Retired Sonos Staff

End of Software Updates for Legacy Products

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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 The information contained in this thread is outdated and may no longer be accurate.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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swcouch

Lyricist I

Still upset by this announcement. Thousands of dollars of equipment will no longer be supported is just unacceptable.

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jgatie

So i know i have 3 legacy products based upon the e-mail. And i’ve posted before in this thread, but going to my account at the top it says “You have 3 legacy products that do not receive regular software updates and new features as of May 2020.” By regular i take it as it wont get all the updates but will get some update as required to keep current functionality or maybe security updates.... Or at least that would be my understanding based on standard software practices. I think Sonos needs to get very clear what the intention is here and not have mixed messages all over and no more of this “We’ll have more information in May”. We need answers and we need them now not in 4 months.

No, regular in this case means “timely” or “scheduled. It’s a soft way of saying “You will no longer get updates”.

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Neil McRae

Trending Lyricist I

So just checked with a lawyer friend of mine - his view, In Europe, if you bought any Sonos product in the last 6 years that is affected by this you can take it back to the original retailer and get your money back!

Yeah, I was thinking about the 6 year rule.

I would guess that depends if any features are lost though?

Announcing this now and saying info will be available in 5 months is a bit off.

No updates means no security patches which is one way you could trigger this and yes Neil from M3 forums! :)

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rick9957

Lyricist III

Remember, these are speakers with a digital amp and a network connection. That is the majority of the system but due to a processor and memory limitation they want me to dispose of the system with a recycler. My main stereo is nearly 50 years old and still works great but doesn’t play digital files. As far as I know The music file didn’t change so what critical feature requires more processing power to stream the same music file. If something did change I would think a upgraded circuit board could be offered to evolve a play 5 gen1 to gen 2 capability. I saw Sonos market share had fallen to 15%. With this treatment of your customers I guess it will be going lower. Just sorry I purchased 2 of your new amps a play at and 2 beams in the last 2 years.

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pcosgrave

Lyricist I

So i know i have 3 legacy products based upon the e-mail. And i’ve posted before in this thread, but going to my account at the top it says “You have 3 legacy products that do not receive regular software updates and new features as of May 2020.” By regular i take it as it wont get all the updates but will get some update as required to keep current functionality or maybe security updates.... Or at least that would be my understanding based on standard software practices. I think Sonos needs to get very clear what the intention is here and not have mixed messages all over and no more of this “We’ll have more information in May”. We need answers and we need them now not in 4 months.

No, regular in this case means “timely” or “scheduled. It’s a soft way of saying “You will no longer get updates”.

Right so we wont get the “timely” or “scheduled” updates but saying “regular” that implies the possibility of “non regular” updates. Like i said they need to be clear, if their intention is “You have 3 legacy products that do not receive software updates and new features as of May 2020.” (notice the lack of the word regular) then thats what they should say.

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Dean Stenner

Contributor I

Just had this reply back from sonos.

Your Sonos devices will continue to work as long as the hardware allows even when the Sonos app updates, and we expect no immediate impact from the end of software updates. Over time, some features and functionality will be impacted by changes to technology, particularly by music service and voice partners. As we move forward, we will provide ways to separate your legacy and modern products so that the modern products can still receive updates, and legacy products can still be used. We'll have more details in May.

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joegb

Lyricist I

Sonos, You are effectively committing commercial suicide. You have been an upmarket brand with a loyal customer base who have been willing to purchase not inexpensive products. The quality and customer service has always been excellent.

Without competition attacking you or serious tech issues you are managing to send your company down a very dark road. I predict either a change in your strategy or a change in your senior management or maybe both if all of what you are proposing comes to fruition.

Disillusioned supporter.

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MJPDX

Lyricist I

What’s most frustrating to me is how cavalier this company is about deprecating fully functional devices and potentially crippling my whole system in the process (and I have MANY components in my system).

SONOS, as others have stated, allow the upgrade or purchase of one newer component to add features for those who want them and support the basics for those of us on “legacy” hardware. I don’t need to talk to my speakers. I want them keep their current functionality and just play music. Is that really so hard to understand? There are perfectly good amps and speakers and networking equipment baked into what I own. SONOS, your actions are arrogant, and you’ve seen the last of my money.

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Tibblemc

Contributor I

Just read my email update from Sonos.…

You’re a technology company, you must have the ability to still make legacy kit function!

I have zero interest in my Sonos app or system doing anything more than it does today…

You casually say to just take my over £1000 of system to be recycled! WTF!!

Sonos, you already forced me to ditch my controllers…. if you force this much kit to potentially be made obsolete I will never invest again. Period.

Call me cynical but things like this always seem to have a whiff of ‘we want to sell you more stuff’

I’ve reccomended to Sonos to so many friends over the past 12yrs, that will stop.

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jgatie

Right so we wont get the “timely” or “scheduled” updates but saying “regular” that implies the possibility of “non regular” updates. Like i said they need to be clear, if their intention is “You have 3 legacy products that do not receive software updates and new features as of May 2020.” (notice the lack of the word regular) then thats what they should say.

You won’t be receiving any updates. It is stated very clearly in the first post:

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.

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