Patrick - no one believes you when you state that legacy products can’t continue to work together with newer products.   In fact, we’re all pretty certain that your actual goal is to create a short product life-cycle so your sucker-customer-base constantly upgrades with new SONOS gear.  People are willing to upgrade expensive gear when the gear actually gets better; examples of this are cell phones, cars and computers.  But sound systems simply don’t fit into that description.   There is absolutely no technological reason that older components and newer components won’t be able to produce sound that is sync’d up.  You should resign.  You’re an embarrassment. 

I have a TON of money invested in SONOS.  Until yesterday my equipment was not “legacy”, it is only a few years old.  Certainly was not expecting it to become obsolete.  That is a short lifespan for stereo equipment.  Was planning on adding more equipment for some additional rooms. No reason to do that now knowing that it is just throwing good money after bad.  I will invest in a different centralized system like I had before.  Speakers should not become “legacy” after 2-3 years.

The 30% trade in is a joke...

I LOVED SONOS, recommended it to everyone -- This sucks!

Agreed, it reenforces some important points (speakers not bricked on day one, splitting network means new products get updates, concession of bug fixes for legacy products which I guess includes modern products in a legacy network?) but the majority of it could have been written days or weeks ago - its essentially still the same plan. 

I get that this was going to happen one day given the reliance on computing power in these products but they’ve managed this terribly so far. I’ve seen people on here say they now want Sonos to fail - I don’t want that, that would probably mean ALL Sonos products would quickly lose features or be vulnerable.
 

I can’t believe this is the same Sonos who put a replaceable battery in the Move to maintain that product’s useful life. I want to go back to that Sonos. 

Link doesn’t work but here is an article containing the letter:

https://www.droid-life.com/2020/01/23/sonos-backpedals-on-legacy-product-futures/

here is the head of sustainability @markheintz1

who i guess is ok with their recycle program? 

I'm not a technically minded person.  My first Sonos product was a present and I've loved it, the sound, the operation and the seamless integration with the components I've added over the years.  My email to the good Mr Spence just asked him if it was spelt 'Olafson' or 'Olufsen'.  Bye...

You still don't get this. I brought a system that had no sign of having its life ended. There was no disclaimer that it has an EOL. Firstly in the original statement it says that in time I could possibly lose functionality, now in today's CEO announcement it still says software updates will end, but will still resolve bugs ect. So I can only conclude the original statement applies that the system will eventually cease to stream my music. So as far as I'm concerned these statements have not changed my view at his time. The simple truth is honor your commitment to my purchase of your system, do I want new features NO I don't, do I want VOICE control NO. These statements are just a fudge and man up and admit your error and this may go some way to redeeming your brand name which at his time is xxxxx

I had been planning on expanding our SONOs speakers in March to replace other still working equipment to have a more seamless integration with the other SONOs equipment.

This has gotten me so pissed off that I’m putting that idea on permanent hold.  I don’t need any more useless paperweights in my home.  Oh and thanks for offering 30% off on the option of spending MORE money with you guys.

Very bad move for Sonos.  I have invested in five Connect:AMPs and, in general, am OK with upgrades to support new features.  My issue is the 30% discount...it is a slap in the face of the people

who have been the ones really selling Sonos to their friends and family.  So, in effect, after spending way more to get Sonos and do it right, I now need to basically double that initial investment.  This barely works in the corporate world and will not work in the consumer world.  No thanks.  I will take my business else where.

We need clarity, if a provider changes their API is this deemed a bug fix or a new feature. The letter doesn’t tell us anything new. Sonos without a major content provider such as Spotify is significantly less valuable. Is that a bug fix because it’s Spotify which carries more weight than say local radio? Only time will tell.

Put to one side the near hysteria there has been up to now and take Patrick Spence’s announcement at face value. 
 

it raise two questions and it seems that Sonos doesn’t have the definitive answer to either - yet. 
 

1. will I be able to group legacy and modern units to play a single stream on them. It looks like the answer to this right now is “no” but it may be that it is “not that we have worked out yet - but we are working on it”.
2. will I be able to play my Spotify account on my modern system and my legacy system at the same time? Right now I can’t play it on two things at the same time (eg my phone in the car, and my Sonos system at home. One stream will terminate). But within a single Sonos system I can use my Spotify account to play multiple streams at the same time. Now, if Sonos can work out a way to fool Spotify into seeing a legacy and modern system in the same house as a single system, so that I can play X and the kids can play Y, great. If not, things will get a bit tiresome. I don’t want (for example) to have to get an Apple Music account to play on the legacy kit and keep Spotify for the modern. Again, it’s not clear whether the answer to this is definitively negative or whether they are working on it. 
    

This episode has been an object lesson in showing how bad news must always be accompanied by clarity, certainty, and a sweetener.

