Sonos is in big trouble after faulty update

It's never a good idea to spend a lot of money on a closed system. No, we're not talking about Apple's precious little walled gardens (this time, anyway), but about Sonos, the palindromic company that sells high-end wireless speakers.

The company laid off 100 employees last week and the CEO said in a statement that his top priority was to fix an app update that had angered users because it was buggy and unpredictable.

As a Sonos owner, I can attest that the speakers are difficult to set up and manage, and I haven't even installed the update yet. (I also have a competing BlueSound system, and that's difficult to manage too.)

If you're not familiar with Sonos, the company makes speakers, headphones, TV soundbars, and other devices that sound pretty good, if a bit top-heavy. Their big advantage is that they're wireless—you don't have to pester your spouse or partner with running cables everywhere, and you can avoid drilling holes in the wall.

The downside, besides the price, is that they're proprietary: Sonos speakers work with other Sonos devices and that's it. If you decide to ditch Sonos, you'll have a collection of heavy boxes that were once speakers.

The good thing about these things is that they set up a subnet on your WiFi so they work anywhere your WiFi works. Arranging all of that and keeping it running despite power outages and other unexpected little problems is not easy in my experience, and I'm pretty handy at this kind of thing.

The current problems started with Sonos' so-called S2 app, which lets you control your speakers through a mobile app on your phone. Users reported that an update to S2 made their systems slow and unpredictable and also affected access to their personal music libraries.

What can a music lover do?

The most obvious course of action is to wait and hope that things improve. Another option is to plan what to do if they don't. Here are some options we've tested:

Bluetooth Most serious music lovers will tell you that Bluetooth isn't really high definition and doesn't cover a very wide area. OK, but it doesn't cost hundreds of dollars either. We have several small bluMe HD units from a company called Auris. Their technology delivers better sound than most Bluetooth receivers and they only cost about $100. While you still need powered speakers, headphones or an amp and some speakers, I've found that Auris works pretty well in a 3,000 square foot house.

And yes, the Auris software is proprietary, but if it breaks, you still have your speakers to use with another wireless or wired system.

Bluesound Similar to Sonos, Bluesound sells powered speakers, headphones, and more. They're also temperamental and expensive (around $500), and only compatible with Bluesound components. Some engineers think Bluesound is superior to Sonos. Personally, I find the sound more neutral, which is the idea behind high definition. Want more bass? Turn it up on your amp or in the Bluesound app.

Amazon We've all heard of Amazon's “smart” speakers. They're smart enough, but they're not high-definition. We have a few of them scattered around the house for when Bluesound and/or Sonos aren't working, but the sound leaves a lot to be desired. The same goes for Google's speakers, which sound like they were taken out of a 1960 Ford.

There are a number of other systems out there. Some, like Denon, offer similar closed systems that also work with Apple Airplay and similar apps. You can spend $1,299 on a Naim system or $23 on a more generic Bluetooth adapter from Amazon.

Do you get what you pay for? That's hard to say. High-end sound systems are like very expensive European cars; they're the best, but getting high-end support isn't always easy and they're often just as demanding, if not more demanding, than a cheaper system.

Our advice? Get a really good system for the room where you do serious music listening, and be prepared to settle for something less great in other places in your home. Or run a few cables to reach neighboring rooms. It's too early in the wireless audio business to trust any one company, so it's probably better to be cautious for another year or two until things settle down.

Want a second opinion? Crutchfield.com is an online audio store that offers a wide range of products and provides good advice both on its website and by phone.

A final word on Bluetooth

A common complaint about Bluetooth is that when you use it through your phone or computer, the music mutes during phone calls, alarms, etc. Also, it doesn't work when you drive off and leave your family, roommates, etc. without music.

A simple solution: Find an old laptop or desktop computer that you no longer use. Delete pretty much everything except a web browser and any apps or settings that work with Bluetooth. You can set the computer to play the music you want without being interrupted by phone calls about your extended warranty.

Think your old computer is too old to handle it? Now is a good time to discover Linux and escape the duopoly of Apple and Microsoft. Linux is free, open source and most versions run on any device you can plug in and turn on.