Through the years I have seen a few ways people have customized their Sonos setups and thought it would be great to start a discussion on the best DIY hacks and tweaks you've all come up with. Whether it's improving sound quality, integrating with other systems, or just making your setup more aesthetically pleasing, I'd love to hear your experiences and ideas!
That being said, we have to say this. Be aware that certain activities such as opening your Sonos device may void the warranty. Please see the terms of use for additional detail.
Some of you may wonder how some of our products come into production, instead of telling you, I thought I would show you two of the prototypes I have seen. These did after all start out as “hacks” one way or another.
When I was visiting the Boston office I got to walk along the rows of products being tested and spotted this jenga tower with a cardboard box on top of it. Anyone able to guess what this cardboard box would end up turning into?
You most likely all were able to guess it was a Sonos Beam, so what about this one:
If you guessed anything but the Sonos Ace then you would be incorrect. Here is what one of our firmware engineers Harrison said about the picture:
“More of a fun look at the history of development, but this was the first iteration of Ace. Lovingly called P(-1) because our P0 development boards wouldn't arrive for another month, this one atrocity was the most fleshed-out platform for Ace development at the time (early-mid July 2022).
The blue board was a dev board for the BT chip, green boards were for ANC chips, red board was made in our lab and held an IO expander/proximity sensor/level shifter/IMU chip, and the breadboards had mics and other wire nonsense. And yes, we transported it around on a piece of cardboard lol”
Here are a few hacks I've come across browsing Reddit and the community over the years:
- Custom Enclosures and Mounts:
- 3D Printed Brackets: Some users have created custom 3D printed brackets to mount their Sonos speakers on walls or ceilings, optimizing sound distribution and saving space.
- Custom Enclosures: Building custom enclosures for Sonos components can help integrate them seamlessly into your home decor.
- Enhanced Audio Connections:
- Subwoofer Integration: Hacking a Sonos speaker to connect it to any powered subwoofer can significantly improve bass performance.
- Software Tweaks:
- Using Home Assistant to turn off and on speech enhancement loudness and other features that usually requires the app to change.
- My personal favorite: Using a Raspberry Pi with NFC to start playback of albums.
- Thanks you
@craigski for reminding me about this one!
- Thanks you
- Creative Uses:
- Smart Home Integration: Integrating Sonos with smart home systems like Home Assistant or SmartThings can automate and enhance your audio experience.
Did any of you do any “hack” to your Sonos, or did you have an idea for one you never got around to?
Show it off in the thread below, and let’s see who has the coolest one. Maybe it will even inspire some of us to create that perfect mount for our speaker, or finally get around to setting up a raspberry pi with Home Assistant.
Heard that you can win one (or more) free Sonos products? Head over to the Surprise announcement thread for more information.
Read the T&C’s here:
SONOS “20-YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION” TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The “Sonos Community 20-year Anniversary” contests (collectively, the "Contest") begins on January 6th at 15.00 AM CET and ends on March 2nd, 2025 at 12.00 AM CET (the "Entry Period").
HOW IT WORKS
To participate in the Contest and to be eligible for winning a prize, users must participate in the Contest during the Entry Period .
You can enter the Contest through any of the following methods, each an individual contest:
- Show us your sonos hacks. Post pictures and ideas of your favorite Sonos hacks or DIY projects to see who receives the most likes for their hack/idea. The comment with the most likes will win the prize.
- Show us your setups. Users will be invited to post pictures of their Sonos setups and share stories about how their setups have evolved over the years. The comment with the most likes will win the prize.
- Your most wished for Sonos product/feature. You will be asked to share what feature or product you wish for Sonos to release. The comment with the most likes will win the prize.
- Best answers. You will be giving the best answers when another user marks your comment to their question as the “best answer”. The winner will be the user with the highest amounts of best answers across the community during the Event Period.
- Most likes. You will be given a like when other users press the “like” button to your comment on the community. The winner will be the user with the highest amount of likes received across the community during the Event Period.
- Most comments. The user with the highest amount of comments (on all subforums) across the community during the Event Period will be the winner.
- Most Comments in the Sonos 20 Year Anniversary Event group. The user with the highest number of comments created specifically in the 20 year anniversary group during the Event Period will be the winner.
- Most likes in the Sonos 20 Year Anniversary Event group. Only likes within the Sonos 20 year anniversary group will be counted towards this. The user with the highest amount of likes specifically within the 20 Year Anniversary Event group during the Event Period will be the winner.
Participation in the Contest does not constitute entry into any other promotion, contest or sweepstakes. By participating in the Contest, users unconditionally accept and agree to comply with and abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of Sonos, Inc. ("Sonos") and Sonos' designated representatives, which shall be final and binding in all respects.
