Source
r/sonos•
EclipseOS

Left dissapointed after the Sonos Q3 2019 event

Coming into this event, I was hyped for weeks. I couldn't wait to see what Sonos would release. When the first rumors came out about the products we expected would be released, my excitement shot up even more. The Move looked impressive, and the One SL and what was at the time called the "Connect 2" both looked like good updates to the product line.

When I saw there was Sonos news today, I was ecstatic. I rushed to read everything I could find about the new products, but came away dissapointed.

The One SL is a decent replacement to the Play:1, but it's still overpriced in comparison to the recently-released One Gen 2. SL should of been $50 cheaper, not $20. At that price, I would rather spend the extra $20 for the One Gen 2, or pick up the Symfonisk Table Lamp or One Gen 1, which both retail at $180 as well. By asking this much for this product, Sonos is just being greedy.

The Port is an even bigger dissapointment. It's been years since we saw the original Connect, and it's one of the oldest members of the Sonos roster. Not only is Port poorly-named and $50 more than the Connect, but it drops the front-facing controls and gets rid of the Digital Optical port, while only adding AirPlay 2 and an upgraded DAC. With the "Connect 2", I was expecting a huge upgrade like we saw when the Amp replaced the Connect:Amp, but instead we're seeing a product that has more compromises than before, for a higher pricetag.

I do love the Move, and think it's a great, innovative product, but I feel Sonos is alienating many potential buyers by setting the MSRP at $400. Even though Move packs as much technology as it does into a single device, and comes with a charging stand in the box, I feel like Sonos could of managed a $370-380 MSRP instead, maybe even $350, to make this product more approachable.

As a huge Sonos fan coming into this event, my expectations were through the roof, but I have lost my excitement, mainly due to the increasingly high prices and the dissapointing compromises in the Port. And where is the new PlayBar, which is now the oldest model in the lineup?

Posted Sep 6, 2019, 12:26 AM UTC · edited

2348
mjlp716•

I personally took the route of not expecting a lot since their prior reveals have always been nothing crazy amazing. Could they have done more? Of course, but for me everything was inline with what they have always done.

16
EclipseOSOP•

Eh, true I guess, though I remember being very happy when they introduced the Amp.

In terms of this event though, I do think it is cool that the Sonos executives encouraged journalists to drop the Move. That takes a lot of faith in their product.

0
bgeoffreyb•

This is why I don’t read most of the hype that comes out. Let the brand build its own hype if they feel like it, or just find out at the announcement.

Of course I get why people want to know, but after many a iPhone leaks and spot on rumors I always ended up being less satisfied with the announcement even if it had everything I wanted. Ignorance is bliss sometimes.

8
EclipseOSOP•

Yeah I totally agree.

1
Eyetron2020•

Really excited about the Move. Pre ordered one today. Honestly don't care as much for an updated bar or smaller sub but I understand those that do want one. Happy with my second hand Playbar and I'll resell it for an updated one when the time comes.

7
EclipseOSOP•

Yeah, I'm super excited about Move as well, but feel they could of lowered the price by $25-50. I'll be waiting for a while until discounts start showing up to buy one.

1
ctjameson•

It was an insta-buy for me in the 250-300 territory, but that's a big fat nope at $400. I'll have to see what the reviews say when it is officially available though. If it's as powerful as 1.5/2 Ones, I might get it but it's still going to be a hard sell for me.

3
Eyetron2020•

Yeah I think I agree with you guys. I bit with 20% off but not sure I would have at full price.

3
ctjameson•

How were you able to get 20% off on the new stuff?

1
Bfassler•

I have a house full of Sonos and never knew I could get 20% off through work!!!! Thank you for posting this - I never even thought to check. I too was out at $400 but at $330 with tax I’m in for a Move!

1
Notuniquesnowflake•

I expected $300. Sonos one is $200, so similar form/performance, plus battery and dock should only add about another $100 to the cost in my unscientific calculus.

But if you want outdoor or patio sound it's still significantly cheaper (and easier) than the Connect or Amp routes. And if you rent and don't want drill wholes or hard wire anything, it's the only route. (Without getting DIY, of course.)

2
B4R-BOT•

It's supposed to be better than a one though, at least it has more audio hardware, we'll have to wait for reviews to see how it sounds.

1
Notuniquesnowflake•

That's what I've heard. I think most people would have been happier with Play One quality sound and a lower price tag. But what do I know?

It's all just speculation at this point. We'll see when the reviews are out and when the product hits shelves. I'm sure it will be a good product, though.

1
3mw•

Hell, I was hoping for $250 –– you can get some really nice BT speakers for much less. I thought adding BT and a battery would be much cheaper.

2
stan_qaz•

What is frustrating to me is the Port announcement, so they removed the optical and kept the coax because it sounds better. No more details are available and Sonos response is to listen to the two and see for yourself. No numbers, formats or anything useful to trying to decide if it is worth ordering and returning if you aren't happy.

With no information it is also hard to see if you could use a coax to optical converter if your system doesn't have a coax port available.

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geevmo•

The price point for Port seems whacked. For $400 you get a device that has less tech than a SL.

