Sonos is failing and millions of devices could become e-waste - why open-source audio is our only hope

In mid-August, Sonos announced the layoff of 100 employees, sending shockwaves through the tech community and raising serious concerns about the company's future. These layoffs, which targeted key departments such as engineering and customer support, followed the release of a disastrous mobile app redesign in May 2024, leaving users grappling with bugs and eroding their confidence in the brand.

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In response to the growing backlash over the issues, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence issued a rare public apology, acknowledging the company's missteps. To regain user trust, Sonos is now considering re-releasing its previous version of the S2 app -- a tactical move that, if made, would recognize the severity of the app's failure. Compounding the company's troubles, Sonos has also delayed the launch of two major products due to ongoing issues with the app, further deepening the crisis.

The company has an estimated 15.3 million households in its collective user base, but its sales have slowed considerably since 2020. In 2023, according to Statista, the company shipped 5.73 million units, below 2020 levels of 5.81 million and its 2021 sales high of 6.5M.

All of this upheaval at Sonos has exposed the dangers of relying on proprietary, closed systems in home audio and consumer devices. The new app was meant to unify Sonos' software and drive innovation. Instead, it has received widespread criticism. Unhappy users have reported sluggish performance, broken features, and -- until recently -- a glaring lack of support for local music libraries -- issues that have tarnished Sonos' once-sterling reputation.

It can get worse for Sonos and its customers

The problems at Sonos run deeper than a botched app rollout. With layoffs and growing customer dissatisfaction, the possibility of Sonos going under without a buyer is becoming increasingly real. 

Remember Aether Cone and Rdio? Something similar could happen with Sonos but on a far grander scale. This kind of failure would be catastrophic for millions of Sonos users worldwide, potentially leaving high-end speakers and audio systems as expensive paperweights, bricked by the sudden loss of cloud services and software updates. The environmental impact -- millions of devices potentially becoming e-waste -- is equally staggering.

Also: How Apple can rescue miserable Sonos users

It's clear that the current model of proprietary, closed systems in the home audio industry is unsustainable. The industry needs to shift toward an open-source streaming audio and wireless multiroom hi-fi operating system -- a platform that multiple vendors can build on and that consumers can trust to be resilient, interoperable, and future-proof.

AudioPiLe: A modular, open source future

In 2020, I introduced the concept of AudioPiLe, an open-source, modular audio system designed to serve as the foundation for a new approach. The AudioPiLe system would be built around a standardized hardware platform, similar to a Raspberry Pi, but tailored specifically for high-fidelity audio. This platform would be supported by an open-source operating system maintained by a consortium of manufacturers and the open-source community.

The AudioPiLe vision closely aligns with Android's achievements in the mobile space. By providing a common platform that can be freely adopted and customized, AudioPiLe could enable manufacturers to focus on hardware innovation while ensuring that all devices work together seamlessly in consumers' homes. This approach would result in a more resilient, sustainable, and interoperable ecosystem for home audio, allowing consumers to customize and control their audio environments more than ever before.

An open speaker connectivity standard

For AudioPiLe or any open-source audio platform to reach its full potential, it must be part of a broader ecosystem where interoperability is guaranteed across devices from different manufacturers. This is where an open speaker connectivity standard becomes crucial.

Android's initial success depended on its open-source nature and ability to unify a diverse range of hardware under a single, interoperable platform. The home audio industry needs a universal language that ensures all devices can communicate and work together seamlessly.

Matter, an open standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, allows smart home devices from different manufacturers to work together seamlessly. Matter provides a universal language for devices to communicate, ensuring that consumers can mix and match products without worrying about compatibility issues. In the same way that the Matter standard has unified home automation connectivity, the audio industry desperately needs a similar standard for networked home audio systems.

Also: Open source is actually the cradle of artificial intelligence. Here's why

An open-source operating system like AudioPiLe would provide the foundation, but an open speaker connectivity standard would be the framework that ties the entire ecosystem together. This combination would allow consumers to build their ideal audio setups with components from multiple manufacturers.

This standard would also encourage competition and innovation across the industry, as manufacturers could focus on creating the best possible hardware while relying on a robust, shared platform for connectivity and interoperability.

