Sonos reportedly delays set-top box due to app update issues

The front of the leaked Sonos Lasso soundbar with the Sonos logo in the centre
(Image credit: The Verge)

The fallout continues. First Sonos said it was delaying two new products slated to launch this year because of a botched app update that left users without key features. Now comes word that Sonos is delaying its much-rumoured set top box for the same reason.

Last month, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence acknowledged the issues caused by the new Sonos app, and said the firm would delay two "major product releases" for late 2024 until the app was up to scratch. Now Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Sonos's set-top box has been pushed back from January 2025 to March.

It's not known whether the set-top box was one of these two products and has been delayed again, or if this is a fresh delay. But either way, it's not good news for the firm, or its customers.

The Sonos app was redesigned in April to coincide with its first pair of wireless headphones, the Sonos Ace. The headphones turned out to be something of a sonic disappointment, earning just three stars from us. And the app was even worse, plagued by bugs and missing key features such as sleep timers, alarms and the ability to queue songs. The backlash was swift and vicious, with customers taking to forums and Reddit to vent their fury.

The debacle has cost Sonos big. The firm has cut jobs in an effort to mitigate the financial loss, and the reputational damage has been even more severe. To make matters worse, its Ace headphones are reportedly not selling as well as hoped. Sonos planned on selling between 900,000 and 1 million units a year, but that has been slashed to just 90,000 to 100,000 annually – a tenth of the projected figure.

The set-top box in question is said to be a Roku-style device codenamed Pinewood (presumably after the British film studio). It will be up against the Apple TV 4K at the high end, and the Google TV Streamer and Amazon Fire TV Stick at the lower end. Let's hope Sonos fares better in this new market...

MORE:

Sonos CEO apologises for the app redesign that deleted key features

Sonos Ace headphones get much-needed improvements thanks to huge app update

Here are 6 sound settings you shouldn't ignore on the Sonos Ace

TOPICS
Joe Svetlik

Joe has been writing about tech for 20 years, first on staff at T3 magazine, then in a freelance capacity for Stuff, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine (now defunct), Men's Health, GQ, The Mirror, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar and many more. His specialities include all things mobile, headphones and speakers that he can't justifying spending money on.

Read more
Sky
Sonos’s highly anticipated Apple TV rival is reportedly off the cards “for now”
The Sonos logo on the white speaker grille of a Sonos device.
Sonos set-top streaming box: rumours, leaks and our wishlist for the Apple TV rival
Soundbar: Sonos Ray
Sonos’s Apple TV 4K rival could arrive soon, but it could also be significantly more expensive
Sonos Roam 2 wireless speaker
Sonos boss resigns following disastrous app redesign
HomePod OS
The rumoured Apple HomePod with display is reportedly put on ice while Siri gets its act together
Apple HomePod Mini
Apple could launch a new HomePod Mini and Apple TV streaming device later this year
Latest in Streaming Hardware
Google TV Streamer video streamer
Google TV Streamer
Sky
Sonos’s highly anticipated Apple TV rival is reportedly off the cards “for now”
Google TV Streamer
The Google TV Streamer just fixed its biggest flaw
Soundbar: Sonos Ray
Sonos’s Apple TV 4K rival could arrive soon, but it could also be significantly more expensive
Apple HomePod Mini
Apple could launch a new HomePod Mini and Apple TV streaming device later this year
Home cinema soundbar: Sonos Beam Gen 2
Sonos takes the next step in developing its Apple TV 4K rival with a new TV operating system
Latest in News
Audiolab 6000A MkII amplifier in silver
Audiolab upgrades its five-star 6000A amplifier with a new DAC chip, enhanced circuitry and HDMI ARC
Qobuz
Qobuz reveals average payout per stream – and claims it is higher than rivals
Sonos Beam Gen 2
Quick! This five-star Sonos Dolby Atmos soundbar has dropped close to its lowest price
The Google Pixel 9a being held horizontally at waist-height so only the back is visible.
The Google Pixel 9a launches at £100 less than the iPhone 16e with a better screen
A woman flicking through stacks of vinyl records in a Rough Trade shop.
Vinyl records and music streaming both hit landmark highs – but the one growing faster in revenue may surprise you
Vertere DG X turntable in black finish
Vertere's gorgeous DG X turntable features significant updates for a more refined performance overall