I am absolutely shocked after spending £1500 on SONOS home cinema speakers to find that unless you own an Apple Iphone or Ipad you cannot calibrate the system using their Trueplay.
After reaching out to Sonos and being told “Borrow one from a friend” are you being serious?
How about you make your product calibrate without needing a £600 Apple Product?
Because I am an Android user, as well as all my friends, my system is technically restricted on its performance.
I would love to know the legality of this. Restricting a products performance dependant on what 3rd party companies technology you own?
Maybe SONOS can send a rep to my house, so I can borrow their APPLE device to calibrate Trueplay, to make their product work as intended.
Shocking business practice. 
TRUEPLAY ANDROID Legality
So the only way I can get optimal sound from my SONOS cinema set-up is by using Trueplay, which in turn can only be calibrated correctly if I own a 3rd party piece of technology, which SONOS doesnt supply, from one particular company. i.e Apple.
Can no one see the illogical nature of this?
What if people, like myself, disagree with Apples business practices?
Its like going to car dealer, buying a car, then being told that the car will only run at about 75% performance unless you own only a Samsung smartphone. Its absolutely absurd.
There is no reason at all, after all this time, that Sonos couldn’t incorporate a calibration tool which uses the inbuilt microphone in the speakers.
Its a racket and the legalities of it would be very interesting.
I am absolutely shocked at your post. Please get a grip. I am an Android user and haven’t Trueplayed my HT system. It sounds great. It does what I want it to.
The reasons why it is much more difficult to add Trueplay to Android are set out in numerous threads so if you are interested you can Google it.
Legality? Jeez….
I have multi cinema set-ups and upgraded my Sonos system, and still cannot believe that they haven’t added Android Trueplay or a way to use the Mics built into the speakers to do their own Trueplay calibration.
There is some merit in the OP sentiment, seeing that Trueplay is now many years old, and Android users are not some outlying subset of Sonos users - or so I imagine.
A question: can one replicate what Trueplay does using what is provided in Sonos Eq adjustments, or does Trueplay do something beyond what any permutation/combination of the EQ adjustments can deliver? I ask this knowing that probably only Sonos can accurately answer this.
Its not a conspiracy if its fact ….
You cannot get your Sonos home system 100% optimised unless you use an Apple device. FACT!
The conspiracy is your insinuation that "it's a racket" which has Sonos promoting Apple products over Android. Because there's many thousands of users who lost the ability to play files directly from their iPhones who would have something to say about that.
Never mind the further implications that Sonos is somehow doing something illegal, which is just silly. 3rd party Airplay speakers require an iOS device, are they too "illegal"?
The implication of this nonsense is that having developed Trueplay for iDevices, Sonos should have withheld the technology. Android users may not benefit so in the interest of fairness nobody should?
This is a free market. We can all decide whether the features and qualities that a product offers us makes it the best home for our money. I bought Sonos before Trueplay was added (as a free feature) and I have continued to buy Sonos. Taking the product as a whole, it best meets my needs. If Trueplay for Android is critical for you that's fine. Just don't buy Sonos.
Why hasn't Sonos incorporated their Trueplay calibration tool into the microphones built into their speakers?
Restricting a products performance?
In some cases the tuning process might make the sound less-preferred for some. It’s a subtle change in most cases and in some rooms I personally prefer the sound with Trueplay disabled.
The default sound profile for a Sonos ‘room’ is a damn fine ‘average’ to try to suit the majority and there are plenty of customisation tools in the Sonos App to cater for most environments and the way that many prefer to hear their chosen audio output.
Trueplay is just one additional ‘free’ tool that needs a decent calibrated mic to use it and that’s why iOS Apple iOS devices were selected, as many other manufacturers mobile products have mics that vary greatly, even within the same make/model.
It’s of course entirely free all round for those of us who already have a compatible iOS device and I doubt many would want to pay-out €/£/$75.00+ for a Sonos mic that only gets used for less than a minute, once in a blue-moon.
You just need to find a friend that has a iPhone and give them a seat, cuppa and a biscuit, whilst you spend a few minutes with their phone and tune your Sonos ‘rooms’ and then you’re done.
