Is the Sonos app ever going to be fixed?

Right in that Wired article Sonos states on no uncertain terms they are not moving to a subscription model.  That article is so full of click-bait, they had to print a disclaimer. 

For many users like myself, there are very minor issues that have not made my system unusable. I had a

mi or volume issue in May, but lately everything has worked well.

Users who are still having problems with connectivity may need to have a closer look at their networks/routers and follow Sonos’ guidelines for the best experience.

Although I am quoted in that article, I never said I thought they were going to a subscription, that was the author’s claim. I did, and still, wonder why Sonos have put us all through the hell of the app change though.

I think there would be a bit of backlash if the pitch became: “If we move to a subscription model, then we’ll fix things”.

The app is almost unusable, as has been said above. I can’t believe that Sonos would take this long to fix obvious and glaring issues with performance. I am at a point where I may have to find an alternative- guess the $1000+ in Sonos speakers I have goes down the drain. Never again. 

Personally don’t think that they will go to a subscription model unless it is for some value-added services (famous last words). As they are still struggling to reinstate basic services that they had before i suspect that we’re still some way off that…

However, what I do think this could add up to is them wanting to monetise their/ our data. I am in no way an expert in thing software-related but it seems like things have been rejigged to give Sonos more insight into what people are listening to/ when/ etc. That coupled with the change to their service/ licence agreement that also happened screams out ‘ we really, really, really want to sell your data’

I could well be wrong but yet to hear a convincing argument against it (other than that they may have already been doing it!)

I’ve officially given up on Sonos.  The software problems made my Sonos system (9 pieces) unusable, with unexplained dropouts persisting after looong calls with Sonos and various wired/wireless permutations.  I’m done with closed ecosystems.  I’ll keep a Playbar in a guest bedroom, but am replacing the rest.

I now subscribe to Roon as my front end.  I replaced a Connect with a WiiM streamer, and two Play 5’s set up as L/R with a WiiM amp and small Martin-Logan speakers.  The WiiM is a far better streamer than the Connect, and, at pretty much the price of a single Play 5, the small system sounds far better than the pair of Play 5s.

Whereas the new Sonos App seems to be working okay here, but I guess different setups, hardware and Home networks can perhaps vary.

No way I’m giving up on Sonos, as the hardware is still excellent and their App is improving with each new update. Not that I’m against WiiM, or Roon, (far from it)  but I see those things as another string to a bow, rather than Sonos product replacements.

Here’s my experience just now.  1/20/25.  Various issues like all others reported over last months.  All other WiFi enabled devices in home working perfectly fine.  Zero issues, reboots, nothing, zilch zero issues with anything else.  No wifi interference from other homes.  Stream started to cut out, all audio dropped out, ungrouped.  Tried different devices to talk to sonos.  Half speakers didn’t show back up.  Watched app for a few minutes.  Speakers started trickling in.  All previous groups lost.  Hit play 5 times, each time going from pause to play button again within 10 seconds.  Stream finally started again after about I’d say 15 minutes.  

Presumably you’re having to regularly reconnect your Sonos devices? If so, my thoughts are that anyone with that type of issue ‘perhaps’ could have a multicast ‘device discovery’ issue across their network that’s preventing the controller device from communicating with their Sonos speakers. See attached re: SSDP/mDNS.

Such communication failure can occur across networks that use WiFi extenders, EoP adapters, or if managed switches are misconfigured. It can also happen if some settings on a local router are incorrect, or there’s software running on the mobile device that is getting in the way of the multicast communication, such as security software, VPN client, firewall, site blockers etc.

I’d perhaps investigate further in the areas mentioned and if still no luck, then it maybe best to reproduce the issue(s) seen and then immediately submit a Sonos system diagnostic report from within the Sonos App, note it’s reference and contact/chat with Sonos Support Staff via this LINK and see what the Staff can perhaps suggest to help you to resolve the matter.

SONOS requires a more robust local network than simple web browsing and email because the SONOS units are chatting with each other on the local network. Many users claim that their network is “perfect” because they can web browse. Unfortunately, the network may not be “perfect” for SONOS.

In one “broken” SONOS system I discovered that the phone’s WiFi had been turned off. The phone was using the cell network for Internet access, but the cell network was not available to SONOS.

I had the same experience as Gindo, from out of the blue. Solid mesh network/router fed by fiber, no outside interference etc. 

My sense of the problem, preface by the fact that I lack the expertise to say anything about it for sure, is that 20 years ago, Sonos really needed to establish its own mesh network for many users. Now, home wireless networks are good enough that the Sonos mesh network is an unnecessary complication, and with awful software running the show, it just no longer works for some people. 
 

I have 2 WiiM units (so far) where I’d had a Connect and a pair of Play 5s. They are somehow able to synchronize with each other, while being independently hooked up to my network. For the amp that replaced two separate play 5s, it is also trying to decode a single stereo signal rather than to run two completely separate units as if they were part of a stereo pair. That seems like a much simpler solution all around.  Also sounds better!

Sorry, one more rant.  I have gone from 9 Sonos units to a minimal system with a hardwired Connect, a playbar and a couple of play 1’s.  Listening to a Tidal playlist that works flawlessly on headphones through the Tidal app on my phone and on both WiiMs with only that hardwired Connect playing, I lost a part of every second or third song.  Yikes,  It’s not Tidal--this has been happening with every source since S2 came along.  It’s temporary, until more open-source stuff goes on sale for President’s Day and the rest of the Sonos stuff goes, but still irritating.

Every day now is a big f...king issue with Sonos app.  Earlier it wouldn’t let me change rooms.  Now when I try to select music I just get a continuous circle. Don’t try to tell me it’s my network. I have full bars on my iPhone. This is so pathetic. Why isn’t Sonos responding to our complaints?  Fix it damn it! 

What does full bars on your iPhone mean with regards to your network? I thought that was an indication of the signal you’re getting from the cell tower, and nothing to do with your local network?nor would signal strength have much to do with potential duplicate IP addresses, which is a network issue that has no outward ’icon’ to look at?

I’m exactly in the same boat as you .

I've seven Sonos units in my house and are at the point of binning them all.

The app is consistently getting worse.

I can only connect to my speakers via third party apps !!

And what have you done yourself to make your system work better? Did you contact Sonos?

Perhaps he personally called Patrick Spence...whoops, no answer.

I’ve spent close to 12 hrs online with Sonos Netherlands where they had full access to my home network .

The problem is not my network, it’s the app!

​@Toolio That is a lot of time invested. This does underline the serious problems some users still have. As a work around, would downgrading to S1 (at least temporarily) be a problem for you?

You're replying to the wrong person.

Sorry, meant ​@tomhickey78 

This was also my suggestion as I had no issues on S1.The tech support team told me this wasn’t possible.
They said they realise there are issues with the new app and they’re trying to solve them!

Looking at the devices on your profile I see no reason why a downgrade to S1 would not be possible. Read this page first and take a look at the linked compatibility page:  https://support.sonos.com/nl-nl/article/downgrade-a-sonos-product-to-s1

I tried downgrading to S1 and Sonos system would not allow this. I'm stuck with what used to be a breeze but now is FUBARed. I’m exiting the Sonos system because Sonos refuses to respond to this failure. Sonos are you listening? It’s not our networks! It’s your app!