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drbhrb•

They always priced the doorways for non-Sonos sources into the Sonos world at fuck you prices. There's no R&D/production reason for that thing to be $400. They just don't want to make a $50 dongle that let's you have a hybrid Sonos/non-Sonos system. It's bullshit, but I see why they do it. They want their pound of flesh.

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EcstaticResolve•

My guess is they won't be getting it at $400.

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ChildofChaos•

Yeah I know the connect has always been pricey anyway, but when i saw the price I thought it was nuts. I feel like it should be $100.

When i used to work in retail awhile back I got a 50% off Sonos offer and i didn’t know much about the tech, I got the connect:amp cause I thought it was the best with some speakers, but these days I wonder if it‘s a bit pointless.

I would like to upgrade to the new amp, one just cause of the colour and size and two because of better imputs to hook it up to a TV, but is a crazy price for me to upgrade just for that. I mean I could prob get a completely different system much cheaper to do the same.

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

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stan_qaz•

I don't see why not either, yet Sonos says you will lose quality with optical versus coax. Frustrating.

1
skywake86•

I'd be ok with the port if it had a digital in. Basically like the new amp and with all of those features but for powered speakers instead. Would have made it a (relatively) cheaper way to get Sonos on PC or a tv if you had powered speakers.

As it is you're better of getting the Beam for that purpose.

2
geographer035•

If it had a digital in and a great internal DAC, you could possibly use it to replace an existing DAC. As it happens, my Connect already feeds an external DAC so the Port really offers nothing but a sleeker color.

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EclipseOSOP•

This is exactly what I think lol

1
paultuk•

I wasn’t expecting much from the new products. I was hoping for just one thing: sonosnet running on 5ghz, since the 2.4ghz 802.11g is too narrow to stream (uncompressed) on more than 3-4 speakers. It is really limited in urban areas. I ended up wiring almost all the speakers, which defeats the purpose of sonos WIRELESS speakers.

Hope they’ll eventually make the switch.

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zoomy942•

I was really excited about the move but as a dad with 2 kids, $400 is a lot to justify. I’ll just grab a play 1 off eBay or something.

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DrRossS•

It's therapeutical to come here and find all my frustrations summed up in such a well ordered fashion. Thanks for that Op. I find the complete disregard of home theater by Sonos incomprehensible. With that said, I'll never drop Sonos for a more HT friendly multiroom.

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B4R-BOT•

I think the One SL is intended for home theatres...

1
slugmofo•

So is the play:1 it’s designed from that came out many years ago

1
B4R-BOT•

Yes the One SL is an upgraded Play:1

1
EcstaticResolve•

Everyone is asking where is the new Playbar.

Sonos seems to have no idea what its customers want.

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DrawTheLine87•

The Port is the most puzzling one for me. If it had optical in or HDMI in, it makes more sense to me. But it doesn't. So it's left filing a very niche space.

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EclipseOSOP•

I totally agree with you here for sure. The Port makes almost no sense to me.
Also, Connect sounds better than Port, lol

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

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EclipseOSOP•

When did I say I was ok with $2 off a product lol

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

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mr_mysterioso•

Looks like Sonos is stealing some moves from 1980's US auto makers regarding planned obsolescence. The only product that needed a replacement is their ridiculously overpriced Sub. At this point, I'm just going to buy a 3rd party powered subwoofer and hook it up to my old Connect.

2
katamai•

I was really hoping for an updated Playbar or Beam since i really need one but the stuff they announced are kinda meh 🙁

1
FoferJ•

The Beam doesn’t need updating. The Playbar desperately does.

3
esspydermonkey•

Extremely disappointed. There were two products that I keep seeing everyone asking for. New playbar and smaller sub. Nothing. A $400 Bluetooth speaker? Completely missed the mark on price. What’s going on at Sonos lately?

1
Maultaschenman•

Same, Sonos Bluetooth is such a big departure from the previous philosophy and I don't really see the need for such an expensive Bluetooth speaker. No updates playbar was the biggest disappointment

-1†
dgaultiere•

It’s not a departure from previous philosophy... the move is still primarily a Wi-Fi speaker for the home. Bluetooth is their way of giving you additional flexibility if you want to take the speaker away from your home, for example to the beach or camping.

3
EcstaticResolve•

Previous philosophy is multi-room sonos. This doesn’t even do sonos net. Previous philosophy was need to use Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth for higher quality. This isn’t even the latest Bluetooth. Plus all of Sonos marketing is talking about it being used outside not in the home.

1
dgaultiere•

I don’t see your point... Move still does multi-room audio and will join your SonosNet created by other speakers. Taking it outside the home is just an added benefit.

Personally, I think this fits really nicely within their existing ecosystem but adds some great flexibility to take Sonos where it couldn’t go before.

1
EcstaticResolve•

No new Playbar tells you that Sonos doesn’t know their customers. A lot of people are pissed they didn’t update it.

-2†
somanynutjobs•

Not really

-4
EcstaticResolve•

Really. Read this post that you are commenting on among many others. How many people just in this post have complained about it?

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