ELIGIBILITY
Only legal residents of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada (except Quebec), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States (collectively, the “Territories”), who, at the time of entry, are 1) located in one of the Territories, and 2) are of the age of majority in their respective Territory, are eligible to enter and/or win a prize in the Contest. Sonos, and its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, distributors, employees, contractors, retailers, sales representatives, advertising and promotion agencies and any other individual or company involved in the development or execution of the Contest and each of their respective officers, directors, agents and employees (collectively, with Sonos, the "Promotion Entities"), and each of their immediate family members and/or people living in the same household are NOT eligible to enter the Contest or win a prize. Sonos reserves the right to verify eligibility qualifications of the potential winners. No group entries. This Contest is void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning.
Participation by a user has to be completed by the end of the Entry Period in order to be eligible to win. The database clock located on www.sonos.com will be the official timekeeper for this Contest. Except as otherwise contemplated in these Official Rules, and to the extent participants may otherwise elect at the time of participation, personal information collected in connection with the Contest will be used in accordance with Sonos' privacy policy located at http://www.sonos.com/legal/privacy.
WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION
How do you win?
At the end of the Entry Period, Sonos will select a total number of eight (8) winners of the Contest, one for each of the categories listed in the “How It Works” section above. If two winners “tie” based on the metrics above, the user with the older account will win the tiebreak. If the winner does not want the prize the user with the second best metrics in the chosen category will win the prize.
No later than March 2nd, 2025, Sonos will contact the winners via private message in the community. Sonos shall have no liability for any winner notification that is lost, intercepted or not received by a potential prize winner for any reason. Time is of the essence in verifying each potential prize winner and awarding each prize. If, despite reasonable efforts, a potential winner does not respond within twenty-four (24) hours of the first notification attempt, or if the prize notification is returned as undeliverable to such potential winner, such potential winner will forfeit their prize and a runner-up winner may be selected. If any potential winner is found to be ineligible, or if they have not complied with these Official Rules or declines a prize for any reason prior to award, such potential winner will be disqualified, and an alternate winner may be selected. Sonos may successively attempt to contact up to two (2) potential winner(s) of an applicable prize in accordance with such procedure, and if there is still no confirmed winner(s) of such applicable prize after such attempts have been made, if any, such prize may go unawarded.
What do you win?
Each winner of the Contest, determined as set forth above, shall receive the following product(s) (each a “Prize” and collectively, the “Prizes”).
- Show us your sonos hacks. The winner will receive the following prizes from the contest: One (1) Sonos Arc Ultra and One (1) Sonos Sub 4 for a value of 1798 USD, 1898 Euro or the equivalent in the local currency.
- Show us your setups. The winner will receive the following prizes from the contest: One (1) Sonos Ray and One (1) Sonos Sub Mini for a value of 708 USD, 798 Euro or the equivalent in the local currency.
- Your most wished for Sonos product/feature. The winner will receive the following prizes from the contest: One (1) Sonos Arc Ultra and One (1) Sonos Ace for a value of 1448 USD, 1498 Euro or the equivalent in the local currency.
- Best answers. The winner will receive the following prizes from the contest: Two (2) Sonos Era 300 for a value of 898 USD, 998 Euro or the equivalent in the local currency.
- Most comments. The winner will receive the following prizes from the contest: Two (2) Sonos Era 100 for a value of 498 USD, 558 Euro or the equivalent in the local currency.
- Most likes. The winner will receive the following prizes from the contest: One (1) Sonos Ray for a value of 279 USD, 299 Euro or the equivalent in the local currency.
- Most Comments in the Event group. The winner will receive the following prizes from the contest: One (1) Sonos Ace for a value of 449 USD, 499 Euro or the equivalent in the local currency.
- Most likes in the event group. The winner will receive the following prizes from the contest: One (1) Sonos Ace for a value of 449 USD, 499 Euro or the equivalent in the local currency.
Sonos will ship the Prizes to verified winners shortly following the end of the Entry Period and only following execution of all Prize Claim Documents (as more fully described below). The Prizes will be delivered only to addresses in the Territories. Further details and instructions for redeeming the voucher are included in the private message the winner will receive.
Prizes will be awarded only if a potential Prize winner fully complies with these Official Rules. Each Prize winner shall be solely responsible for all state, federal and/or local taxes, and the reporting consequences thereof, and for any other fees or costs associated with a Prize. Sonos shall be responsible for shipping each Prize to each potential winner. Each potential winner may be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release, any other applicable form or documentation concerning the Prize and (where legal) a Publicity Release, and confirmation of shipping information (collectively, "Prize Claim Documents"). If a potential winner fails or refuses to sign and return all relevant Prize Claim Documents within three (3) days of Prize notification, such potential winner may be disqualified and an alternate winner may be selected.
Sonos makes no warranties, and hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, concerning the Prizes furnished in connection with the Contest.
