Wirecutter no longer recommends Sonos as top

47 replies
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Dunno maybe Wirecutter should fix their network, reboot, get a new mesh system.
I’m having no issues with the app, must be them. 🤣

But in all (not) seriousness this is very brave of them 🤣

Will be interesting to see what they recommend when they finish redoing the article.

Quote, emphasis mine:

We are completely re-envisioning this guide and will no longer recommend the Sonos multiroom audio platform as the best overall choice. Please see our note at the top of the guide for more details.

After careful consideration, we no longer recommend the Sonos multiroom audio platform as the best overall choice. Sonos recently rolled out a major update to its control app that had a ton of problems, leaving its customers with a much less intuitive experience than they had before. While the company is slowly addressing some of the major issues with the new app, this is not the first time Sonos has hurt customer trust through poorly executed changes.

That said, Sonos still makes great speakers that work well within other wireless control platforms like AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and (in some cases) Bluetooth. So we are not discounting Sonos products entirely. We just no longer hold up the company’s own ecosystem as the best way to interact with the system.

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/sonos-player/

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Ken_Griffiths

I've stayed on S1 with no issues, using a Deco S4 Mesh system so all wireless units (8 speakers).

S1 App plays my local files fine.

Most usage though is though Alexa (Spotify) or the Spotify App which also runs flawlessly.

Sonos have only got themselves to blame really for pushing out a half done and relatively untested App with no way of reversing it.

Feel sorry for everyone affected, I'd be livid personally!.

I have both S1 and a Sonos App (formerly S2) system and I guess I must be lucky as the new App works okay here on the same network subnet. In my case the Sonos App devices are mostly not S1 compatible.

Just to add though there are still all the other methods of playback/control of devices in a similar way to what you use @Keithmac… here’s a list of those other methods I may sometimes use with my Sonos devices, in addition to the Sonos App…

Airplay 2 (useful for grouping speakers too)
Direct Control (PlexAmp/Spotify/Amazon Apps/iBroadcast/Emby)
Bluetooth Audio
UPnP/DLNA
Alexa Voice Services (useful for grouping speakers too)
Google Voice Services
Sonos Voice Control (useful for grouping speakers too)
TV Apps (YouTube/Chromecast/Plex)
Line-In audio
3rd Party Apps (Soro/SonoPhone/Orto etc.) (useful for grouping speakers too)

I appreciate though that some users are having device discovery issues and in some cases LAN/WAN issues too, but otherwise there’s still plenty of options to help keep the music playing, even without the Sonos App, which is mostly just a ‘remote’ anyway, rather than an audio ‘player’ in its own right.

In relation to the new Sonos App, the only thing I’m missing at the moment is queue management, but that’s in the pipeline - I can’t think of anything else I need personally, for how I use my Sonos Setup.

buzz

Grand Maestro

Many WiFi/network system defaults are catering to external Internet access for phone/pad/Internet, this is relatively simple. SONOS needs a fully functional local network. In an effort to keep things “simple”, some network manufacturers hide or don’t support network functions that must be enabled for the updated SONOS to function properly. SONOS believes that use of these features will be beneficial to SONOS users in the long run.

My networking is similar to Ken’s and it accepted the changes without any fuss. I do notice that there can be lags due to some functions moving to the cloud.

Technology moves forward and at some point it becomes impractical for manufacturers to support all technologies back to day one. Does anyone remember the Centronix printer interface — that was once mandatory on all home printers? I had to recycle a perfectly functional cellphone because the cell towers stopped supporting it.

Ken_Griffiths

I just want to add that I do have two (personal) ‘gripes’ with the new Sonos App by the way, to put a bit of a balance on things, so I’m not saying the new Sonos App is perfect - The first issue for me is the time it takes for the "playback options” screen (overlay) to appear. See attached screen capture when playing Bryan Ferry - More than this album).

The second, is the time it takes for the music to begin playing on the chosen player/room, after pressing the play/pause/shuffle buttons from Amazon Music and some other streaming services. (See screen capture recorded a few moments ago starting ‘Local Top Tracks’ playlist).

I just feel the older S2 App (and some other Apps) are quicker at doing these things.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that some App optimisation later will resolve these things, but it’s not a huge issue and I’m using an old iPhone XR as my controller, so maybe a more modern/faster controller device might perhaps help improve these things too.

I

Ian_S

Prodigy III

Have you checked your network, submitted a diagnostic and called Sonos Support? It will provide Sonos with more valuable information …

K

Kumar

I've stayed on S1 with no issues, using a Deco S4 Mesh system so all wireless units (8 speakers).

S1 App plays my local files fine.

Most usage though is though Alexa (Spotify) or the Spotify App which also runs flawlessly.

Sonos have only got themselves to blame really for pushing out a half done and relatively untested App with no way of reversing it.

