Retired Sonos Staff

End of Software Updates for Legacy Products

Related content:Software

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Please note that we’ve created a new thread with some clarifications to questions that have come up several times in this thread. Please see here to continue the discussion if you still have any questions. The information contained in this thread is outdated and may no longer be accurate.

We have some important news regarding our oldest Sonos devices shared on the Sonos Blog today. The text of that blog post is being included here for your convenience:

Starting in May 2020, some of our oldest products will no longer receive software updates or new features. We want to explain why and your options.

When we first set out almost 20 years ago to invent the technology to easily listen to any song in any room, most of the ways we listen to music today did not exist. In fact, the first Sonos products were introduced before the first iPhone was announced and when Myspace still ruled social media.

In order to invent multi-room music and smart speakers, we combined the worlds of high-fidelity audio and computing. Every Sonos product has a microprocessor, flash memory, and other hardware components typically found in computers and smartphones.

Since launching our first products, technology has advanced at an exponential rate; from streaming services and voice assistants to wireless networking and Bluetooth capabilities. Through all of this transformation, we have continued delivering new features via software updates. We’re extremely proud of the fact that we build products that last a long time, and that listeners continue to enjoy them. In fact, 92% of the products we’ve ever shipped are still in use today. That is unheard of in the world of consumer electronics. However, we’ve now come to a point where some of the oldest products have been stretched to their technical limits in terms of memory and processing power.

This coming May, these legacy products—our original Zone Players, Connect, and Connect:Amp (launched in 2006; includes versions sold until 2015), first-generation Play:5 (launched 2009), CR200 (launched 2009), and Bridge (launched 2007)—will no longer receive software updates or new features.

Today the Sonos experience relies on an interconnected ecosystem, giving you access to more than 100 streaming services, voice assistants, and control options like Apple AirPlay 2. Without new software updates, access to services and overall functionality of your sound system will eventually be disrupted, particularly as partners evolve their technology.

To help you through this transition, we’re providing two options:

Option 1: Continue using these legacy products, recognizing that your system will no longer receive software updates and new features.

Option 2: Trade up to a new Sonos product with a 30% credit for each legacy product you replace.

If you’re not sure if your products are affected, you can check in the System tab in your sonos.com-account

If you choose to participate in the trade up program, your legacy products will be put in Recycle Mode, a state that deletes personally identifiable information and prepares these products for e-recycling. Recycle Mode also protects unsuspecting people from buying legacy products that are approaching the end of their useful life and won’t provide the Sonos experience customers expect today. Recycle Mode will only apply to the legacy products listed above.

We ask that you take your legacy products to a nearby certified e-recycling facility. This is the most environmentally friendly way to recycle. That said, if there isn’t a facility in your area, we are happy to pay for you to ship your products back to Sonos for responsible recycling.

Ideally all our products would last forever, but for now we’re limited by the existing technology. Our responsibility here is threefold: build products that last a long time; continually look for ways to make our products more environmentally friendly through materials, packaging, and our supply chain and take responsibility for helping you through the transition once products near the end of their useful life.

We’ve always believed in freedom of choice, whether that means choosing a certain streaming service or way to control your listening experience. We hope the choices provided here—continuing to use these products without new software updates or trading up to our modern products—enable you to make the choice that’s right for you.

We are honored to have a place in your home and want to make sure that we help continue to bring the best experience we can, even when products reach the end of their useful life.

More information.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

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.

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User8186

Trending Lyricist I

Looks like it is time to abandon Sonos as a platform.

After spending over $3000 on Sonos equipment over the years, including (at their request) spending $75 on a Boost as recently as December 2019, Sonos tells me that they will no longer support my system.

I don’t want to spend any more money on a company that treats its customers so badly.

G

Gratters

Contributor I

I think this is outrageous.

I am an early adopter of your product and company - have seen it grow from a few home grown distributors to being in John Lewis/Dixons etc. I spent a lot of money on products and systems, have harped on for years to anyone who would listen to how good Sonos is and they duly purchased. Now, you are peanalising those who supported you in the early years. Thats truly disgraceful. There was no mention of you not supporting products when we purchased them. Shame on you Sonos.

