TL;DR
Sonos has faced a difficult stretch but new CEO Tom Conrad is refocusing the company and its mobile app has improved. Reviewers say Sonos hardware remains strong across form factors, with standout models including the Era 100, Five, Move 2 and the Arc Ultra.
What happened
Sonos endured a turbulent period that included executive turnover and customer frustration with its mobile app, but leadership changes and product decisions signal a renewed emphasis on core audio offerings. Tom Conrad is the company’s new CEO, and the app has been improved compared with the situation a couple of years ago, although some users still report bugs and occasional speakers disappearing from systems. The company also pulled plans for a video player, which reviewers took as a sign of renewed product focus. Despite price increases tied to tariff pressures, Sonos’ lineup continues to receive praise for sound quality, ecosystem flexibility, and long-term software support. Testers highlighted everyday conveniences such as routing TV audio to other rooms and linking Bluetooth playback into a multiroom Sonos setup. The Verge’s testing applied real-world listening, indoor/outdoor use, and extended movie sessions to evaluate performance across the range.
Why it matters
- Sonos’ platform offers multiroom and cross-source flexibility that is hard to match, affecting how users set up home audio.
- Ongoing software support keeps older speakers compatible with the current S2 platform, protecting long-term investments.
- Improved app stability and a renewed product focus could restore customer confidence after last year’s issues.
- Price increases driven by tariffs may influence purchase timing and total cost of ownership for prospective buyers.
Key facts
- Tom Conrad is Sonos’ new CEO and the company has emphasized refocusing its product strategy.
- The Sonos mobile app has been improved since its most contentious period, but some users still experience bugs and device dropouts.
- Sonos canceled plans for a video player, a decision reviewers saw as a sign of refocusing on audio.
- Featured picks include the Sonos Era 100 ($219), Sonos Five ($599), Sonos Move 2 ($499), Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf Speaker Gen 2 ($180), and the Sonos Arc Ultra ($1,099).
- The Era 100 offers stereo drivers, Bluetooth, optional line-in via a USB-C dongle, and supports Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice Control.
- The Sonos Five delivers the company’s strongest stereo performance and includes a standard 3.5mm line-in without an adapter.
- The Move 2 improves portable stereo sound, has a user-replaceable battery, supports line-in over USB-C, and carries an IP56 dust/water resistance rating.
- Sonos products support a wide range of streaming services and conveniences such as piping TV audio to other rooms and integrating Bluetooth sources into a Sonos system.
- Sonos has raised prices on multiple products in the past year due in part to tariff-related costs.
What to watch next
- Whether Sonos fully eliminates the remaining app reliability issues and speaker dropouts — not confirmed in the source.
- How pricing evolves in response to tariffs and whether Sonos adjusts costs or promotions — not confirmed in the source.
- Future feature and assistant support decisions (for example, additional changes around Google Assistant) — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Whole-home audio: A multiroom audio setup that lets users play and control sound across multiple speakers in different rooms from a single system.
- Line-in: An analog or digital input that lets you connect an external audio source, such as a turntable or media player, directly to a speaker.
- Stereo separation: The perceived distinctness and spatial placement of left and right audio channels, which contributes to a wider, more immersive soundstage.
- IP56: An ingress protection rating indicating resistance to dust and protection against powerful water jets; not meant for full submersion.
- S2 platform: Sonos’ current software ecosystem that manages speaker functionality, streaming service integrations, and firmware updates.
Reader FAQ
Is Sonos still worth buying in 2026?
Reviewers say Sonos hardware remains strong and the ecosystem offers unique conveniences, but some app issues and higher prices are considerations.
Who is running Sonos now?
Tom Conrad is the company’s new CEO.
Will older Sonos speakers keep receiving updates?
Sonos is noted for long software support; products introduced years ago remain compatible with the S2 platform.
Do Sonos speakers still support Google Assistant?
Several current models no longer include Google Assistant support, with alternatives like Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice Control available on some devices.
TECH GADGETS SPEAKERS The best Sonos speakers to buy in 2026 It’s been a rough year or two for Sonos, but the company’s products are still excellent — and the…
Sources
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