Sonos: We Screwed Up, But Hey, New Speakers!
Folks, Sonos, the company that makes those fancy speakers you accidentally connect to when you’re trying to play music in your bathroom, is back. Remember that app update they rolled out that was about as popular as a skunk at a picnic? Yeah, they heard you. Loud and clear, apparently, even through their “improved” app. But fear not, audiophiles and people who just like their music to sound good, because Sonos is trying to distract us with shiny new toys.
They’ve just announced the Arc Ultra Soundbar, which they claim is so bass-heavy, it’ll rattle your fillings loose. For a cool $999, you too can have a soundbar that apparently needs to be twice as good as the last one to make up for their software blunders. And if that’s not enough, they’ve also got the Sub 4, a new subwoofer that looks suspiciously like the old one, but with “better Wi-Fi.” Because that’s what we were all clamoring for, right? Better Wi-Fi for our subwoofer.
Look, I’m not saying these new speakers are bad. Maybe they’re fantastic. Maybe they’ll blow your socks off, literally, with all that bass. But it’s hard not to see this as a desperate attempt by Sonos to change the conversation. They’re like a politician caught in a scandal who suddenly announces a new tax cut. “Forget about the emails, look at this shiny new thing!”
The good news is, Sonos does seem to be taking some steps to fix their app. They’re promising a new update that will bring back some of the features they took away, and they say they’ll actually listen to their customers this time. We’ll believe it when we see it, Sonos. In the meantime, if you’re looking for a new soundbar and you’ve got a spare grand lying around, maybe the Arc Ultra is worth a look. Just make sure you can actually connect it to your phone first.
From the sales floor to the critic's corner, I'm a former Apple Sales Specialist who's not afraid to tell it like it is. Get my honest takes on the iPhone, Mac, and everything Apple. | Los Angeles, California.