Sonos

Founded in 2002, Sonos is an American company that specializes in audio devices, including wireless speakers, home theater systems, and headphones.

Sonos

Basic information
Founded	2002
Type	{{{Type}}}
Industry	Audio Equipment
Official website	https://sonos.com

Bricking of CR-100 controllers

In 2018, citing an aging processor and lithium-ion battery, Sonos announced the release of software version 8.5, which would discontinue support for the controller. After the update was applied to a system, the CR-100 would be permanently bricked, and unable to be able to be connected to another system. Sonos offered a coupon of $100 to affected customers however, it is important to note that Sonos did not offer a similar product for sale. A discussion thread was initiated on the Sonos forum by dissatisfied users urging the company to reconsider its decision to discontinue the controller but ultimately, their efforts were unsuccessful.

"Recycle mode"

In 2019, Sonos rendered formerly perfectly working devices, such as Connect, Connect:Amp, ZP90, ZP80, ZP100, ZP120, and Play:5 (Gen 1) into paperweights by disabling them altogether because those devices were no longer receiving software updates. Customers were offered a 30 percent discount on a new Sonos device if they accepted Sonos to intentionally remotely bricking their existing device. Once a device is in Sonos' "Recycle Mode," it can no longer be used. Sonos later ended this highly controversial and environmentally unfriendly program, but the damage was already done to otherwise still working hardware.

However, since 2023, an open source project was created to recover devices that Sonos had put into "Recycle Mode."