I also have no plans for expansion ...
So this does not bother me all that much, once I am satisfied that accidental bricking of legacy products can be avoided.
Good for you. However, there are lots of people who have evolving Sonos systems in which they’re adding devices.
I know; and of these people, those that get to know of this event are going to find that their decision has become more complex.
The case for getting legacy styled “dumb” stereo kit and adding cheap Echo Dots interfaces to it, that can be thrown away every few years, just got better. Sonos needs much higher up front investments, and their messaging in support of that has in turn immediately become more of a challenge.
Yes that seems like a good option. Do the echo dots sync the music across speakers like Sonos does? (i.e. no lag between speakers)
This issue will effect most of my system. What is most frustrating is my recent purchases of an SUB/AMP and beam within the last 3 months. Can I get a refund? This is beyond disappointing. Intentionally and purposefully obsoleting systems that function perfectly well, despite the recycling program, is irresponsible as a business and socially. Offering a 30% discount would be nice to customers who were adding on to their system but not even remotely acceptable to customers who have to replace almost their entire system that works fine as of today. My only ask is to reconsider this or find an alternate solution. What a terrible way to treat customers of your brand.
As an early adopter of the SONOS system I did so at a time when SONOS was the only game in town. Now BOSE, APPLE, KLIPSCH and many, many other manufacturers are developing comparable systems. If SONOS does not make this terrible decision right, I will no longer purchase SONOS and will opt for another brand that hasn't purposely screwed me!
I’ll try to be more constructive and less of a rant, but there’s no getting around the fact that this is disappointing news to be sure. Your biggest fans, like me, have been with you the longest. This is not a great way to reward them. My situation may not be as bad as others, but I have two Connect products that would need updating -- which are of course “primary” products in my household because they connect to my two main audio systems. So in one email I find out I have to pay north of $600... just to keep things “as-is?” Was this part of the deal when I bought them and I just missed it?
I guess my reaction is pretty simple: maybe I should start investigating other options. Let’s see, perhaps we can all speculate when the current line of Sonos products will “age out.” Any guesses?
When I think about i, the thing that is most troubling in all of this, to me, is the bit about it impacting the entire system. I’d be fine if Sonos decided to stop supporting a “legacy” product after a while. I get it. I have an old remote and I certainly don’t expect that to get an update anytime soon. By why does this have to impact all of my current products and my system as a whole?
I have a 2010 iMac that can no longer be updated. But this doesn’t impact my new iPad or iPhone. Yes, I get that Sonos is a “system” -- and yet somehow my dear old iMac can continue to connect to my new iPhone and my new iPad. My god, what a technological miracle!
I am totally pissed off I just bought a Sonos connect amp at Christmas because it was $100 off I have three Sonos connect amp’s and one Sonos connect that is junk I’ve been building my system for 10 years and a Pay another $1500 to get my system where they can give me downloads is BS!!!
This is NUTS! You want me to replace 16 devices? You are only offering a 30% discount? See how I am affected. I am livid! I obviously have been a HUGE supporter and now you do this?
I have to replace 14 myself (all but 2 are connects or connect amps). NOT A SMALL FINANCIAL BURDEN to do so. Glad they will still “work” but this is nuts. The trade up policy is weak and greedy on the part of SONOS.
Not happy by this announcement having spent over £4k on Sonos since August 2015 and with a system of 11 devices, finding out that unless I remove 2 devices which are only £5 years old and cost £800 my overall system can’t receive any updates unless I want to fork out another £650 (including 30% discount) to upgrade just so I can keep my system grouped together and stay on the latest software. How long before the play:1 is axed next! With the premium cost of Sonos vs Amazon and Google speakers this is a bad move!
@morgan4x4 : no worries at this time, just get off the upgrade train and continue using the system as you are using it now. When any hardware dies, you have a problem though…for all that remains, if you want to replace with Sonos.
Or until Apple Music (e.g.) changes anything about its streaming protocol.
What have they done on these lines in the past? But yes, if Apple Music does something after May 2020 that does not work with Sonos software up to May 2020.
Gutted !!! Built up my small system as and when I had the money (like so many others) only to find the old is now obsolete and dropping in the bin before the new arrives ! The speakers you have pushed into ‘legacy’ are still brilliant - I have not had to replace any in the time I have had them - now I find I have to replace them if I want to continue getting the best and adding zones.
Not sure I want to pile in lots more money to get what I already have !
I’ve been a Sonos customer from the early days and now have a 10 unit system. Where I completely get that Sonos can’t forever provide updates to old products as the portfolio will get too diverse it’s nothing short of shameful that they’ve decided to force you into an upgrade by ensuring that you can also no longer update your recent purchases.
That’s basically gutting your customers. Sonos is an interconnected system, the whole point of it is that you acquire over time and your system grows. Being forced into wholescale upgrades on whatever timescale Sonos’s financial results fancy isn’t tenable or ethical.
I’m fine with a resonable timelimit on updates being provided to kit, that’s an industry norm. But Sonos need to ensure that legacy kit will continue to work with modern kit that’s receiving upgrades. That’s an entirely resonable expectation from customers who have spent a lot of money.
This is unbelievable. I just spent a fortune on a Connect for Christmas and now I find out it will no longer work. This is unbelievable. I own 3 One speakers, the Subwoofer and the Playbar and just got the Connect to hook up to my outdoor hardwired system. I have spent a small fortune on your system. There was no mention anywhere that the Connect was going to stop getting updates when it was purchased. Giving me a lousy 30% off a $650 amp is an additional $400 to basically get what I already have.