A question: can one replicate what Trueplay does using what is provided in Sonos Eq adjustments, or does Trueplay do something beyond what any permutation/combination of the EQ adjustments can deliver? I ask this knowing that probably only Sonos can accurately answer this.
https://tech-blog.sonos.com/posts/trueplay-spectral-correction/
Woody250,
Rather than feeling cheated as an Android user, consider the free feature that has been added for iOS users. Unfortunately, it is not practical to add this as a free feature for Android users. Why is this not practical? It’s because there are a limited number of iOS models that SONOS tests extensively before releasing Trueplay for a given model. You may have noticed that Trueplay is not yet available for some of the latest iOS models because SONOS has not yet had the opportunity to test a significant number of samples.
It certainly would be possible to develop an accessory for Android users that could enable Trueplay. Would you be willing to purchase such accessory or be comfortable with the added cost of a SONOS unit that included such an accessory? Or, would you be willing to take your Android to a certified dealer and have it calibrated? Who should pay the cost of this service? Using ROAM or MOVE as the portable calibrated microphone might be an option -- but only if a customer owns one of these.
I used to borrow my sister's iPhone when she was around, until the Mrs bought an iPad!
A limited range of Androids like the Pixel line, or even Sonos's own portable speakers could easily be included in the small number of devices Sonos could support for truplay calibration.
I have no experience of Sonos HT components, but my experience suggests that Trueplay is essential if Sub is in the mix there.
Good Lord. 🙄
+17
So when buying expensive speakers you have no responsibility at all to check if features that are important to you will work on your chosen OS? See the Sonos website: this is not a secret.
Not sure what run isn you had with Sonos, but why would you hold them accountable for updates on your phone OS?
+14
I am an Android phone user and before I started buying my Sonos system early last year, I was fully aware that I needed an iOS device to use Trueplay. I do have family members near by that I could borrow from, but I decided to buy a cheap (ISH) second hand iPad to use instead. It works out well as I can re-do Trueplay when I want. Any online review usually states the iOS limitations with Trueplay.
I have to agree with you. I have had several run-ins with Sonos since I purchased their speakers (1 & 3 units), most having to do with the app and speaker operating system compatibility or incompatibility due to speaker and phone OS updates. It was never clear on the retail packaging that an iOS device is required to tune the speaker to its operating environment. They really should be sued for not supporting Truplay on every device or platform that their own app runs on. There are quite a few iEverything snobs responding to this post and one or two who claim they are Android users only and like the way their speakers sound without ever having heard one tuned to a specific room.
I suggest you call a lawyer before making threats to sue. It will be an eye opening experience, I assure you. And I hate Apple with every fiber of my being, so no, not an “iEverything snob”.
I have to agree with you. I have had several run-ins with Sonos since I purchased their speakers (1 & 3 units), most having to do with the app and speaker operating system compatibility or incompatibility due to speaker and phone OS updates. It was never clear on the retail packaging that an iOS device is required to tune the speaker to its operating environment. They really should be sued for not supporting Truplay on every device or platform that their own app runs on. There are quite a few iEverything snobs responding to this post and one or two who claim they are Android users only and like the way their speakers sound without ever having heard one tuned to a specific room.
Your argument is that a device needs to fully explain all features and limitations on the retail packaging or they can be sued for false advertising? Seriously? Consider for a moment how impractical that is and how pretty much every modern product containing software/firmware could be sued.
Trueplay tuning is not a required operate the speaker. The speaker works fine without tuning. I have both android and apple devices and have found that in some cases, I prefer the room untuned. The idea that Sonos cannot implement a feature unless they support it on every android, iOS or any other device that can be used as a Sonos controller is completely illogical. Sonos does not control these 3rd party device and has no say in their features and limitations, currently or in the future.
In a more general sense, the original OPs idea that Sonos speakers shouldn’t be dependent on other 3rd party products is crazy. Sonos needs wifi, internet access, streaming services, controlling devices, audio input sources, bluetooth sources, etc...depending on what features you want to use. And it’s certainly not unique to Sonos.
Its not a conspiracy if its fact ….
You cannot get your Sonos home system 100% optimised unless you use an Apple device. FACT!
+17
That not a fact, it’s an opinion. Lot’s of users (one of them writing above) do consider their system 100% without Trueplay.
Sonos has solid technical reasons to restrict Trueplay to iOS devices and is very clear about this. You should not be schocked. Just borrow an iPhone, indeed.
The original press release https://www.sonos.com/en-gb/newsroom/sonos-introduces-trueplay-tuning-software-and-new-flagship-play-5-smart-speaker explains what Trueplay tries to achieve. Well placed speakers will minimise the need for Trueplay. It was and still is only available on IOS. If this is a problem for you,
Is Sonos a better product with Trueplay than without it? Yes, I imagine so.
