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 The information contained in this thread is outdated and may no longer be accurate.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.
As an owner of 5 legacy products I find it really disappointing that I’m expected to spend around another £2k plus simply to continue enjoying music through SONOS. I understand technology moves on, but to offer only a 30% discount is a kick in the teeth to all of those users who have supported SONOS for a number of years. I would have expected at least a 50% discount to be quite honest.
Given the market place is very different now from when SONOS was the new kid on the block, there are other alternatives out there which might be a viable alternative.
Please rethink your strategy SONOS and consider all of us who saved hard to purchase your system in the first place.
Martin
All this said, Sonos app is working on all our old android tablets over time that we were told might have limited functionality and no new features.
Maybe I missed it in the discussion but does it mean that those boxes “will not play music” or “will not have new whistles and bells”?
I’m unclear on that?
In May, the change will be that legacy players won’t get updates, so no new whistles and bells. However, if at some point in the future after then, a music service like Spotify or Apple Music changes their service connection protocols, there won’t be a software update for legacy devices to fix that connection and the service would stop working.
This is forced obsolescence and utterly deplorable.
I have been a loyal Sonos customer for many years. My system consists of three Connects, a Connect:Amp and a Play:5 (gen 1). All imminently obsolete.
The Trade up was a nice offer but now it is simply part of what is essentially blackmail: “trade up or else...”. Insulting and immoral.
I actually looked at the new products when I noticed the Trade up offer a few weeks ago, particularly the Port. But two of my Connects use optical out to drive my speakers. There is no replacement for me.
I was also looking at buying a surround sound system to go with a new TV. I had settled on buying a Beam, two OneSL’s and a Sub. Now that purchase is off.
This is a huge mistake by Sonos.
I started my system many years ago when Sonos was the only real option out there (it was Sonos or Logitech Squeezebox).
Now there are lots of options. As Sonos is making my existing system redundant I’ll be looking for a surround sound system with more options than the Beam has; support for more than Dolby Digital, i.e DTS or Atmos.
Sonos has made me no longer wedded to its system at a time when there is more choice than ever.
I could have been retained quite easily. Simply tell me that there would be updates to Legacy systems to ensure my iOS app controller and Spotify continued to work as they were updated and I’d be happy without any new features for newer systems.
Abandoning long-standing and loyal customers is not a great business model.
SONOS,
You might want to start collecting ALL of your long-time customer’s 2 cents being given here as it certainly doesn't seem like your planned obsolescence will be making you much money in the future…
I feel compelled to add my voice to those who are disappointed and angry at this decision by Sonos. I will not upgrade and will run my current system until it ultimately fails and look for a replacement then. I doubt Sonos will be in business at that point, so they will not be an option for a replacement. Is there a forum where we can discuss options for a replacement system?
Customise your system and play what you want, where you want.
Now I feel absolutely misled about the product service I've bought into bought.
2 months ago no plans to make devices obsolete.
Shall we say that was not an “accurate” response….
I feel compelled to add my voice to those who are disappointed and angry at this decision by Sonos. I will not upgrade and will run my current system until it ultimately fails and look for a replacement then. I doubt Sonos will be in business at that point, so they will not be an option for a replacement. Is there a forum where we can discuss options for a replacement system?
Your strategy is sound and I will do the same unless Sonos offer a 50% discount and give me 24 months to go through the five-component upgrade.
Sonos has way more competition than it did 5-10 years ago. Given that Sonos just spat in the eye of its most loyal customers, I expect the market for alternatives will be booming in a year or two.
I have 4 play 5 V1 and I do not want to put 2000 pounds in the landfill or pay yet again a more money for something is in prefect condition and works.
Please can you confim if I would be able to buy a Sonos port and use the speaker wireless. You need to give options to reuse that does not mean doing more wate to our planet.I'm sure you can adapt the software to avoid having to make more wate to our planet
Sonos think alternative not just how to make money...
This coming May, these legacy products—our original Zone Players, Connect, and Connect:Amp (launched in 2006; includes versions sold until 2015),
Det passer jo ikke det I siger, AMP blev solgt sent i 2017 bl.a. i HIFI-Klubben !
Nu siger I at der ikke længere er support efter bare 2 år og 3 måneder.
Alt under 5 års support må siges at være dybt u-seriøst.
Hvor bæredygtigt er det?
Hvor meget økonomi er det i det for kunden?
En meget skuffet kunde.
Always been talking well about Sonos but no longer, now we are cheated by you. I’ve got 12 loudspeakers in the house and 4 of them are Sonos 5, to replace them would cost quite a sum but I’m totally happy with them as the function today. If I won’t upgrade the software anymore I will get a system that won’t do the work it does today - it is always like that. Is this the way Sonos tricks us to continue paying a sum just to maintain the functions we thought we payed for. You should be able to do upgrades that maintain old and newer products. Do better!!!
Ulrik Sweden
Shall we say that was not an “accurate” response….
Lol this did not age well at all. Is anyone going to believe anything they say? Wait till May. This is some shady shit.
Thank you for the update, but this is so disappointing. I only bought my system just on six years ago and now it’s almost obsolete? I should have stuck with Bose.
