15 years ago, Sonos changed the whole-house audio game. No longer did you have to run a complex grid of speaker wire through your walls and ceiling: with a few wirelessly connected tabletop speakers, you could play music throughout the entire building right from your phone. At least, until Sonos decides to stop supporting them.
That day is now here, and people are livid.
In an email sent to owners of its older speakers, Sonos noted that all products released between 2005 and 2011 will stop receiving software updates in May 2020. Sonos says these older speakers and amplifiers “do not have enough memory or processing power to sustain future innovation,” and that “over time this is likely to disrupt access to services and overall functionality.”
In other words: they’ll keep working, until they don’t. And if you have any newer Sonos speakers hooked up to the system, those won’t receive updates until you disconnect all the old ones. But if you trade them in, you can buy new speakers for 30% off, so it’s a win for everyone Sonos!
People have rushed to Twitter with hot takes, ranging from “Sonos is giving us all the middle finger” to “Sonos deserves credit for supporting these devices as long as they did.” And to an extent, sure: 10 years is a long time to receive software support for an internet-of-things product, if the competition is any indication.
The problem is, 10 years is a pathetic amount of life for a speaker.
Speakers (and other audio equipment, like receivers and amplifiers) are some of the longest-lasting products you can buy. They’re fairly simple, designed to stand the test of time, and don’t change as fast as most technology, so upgrades aren’t necessary.
These are my speakers:
I’ve had them for, coincidentally, almost 10 years—they’ve traveled with me to 6 different apartments and houses, and have integrated with multiple wireless music services as the internet evolved.
When I first got them, I had them hooked up to an old receiver and an Apple AirPort Express, allowing me to AirPlay music from iTunes. Later on, I swapped that out for a Chromecast Audio for use with my Android phone, and these days, I have them hooked up to an Echo Input for voice control with Alexa (plus a newer receiver for Dolby Atmos compatibility).
As I hopped from one cloud service to another, I never had to buy new speakers for hundreds (or thousands) of dollars—all these cloud dongles cost less than a Ben Franklin each (I bought the AirPort Express used). If one service gets shuttered or a new, attractive service pops up that isn’t supported by old gear, I don’t have to worry: my speakers will work with anything I plug them into. There is nothing the manufacturer could do to stop my speakers from playing music, and eBay has plenty of replacement parts should one of my woofers blow out unexpectedly.
The first-generation Play:5—likely the most popular of the products being deprecated by Sonos—has a 3.5 mm (“stereo”) jack, which means that it can at least continue to work as a “dumb” speaker. This was a smart move on Sonos’ part, and builds a future into the product when they know the cloud service won’t last forever.
But here’s the problem: many of their newer speakers have no 3.5mm jack, no terminals for speaker wire—not even Bluetooth. Now that we know where Sonos’ products are headed, the future looks bleak. Once those speakers become deprecated, they won’t become dumb speakers like the first-gen Play:5. They become very pretty, expensive, useless bricks.
Sonos will apparently be releasing some workaround in May that allows these old speakers to run on an isolated network, independent of new speakers running updated software. But you probably won’t get the same whole-house audio that you bought the speakers for, and as Sonos’ service evolves, their cloud capabilities will likely diminish more and more. And if someone decides they don’t want the speakers anymore—as many will—they can either sell them (so someone else can make use of their limited life) or put them into Recycle Mode (which renders them inoperable and unable to be reactivated). That 30% discount requires enabling Recycle Mode, so Sonos is literally pushing people to brick and trash their old devices by making their old devices obsolete.
The company has made a big deal about sustainability this year, releasing their first Sustainability Report and blogging about how they use less plastic in their packaging. But if your products aren’t designed to last, you aren’t being sustainable—you’re contributing to a growing, global, and galling e-waste problem. And a speaker manufacturer should know better.
Update: Following backlash, Sonos has released a statement on their website. It doesn’t really change anything about their approach, or mention anything new (apart from a promise for security updates for old speakers). But it’s…there.
