Enthusiast I

Do not buy from Sonos

61 replies
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I urge you to not buy anything from Sonos until they sort out their end of life procedures.

I have spent well over £5000 pounds with them in the last four years.

I was informed by email by them that two of my devices costing £800 would be obsolete in May and would no longer work with the rest of my devices.

Stay away until and if they sort out their problems.

poor service

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User694694

Enthusiast II

You are making factually incorrect statements. The same incorrect statements that have been made countless times on this forum. It is past the point where it is worth contradicting these statements for the umpteenth time.

Do as you wish, of course, but I shall continue to enjoy my Sonos system as I have done for the last 9 years.

Most of what he said the absolutely correct. If you rely on streaming music services, you very well may have obsolete devices come May because Sonos has stated they won’t update software to keep up with them after may. For me, this would definitely make my devices obsolete. For others that mostly stream their own music from a local server, maybe not. Sonos specifically stated that these services would deprecate after May. Their “clarifications” have not contradicted this. They have only not reaffirmed it, which is quite a bit different.

The part about Legacy devices not working with the rest of his system is partially correct. As it stands now (Sonos does not have any solutions worked out, only potential solutions), people will either have to split their systems into two losing the ability to group legacy and non-legacy devices, or they can keep non-legacy devices on the same firmware version as the Legacy devices and not receive updates (and also deprecate their ability to play streaming music services).

I’d go as far as to say that your post is far more misleading than his. Your post implies that things are going to continue working as they have and that all his concerns are not true. This is simply not the case. I wish it were.

Since support is only guaranteed for 5 years, I don’t think I can recommend Sonos anymore either (I have previously to dozens of people) for anyone who is interested in whole home/office audio. Paying $15k -$20k every 5 years just isn’t a good ROI in my opinion.

Well it is just as well that that isn't going to happen then, isn't it? The suggestion that it will be necessary to replace everything every 5 years is one of the biggest misrepresentations on here. I'm going back to enjoying my system now. See you back here in 10 years?

How is it a misrepresentation that if you rely on streaming music services and this deprecates after 5 years, you will need to “re-invest” to continue to make it work with streaming music services. You are purposely misleading potential readers. If Sonos continues with their current stance and does not provide updates for this, you won’t be enjoying your system if you use these (Pandora, Spotify, etc). See you in May?

Smilja

[...] And as mentioned, the team is going to try and provide bug fixes in the future for legacy devices, as the hardware permits.

https://en.community.sonos.com/announcements-228985/end-of-software-support-clarifications-6835969/index135.html#post16403824

Repeating the very same over and over again is tedious.

»And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space, Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind.« (›Windmills Of Your Mind‹ [1967]. Music by Michel Legrand ; English lyrics written by Alan & Marilyn Bergman)

User694694

Enthusiast II

[...] And as mentioned, the team is going to try and provide bug fixes in the future for legacy devices, as the hardware permits.

https://en.community.sonos.com/announcements-228985/end-of-software-support-clarifications-6835969/index135.html#post16403824

Repeating the very same over and over again is tedious.

Bug fixes are not “updates”. In the original communications, it was stated that “updates” would be required to keep streaming music services going. In the clarification a few days later, it was reiterated that Legacy devices would not receive updates, but they would receive “bug fixes”. So, this statement does nothing to ameliorate concern about streaming music services deprecating.

Smilja

The trade up offer isn’t going to expire. You can trade-in your legacy when the experience with your favorite music service starts to deprecate. This may happen in December 2020 or in five years time. And who knows whether your favorite service will still be around 24 months from now. Since 2013, I have seen many music services come and go on Sonos; about two-thirds of them went bankrupt and vanished into oblivion.

If you are a Spotify user, make sure your Sonos system is already running the most recent firmware v10.6.1, and you’re set for the time being.