Consumer benefits of open source

The advantages of an open-source approach extend well beyond manufacturers. Consumers stand to gain significantly from such a shift. Open-source platforms empower users to customize their devices, extend functionality through community-developed add-ons, and avoid being locked into a single vendor's ecosystem.

Also: How open source attracts some of the world's top innovators

Moreover, open-source solutions can extend the lifespan of devices. Even after a manufacturer discontinues support, the open-source community can continue providing updates, ensuring that devices remain functional and relevant for years. This openness benefits consumers and addresses the growing environmental concern of e-waste by reducing the need for frequent hardware replacements.

Learning from Android and open source

Android, developed by Google and based on the Linux kernel, is one of the most successful examples of open-source collaboration in consumer electronics. It has become the world's most widely used operating system.

Despite competition among companies like Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus/Oppo, and Xiaomi, as well as Google itself with its Pixel hardware, Android has enabled manufacturers to innovate and differentiate their products while maintaining compatibility and interoperability across devices. In addition to being used in Android TV devices and automobile IVI systems such as Android Automotive, a custom version of Android is also used in Amazon Fire tablets and the streaming device ecosystem.

Android provides a perfect model for what an open-source audio platform could achieve. As Android created a unified platform that various manufacturers could adopt and customize, an open-source audio OS could be a foundational system for networked home audio devices. This foundation would allow brands to build unique, high-quality audio products while ensuring they all work together seamlessly in a multiroom setup.

Also: Winamp is not going open source. Here's what it is doing - and why

OpenWrt is another open-source project that has significantly impacted the consumer electronics market, particularly network devices. Originally developed for routers, OpenWrt provides a fully writable file system and package management, allowing users to customize and extend their devices far beyond what the original manufacturers intended. In addition to shipping in OEM routers and network devices, the flexibility of OpenWrt has made it the foundation for many custom firmware projects, giving consumers the power to control and optimize their home networks.

Another key example from the consumer electronics world is FreeBSD, a robust operating system widely used in embedded systems. FreeBSD's permissive license allows companies to build proprietary products while benefiting from a shared, community-driven codebase. This flexibility has made FreeBSD a popular choice for network devices, gaming consoles like the PlayStation 4, the networking components built into Apple's products, and other embedded systems that require stability, security, and high performance.

Sonos and open source today

Sonos already leverages significant open-source software in its products, particularly components governed by GPL and LGPL licenses. This software includes core elements, such as various Linux kernels, audio processing libraries like alsa-lib and ffmpeg, and essential system utilities like busybox and dbus. 

The company's reliance on these components illustrates the critical nature open-source software plays in powering Sonos devices and the broader consumer electronics market. Linux and many of these libraries that Sonos uses are common components used in many products today, including Android-powered devices and smart speakers.

Also: Sonos just brought TV Audio Swap to more devices. Here's why it's my all-time favorite headphone feature

If Sonos were to open source its S2 OS, adopting a business-friendly license like the Apache License 2.0 (like Android), MIT, or the BSD License could ensure wide adoption while allowing the company to maintain some control over its intellectual property.

Building the future of networked audio

The current situation at Sonos should serve as a wake-up call for the entire audio industry. The risks of relying on proprietary systems are too great for consumers and the environment. It's time for the industry to come together and create an open-source streaming audio and wireless multiroom hi-fi operating system to serve as the foundation for the next generation of audio devices.

In a recent article, I discussed the possibility of companies like Apple or Amazon acquiring and integrating Sonos into their ecosystems. While this approach may provide a temporary solution, it could lead to a more closed ecosystem where consumers are further locked into a single company's hardware, services, and software. Even in a well-run ecosystem like Apple's, the limitations of a closed system could stifle innovation and reduce consumer choice in the long term.

Also: Can AI even be open source? It's complicated

This call to action isn't just about saving Sonos users from the potential disaster of millions of abandoned and bricked devices. It's about building a more resilient, sustainable, and consumer-friendly audio ecosystem that benefits everyone. Much like the Matter alliance has done for home automation, an open-source audio platform could revolutionize how we think about home audio, giving consumers more choice, flexibility, and control over their listening experiences.