61条评论
These are tech products plain and simple. The software updates are FREE….Sonos doesn’t make a dime developing updates for old products yet have to pay for the Dev costs. Sonos is a for profit company. Think about how long 9-15 years are in the tech sector. The Macs from 9-15 years ago….only two versions (late 2009 and mid 2010) of the iMac and one version of the MacBook Pro (Mid-2010) can run High Sierra. All the other Macs from this time period can only run 10.11 or 10.7. Try finding a printer that works with 10.7! On the High Sierra capable models you can’t get any support outside of the software updates for HS direct from Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider….They are obsolete or vintage. Sonos should offer free software updates for a very specific time period….7 years from date of being discontinued for sale new & should then charge a price-appropriate fee for any updates offered for hardware outside this time range to cost justify the Dev cost making older ones compatible.
scott - 回复
Sonos is a hardware company and Software updates for hardware company should be free an already factored into the cost of the unit for decades to come. Sonos charges a premium for there product. Macintosh stereo equipment will go for decades, Lynn products will go for ever. You pay a premium you should get a premium service.
Bill Martin Boy -
Firstly. Speakers are not a high tech product. Electronic, but not high tech, don’t compare it to software or products that use software. I could make a long and detailed response, but mainly I’m concerned that someone would defend a million dollar corporation to encourage polluting and treating their customers poorly. Should we sympathize because they can’t be expected to do anything decent, ANYTHING that’s not profitable? I curse you to be bombarded with tech bugs and glitches. May gremlins have your circuitry for lunch! May Help Desks abuse you! In the name of Tim the Wizard I so curse you!
cuvtixo -
well I can definitely buy a dell from 2000 and run win 10 on it :/
arta.ekhtiari -
cuvtixo - A simple speaker is not what we have here. These speakers are more than that! In this case they have micro-controllers and even CPU’s. In some cases as smart as a cellphone! As you know cellphones need software! And while a Sonos speaker doesn’t have a screen it still uses it in the form of firmware.
Going back to a simple two wire speaker there is no means to disable it via software here the Sonos can be! as such it’s High Tech!
Dan -
It’s become very apparent how short-sighted and wasteful such an integrated design is.
Brandon Andrews -
An alternative to fooling with all this is to use wired speakers.
Steve - 回复
It has certainly reminded me to not invest in smart speakers for my setup.
Mike Roehr -
Or just keep the “smart” components separate. There are a number of great Raspberry Pi projects that offer wireless multi-room capabilities. If you want to pay a lot for a pre-packaged solution look into SVS or NAD products.
Brandon Andrews -
I have good luck with just a quality sound bar
Ronald Tyler - 回复
Some of us that have worked in “tech” for decades successfully fought this off for as long as we could. Soon, the number of customers that just couldn’t see where this kind of activity was headed outnumbered those that did, and this is just one tip of the iceberg.
This is only one example that people can actually touch and put their hands on. Software licensing was pretty much the first to fall. Take a good objective look at this business model and then look around at everything else. Manufacturers are not just using planned obsolescence but planned failure. Customers can still use obsolete devices but “bricks” are another matter.
More and more devices are joining the pattern. Some 40 year old telephones are still working and can even be connected to cellular service with the right adapters. How many 8 year old cell phones can even still power on?
The definition of “sustainability” (along with MANY other words) are being changed to enable these companies. Too many products are becoming disposable.
Mike Smith - 回复
Maybe it’s time for everyone to consider a very large class action lawsuit! I didn’t spend and would not have spent a fortune for a whole house system if there was any inkling that these would be obsolete after a short time! Using wired speakers is not a viable option and I didn’t pay this much money for an archaic solution…………
gmadonna - 回复
I bought $1000 of Sonos speakers recently. Nothing but TROUBLE. Cannot get speakers in other rooms to function. The music player is crap, for example, on occasion I will shut down my PC, yet, the music CONTINUES to play; Sonos has hijacked my PC! I could give any number of examples, but, you get my drift. Stick with wires, Sonos does not work as advertised for me, and, am I ever so sorry I ever bought their products. ZERO STARS.