»And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space, Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind.« (›Windmills Of Your Mind‹ [1967]. Music by Michel Legrand ; English lyrics written by Alan & Marilyn Bergman)

melvimbe

How is it a misrepresentation that if you rely on streaming music services and this deprecates after 5 years, you will need to “re-invest” to continue to make it work with streaming music services. You are purposely misleading potential readers. If Sonos continues with their current stance and does not provide updates for this, you won’t be enjoying your system if you use these (Pandora, Spotify, etc). See you in May?

The situation you’re describing is highly unlikely. First off, Sonos has promised regular updates for 5 years after a product is discontinued. Based on Sonos history, the majority of Sonos products have been supported much longer than that. In terms of buying a new Sonos, the majority of products are new releases over the past couple years, and it is very likely they will not be discontinued any time soon. Even the older products that are still for sale have twice the memory of legacy products. Personally, I think it’s logical to avoid the playbar because a better replacement could be coming soon, not because the playbar is likely to lose updates any time soon.

Regarding what bug fixes means, we do not know how extensive a change Sonos will willing to do, nor whether the hardware could handle it. But these sort of changes are rare. I do think that if Pandora makes a change to their service, they will likely try to make the change within the existing API (and other services APIs). Where that can't be done, they will surely give Sonos a few months notice before the change so Sonos has time to develop and test. That means that the chance that a streaming service becomes unavailable on Sonos legacy soon after May very unlikely.

For customers that have a significant (whatever they think that is) investment in legacy products, it makes a lot of sense to wait till May, and probably several months after, before buying another speaker. It’s highly unlikely that anything will happen to your system and you’ll likely know what changes Sonos has made in modern systems, and perhaps new products. You can then use the trade in program to replace legacy products or get something different.

Danny

User694694

Enthusiast II

How is it a misrepresentation that if you rely on streaming music services and this deprecates after 5 years, you will need to “re-invest” to continue to make it work with streaming music services. You are purposely misleading potential readers. If Sonos continues with their current stance and does not provide updates for this, you won’t be enjoying your system if you use these (Pandora, Spotify, etc). See you in May?

The situation you’re describing is highly unlikely. First off, Sonos has promised regular updates for 5 years after a product is discontinued. Based on Sonos history, the majority of Sonos products have been supported much longer than that. In terms of buying a new Sonos, the majority of products are new releases over the past couple years, and it is very likely they will not be discontinued any time soon. Even the older products that are still for sale have twice the memory of legacy products. Personally, I think it’s logical to avoid the playbar because a better replacement could be coming soon, not because the playbar is likely to lose updates any time soon.

Regarding what bug fixes means, we do not know how extensive a change Sonos will willing to do, nor whether the hardware could handle it. But these sort of changes are rare. I do think that if Pandora makes a change to their service, they will likely try to make the change within the existing API (and other services APIs). Where that can't be done, they will surely give Sonos a few months notice before the change so Sonos has time to develop and test. That means that the chance that a streaming service becomes unavailable on Sonos legacy soon after May very unlikely.

For customers that have a significant (whatever they think that is) investment in legacy products, it makes a lot of sense to wait till May, and probably several months after, before buying another speaker. It’s highly unlikely that anything will happen to your system and you’ll likely know what changes Sonos has made in modern systems, and perhaps new products. You can then use the trade in program to replace legacy products or get something different.

You have a lot of trust in a company that has gone out of their way to be less than forthright about all of this. I hope you’re right, and my plan is to sit tight until my services deprecate, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be happy about the uncertainty, buy any new products or recommend Sonos to friends. I also won’t be “upgrading” if and when my devices stop working with streaming services.

Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

I’ve been with Sonos from about the beginning and I have to say I’m pretty happy over-all in the way we have been treated. I never expected my 2006 ZPs to still be working in 2020 and beyond, figured they like any other computerized device I owned back then and if I got five good years it was good.

I never made the error of comparing my Sonos to my conventional speakers or even my dumb stereo gear, they are just too different.

Looking back at 2006, my Sonos gear was the last surviving equipment, TVs, computers, Smart AV gear, and a bunch of other electronic devices went out the door while the Sonos just kept plugging along. The old Sonos didn’t get replaced for being obsolete either, it got replaced because the newer Sonos gear was so good I couldn’t resist the trade-up deal.