I am very disappointed with your company.
If that’s a new Connect that you just purchased, it’s not included in the legacy products. Only Connects that were manufactured in 2015 are affected.
Hi Ryan
Why are re-sellers still selling the Connect: and Connect:Amp? These will become obsolete in less than 6 months. To be continuing to sell these after the announcement you have just made, is (in my opinion) close to fraudulent activity, and certainly would not pass the “fit for purpose” test.
Thanks
On the same vein as above, the devices currently for sale, while older products which have newer replacements currently available, are not included in the legacy products list.
What a disgrace, I will now have to replace 2 play 5s and a connect, so the rest of my system can be updated. Offering a pathetic 30% trade is useless, with the cost now of the equipment I need to replace. Really disappointed in Sonos, I may just move away from them to something else now 
My system now destroyed after sticking with you from day 1. Having to pay hundreds of ££ just to keep the status quo is shocking.
You pride yourself on innovation, well as others have said, why not innovate your way through this with two software programmes…….hold on……..extra effort = extra money that’s why
Now that you have pushed open the gates of what else is out there, i hope the flood waters rise and drown your profits, just like the environmental waste you have just triggered in this enforced retirement of perfectly good products.
Seriously who can afford or wants to upgrade on a pathetic 30% discount, seeing we have all spent good money previously on Sonos products and no doubt spread the word on how great it is (was). And now I think we’ve all been cheated big time!
Sonos you are a bunch of crooks, my elderly mother actually swore and said ‘They are Motherfu*kers’ as I set her up on Sonos Play 5 so she could listen to her oldies music etc.
Once they are dead, I will make sure I troll every ad on media to say don’t buy Sonos!
30% discount to buy new stuff that will have the same fate no doubt later on! Pathetic!
Same here… Trust out the window. I’ll keep using my “old” 2013 devices, but as soon as Spotify stops working, I’ll be looking at other manufacturers. No Sonos ever again.
Turns out my wife was right to question the value of the “investment”.
Deliberately bricking paid for systems by a software update is going to make SONOS immensely popular.
In my case there is no suitable product as a replacement for my Connect as there is no optical out (a spectacularly stupid decision in it's own right).
Sonos better make sure they get the "Frozen System" malarky right or they are going to experience the wrath of their unusually faithful customer base.
I expect to see every service and function that was available to me on the date of "Freezing" still available to me on the day after. I'm not interested in new features. I just want it working.
Yes that seems like a good option. Do the echo dots sync the music across speakers like Sonos does? (i.e. no lag between speakers)
Yep.
If SONOS doesn't release some sort of positive news on this I am going to go on an absolute social media frenzy…
So, even with a 30% discount, that’s nearly £1700 to replace all my PERFECTLY FUNCTIONING “outdated” kit … thats the kind of figure that makes me shop around, and I’ve been a vocal supporter of Sonos for years Nice way to alienate your loyal customers guys.
Whats more important to me is being able to turn off BS notifications that there is new software available.. Will I be able to do that? Or will I somehow be forced into a system update which will stop my products from working?
“You can continue using legacy products after May, but your system will no longer receive software updates and new features. Over time, this is likely to disrupt access to services and overall functionality.
I haven’t used any new features for about 6 years I don’t been updates. I don’t want to be reminded of updates. I don’t want to be forced to install any updates which I don’t need
I am so disappointed in Sonos right now - you’re effectively putting more than half our 6 zone system on notice of death. This is including a more recent 5.1 surround setup we use in our living room.
I’m so surprised that as a company you have taken this route. I can only imagine now that anything currently being released is also on a “limited functionality” timeline too.
What happens when the Sonos mobile app updates, what happens when Alexa skills update. Does that leave our kit isolated...
It wouldn’t be so bad if the product was being sold at a throw-away price, but it’s not. It’s at a premium and therefore I would have expected it all to be supported going forwards.
Who ever is responsible for the software engineering at Sonos really needs to look into breaking this “everything must upgrade” at the same time policy otherwise we need to freeze it all.
I think this finally signals the end of any expansion plans we had with Sonos kit.
I also suspect quite a lot of people will be off to investigate the Alexa and Google Home device range which proclaims “support” for multi-home sound systems at a fraction of the cost. I doubt they’ll be better but there sold at a price point where replacing the kit every few years isn’t as painful as what’s been suggested here.
I am absolutely fuming about this. A 30% discount offering as a solution to upgrade is another slap in the face. Why would anyone commit to buying more Sonos equipment which could be obsolete and unsupported within 5 years? I thought losing the controller was a joke but this takes decision takes Sonos customer relations to another level. Very very disappointed and will make damn sure I will buy nothing from this company ever again. This needs splashing all over social media by everyone affected.
WARNING: John Lewis here in the UK are still selling Play5 units for £449.00 and Play5s in pairs for £898.00. Surely this is an illegal activity given that these units will no longer be supported in a matter of weeks?
I am outraged that Sonos is going to stop support for the “legacy” products. That is insane. I have invested thousands of dollars building my whole home system. This is incredibly bad business practice. Pulling the rug out from loyal customers. Outrageous. If I were closer, I would picket your offices.
I smell a class action lawsuit. You can’t purposely “legacy” someone’s property and make it inoperable, forcing them to buy again.