Curtis Morgan - 回复
Sounds like you don’t understand how they work. If you use the PC instead of say the app on a smartphone they are still going to behave the same way as designed. You don’t and shouldn’t have to have your PC running for them to keep playing music think of it like a remote control. These are a great and cheap way to have whole house audio without the expense of say a Nuvo system not to mention having to go around retrofitting wire and speakers into the ceilings.
garybrooks -
please ignore garybrooks. Sensible people read “I could give any number of examples” and believe you. The fact that Sonos didn’t stick with including a simple 3.5”mm (or any sort of connector, actually) means they don’t have the customers’, or the environment’s, best interests in mind.
cuvtixo -
Welcome to the IoT revolution. You just HAD to put a processor in everything in sight, didn’t you? And then you expected it to take on more and more responsibility for basic operation of the device, and work with other devices, and provide the same level of performance while supporting more features, and be able to operate from halfway across the world, and still be secure (except usually you ignored that issue from the get-go), and and and…
G David Frye - 回复
I think we did it to ourselves by allowing the companies to do this to us.
We gave up the freedom to use our devices how we choose for the convenience of innovation. Why set up a whole-home sound system with an amplifier, speakers with speaker cables when you can have a rechargeable WiFi connected marvel that responds to voice commands?!
That leaves us with a convenient sound system that has to be connected to the internet and now requires a stream of software updates for your speaker to work. Sure, your current device may still allow your outdated 9-year-old speaker to work, but upgrade your phone and your speaker won’t work anymore.
Now, we are buying speakers that only give us the privilege to use these devices untel the manufacturer decides they’re too old and should be retired.
Say this sentence out loud. “I can’t play music anymore because my speaker doesn’t have enough memory.”
We did it to ourselves by allowing these companies to do this to us.
Stephen LeMay - 回复
I have only a small Sonos Play:3 as a bedroom clock radio and music player. It is all I need from this company, and I hope it lasts as long as I do (I’m 69). I will never talk to no bot (“smart” is a misnomer and a lie). The Sonos system loses an older operating system with virtually every upgrade. I can understand maintenance and feature upgrades, but honorable companies will maintain usablity with legacy products! I am one who uses my technology for as long as it is useful - for example I used an iPhone 4 until Apple forced me to upgrade, then a 5s until its battery swelled up. But the Sonos app stopped working with the 4 long before Apple obsoleted it! I still use the iPhone 4 as a music player and internet radio player.
I hope my Sonos PLAY:3 remains a reliable bedroom clock radio ong fter the rst of the Sonos family has moved on from my simple needs. But for sure, Sonos will not get another dime from me. I don’t need or want their upgrades; I like what I have now.
loujudson - 回复
OK, yes, Sonos initially announced that they would be stopping updates for older products and DID offer incentives with 30% off new products with trade-ins. However, Sonos’ CEO clearly heard what consumers were saying and he sent out an apology to Sonos customers days after this was originally announced and reversed their statement claiming they will continue updates and features as long as possible as well as bug fixes.
I’ve owned Sonos’ products since 2008 and was initially surprised by this claim. I considered working for Sonos when I got their products and had some interactions with their support staff. I was blown away with their responsiveness as well as their products. They just keep getting better and better.
Apple has stopped updates for much younger products. Sonos is NOT abandoning their customers older products. They are not bricking them. I’d post the email but there’s not enough space in the comment for it. Peace, all.
bill - 回复
If you want hi fidelity, wire is the only way to go. My bi-amped ADS 1230’s are 40 years old and no wireless speakers of today even comes close reproducing the soundstage, imaging, and dynamic range these speakers can. Keep it simple and obsolescence will never be an issue.
Harry MacArthur - 回复
Stevie Wonder could have seen this coming. Any “smart speaker” that requires you use a proprietary app and you cannot connect to directly with Bluetooth or a cable will eventually not be supported.
Roscoe - 回复
The funniest thing is someone saying they paid thousands of dollars for a traditional speaker. Probably also paid 100s for “gold digital cables”..
Brian - 回复
Many years ago, before “IoT” was a thing, there were small, low res digital picture frames which could connect to a service. You could upload pictures of your kids, and the grandparents frame would automatically fetch and display them. Kodak killed the service, and thus along with it every digital frame that depended on said service.
Sadly, nothing has changed. But watching that happen made me incredibly wary of any device that cannot function if (when) the company that made it decides to retire/terminate the service - bricking the hardware I paid for, still own, and still use.
I like my government small and far from my daily life. This might be a case where legislation requiring makers of IoT devices who obsolete the service must, before shutdown, a) open source the device firmware, along with the software tools necessary to update said firmware b) open source the server software so that owners or others can host the service software at their own risk for themselves or others. No more hiding behind the DMCA.
