Summary
For all of Sonos' success in the audio community, it also receives a decent amount of unfair criticism, regardless of what it does. However, the recent release of their new app has made all those previous comments seem minuscule. What was meant to be a monumental upgrade to the whole Sonos user base turned into a headache that made the basic functionality of the Sonos app unusable.
While their recent products like theSonos Ace, Move 2, and Era 300 have made quite a splash in the audio community, Sonos' software has really let them down. With a price point as high as it is on Sonos products, you may imagine the disappointment Sonos users felt when the new app was released, and it essentially bricked their sound systems for a day.
What’s Wrong With The New App?
The new version of the app was released back in May to coincide with the release of the Sonos Ace, but many Sonos speaker users lost most of the functionality that made the app worth using at all, including playing music for some time. Every companion app has its ups and downs, but with how well Sonos has done for so long, this update has gone awry and has made die-hard Sonos fans incredibly angry.
In the months in between, Sonos has made multiple updates to the new app to quell some of these problems. While the app has gotten more stable and people can play music through it again, it is still not at all to the same point that the old app was, causing many people to call for the re-release of the old app to make all their problems disappear.
Tech Layoffs Continue
Because of this significant blunder, Sonos has had to terminate 7% of its workforce, making them another victim of the mass tech layoffs that we have seen all around the industry this year. The most disappointing thing about these layoffs is the fact that employees who might not have anything to do with the project are feeling the pain of it and not the management.
Is The Old App Coming Back?
Bringing the old app back seems like the simplest solution, but according to the Sonos CEO, that possibility is becoming less likely every day. Patrick Spence (Sonos CEO) said at a Q&A that he had been hopeful of releasing the old app as an alternative, but the amount of integration that goes into the app, hardware, and cloud software would make the problems worse rather than better.
Almost immediately after that Q&A, Sonos received even more criticism, with fans saying that a company as big and powerful as Sonos could not roll back a few updates and re-release the old app.
While that is probably true, it doesn’t change the fact that Sonos is not planning on re-releasing the old app anytime soon. Sonos users are stuck with it until they figure out how to make this new version more stable.
What Does This Mean For The Audio Community
While this app fiasco is undoubtedly damaging to Sonos' excellent reputation, we don’t think it will be the final nail in the coffin. With the release of the Sonos Ace, Move 2, and Era 300 this year, Sonos has proven with its hardware why it already has an excellent reputation. Even if the software sucks for the next couple of months, or however long it takes for them to figure it out, there is still going to be a die-hard section of Sonos fans that are willing to stick it through.
Of course, we have seen strange things happen in recent years, so if this is the end of Sonos as we know it, the years after will be very exciting to see who takes its place. Whether it be the Sonos team under a different name, like howAustrian Audioformed out of the ashes of AKG, or a brand new audio company that takes the mantle, we will surely not be short of high-quality audio options.
Related Products
Sonos Ace
The Sonos Ace is the first headphone from legendary home audio brand Sonos, and the performance lives up to their reputation handily. Experience every frequency with superior precision and clarity. Maximize your immersion with lossless streaming, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and world-class Active Noise Cancellation. Hear what’s going around you with Aware mode. Enjoy up to 30 hours of battery life, exceptional comfort, and flawlessly clear calls.
Sonos Era 300
The Sonos Era 300 is an incredible sounding smart speaker that brings top-tier sound and smart functionality through Alexa voice assistant. It has support for Dolby Atmos and can automatically adjust the EQ according to where it has been placed in the house. Along with Alexa, it also supports Apple AirPlay 2 and can be paired with another Era 300 for a stereo experience.
Sonos Move
Unleash your listening experience with Move 2. Upgraded inside and out, this portable powerhouse puts heart-pumping stereo sound wherever you want it. Enjoy up to 24 hours of nonstop playback. Rated IP56, this speaker is dust—and water-resistant, making it perfect for outdoor use.
FAQ
Q: Why is Sonos so special?
Not only does Sonos deliver incredible sound quality across its range of its offerings, but when its app is working, the seamless functionality that Sonos offers all around the house is unrivaled by its competitors.
Q: Is it worth investing in Sonos?
While the recent news has made the reliability of Sonos seem a bit unstable, it is hard to fault their sound quality if you are looking for a sound system that is worth investing in. We are still holding out hope for Sonos to turn it around and make these speakers the same incredible investment that they once were.