Is Sonos still a great product without Trueplay and well worth the money? In my judgement yes, but I respect the right of others to feel differently.
Is it much harder to add Trueplay to Android than to IDevices? This seems to me highly likely given the range of models.
Should Sonos not offer Trueplay on IDevices because it cannot offer it on Android? Don't be ridiculous. Who does that benefit?
Perhaps reading some of the threads that have existed in this forum since TruePlay was released might assist you in understanding the challenges around implementing TruePlay would be for Android devices. There are several.
Another thought strikes me. If Android phone manufacturer X gave assurances to Sonos of a consistent supply of microphone for their phones and (maybe) some development funds for initial and future phone/mic versions, could Sonos say “Trueplay now available on Android“? Other manufacturers and owners of other phones would be rather upset! It might even make the situation worse than it is now.
Why the hell do you need a Phone to calibrate a Sonos system in the first place.
I have owned Denon, Marantz, Panasonic, Bose systems, and none of them require a phone or a 3rd party piece of technology to calibrate their devices.
Another thought strikes me. If Android phone manufacturer X gave assurances to Sonos of a consistent supply of microphone for their phones and (maybe) some development funds for initial and future phone/mic versions, could Sonos say “Trueplay now available on Android“? Other manufacturers and owners of other phones would be rather upset! It might even make the situation worse than it is now.
Why the hell do you need a Phone to calibrate a Sonos system in the first place.
I have owned Denon, Marantz, Panasonic, Bose systems, and none of them require a phone or a 3rd party piece of technology to calibrate their devices.
Then sell your Sonos and go with one of the others if you are so unhappy. It has always been the case that you require a compatible iOS device to run Trueplay. If you had done your research prior to purchasing your Sonos system you would have realised this.
Why the hell do you need a Phone to calibrate a Sonos system in the first place.
I have owned Denon, Marantz, Panasonic, Bose systems, and none of them require a phone or a 3rd party piece of technology to calibrate their devices.
Then sell your Sonos and go with one of the others if you are so unhappy. It has always been the case that you require a compatible iOS device to run Trueplay. If you had done your research prior to purchasing your Sonos system you would have realised this.
How did Sonos force you to buy their kit in the first place,
Surely you liked the sound of the kit before you bought? Did you buy from Sonos on the home-trial option? Or heard them play in a retailer? You liked the sound, you paid your money, you liked it enough to buy more kit. What has changed?
I shall contribute no more to this topic, you’ll no doubt be happy to hear. But I shall continue to read future posts - they are very entertaining. I genuinely do hope you are able to resolve your concerns, but I doubt that any legal action will be the way forwards.
Since you seem to like that word “seriously” may I suggest you “seriously” think about a product with features that are only available to a select collection of the population with certain third party devices to control them. If the device running Sonos’ own application cannot use all of the features of its product then that is a deficiency that needs to be corrected. I “seriously” doubt anyone would purchase a car under the same conditions.
Any streaming service will have different audio capabilities depending on the device they are played on. Likewise, a video source will have certain video and audio capabilities that can only be played on TVs/projectors and sound systems that are capable of producing these formats. Your router may be capable of certain speeds, but you’ll only see those speeds if you have an internet service and devices with radios capable of those speeds. your phone may be 5G, but not with a 5G network. Many automobiles with self driving capabilities will only work on certain roads. Many of Apple’s products and features only work with other Apple products. many smart home devices only work certain controller apps and hubs, the entire reason why the Matter standard is created.
I would agree with your erroneous assertions if Sonos provided their own controlling device that offered access to all the features of its speakers with the option for owners to use third party controllers that may not allow access to all available features. The packaging should make clear that all functions or features may not be available to users of non-iOS devices. I also have iOS and Android devices and I prefer the tuned sound of these speakers.
Let’s look at this differently. Can you produce an image of Sonos packaging where they state Trueplay tuning as a feature and don’t mention that it’s only available on iOS devices? I honestly don’t think Trueplay is even mentioned on product packaging. It obviously is mentioned on the Sonos website, and they do specify it’s for iOS only.
And to get clarification, is your argument that Sonos shouldn’t offer any features if they can’t be provided for all android and iOS users, or that they can do this but they have to go further in making sure people are aware of what features are available on certain devices?
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