Rick Hornsby - 回复
I have a set of Heathkit speakers that are 46 years old and still sound great, of course the software updates consist of keeping them clean, so they should be good for several more decades.
Harold - 回复
I was really annoyed when I saw that as well. None of my Sonos devices are impacted yet, although they are never going to support AirPlay 2 and have stopped supporting control from the iOS lock screen. This has made me extremely hesitant to consider upgrading though; I can accept not getting new features, but having features I paid (a lot) for just stop working isn’t acceptable. Sadly, I moved to these speakers when the Squeezebox was discontinued, but at least that had open-source server software.
james - 回复
This is exactly why I’ve never bought a Sonos speaker or any smart speaker that doesn’t have an AUX in. 3.5 IN allows them to be “regular” powered speakers and will last until the speakers die.
Churros - 回复
I’m still using DCM Time Window speakers, a Kenwood turntable and an Apt-Holman preamp that I bought in 1980.
That’s the difference between reputable hi-fi companies (even if they don’t exist anymore) and computer companies.
These computer companies, Apple included, preach sustainability because they slightly reduce the amount of plastic or don’t use arsenic or mercury, but they’re completely hypocritical because they purposely design their hardware so it has to be replaced.
My late 2008 MacBook Pro was great: battery, memory and storage could be replaced/upgraded easily by the end user. My late 2016 sucks. Apple wants $450 just to replace the battery.
Did Sonos warn people in advance that they’d only support the products for a fixed amount of time? I didn’t think so. I smell a class action lawsuit. It’s one thing if they would continue to work on the old software, but apparently, they won’t.
mbrooks - 回复
To be fair, Sonos has a “dongle” for dumb speakers n the form of the ZP80/ZP90/Connect or the new Port, some of which were also “legacied”. Of course this dongle cost $300-400 compared to $45 for a Chromecast Audio…. It also has analog in (via ADC) along with a DAC for output so Its more that a simple Chromecast Audio, but still hideously priced for what it is.
Google also killed off said Chromecast Audio in just a fraction of the time Sonos supported the ZP80/90…. but a $45 device is more palatable to lose.
My favourite device is still squeezebox player…but. it was open source and had a software player so its something a RPi can support fairly well. It still lives on.
33buddyrich - 回复
I could see them possibly releasing speakers with modular electronics that you can swap out, but that would likely increase production cost and may not fit their business model.
My parents still have a pair of Altec speakers from the 70s. I’m sure they’ll still sound great.
The problem with modern tech is that everything is now a computer, with an operating system, software, and connectivity standards with a certain lifespan.
That said, 9-15 years of updates is not unreasonable.
Allen - 回复
Sure would and should make one think before investing in Sonos equipment. This is a New Coke decision on their part.
jpprice - 回复
Surely Sonos could get with Fixit for DIY’rs or some third party shop and set up an upgrade program. Surely the guts can be swapped or clipped in a way to offer extended life to the folks who actually funded the startup. My units are first year “friends and family” purchases. Let’s get creative!
ktyhwkpete - 回复
I wonder if there is a way to “retrofit” an analog input between the processor and the audio amplifier. If that is not possible you could always still use the actual (analog) speaker element and connect it to a traditional external audio amplifier. The amplifier electronic is cheap compared to the mechanical speaker
ukoch -
Removing the ability to recycle them as “dumb” speakers was a ##&&% move. At least if you don’t know how to optimize software and make it fit the lower-spec’d smart controllers, let people use them as nice-sounding units.
cubytus - 回复
I’m not sure I really grasp the issue Here. It looks like speakers will continue to work after end of life. I have old systems running everything from Unix and CP/M to windows 3.11, 98, XP… none with updates. An old box Mac that Apple says shouldn’t be able to function any more; but still does! Just had to replace the screen inside it (twice). But ticking along just fine.
is there something I’m missing? Speakers are speakers. As long as they play sound I’m not sure what the issue is.
John clark - 回复
These are not just speakers. They are an ecosystem of connected devices, that control audio playback from many sources and ensure that audio can be played in unison around a home without any telltale lag or mis-syncing. The issue isn’t the actual boxes themselves d their ability to play audio, it the increased processing power and memory required by the many services this company allows to connect to its system.
