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Ryan S
Retired Sonos Staff
June 8, 2020

Introducing S2, New App and OS for Sonos

Related content:Software
Introducing S2, New App and OS for Sonos

The next generation of Sonos software is now available. Sonos S2 is a new app and an operating system for compatible devices, which brings support for higher resolution audio, saved groups, support for new Sonos products, and more.

Learn more about the Sonos S2 app on our S2 home page.

 

Support for the newest Sonos products

The all new Sonos Arc, Sonos Five, and Sonos Sub will require the Sonos S2 app. These new players are not supported by the Sonos S1 Controller. 

 

Saved Groups

The new S2 app can save groups of rooms to create groups quickly and easily. Once a group is created, you can select it to start playing music and the players will automatically group up. 

 

High Resolution Audio

 

With S2, Sonos speakers now have support for high resolution audio, 24-bit, 44.1/48kHz for FLAC/ALAC only. This support is for local music libraries shared from computers and network attached drives. We’ve updated the article on Sonos supported music formats here.

The Sonos Arc is a Dolby Atmos soundbar, and S2 brings support for that audio to Sonos for home theater and music. Dolby Atmos can be read from Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby MAT, and Dolby TrueHD. 

 

How to get S2

All Sonos systems will be able to update to Sonos version 11.2, which contains some bug fixes and stability improvements. This version is a new S1 update, and compatible with all players. 

Once the 11.2 update is completed, systems compatible with Sonos S2 will receive a notification that the new app is available. You can tap that notification to start updating and the new app which will guide you through updating compatible players to the new platform. If you don’t see the notification banner, you go to System Tools in Settings to check compatibility and update. Sonos S2 is Sonos version 12.0.

You can check our Sonos S2 Compatibility article for a list of products that are compatible with S2.​​​​​

 

Articles and important information about S2

We will support products on Sonos S1 with bug fixes and security patches, and we will do what we can to ensure they keep working with the music services you love given their limited RAM and processing power.

We’ve put together answers to some of the top questions we’ve seen around S2 here, so please check out the following articles on:

Sonos S2 Overview - A great starting place to learn more about S2.

Sonos S2 Compatibility - Information about the differences between Sonos S2 and S1, including which Sonos products are compatible.

Set up separate S1 and S2 systems - Learn how to set up a separate Sonos S1 system with Sonos products that are not compatible with S2.

Known limitations with separate S1 and S2 Sonos systems - This article covers what you can expect when using two separate S1 and S2 systems.

Set up a separate Sonos S1 system

Remove Sonos products that are not compatible with S2 - Instructions on how to use the product removal tool in the Sonos S1 Controller before updating to Sonos S2.

Information about Trade Up:

If you’re interested in updating older Sonos speakers, here’s all the details on our Trade Up program, a way to get a big discount on any new Sonos products that are S2 compatible.

Trade Up home page - Get a general overview of the Sonos Trade Up program.

Trade Up support article - Step by step instructions on how to trade up your eligible Sonos products.

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230 replies

Trending Lyricist I
January 13, 2021

So in summary paying for a Hi-Fi subscription to Tidal, Qobus or Deezer does not make sense because Sonos doesn't support it. 

Trending Lyricist I
January 13, 2021

Finally I found the solution for Hi-res and MQA streaming compatibility. 

https://www.bluesound.com

Ken_Griffiths
January 15, 2021

Finally I found the solution for Hi-res and MQA streaming compatibility. 

https://www.bluesound.com

As with most ‘solutions’ - they have a tendency to ‘evaporate’...

 

 

Lyricist I
January 26, 2021

This decision made me go from loving Sonos to hate it. Worst customer experience ever to try to force users to buy new equipment when the old is working 100% fine. 
what is worse is that my old equipment which worked fine until S2 was announced has started to act up - and Sonos support won’t help...

106rallye
January 26, 2021

My experiences with Sonos support are different. Maybe if you post a new thread explaining what problem you encountered the community can help? 

jgatie
January 26, 2021

This decision made me go from loving Sonos to hate it. Worst customer experience ever to try to force users to buy new equipment when the old is working 100% fine. 
what is worse is that my old equipment which worked fine until S2 was announced has started to act up - and Sonos support won’t help...

 

Exactly how are you being forced to buy new equipment?

Trending Lyricist I
January 26, 2021

Finally I found the solution for Hi-res and MQA streaming compatibility. 

https://www.bluesound.com

As with most ‘solutions’ - they have a tendency to ‘evaporate’...

 

Indeed no more issue and happy with my real Hi-fi sound. My jazz collections never sound better. 

Last but not least, bluesound doesn't use a separate wifi network like Sonos, and I never had any interferences issues. You know the BIG and only excuse used by Sonos support why your system isn't working properly. Obviously you cannot be a sound and network engineers in the same time. Pathetic. 

Trending Lyricist I
January 26, 2021

This decision made me go from loving Sonos to hate it. Worst customer experience ever to try to force users to buy new equipment when the old is working 100% fine. 
what is worse is that my old equipment which worked fine until S2 was announced has started to act up - and Sonos support won’t help...

Sonos support isn't Sonos anymore. It has been outsourced abroad. They don't even know the system they are supporting. 

Avid Contributor I
January 26, 2021

One of the biggest problems with S2 is how it fits in with S1.  For example, I have 3 original Play:5s that won’t go beyond S1.  I have 2 Sonos Ones which are locked onto S1 as a result as I don’t want to break up my ststem.  If I decided I wanted a new Sonos:One to expand my setup, then it will come with S2 and won’t be downgradable to S1.  (Correct me if I’m wrong).  So at that point I would need to replace all my play:5s or buy a legacy product 2nd hand.

Personally, I don’t mind replacing my play:5s with Ones over time, but I can’t really do that as I’d end up with a system that doesn’t work together.  So I’d have to replace all 3 up front or have equipment sitting around that can’t be used together.  (The whole point of the Sonos system)

So it doesn’t force you to replace everything if you want to keep the overall system exactly as it is.

I would also say that there seemed to be a lot of fuss made about S2, but the last time I checked there’s virtually no difference.  And I’ve not really seen any hype anywhere at all about S2 features.  As far as I know it doesn’t solve my two biggest gripes with my Sonos (the crappy way it deals with a temporary wifi glitch, and the poor accessibility of the apps)

One thing that bugs me about Sonos is that there doesn’t seem to be much engagement with the customer.  They never make promises or talk about upcoming features or seem to be that interested in what their customers think.  I’d feel a lot more inclined to upgrade to S2 if there was a degree of excitement about what the new system can do now or in the future compared to S1.  But pretty much all I’ve ever read about S2 has been to do with the interoperability problems, or the promise of high-def sound which AFAIK only works with one speaker type anyway.  (Admittedly I don’t follow Sonos news that closely, so I’m only talking about what pops up on my news feed.)

So I wouldn’t go as far as saying that I now hate Sonos, but I would say that the S2 experience has been frustrating but without that glimmer of excitement that should come from new technology, just a grudging feeling that I should upgrade my stuff at some point but without really knowing why.

January 26, 2021

One of the biggest problems with S2 is how it fits in with S1.  For example, I have 3 original Play:5s that won’t go beyond S1.  I have 2 Sonos Ones which are locked onto S1 as a result as I don’t want to break up my ststem.  If I decided I wanted a new Sonos:One to expand my setup, then it will come with S2 and won’t be downgradable to S1.  (Correct me if I’m wrong).  

You are wrong.  It cannot ‘come with’ S2.  Provided it has not been used as part of an S2 system (witch new, it won’t have been) it is compatible with S1 and S2.