Sonos’ redemption arc begins.
Sonos hit rock bottom in 2024, but the start of 2025 is proving it isn’t going down without a fight. Armed with software fixes, new products, and a fresh direction, Sonos is pushing hard to prove it deserves a second chance.
That said, plenty of people are still watching with crossed arms. Will these be enough?
Sonos Solves Its Most Frustrating App Issue
One of the clearest signs that Sonos is starting to turn things around? It finally fixed the maddening volume lag in its mobile app.
For months, adjusting the volume felt like tossing a request into the abyss. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t, and sometimes it responded so late that users second-guessed whether they’d even tapped the slider.
Now, at least for iOS users, that particular headache seems to be over.
Not everyone is celebrating just yet, though. Some Android users are still running into issues, meaning Sonos has a bit more cleanup work to do. Despite this, the message is clear: Sonos knows it messed up, and it’s finally putting in the work to fix what it broke.
A Bold Move Into Home Theater
Sonos isn’t just cleaning up last year’s mess—it’s making a play for the future. Enter Pinewood, a high-end streaming box set to launch in 2025.
But this isn’t just another Apple TV or Roku competitor. Pinewood is Sonos’ answer to a problem its users know all too well: home theater setups that should sound amazing but don’t, thanks to lag, sync issues, and limited speaker configurations.
Most streaming boxes focus purely on content. Pinewood is built to bridge the gap between video and high-end audio, pulling in content from Netflix, Disney Plus, and more while fixing the frustrating connection issues that have haunted Sonos setups for years.
Still, this isn’t an easy market to break into. Apple TV 4K and Nvidia Shield already dominate, and Pinewood’s expected price tag of $200 to $400 puts it on the premium end.
If Sonos can convince buyers that better sound is worth the extra cash, it might just carve out a space for itself in the home theater world.
Breaking Into Pro Audio
Sonos is branching out beyond home speakers and heading into a new territory: the professional audio market. The Era 100 Pro is taking a swing in a space where brands like Bose and Yamaha have long reigned.
Key highlights of the Era 100 Pro:
- Power over Ethernet (PoE+) – One cable for both power and data. No hunting for outlets, no messy cords.
- Advanced “Zones” software – Makes multi-speaker setups easier to manage in bigger spaces.
- Flexible mounting options – Secure, customizable installation for a variety of layouts.
With the global light-commercial audio market valued at $2 billion, Sonos clearly sees an opening. And so far, the industry seems to agree—installers are already taking notice, with rAVe [PUBS] and Inavate handing out awards before the Era 100 Pro has even hit the market.
But breaking into pro audio isn’t just about making a solid speaker—it’s about reliability. Businesses and installers don’t want surprises; they want systems that work every time.
Sonos has built a reputation for premium sound, but after last year’s app fiasco, trust is fragile. If the Era 100 Pro delivers the seamless experience Sonos promises, this could be the start of something big. If not? The pros will move on fast.
How Sonos Lost Its Way in 2024
Sonos may be working its way back into customers’ good graces, but to understand just how much trust it needs to rebuild, you have to look at how badly things fell apart.
The breaking point came in May when Sonos rolled out a major app redesign meant to modernize the platform. Instead, it turned into a full-blown disaster. Essential features vanished overnight, and in their place came a wave of infuriating bugs.
The backlash was immediate. Sonos’ stock tanked, customers were furious, and the company took a $100 million hit in revenue. By mid-2024, CEO Patrick Spence stepped down, and longtime board member (and devoted Sonos user) Tom Conrad took the reins as interim CEO.
Since then, Conrad has been in full-blown damage-control mode, pushing out more than 20 software updates to bring back lost features and smooth out the worst bugs.
The recent fix for the volume lag is a big step forward, but plenty of users are still keeping a close eye on the company, waiting to see if this comeback is for real—or just another temporary patch job.
Can Sonos Turn Quick Fixes Into Lasting Success?
For Sonos, the real test is still ahead.
Tom Conrad is about to step into the spotlight for his first earnings call—a moment where he’ll have to convince both investors and longtime customers that Sonos isn’t just slapping bandages on old wounds but actually building something better. No pressure, right?
Inside the company, uncertainty has only grown.
Meanwhile, customers are watching closely. The app is improving, and new products are on the way, but is this the start of a real comeback or just well-executed damage control?
Sonos’ future hinges on three big things:
- Software stability – The app needs to stay solid. Another major failure, and even the most loyal fans might walk away for good.
- Successful product launches – Pinewood and the Era 100 Pro can’t just be cool ideas; they need to prove that Sonos can actually thrive in new markets.
- Hardware-software consistency – The Arc Ultra soundbar proved Sonos can still make killer hardware. Now it just needs to make sure the software doesn’t mess it up.
Sonos has the technology, the brand recognition, and—against all odds—a fanbase that still wants to believe in it. The company just has to prove it won’t waste that second chance.