Harry Walden -
Yes, SPEAKERS (in the strict sense of loudspeakers only) do last a long time. I still have a pair of Tannoy Dual Concentrics from the 1970s and they continue to work just fine. Electronics are a different matter and while it is entirely possible that Sonos’ reasons are valid (e.g. too little memory for where they are going), it is also a good reason to buy separate components as opposed to integrated streaming/amplification/loudspeakers.
I learned my lesson from owning one of the PowerPC iMacs. I had to junk it and its perfectly operational high quality display when Apple went to Intel processors. Now I happily use a Mac Mini (from 2012) with a high quality Dell monitor. If I have to junk the Mini, the rest is still good. Ditto with my most expensive audio equipment - all components.
LMTRAISTER - 回复
I have about $2500 worth of SONOS products. I doubt very much that I will ever buy anything new from them again.
kdpainter - 回复
It’s hypocritical to preach sustainability while bricking devices made in the 21st century. So what if you can’t Alexa, Siri, Cortana and Google everything? As long as you can wirelessly or wired connect to the Internet and stream music, how robust a processor does that take? My Chromecast Audios can do it at a fraction of the cost of Sonos.
William Edger - 回复
William, while voice assistants do require extra processing power, these do not exist and cannot be retrofitted into the Sonos devices being deemed “legacy”. The issue is the increased processing power and memory required by the many and various streaming services that Sonos want to allow its users to connect with. BTW, do you know the processing and memory specs of your Chromecast device (I have no clue)? Being a much newer device, it is possible it is higher than these older Sonos products that were introduced years earlier.
Harry Walden -
I don’t think people understand how the 3.5mm input jack on a Sonos device works. It doesn’t work like plugging headphones into your source, in that the speaker it is attached too immediately plays that sound - it is a line in source that still needs to be controlled by the Sonos controller (app).
Harry Walden - 回复
I am still using a pair of Pioneer CS-88 speakers that were purchased in the early 70’s. Unfortunately my youngest son still has my CS-99’s That were purchased in 1971. Both are still working. I have never opted in to the whole house setup and probably never will. And I still play vinyl on my turntable but somewhere along the way I lost my tape recorder. Old technology was generally built to last, unlike todays.
protagonistic - 回复
Given Harry Walden’s comment that there is a controller in the older Sonos speakers that requires software to take the input from the line-in jack, would some smart someone post an ifixit tutorial on how to lobotomize the controller and render the speaker(s) dumb and functional? I am not an audiophile who understands whether the Sonos controller and app (software) somehow add an appreciable enhancement to the sound quality produced by the speaker(s) or whether they are predominantly tasked with the wirelessness function. I would guess the latter, but if there is some serious audio advantage produced by the controller —I would like to hear it. Also, if someone “bricks” their speaker, wouldn’t a lobotomy of the controller also work (no brain = no brick)?
beezecorp - 回复
My stereo speakers were made in the 60’s. They were repaired once - new foam between cone and frame about 15 years ago. No smart speakers for me. They still sound as great as they did when I got them. Thank you Dr. Henry Kloss for your 1968 Advent 2-way loudspeakers! They are the kind of workhorses that audiophiles dream about. See review: https://www.stereophile.com/standloudspe....
Glenn Tiedemann - 回复
Just use wired speakers hooked up to a receiver that has all your components hard wired in, CD, DVD, even Cassette and turntable! Your Grandchildren’s, Grandchildren will still be able to use it. Mine are over 30 years old and sound great. Sure I have to get up off my butt to change the song, but is that such a bad thing? If people are really serious about global warming then they should be purchasing electronics once or twice a lifetime, not every 2 years. Anything these “tech” companies say about their “commitment to the environment” is pure non-sense. People can vote with their pocketbooks but most are far to lazy to do so.
jmk - 回复
&&^&^$^ @%^$$@$# plain and simple…
moonridge2001 - 回复
This kind of thing is not exactly news. With OnStar, GM vehicles can be bricked remotely even if the owner doesn’t have a subscription. Oh, and conversations can be listened in on. I removed the OnStar box and Blutooth as well as the integrated GPS stopped working. I’m giving up all of my ‘connected’ devices one by one. I’m even having serious thoughts about ditching my cell phone - I’d rather give the nearly $100 a month to charity (or buy alcohol). My next car is going to be a pre-1966 Valiant or VW. If it comes with a radio, I’m removing it. Fixing technology has paid for my house and still brings in some extra cash so it’s great, but now, as far as using it myself, “familiarity breeds contempt.”
