Yes, You Can Invest In Sonos Today

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Yes, you can invest in Sonos with confidence despite what you might read in this community regarding issues with the new Sonos app. Let me explain…

Generically speaking any updated and/or re-built software that has been generational is primarily designed with the latest gear and future iterations in mind. However, software engineers also build in backwards compatibility so as not to leave behind and/or cause problems for customers who have already invested in the company’s products.

Sonos, while succeeding in some areas of the Sonos App ground-up refresh; failed in others, such as app stability and feature retention. Thus, causing pain for many of its loyal customers.

Replacing missing features is being addressed on a steady pace. However, IMO those should not concern a new buyer as quite frankly you can’t miss what you never experienced/had. The app overall performs as it should. 🙂

Having said that there will be those that say missing features should concern a new investor in Sonos gear. While there is some truth in that statement I remember the following.

When I first invested in Sonos my objective was to have a wireless whole-home music system without wires and not have to be tethered to one room that contained my AV stereo. I wanted to be able to listen to my music stored on my device in any room. In fact many of the features of Sonos today were not available. IMO the features that are available today have just made a great music listening experience even better.

However, as I said earlier those missing features are being addressed. Who knows…the feature you may be most interested in may have already been re-added to the new Sonos app. 😉

I’ve included a video of how the new Sonos App performs on my device (iPhone 15 ProMax). BTW…I’m quite pleased with the app performance and features!

Speaking of app stability. The Sonos app is also designed with end-user device OS duality in that it must function in iOS and Android. Note: I’ll not speak on PC platforms such as MacOS and Windows in this post as they require/deserve their own conversation.

Both iOS and Android users have experienced stability issues of a sort with the new app, some more than others. An important point to remember when investing in Sonos is that it requires a stable and robust home network to function properly. Sonos is very “chatty” in that it is constantly communicating across your network over Wi-Fi. In the past and even today in certain situations Sonos can compensate for less than perfect networks through a process called the SonosNet.

The SonosNet is created by wiring a Sonos product (other than a sub or speaker used as a surround in home theater) directly to your router. In doing so the SonosNet creates a proprietary Wi-FI signal that only a Sonos product can join. In essence Sonos is walled-off from your home WiFi and thus not subject to any (well most) short-comings found therein.

That said the SonosNet should resolve any Wi-Fi issues that may plague a less than perfect home WiFi system. In the pass that was mostly true. Sonos is now moving away from the SonosNet with its newer products due to improved networking gear offered by manufacturers.

The SonosNet can still be created but some current and future Sonos products are not and will not be able to join the SonosNet. Therefore, having a stable Wi-Fi network will be paramount to using Sonos going forward. Note: Sonos is a much more complicated connection on your network than your cell phone.😊

So how does all that that was just said relate to problems with the Sonos App today? The network issues in ones Wi-Fi were most likely present before the new Sonos App was introduced. However, the new Sonos App has exposed those short comings. It will take time for Sonos to figure–out how to compensate as every network configuration can’t be accounted for. There are also some network components that Sonos will absolutely not work on. Sonos also knows that every end-user is not network savvy.

In the interim there is Sonos Tech Support which can with your permission have you run a diagnostic for network analysis and your Sonos system in general. There is also this community to help you work through network issues. I’ll include links to network configurations that Sonos does and does not work on.

What to buy? As a new investor in Sonos gear click this link to see what Sonos products work with the new Sonos app only; and those that can work with the Sonos app and a version called Sonos S1 (older and/or discontinued products). If you are building a new system there are only two products that I would recommend that works on the new Sonos app and Sonos S1. I’ve taken the liberty to block-out those components you’ll find in the link; with both Sonos app/S1 compatibility, leaving only the Amp and Port as recommended products.

Conclusion. I hope I have provided information that belays your fears and/or allows you to get-off-the-fence and pull the trigger to purchase and invest in Sonos. That said Sonos does offer a no questions asked generous return policy on average up to 30 days. Your window of return may be more based upon your countries consumer law(s). You can always purchase locally that has the advantage of a speedier return if needed.