T00LF00L

Prodigy I

WOW, what an unbelievable announcement. What kind of company just phases out your equipment regardless of how much money you spent on it? You guys seriously SUCK. All you have done since I invested in your products is destroy them and remove functionality. You offer a pathetic 30% buyback on only some products, when you should be offering 100% buyback on everything. YOU BREAK IT, YOU BUY IT. I’m done with you crooks, I hope you get hit with a class action lawsuit and go bankrupt.

I am just a worthless liar. I am just an imbecil.

G

gizze

Enthusiast II

Adding more features and not being able to use them is one thing.

However, let’s hope no current features are removed, especially streaming services.

Don’t want to hear come May “We are changing the way we integrate Tidal/Soundcloud/Qobuz and you will only be able to use this with the latest software version. This means if you have legacy products you will have to upgrade to new kit.”

J

jeegnesh

Enthusiast I

Hi,

I got the eMail saying that legacy products such as the Play 5 gen 1 and Bridge will stop getting updates soon.

I have lots of current line products too and I’m wondering if they will get updates or because I have legacy products in the setup none of the products would get an update?

Thanks.

G

gsades

Contributor I

Well, I received an email from Sonos today, saying that my Play:5 speakers became obsolete. I purchased these speakers about 3 and a half years ago, spending several thousand dollars in my home system.

Kindly, Sonos is offering me two solutions. The first is to purchase new products (and of course, discard the old ones). The other, to sit down and see my system slowly die.

I can’t say how disappointed I am about this. From today, my house is full of expensive trash. Maybe this was what I needed to change to another ecosystem. The only reason I didn’t considered before is because the big amount of money already invested, but since Sonos is changing the game, I think it’s time to say goodbye.

I really hope I’m not the only one making a decision in that way. I decided to support Sonos over those big brands because I liked the product and philosophy. Now they are letting thousands of customers down, I feel my loyalty instantly fade.

pwt

Virtuoso

While I think there was broad acceptance that the ZP80, ZP100 and Bridge might end up being deprecated, I’m surprised how deep this action goes. Folks who bought devices as recently as 2015 are going to be justifiably annoyed if these devices can no longer be used (with necessary limitations) as part of an evolving Sonos system.

Maybe Sonos decided ‘not to waste a good crisis’, but the optics are genuinely awful.

It’s critical that mixed mode systems comprising ‘modern’ and ‘outdated’ Sonos hardware can be managed gracefully, from a single controller, etc. If Sonos messes this up, the message is ‘don’t buy Sonos, you might only get five years’ support.’ That would represent an existential crisis.

4 x P:5 | Sub | 4 x P:1 | 3 x Connect | 2 x Boost | Connect:Amp | 2 x One | Amp | Move | Port | Era 300

jgatie

Adding more features and not being able to use them is one thing.

However, let’s hope no current features are removed, especially streaming services.

Don’t want to hear come May “We are changing the way we integrate Tidal/Soundcloud/Qobuz and you will only be able to use this with the latest software version. This means if you have legacy products you will have to upgrade to new kit.”

If Tidal/Soundcloud/Qobuz changes their interface codec/security/etc. and your Sonos firmware is frozen at the old version, it means Tidal/Soundcloud/Qobuz will cease working. Nothing can be done about that.

M

Matsa

Lyricist I

This is so bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Never gonna buy your products again!!

M

mpaolucci

Lyricist II

So I have about 12 zones of Sonos and have immediately moved from their biggest supporter to their biggest opposer. I was an early adopter and put Sonos in every room. And they have now pulled the rug out from under me. My investment is now worth nothing and will take about $10000 to “upgrade” so that I can get exactly what I already have. And their eventual lack of functionality - I have seen before. I will suddenly get a message from my Apple devices that my system is out of date and will not interface with the Sonos anymore. I have seen this play out already on other “legacy” devices that just suddenly stopped working. I invested in Sonos because I thought they were different than other IT companies -turns out I was wrong. Not another dollar Sonos.

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