Feel sorry for everyone affected, I'd be livid personally!.

Ditto to all the quoted! Except that my 5 zone S1 system works fine minus a mesh WiFi.

Ken_Griffiths

Have you checked your network, submitted a diagnostic and called Sonos Support? It will provide Sonos with more valuable information …

Yes, of course… and my comments are being ‘passed up the ladder’.

Sorry for delay in replying I was just testing something with a Windows library share.

Network-wise, I’ve tried resolving the issues highlighted by assigning ‘App’ & ‘device’ prioritisation (just on those Sonos products with lower SNR readings). Those things are available within the WiFi mesh network configuration software I use. That prioritisation includes the iPhone XR aswell, but I think the phone probably just needs to be retired (purchased 2018/19) and perhaps replaced with a newer/faster model.

The two issues are a little quicker on an Android tablet, but even then I think both actions mentioned could possibly be optimised further.

The S2 App had a context menu, rather than an overlay, for its playback options, that also allowed a user to select individual tracks from a chosen album, if you perhaps recall that and it was a popup rather than a screen-overlay.

The Amazon Music & Alexa Apps, which seems to be similar, in some respects, to the Sonos App on iOS, is also quicker in similar areas for playback & shuffle.

H

hilander911

Lyricist III

My system worked fine for several years, with no changes to the TV (Sony) or Router (Asus). Since the new app, the various Sonos components can no longer form a surround system. As mentioned, even Sonos support could not figure it out yet.

And this is the exact scenario where Sonos have messed up the most. Sony as a manufacturer are better than many at adhering to standards and addressing issues with firmware. While I know people will try all manner of stuff to get their system ‘back’, why on earth should they have to jump through hoops just to undo what Sonos have inflicted on them or buy a new router when the only thing that no longer works is thing that changed most, Sonos…

If the new app/firmware requires specific stuff to be done on many home networks then why don’t Sonos know and tell people. If the new app/firmware breaks stuff, but with a set of easy to follow instructions you can fix it, why not publish it?

The only reasonable conclusion is that Sonos need to fix their ecosystem, and if they can’t do that in a reasonable timeframe, allow users to go back to the pre-new app controller/firmware so they can get back to using what they paid for. It’s not rocket science, it’s consumer electronics.

100%. I chose Sonos primarily for their software, viewing them as the ‘Apple of sound systems’ due to their seamless integration of hardware and software, with a strong emphasis on user experience. However, the recent issues have been disappointing, leading me to believe that Sonos may have compromised on quality assurance. Even three months later, they still haven’t resolved the problems.

H

hilander911

Lyricist III

@hilander911
Here’s a ‘common’ fix for some Asus router too - see if perhaps applies in your case:

Log into the ASUS router.
Under Advanced Settings, click LAN.
Select the IPTV tab.
Enable Multicast Routing (IGMP Proxy) and Efficient Multicast Forwarding (IGMP Snooping.)
Go back to Advanced Settings, and click Wireless.
Select the Professional tab.
Enable IGMP Snooping.

Thanks, but this did not make any difference. I hope Sonos support will come through, but after an initial 3-hour session, I am not hopeful.

Ken_Griffiths

@hilander911
Here’s a ‘common’ fix for some Asus router too - see if perhaps applies in your case:

Log into the ASUS router.
Under Advanced Settings, click LAN.
Select the IPTV tab.
Enable Multicast Routing (IGMP Proxy) and Efficient Multicast Forwarding (IGMP Snooping.)
Go back to Advanced Settings, and click Wireless.
Select the Professional tab.
Enable IGMP Snooping.

Thanks, but this did not make any difference. I hope Sonos support will come through, but after an initial 3-hour session, I am not hopeful.

Worth a try. Did you try running the setup in SonosNet mode by the way?

I also found the below for some Sony TV models too…

Turning on IP Simple Control
Open Settings
Go to Network and Internet
Go to Home network
Go to IP control
Go to Simple IP control
Toggle On

https://youtu.be/VXDYspxEClg

Setting RS232C Control to "Via Serial Port"
Open Settings
Go to Remotes and Accessories
Go to RS232C Control
Set it to "Via Serial Port"

https://youtu.be/StZc22GENe8

sigh

Prodigy II

I’m confused, I thought the issue was the Sonos Arc wouldn’t form a surround system with the other speakers, not that an external method of controlling the TV was needed.

Enabling IP based control is for integrating the TV control with an external IP based control system.

The RS232C settings turn one of the Sony USB ports into a serial port. It’s handy for sometimes stopping the strobe lighting when switched off with bias lighting powered from the USB port as well. Sony have a long standing issue across multiple models that the USB port is never really off. Is why my bias light is on it’s own usb power plug 😞

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