2 months ago no plans to make devices obsolete.
they knew back then !!! I thought something was going to happen ….. probably like the rest of us !!
obviously not had the uptake they’d hoped for so now using scare tactics to up the revenue !!!
I have over 13 devices that will not be supported after May ranging from ZP100’, 80’s and Play 5’s. To replace these units even with the “30%” off is not feasible. I feel like this is hardware product abandonment. Really disappointed in this announcement.
I purchased a sonos amp less than two years ago and now you tell me its legacy and i only get a 30% discount? thats kind of a rip-off if you ask me. what i really care about is music sources. is it likely that say, apple music, will require a software update that renders my speakers unable to play apple music because they dont get updates?
Can't really believe this. It's totally outrageous. It was hard to accept Sonos ditching the CR100 controller - but this is beyond the imaginary, I'm chocked.
Someone mentioned class action lawsuit earlier in the thread - I really hope that can be a way. Sonos will not change their mind and a 30% discount for being a very loyal costumer since 2006 is humiliating.
How disappointing that Sonos are prepared to abandon their earliest customers, who invested in Sonos products before they had a proven track record! Can those of us who are now “offered upgrades” for products that we are perfectly happy with, really be sure that there’s no commercial advantage being sought by Sonos or that our systems which have performed perfectly well to date will not deliberately be outdated by Sonos, who have the freedom to “outdate” as well as “update” our system software?
i would be interested in responses from both users and from Sonos.
John Mills,
Sonos user and advocate for 13 years.
As been said already send the ceo an email, still waiting a reply tho. But as things stand another customer lost and already looking at alternatives. And just look at there share price falling faster than a stone in water. So long and thanks for the fish.
2 months ago no plans to make devices obsolete.
Wow, somebody didn’t have the facts, or was told to lie! :(
So, I’ve given this a bit of thought.
Yep, I’m incredibly angry about what Sonos have done, and Yep …. I won’t be spending any more money on Sonos equipment. There is absolutely no point, as that too will expire in the future.
My decision is to continue to use my existing sonos system (15 units of which 9 are legacy, and 4 more will follow very very soon) until it really does die and will no longer stream any more.
At that point, I’ll enjoy looking for a replacement system, from a different company.
My requirements will change though, It’ll be a single hub that communicates to any sound source (including streaming services), easy and relatively cheap to replace when that no longer functions, and outputting just sound connections to fairly dumb speakers around the house that don’t require updates.
This new system may appear to very similar specification to the system my parents had in my childhood home. Interestingly, it still works very well, and I’m now 53.
Exactly how I’ll be doing it. Going old school. My parents still have the Yamaha system I grew up with in the 80s and it sounds great.
I just got the email saying my four Connect:Amps are not going to be supported after May. I have seen people suggest that they will just remain on the last supported version, but that is not a realistic solution, as app installs and future hardware replacements will surely be a problem eventually.
I am now planning to replace all my Sonos gear with some other solution, which is a shame because it has worked well for me.
Before retiring I was a software developer, and I know there are costs of maintaining support for older systems, but this smells more like planned obsolescence than a real technical problem, especially in light of the Sonos CEO talking about faster development cycles to increase profits.
In short, I am very angry.
I personally think this sucks, and is one more nail in the Sonos coffin from my point of view. Lately the system has become very cludgy, frequently being unable to connect with my WiFi, necessitating a systemwide reboot. (Known problem about which others have complained in this forum). I can no longer access my music library. This planned obsolescence takes the cake though. I have $4000 worth of equipment which will no longer be supported, but hey, just buy the new stuff and all will be well!
I say , no mas, i am looking into new technologies and will use my Sonos stuff for door stops! Anyone else really angry about this? So you buy the new stuff, and wonder when your equipment will once again be obsolete.
Beyond pissed.
”Without new software updates, access to services and overall functionality of your sound system will eventually be disrupted, particularly as partners evolve their technology.”
I totally understand this, and it’s been a great 8-10 year ride with the 4 Play:5 speakers that I have. But at the very least, it would be great if I could continue using these speakers for many more years to come through the line-in input. Will I be able to do this?
So if they introduce a new revised spec Play 5 this year, the gen 2 you may upgrade to in the coming weeks will soon be on a 5 year countdown to obsolescence in a few months.
Imagine blowing thousands replacing all this “legacy” equipment and you see the whole line getting a spec bump in the coming months? All of it will immediately be on the planned obsolescence train.
No thanks. I’m not gambling on what your product roadmap might look like. Not now you have a clear financial incentive to do micro-spec bumps to all products to get all existing devices on the planned obsolescence train.
Past performance is irrelevant. This strategy is new and follows you becoming a public company, as your recent filings warned everyone about. How long you have supported devices in the past when you were a private company is completely irrelevant.
The biggest kicker of all - the “innovation” chest nut. How much innovation have we seen within Sonos software in the past 5-6 years? You laid off your best engineering talent years ago, and your software shows it. Sure you’ve expanded support for a wide range of streaming services using APIs, but I am not convinced there’s anything there that really requires you to kill off old hardware. If anything, the use of streaming has reduced the stress of trying to manage large local libraries.
