Sonos Releases Its S2 App

Sonos today released the S2 version of its smart speaker OS and mobile app and renamed the legacy versions to S1.

Sonos first teased S2 back in March, but most of the attention was still focused on the firm’s support policy for legacy devices. Since then, Sonos apologized and pledged to continue supporting legacy products with its S1 mobile app. Most Sonos products can be upgraded to S2, but a few older devices—the original Zone Player, Connect, Connect:Amp, first-generation Play:5, CR200, and Bridge—are stuck on S1 and will no longer get new features.

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As a mobile app, S2 looks a bit more modern than its predecessor and it supports a few new features, including the ability to create pervasive speaker groups (outside of individual rooms) and support for higher-quality audio formats like Dolby Atmos (on the Arc soundbar only). But the app still has some of the same bone-headed design choices that bogged down the original Sonos Controller app, making it hard to use.

Upgrading isn’t particularly elegant either. First, you need to upgrade the Sonos Controller app to the new Sonos S1 app. Then, you need to upgrade your speakers to S2. Then you can install and use the Sonos S2 app to manage your speakers.

You can download Sonos S2 at the Apple App Store (iOS and iPadOS) and Google Play Store (Android).

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Conversation 7 comments

  • willpe

    Premium Member
    08 June, 2020 - 1:12 pm

    <p>Regarding:</p><p class="ql-indent-1"><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">First, you need to upgrade the Sonos Controller app to the new Sonos S1 app. Then, you need to upgrade your speakers to S2. Then you can install and use the Sonos S2 app to manage your speakers.</em></p><p class="ql-indent-1"><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I'm not sure that's accurate. I just installed the S2 app and it upgraded my system quickly and without having to use the S1 app at all. It was actually really smooth and easy!</span></p>

    • shadetc

      Premium Member
      08 June, 2020 - 2:14 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#545382">In reply to willpe:</a></em></blockquote><p>I had the same experience. Without really knowing what the directions should have been, I downloaded the S2 app, logged in, and it prompted me to update my devices.</p><p><br></p><p>Fair warning, it says "2-3" minutes, but I think it ended up taking closer to 5-10 minutes to update everything. I Have 1 PlayBar, 1 Subwoofer, 3 Play:1 and 2 Sonos One for reference.</p>

  • orbsitron

    08 June, 2020 - 5:58 pm

    <p>I have a Sonos:Connect for outdoor speakers so I don't think I'll be downloading this S2 app any time soon. While I do have other devices that are supported, I don't want two Sonos apps to use (and I'm not sure I want the other devices to update as that might make them incompatible with the Connect, which would be a deal breaker for me). </p>

  • wapembe

    Premium Member
    09 June, 2020 - 2:32 pm

    <p>So that explains why my sonos one started blinking the led last night. and this morning? dead. no interaction with the apps, tried both android and apple, upgraded apps. tried to do a reset per the web site. nothing. the light never quits blinking never turns amber. i'm done with this. removed the power cord, cut it into fourths, and will dump the device in thursday's trash after i bend the power pins. technology should not be this painful.</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      10 June, 2020 - 8:58 am

      Yeah, the transition is not great. Once you get past it, everything is fine. But it’s … ugh.

  • 02nz

    11 June, 2020 - 12:16 pm

    <p>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">First, you need to upgrade the Sonos Controller app to the new Sonos S1 app. Then, you need to upgrade your speakers to S2. Then you can install and use the Sonos S2 app to manage your speakers." This is not true. You can install S2 first, and then use it to upgrade the speakers to the new firmware. Did this on two different Sonos systems without issue. I then uninstalled the legacy Sonos app, which I didn't even bother updating (it would have become "S1").</span></p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      11 June, 2020 - 12:36 pm

      The internet will sleep easy with this correction, thanks.

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