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By entering the Contest, you agree that Promotion Entities (A) shall not be responsible or liable for, and are hereby released from, any and all costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind, including, without limitation, death and bodily injury, due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, to participation in the Contest or any Contest-related activity, or from Entrants' acceptance, receipt, possession and/or use or misuse of the Prizes, and (B) have not made any warranty, representation or guarantee express or implied, in fact or in law, with respect to the Prizes, including, without limitation, to the Prizes' quality or fitness for a particular purpose. Sonos assumes no responsibility for any damage to an Entrant's, or any other person's, computer system which is occasioned by participating in the Contest, or for any computer system, phone line, hardware, software or program malfunctions, or other errors, failures, delayed computer transmissions or network connections that are human or technical in nature.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Sonos is not responsible for incomplete, illegible, misdirected, misprinted, late, lost, damaged, stolen, or postage-due submissions or prize notifications; or for lost, interrupted, inaccessible or unavailable networks, servers, satellites, Internet service providers, websites, or other connections; or for miscommunications, failed, jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected computer, telephone or cable transmissions; or for any technical malfunctions, failures, difficulties or other errors of any kind or nature; or for the incorrect or inaccurate capture of information, or the failure to capture any information.
Sonos reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who is found to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or the Website, to be acting in violation of these Official Rules, or to be acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with the intent to disrupt or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest, or to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person, and Sonos reserves the right to seek damages and other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. No mechanically reproduced, illegible, incomplete, forged, software-generated or other automated multiple entries will be accepted. If a dispute as to the identity of the individual who actually submitted an entry cannot be resolved to Sonos' satisfaction, the affected entry will be deemed ineligible. Sonos reserves the right to modify, extend, suspend, or terminate the Contest if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the Contest is technically impaired or corrupted or that fraud or technical problems, failures or malfunctions or other causes beyond Sonos' control have destroyed or severely undermined or to any degree impaired the integrity, administration, security, proper play and/or feasibility of the Contest as contemplated herein.
In the event an insufficient number of eligible entries are received and/or Sonos is prevented from conducting the drawing, awarding prizes or continuing with the Contest as contemplated herein by any event beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to fire, storm, flood, earthquake, explosion, accidents, public disorders, civil unrest, disease outbreak, sabotage, acts of terrorism, acts of war (declared or undeclared), labor shortages riots or acts of God or public enemy, satellite or equipment failure, order of any court or jurisdiction, or other cause not reasonably within Sonos' control (each a "Force Majeure" event or occurrence), then subject to any governmental approval which may be required, Sonos shall have the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Contest. If the Contest is terminated before the designated end date, Sonos will (if possible) select the potential winner from all eligible, non-suspect entries received as of the date of the event giving rise to the termination. Only the type and quantity of prizes described in these Official Rules will be awarded. These Official Rules may be modified or amended at any time before, during or after the Entry Period, only by a written document published on the Website by a duly authorized representative of Sonos.
Except as otherwise contemplated in these Official Rules, and to the extent Entrants may otherwise elect at the time of entry and/or verification as a semi-finalist, personal information collected in connection with the Contest will be used in accordance with Sonos' privacy policy located at www.sonos.com/legal/privacy.
By entering this Contest, you understand and agree that you shall have no right to enjoin or restrain the development, production, advertising, promotion, distribution or exploitation of the Contest, or any other business or project of Sonos or any of the Promotion Entities.
If any part of these Official Rules is deemed to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, the balance of these Official Rules shall remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with its terms as if the invalid or illegal provision, or the invalid or illegal portion of a provision, were not contained herein.
These Official Rules will be posted on the Website during the Entry Period and for at least six (6) weeks thereafter.
For residents of Australia and New Zealand
ALL ISSUES AND QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEABILITY OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES OR THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF ENTRANTS OR SONOS IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEST SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OR TERRITORY WHERE YOU LIVE WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OF CONFLICT OF LAW RULES OR PROVISIONS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER STATE'S LAWS.
Except where prohibited by law, by entering this Contest, you agree that: (a) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with the Contest shall be resolved individually without resort to any form of class action (b) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred (i.e., only costs associated with participating in the Contest), but shall not include attorney’s fees under any circumstances; and (c) you hereby waive all rights to claim punitive, incidental, and consequential damages. If any provision of these Official Rules is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be severed from the remainder of these Official Rules, which will otherwise remain in full force and effect.
For residents of all countries of the Territories other than Australia and New Zealand
ALL ISSUES AND QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEABILITY OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES OR THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF ENTRANTS OR SONOS IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEST SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OF CONFLICT OF LAW RULES OR PROVISIONS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER STATE'S LAWS.
Except where prohibited by law, by entering this Contest, you agree that: (a) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with the Contest shall be resolved individually without resort to any form of class action and exclusively by arbitration under the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association; (b) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred (i.e., only costs associated with participating in the Contest), but shall not include attorney’s fees under any circumstances; and (c) you hereby waive all rights to claim punitive, incidental, and consequential damages. If any provision of these Official Rules is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be severed from the remainder of these Official Rules, which will otherwise remain in full force and effect.
