Skip to main content

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

Hi @Ian_S and @Kumar, I think the two of you are in violent agreement? While some of the current issues might be resolved in an “all wired Ethernet” setup, certainly other issues would remain.

Just as an aside note which takes a slightly different turn in this thread….

I’ve seen many posts in this community wherein the OP states up front

  • “It’s not my network as I have good internet”

I’d suspect that most in this thread know that statement bluntly indicates that the OP doesn’t know the difference between what their ISP provides coming into their home as internet access; and how that is handled by their router which comprises their internal network.

Most ISP’s are leading with one (1) Gigabit upload/download service plans into an OP’s home (although lessor plans are available). What the OP doesn’t understand is that their router may not be capable of providing 1 Gigabit upload/download over Wi-Fi. They don’t realize that the 1 Gigabit is only guaranteed for devices wired to their router.

One (1) Gigabit upload/download may only translate to 940/940 upload/download which is very good in an ideal situation. I’d suspect that most are getting less which is probably closer to 850/850 upload/download in an ideal situation; and that’s just what the router can muster with no outside/internal interference. Factor in interference from any source and then add “chatty” Sonos to that mix...well you know what can occur.

It difficult (and sometimes impossible) to explain the difference between their internet service upload/download at speed “X” vs what their router is capable of delivering. However, c’est la vie!

Looking at all the above, maybe using an additional access point (not a router) might be useful. A shiny new one with all the latest features with all your new devices connected to it using one SSID and a second one on a different SSID, either just an older one from the junk box or a new one with any Sonos conflicting features disabled for Sonos devices. Kind of like I’m currently doing by using Sonosnet for my Sonos data and my v6 AP for everything else.

The different SSIDs are not an issue in themselves but you need to insure your router blends them into a single local LAN with no filtering between them or the wired connections.

Many should be able to try the junk box approach. If you have an old, discarded WiFi router, many of them can be switched from router mode to Access Point mode, Some by simply connecting the incoming Ethernet to a LAN port instead of the WAN port and disabling the DHCP server. 

 

Once the current app update mess stabilizes I will be moving off Sonosnet, by un-wiring my several connected devices and transitioning to WiFi. I will be using the dual AP / SSID option for that here. I’m not happy to be leaving Sonosnet / wired connections and umping a lot of unwanted traffic on my overcrowded air waves, but it really looks like Sonos over WiFi is the only long-term viable option and I’m not getting any younger or sharper so I want to fight the glitches before I get older.

On the plus side I’ll get a lot of new and improved features and hopefully more capable inter-Sonos communication using the new WiFi compared to the old Sonosnet.

I also sent Sonos a suggestion to add the option to a wired to Ethernet Sonos device that would allow you to disable just the Sonosnet functions while keeping the radio (including the HT 5 GHz link) active. Seems like a simple thing to do but behind the scenes it might be far more complicated.

 

​​​I’d suspect that most in this thread know that statement bluntly indicates that the OP doesn’t know the difference between what their ISP provides coming into their home as internet access; and how that is handled by their router which comprises their internal network.


No I dont automatically assume this. Why is it that you think so? 

Just as an aside note which takes a slightly different turn in this thread….

I’ve seen many posts in this community wherein the OP states up front

  • “It’s not my network as I have good internet”

I’d suspect that most in this thread know that statement bluntly indicates that the OP doesn’t know the difference between what their ISP provides coming into their home as internet access; and how that is handled by their router which comprises their internal network.

Most ISP’s are leading with one (1) Gigabit upload/download service plans into an OP’s home (although lessor plans are available). What the OP doesn’t understand is that their router may not be capable of providing 1 Gigabit upload/download over Wi-Fi. They don’t realize that the 1 Gigabit is only guaranteed for devices wired to their router.

One (1) Gigabit upload/download may only translate to 940/940 upload/download which is very good in an ideal situation. I’d suspect that most are getting less which is probably closer to 850/850 upload/download in an ideal situation; and that’s just what the router can muster with no outside/internal interference. Factor in interference from any source and then add “chatty” Sonos to that mix...well you know what can occur.

It difficult (and sometimes impossible) to explain the difference between their internet service upload/download at speed “X” vs what their router is capable of delivering. However, c’est la vie!

 

This is true, but there is also the common comment that “none of my other internet devices have issues”.  If you have no problem streaming 4k video, why do the interment speakers have issues?  Streaming video to a single source will use a rather larger buffer so that it can more seamlessly deal with any slow down or interruption in the data coming in.  Sonos does not build up that larger buffer, partially because some sources, like TV and aux input, are expected to play near immediately and thus no time to build up a buffer.  The other reason is that Sonos needs to be able to group/ungroup different rooms on the fly, which means large buffers can’t be built up on each device. As a counter example, Amazon echo devices do not have TV/aux input sources for group playback, and grouping cannot be changed midstream.

Depends on your view of flawlessly I guess!! Given that we’re still in the dark as to what is at the core of all the new problems it’s impossible to know or say if an all wired solution would be ok… not possible though if you have a TV surround setup though, or portables, or Era’s without dongles… 

Why do you say it's not possible on a TV surround setup? One can wire their soundbar, surrounds and subs. They can also wire the soundbar (which won't connect to a 5Ghz Wi-Fi), turn its Wi-Fi off and connect surrounds and sub to their 5Ghz Wi-Fi. My setup is like that and works fine (WM:3 for the surrounds).

 

The other reason is that Sonos needs to be able to group/ungroup different rooms on the fly, which means large buffers can’t be built up on each device.

Why does grouping or ungrouping preclude building up a large buffer? It can use it or empty it instantly if needed?

I did a test some time back and unplugged my NAS and the track played on until the end, a good few minutes later.

Terms & ConditionsCookie settings