiddled with equipment and cycled my modem and router repeatedly in the process.

If there is some sort of deficiency in my network, it was entirely asymptomatic right up to the moment I allowed the app on my ipad to update in May. I now have all of the speaker ‘firmware’ updated [whatever that means] and the app updated with the latest iteration; a very strong wifi signal, a gigabit cable connection, and about 500 Mbps on speedtest at my tablet… if more than that is required, it’s outta my league.

By the way, Bumper, a million thanks for encouraging me to get phonos+. For 99 cents, I now have access to my Sonos playlists; I’ve been listening to music I’ve missed for months, without having to go hunt one track at a time; and as far as I’m concerned all is [mostly] right with the world. If I could edit and revise an existing playlist or save a new queue as a playlist again, we’d be right back where we started. But that’s a detail I won’t fret over. 

If it is not painfully apparent by now, I possess barely rudimentary technical prowess and am not one to get the latest and greatest device either. Planned obsolescence is not my cup o’ tea [and I hate tea anyway, strictly espresso, straight]. I’m using a 1st gen ipad pro that’s now pushing a decade old and an iphone XR that my cell provider gave me gratis because they could no longer provide 3G service to my aged iphone 5.

See what we’re dealing with here?

Very well stated, @chambolle, as always. Some of the problems with the new app/architecture* may be differences in user networks that never manifested under the “April 2024” app/architecture.
I use the word ‘differences’ rather than ‘deficiencies’ on purpose: these could be something in configuration that is user changeable or could be an exception/corner-case not properly handled in the new app or new firmware. In either case, you did not ‘do’ anything to create the problem. And in either case, it behooves Sonos to diagnose these problems real-soon-now.

* new mobile app plus the new APIs in device firmware and new cloud-based servers

Seems they trashed a perfectly functional app to promote Sonos radio. Is the plan to eventually charge for the dubious joy of Sonos radio...you're committing suicide Sonos.

? What? The app update has absolutely zero to do with Sonos Radio! And they already charge for Sonos Radio if you want no ads, so…..you’ve lost me.

Same here. Local music library I invested in for years is a mess. No more cover art. No more recent played tracks. App keeps refresshing endlessly in an otherwise excellent wifi / smart home with no issues whatsoever. Why are we not considering a class action against SONOS? Any lawyers up for a challenge? I'd gladly contribute to be able to have control over which version of the app I want to run to control the system. Which is the previous version. Which worked fine. Now, I am forced to update if I want to use my x-1,000-dollar SONOS hardware. So, basically SONOS is harrassing all of us.