ThosD - 回复
Smart choices my man.
Rbrown7784 -
Reference to Scott’s comment:
Apple’s planned obsolescence is based on changes in the hardware and how the operating system responds to it and what it think it needs to work efficiently. I have a 2010 Macbook Pro and I am running Catalina on it. Your argument about running 10.7 may have some valid points, but the computer will still work regardless of the whether or not the manufacturer will support it or not. Sonos is basically saying “screw you” to it’s legacy customers.
If you are running 10.7 on a Mac these days then you probably have the same printer from that same time period. My friend bought a HP laser printer and they did not provide appropriate drivers to run on his iMac. We used Cups driver that came with the OS and ghost script shell commands during the boot process and this worked for many years.
rpm48 - 回复
No, his comment about 10.7 doesn’t have any valid points! You are being entirely too gentle and nice. 'OTOH if you checked the end of the article, it links to an apology by the CEO on the Sonos website, so give them some credit for that. As you found out, Open Source software provides solutions in software, but software products are really in no way comparable to hardware. I mean, if I suggested people saw open large holes in the speakers and rewire the speakers, assuming everyone has tool like soldering irons (and the skill to use them!), I think most people would agree that’s an unreasonable ask of all customers. Uploading a software fix is different. If there are open source firmware solutions, and in Sonos’ case I would even say hacks from copyright-infringing versions of the firmware are justified here (to get legacy speakers and new speakers to work together). If they don’t want such things to happen, they should include the 3.5mm output again. Cheap bastards!
cuvtixo -
I still use my Bose 901 speakers I bought in the 70’s, still work like a champ.
Rbrown7784 - 回复
Thanks to ifixit for the perspective of ownership specifically on a digital tip.
My experiences HP Windows mobile X3 Elite a handset ahead of its time Microsoft history of half heartedly supporting devices and customers across their digital realms.
Cloud based subscription model I reject it so should you it's unsustainable.
Devonian Wrighton - 回复
If Sonos wants to walk away from a product then the least they could do is one last firmware update that allows the software and hardware to be open sourced. Allow the tinkerers and the DIY mavens of the world a chance to re-purpose the product and breath new life into it. Just because they don’t want to support it doesn’t mean it has to die with them.
Sean Ali - 回复
it is impressive they supported them for 10 years, but they werent thinkin ahead they probably didnt think theyd b one of the few iot speakers that would fall thru the cracks n become a successful thing, if they had anticipated that maybe they would have integrated some redundancy, like maybe keeping the 3.5mm audio jack….wtf were they thinkin removing that, that and not including an extremely cheap off the shelf ready to go bluetooth module, these speakers jus arent exactly all that
Travis Miller - 回复
if u do have problems with the speaker take it apart n simoly throw in a little , literally the size of a quarter ,cheap few cent audio amp n jus have the input either mounted to the back or u could jus dangle the wire out the back if u wanted but that all depends on how good or bad u are with keepin ur positives n negatives from shortin…its basically as easy as that for somethin like this
Travis Miller - 回复
Their new products are likely constructed to fail sooner.
ialwaysfixit - 回复
yeah I use an app from the 1990’s and some speakers I got, these will continue to last for decades longer the fact that you have to brick the device is bull
Jacob Hotaling - 回复
Is it Logitech Media Server?
Brandon Andrews -
I bought a pair of Logitech Z 2300 2,1 speakers in about 2005. As of now in 2020 they’re still going strong, still sound great. I plugged them in when I bought them and they’re still plugged in with maybe 3 or 4 interuptions over all those years. Not bad for $150.
Geo Thomas - 回复
The speaker might last decades but the IOT computer that they stuck in there that's not getting updates waiting for some vulnerability is not, it's a good thing we got rid of those pesky headphone jacks and line inputs.
Ultimately the manufacturers just wanna dump off a product and don't wanna have to go through the support of “Windows updates” for their products. They rather have you buy more rather than to like what you have and buy more.
imark7777777 - 回复
A.k.a. Hardware subscription.
imark7777777 -
The link from their CEO is 404 now.
Private Ryan - 回复