As I promised what follows is the video of how the new Sonos app performs for me. My network consists of three Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12 routers configured in a proprietary Asus AI Mesh with an Ethernet Backhaul. I share this information as I have no drops, missing speakers, voice assistant or music streaming issues. My Sonos consists of 31 units. That’s’ a lot of chatter for my network to handle in addition to my other Wi-Fi devices. 😅

Networking

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press250

Prodigy III

And where would you place devices like Echo? Bluesound? WiiM? Yamaha Musiccast?

Hi @Kumar, spot check of contemporary products …

Amazon Echo = 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
Bluesound = 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)
WiiM = 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)
Yamaha = 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)

802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) includes a number of notable bandwidth improvements, for example: 256-QAM, improved MIMO, standardized 40/80/160MHz channel widths, and standardized beamforming.

almazri

Prodigy I

And where would you place devices like Echo? Bluesound? WiiM? Yamaha Musiccast?

Hi @Kumar, spot check of contemporary products …

Amazon Echo = 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
Bluesound = 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)
WiiM = 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)
Yamaha = 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)

802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) includes a number of notable bandwidth improvements, for example: 256-QAM, improved MIMO, standardized 40/80/160MHz channel widths, and standardized beamforming.

So it seems that buying products years after they have been released or even ikea products that are built on older Sonos platforms (looking at my 5! 802.11a IKEA lamps and bookshelf gen 1) is not a good idea as the tech inside is already insanely old. I like the lamps at least. 😔

I

Ian_S

Prodigy III

You can also invest in Crypto today, no doubt with (misplaced) confidence. Just like Crypto, the function (value) of your Sonos (investment) may go, up or down, or even be completely wiped out due to forces beyond your control. Please invest wisely and only what you can afford to lose. And as Geoff Stelling will no doubt tell you, when the fun stops, stop.

It’s very much buyer beware right now. If you are buying a single Sonos speaker to use from Spotify, or a TV soundbar just for watching TV, then there’s a fair to middling chance you’ll get past the setup phase and never need to bother with the new Sonos App again and just use your TV or Spotify account.

If you’re contemplating Sonos right now as a more complex multi-room audio service where you can enjoy an evening with friends curating playlists over a few beers or bottles of wine, then you’ll be quite disappointed at the current lack of queue editing that may take several more months to appear, if you manage to get it all working how you want. In this scenario I would wait.

Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

A big problem, not just for Sonos, is regulatory compliance and particularly the FCC that will drive you to tears even for simple things like switching to a newer version of the WiFi card in your device.

Add in the antique Linus system Sonos is using (I think, haven't looked at the GPL stuff recently) and the effort to support new devices using it and keeping current is hard.

A interesting tidbit I ran across with the irrigation controller for my yard that offers WiFi. You have choices of plug-in WiFi devices so you could simply update the WiFi plug-in device with no certification changes needed. Similar with a laptop computer, you can often easily swap out the WiFi card to get new capabilities.

almazri

Prodigy I

Back on planet earth, Sonos missed the promised bi weekly app update today. Makes me really warm and fuzzy thinking anbout investing in more Sonos units. Not.

K

Kumar

Hi @Kumar, spot check of contemporary products …

Amazon Echo = 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
Bluesound = 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)
WiiM = 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)
Yamaha = 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)

802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) includes a number of notable bandwidth improvements, for example: 256-QAM, improved MIMO, standardized 40/80/160MHz channel widths, and standardized beamforming.

@press250 thank you.

This suggests that my lowly Echo Show units are best at exploiting advances in WiFi tech. I see this in operation, so should not be a surprise.

Preceding posts also suggest that the reliance by Sonos on its decades old wireless tech is now overhead that can’t be gotten rid of, that has now become a burden to carry as well.

But what do I know; as a Sonos apologist rudely told me once, I know little about computer architecture or about networking.

But I do know more than many here may do, about how good wired legacy audiophile kit sounds when playing well recorded music flawlessly, on demand, so there is that. A more relevant attribute, I reckon.

AjTrek1Author

FYI, I inserted the table I mistakenly left out of my second post detailing past, present and future (?) WiFi standards. Sorry for the omission.

One more point…

My gear is real world! So yes I do take issue with that characterization.