A

alfjrenner

Lyricist III

I’ve been with Sonos from about the beginning and I have to say I’m pretty happy over-all in the way we have been treated. I never expected my 2006 ZPs to still be working in 2020 and beyond, figured they like any other computerized device I owned back then and if I got five good years it was good.

I never made the error of comparing my Sonos to my conventional speakers or even my dumb stereo gear, they are just too different.

Looking back at 2006, my Sonos gear was the last surviving equipment, TVs, computers, Smart AV gear, and a bunch of other electronic devices went out the door while the Sonos just kept plugging along. The old Sonos didn’t get replaced for being obsolete either, it got replaced because the newer Sonos gear was so good I couldn’t resist the trade-up deal.

I cannot even count how many $1000+ phones I have purchased since 2006. You dont dont see people fuming over Apple disco'ing devices; they just buy new ones. Apple has a trade up program just like Sonos for this very reason. It is a closed ecosystem.

My software company has a mobile app that is constantly evolving. We support current versions of Android and iOS, plus 2 older. This means that your phone has to be able to support 2 year old software. Generally this means that the hardware is no more than 5-7 years old. This is standard practice in the IoT age. The fact that Sonos has continued on this long and can continue to provide updates to very old devices is actually a testament to the brand. Every smart device dies. If you want speakers that never will, then dont buy Sonos or any other smart speaker... And move on.

Similarly, if you simply cannot give access to Location Services to allow your smart devices to configure themselves, then buy dumb devices and a tighter tinfoil hat.

New tech is coming out all the time. A few years back they killed off CDMA where I live. So everyone rolling around with an archaic flip phone had to get with the times or not be on cellular. It happens... **** evolves.

You are buying an internet connected, smart assistant powered, streaming service embedded, whole home audio product. That is arguably the best there is. If you want to stick with the Golden Age, then get a NAS and unplug yourself from the internet. Otherwise, embrace technology and how it changes and keep your expectations in check.

W

Whitenoise

Enthusiast I

I’ve been with Sonos from about the beginning and I have to say I’m pretty happy over-all in the way we have been treated. I never expected my 2006 ZPs to still be working in 2020 and beyond, figured they like any other computerized device I owned back then and if I got five good years it was good.

I never made the error of comparing my Sonos to my conventional speakers or even my dumb stereo gear, they are just too different.

Looking back at 2006, my Sonos gear was the last surviving equipment, TVs, computers, Smart AV gear, and a bunch of other electronic devices went out the door while the Sonos just kept plugging along. The old Sonos didn’t get replaced for being obsolete either, it got replaced because the newer Sonos gear was so good I couldn’t resist the trade-up deal.

I cannot even count how many $1000+ phones I have purchased since 2006. You dont dont see people fuming over Apple disco'ing devices; they just buy new ones. Apple doesnt even have a trade up program.

My company has a mobike app that is constantly evolving. We support current versions of Android and iOS, us 2 older. This means that your phone has to be able to support 2 year old software. Generally this means that the hardware is no more than 5-7 years old. This is standard practice in the IoT age. The fact that Sonos has continued on this long and can continue to provide updates to very old devices is actually a testament to the brand. Every snart device dies. If you want speakers that never will, then dont buy Sonos or any other smart speaker... And move on.

Similarly, if you simply cannot give access to Location Services to allow your smart devices to configure themselves, then buy dumb devices and a tighter tinfoil hat.

New tech is coming out all the time. A few years back they killed off CDMA where I live. So everyone rolling around with an archaic flip phone had to get with the times or not be on cellular. It happens... **** evolves.

You are buying an internet connected, smart assistant powered, streaming service embedded, whole home audio product. That is arguably the best there is. If you want to stick with the Golden Age, then get a NAS and unplug yourself from the internet. Otherwise, embrace technology and how it changes and keep your expectations in check.

So much wrong with this post. I'll just do the simple one..

https://www.apple.com/shop/trade-in