Over 1300 negative responses to the original announcement but it is ok, the CEO’s letter which really says nothing new gets 17 likes…..

Outrageous & sinister, blackmailing Sonos ! With 4 Amps & a Connect I spent about £2k & love the system & now this. On principle I will not give Sonos another penny & go elsewhere. And what about waste ? Perfect, beautiful objects wasted for pure greed. Let them get away with this & every other company will follow. You won’t own anything anymore, just hire it all, off the Technology Overlord Gangsters.

Help me out with this please; I am a software/hardware engineer and a designer of numerous WiFi, Bluetooth and proprietary RF technologies solutions, i have used both open and proprietary platforms to support audio, video, and SCADA signal processing. 

So, my question is: what are you putting on these devices that requires so much more space or functionality; Seriously; you are streaming through either a cell phone, a mobile device (ipad, ipod, etc.) so the majority of the logic is on your audio device and the speaker/amp is the receiver; correct? Does the device collect any information, sound (audio signal processing) or any other measurements that requires the mobile device to receive any data other than streaming data and controlling sound levels to your SONOS Device? 

i find it unfortunate that your technology in these devices is “obsolete” and cannot be used in future roll outs of software. Over the past years i have seen no less than 100 updates; Everytime i use Sonos, i get a “must update software”; what exactly is being updated; the mobile device or the Sonos product or both. Seriously; how much data/control is needed on a device? It is a “streaming Receiver” is it not? Or does it do more signal processing or does the SONOS device collect information via WiFi?

After seeing the notice of “no longer being able to be updated”, i was amazed, frustrated and annoyed. Your CRM is seriously deficient and lacks sensitivity of your customer; we put you where you are and this is the “thanks” we get…

I will “Never” purchase another Sonos product and will seek other products that can be use to stream audio and there are “hundreds” on the market…. For your next generation of  devices; build a “removable” controller that allows people like me to retain their investment without purchasing a short-lived product…

very very unfortunate situation!!!!!

@MrSwadge = Yeah… I read that too quickly with far too much optimism, and missed the lack of anything tangible being offered. I quickly edited my post, still not a satisfactory response.

I got that letter too and I don’t see anything different. He still emphasized: “split your system”, in bold, which likely means they cannot be grouped. That is a core experience in my book.

Sonos loyal customers this was bound to happen with Patrick Spence CEO at the wheel. 
he learned how to best tank a company from his 14+ years at RIM.  Remember the Blackberry.  If you don’t ask Patrick he was the VP sales & marketing.  Sonos sound gear is now the new Blackberry.   Too bad.  
Seriously Patrick how the hell did you think was going to seen by YOUR Loyal base who WERE your best sales team.  Some free business advise.  Fix this issue ASAP before the Sonos brand gets totally shattered by social media.  Time is not on your side.  

Ok understanding that turned to anger returns to listening.

Fair enough….I take this at face value. It’s took time but it is a response & appears a clear response.

I have personally posted at least 6 times asking for a senior management brief. I got one. This helps a good deal.

Are we out the woods? No. Does it take pressure out of the system? For me …. for now...yes.

We all spoke. It appears there is listening.

Now we need delivery! For me this buys my relationship with Sonos that precious commodity ...time!

As I’ve said a few times … I’m best part of £20k UK in to this relationship and until 48+ hours back, I’d not regretted any of that. Many happy nights, moments and days with Sonos. 

As of now I’m postponing my investments BUT I’m listening and will be watching.

Good move Sonos …. I moved, now it’s YOUR move. 

I maybe wrong, but for Spotify to play on two devices independently at the same time you would need a Spotify subscription to that end: https://www.spotify.com/uk/family

I purchased 4 Sonos devices four days ago, basing my decision on the good reputation of the brand. Then came the announcement that at some point in the not very distant future the equipment will cease to function as promised. What a mistake I have made.  Obviously, this  will be my only Sonos purchase.

you can lose them … but you can buy them back as well … hope they have a spine

because money talks often

So very well put!  This is the whole point….. we have invested thousands of dollars and I’m still using the Dynaco amp and 20yr old speakers I have in my livingroom.  I get this has processing in it, but I didnt ask for all the Alexa features….dont want it, dont use it.   But the real deal is, I can no longer trust Sonos with my investment…. without saying so, they’ve let us know there will be a day when all this “legacy” equipment is bricked (CEO used the term in his email) 

@MrSwadge  and @Taco5layer, this chunk speaks to that:
 

These devices are already strained hardware wise, but if something core to the experience changes, we’ll do what we can for as long as possible. 

Wow, that CEO message is a new high water mark for cynical, condescending corporate statements. LMFTFY.. “We heard you. We did not get this right from the start. My apologies for that and I wanted to personally assure you that we are changing nothing but commit to using apologetic language as a framing device to placate you.”

Maybe people find it positive that there finally is a letter from the CEO?