I bought my three Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12’s from a real store and a real online retailer (Micro-Center and Amazon respectively). The 200 feet of Ethernet cable used as backhaul to connect my mesh was purchased from Home Depot (a real store). I had BestBuy Geek Squad make the Ethernet runs and install the connectors (which last I checked are real technicians for what they do).

However, all said...at the end-of-the-day they’re just WiFi 6e routers (in Mesh configuration) that are backward compatible to 802.11a (which no one in the consumer market is likely to use). Furthermore, I didn’t purchase my system just for Sonos. I have a lot of Wi-Fi dependent gear that can’t be wired to a router. So, yes I require a network that can handle the traffic I throw at it including Sonos.

This is to anyone...in today's real world even if you’re not using Sonos. In general if your router is limited to dual bands of 2.4Ghz x 1 and 5Ghz x 1 you will eventually run into problems. *

In today's real world your router should be Tri-Band. At the very least offering 2.4Ghz x 1 and 5Ghz x 2 or 2.4Ghz x 1 and 5Ghz x 1 and 6Ghz x1. The 3rd band is important as it can be used as a “wireless backhaul” in Mesh networks to seamless connect all nodes.

One last comment….here in the USA even ISP’s are offering Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6 routers. That’s all folks! 🙂

* Dual Band Wi-Fi 6 routers are the exception; however, a Tri-Band is always a better consumer choice. See inexpensive Tri-band routers at this link. Remember more expensive routers typically have better processors that offer improved performance (i.e throughput).

Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.

E

ernmalley

Avid Contributor I

press250 wrote...
The point here is that none of the improvements baked into Wi-Fi 6 or 7 can be used with Sonos devices

Good point.

However, even though the old speakers can’t take advantage of the new WiFi 6 or 7 standards, I suspect that newer routers still provide advantages over older ones regardless of the WiFi standards being used - e.g. faster CPU’s, better antennas, better coverage via meshing. In general, the newer and higher-spec routers will provide a more stable network environment than old routers. Hence the need for Sonos to do plenty of testing on the old crappy stuff, because that is what is out there in the wild.

press250

Prodigy III

However, even though the old speakers can’t take advantage of the new WiFi 6 or 7 standards, I suspect that newer routers still provide advantages over older ones regardless of the WiFi standards being used - e.g. faster CPU’s, better antennas, better coverage via meshing.

A faster CPU in the Wi-Fi router makes no difference when operating in backward compatibility for the legacy protocols like Wi-Fi 4 and 5. And all contemporary routers use internal antennas that are inferior to the external antennas used in ‘old’ routers. Mesh Wi-Fi is absolutely a win, tho’ it doesn’t improve things in a testing environment where a single unit is employed.

Again, the only point I’m making is that testing with contemporary routers is legit, and it is okay if Sonos does not hunt down old gear for testing. The bad news is that all the significant improvements in Wi-Fi over the past decade won’t help your Sonos gear at all.

AjTrek1Author

press250 wrote...

The point here is that none of the improvements baked into Wi-Fi 6 or 7 can be used with Sonos devices

Good point.

However, even though the old speakers can’t take advantage of the new WiFi 6 or 7 standards, I suspect that newer routers still provide advantages over older ones regardless of the WiFi standards being used - e.g. faster CPU’s, better antennas, better coverage via meshing. In general, the newer and higher-spec routers will provide a more stable network environment than old routers. Hence the need for Sonos to do plenty of testing on the old crappy stuff, because that is what is out there in the wild.

More about WiFi 6 benefits regardless of whether or not Sonos is involved:

WiFi 6 increases the number of streams to a new high of 12 across the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, whereas WiFi 5 has a limit of 8 in a dual band configuration. This increase of streams provides higher connection speed, and your client devices have more paths to communicate with your WiFi router.
If you don't have a Wi-Fi 6 router already, you might need to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6 for these reasons: Too many devices. The more devices you have, the more congested your network. If your router's hooked up to multiple laptops, phones, tablets, and smart TVs, you'll definitely benefit from a Wi-Fi 6 connection.

Use your own judgment regarding how Sonos might directly or indirectly benefit with a WiFi 6 capable router installed on your network.

Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.

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