Latest news with #SonosInc
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Your next Sonos speaker is going to be more expensive — and it's because of tariffs
Sonos hasn't had a good time over the last couple of years. We've seen an app launch that's definitely not to be envied, hardware launches plagued with niggling issues, and sales drop after a loss of trust from consumers. Now, there's a new problem looming for the smart audio firm, and it looks like it's down to those pesky tariffs that are threatening the tech sphere at every crossroads. According to a report from Bloomberg, "Sonos Inc. will raise prices on some products later this year." The report adds that it "threatens to complicate its comeback attempt following a tumultuous 2024." Tumultuous is one way of describing the many highs and lows for Sonos in 2024, but it's no great surprise that it's happening now. The firm uses factories in Vietnam and Malaysia, two countries hit hard by President Trump's tariffs. We know that we can expect price rises, then, but by how much? While we don't know yet how much the price hikes will be, we know there will be increases to some of Sonos's products. If you're in the market for a Sonos Era 300 or Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar, now could be the best opportunity to get a unit before the price rises take effect. Beyond that, there's nothing really for the consumer to worry about as yet. Sonos has seen 5% growth over the last few months, which is always a positive for a company that's had as many worrying turns of fate as Sonos. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Sonos to Raise Its Hardware Prices This Year Due to Tariffs
Sonos Inc. will raise prices on some products later this year, the company said Wednesday, a move that threatens to complicate its comeback attempt following a tumultuous 2024. The price increases are a response to the latest tariffs levied by the US on Vietnam and Malaysia, where Sonos devices are manufactured, the company said during its third-quarter earnings call. It wasn't immediately clear which products will be affected.
Bloomberg
05-08-2025
- Bloomberg
Sonos Acknowledges ‘Very Low' Number of Overheating Roam Speakers
Sonos Inc. acknowledged a 'very low' number of complaints from customers who claim the audio brand's first-generation Roam speaker has overheated and partially melted near the USB-C port. The company has 'closely tracked' these reports, a spokesperson said Tuesday. It has not issued a formal consumer recall for the product.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sonos Interim CEO Says Company Has Turned a Corner and He Wants the Top Job
(Bloomberg) -- Sonos Inc. interim Chief Executive Officer Tom Conrad said the audio company has 'turned the corner' following setbacks caused by software issues — and that he wants to be named to the top job permanently. Is Trump's Plan to Reopen the Notorious Alcatraz Prison Realistic? As Trump Reshapes Housing Policy, Renters Face Rollback of Rights What's Behind the Rise in Serious Injuries on New York City's Streets? Vail to Borrow Muni Debt to Ease Ski Resort Town Housing Crunch NYC Warns of 17% Drop in Foreign Tourists Due to Trump Policies 'I'm just feeling much more confident that we've turned the corner,' he said in an interview Friday. 'We've made some real breakthroughs in the last 90 days on some deeply esoteric technical challenges.' The longtime board member stepped in as temporary chief in January after his predecessor, Patrick Spence, left following a failed app revamp mired the company in controversy. Last year, Sonos overhauled its iOS and Android apps — along with the underlying software that connects its hardware — and users immediately complained about interface issues, networking problems and equipment not being able to properly play music. The glitches upset many consumers who, in some cases, spent tens of thousands of dollars on Sonos systems placed throughout their homes. Conrad said the latest software release, pushed out this week, helps fix issues that have continued to hit older players — such as the Play 1 and Play 3 — unveiled over a decade ago. He said that releases coming out the rest of the year will help make Sonos' software 'better than it has been in five years.' By spending the past few months fixing the underlying software, the company is now focusing on improving the app's user experience, he said. 'Quantitatively today, the app performs better than the software it replaced,' he said, adding that upcoming releases across the summer and into early fall will 'restore convention' to the user experience and improve usability. 'I feel like we're on a really good path here.' The issues, he said, were difficult to fix because they were so wide-ranging. 'It's not like we made a straightforward set of mistakes where we could just go in and plug some obvious holes.' Conrad credits the turnaround to restructuring the way the company operates. Sonos previously was organized by business units, meaning there was one team for every product line. Now, the company is structured by functionality, meaning it's grouped into areas like hardware, software, design and operations. That mirrors Apple Inc.'s approach. (Besides sporting a Sonos tattoo, Conrad has one of a Mac on his arm.) The old structure 'made it hard for the team to prioritize experience across the business units, which is so fundamental to what Sonos is,' Conrad said. The company, he said, is now staffed for success, has a clear set of goals and a more defined line of escalation to top managers. This 'has unlocked the progress we've made on software and how the team is feeling about what they show up to do here,' he said. Conrad said Sonos hasn't fully determined how it will be impacted by tariffs the US has imposed on foreign imports, but that it stopped building products for the US market in China years ago, instead relying on Malaysia and Vietnam. Still, it's pulling forward manufacturing to bring hardware devices into the US while levies are stable ahead of anticipated changes, he said, because it's premature to try to figure out how this 'multidimensional problem' gets solved. And while Conrad is interim CEO, he is very clear about wanting to drop the first part of that title. 'I hope the next chapter is I get named permanent CEO and I get to lead the company on a 5-year or 10-year plan, not on a 2-year plan,' he said. 'I have big ideas and I can't wait to get going.' US Border Towns Are Being Ravaged by Canada's Furious Boycott Maybe AI Slop Is Killing the Internet, After All Pre-Tariff Car Buying Frenzy Leaves Americans With a Big Debt Problem How the Lizard King Built a Reptile Empire Selling $50,000 Geckos What the US Would Lose If Trump Pushes Out Legal Immigrants ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Mint
09-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Sonos Interim CEO Says Company Has Turned a Corner and He Wants the Top Job
(Bloomberg) -- Sonos Inc. interim Chief Executive Officer Tom Conrad said the audio company has 'turned the corner' following setbacks caused by software issues — and that he wants to be named to the top job permanently. 'I'm just feeling much more confident that we've turned the corner,' he said in an interview Friday. 'We've made some real breakthroughs in the last 90 days on some deeply esoteric technical challenges.' The longtime board member stepped in as temporary chief in January after his predecessor, Patrick Spence, left following a failed app revamp mired the company in controversy. Last year, Sonos overhauled its iOS and Android apps — along with the underlying software that connects its hardware — and users immediately complained about interface issues, networking problems and equipment not being able to properly play music. The glitches upset many consumers who, in some cases, spent tens of thousands of dollars on Sonos systems placed throughout their homes. Conrad said the latest software release, pushed out this week, helps fix issues that have continued to hit older players — such as the Play 1 and Play 3 — unveiled over a decade ago. He said that releases coming out the rest of the year will help make Sonos' software 'better than it has been in five years.' By spending the past few months fixing the underlying software, the company is now focusing on improving the app's user experience, he said. 'Quantitatively today, the app performs better than the software it replaced,' he said, adding that upcoming releases across the summer and into early fall will 'restore convention' to the user experience and improve usability. 'I feel like we're on a really good path here.' The issues, he said, were difficult to fix because they were so wide-ranging. 'It's not like we made a straightforward set of mistakes where we could just go in and plug some obvious holes.' Conrad credits the turnaround to restructuring the way the company operates. Sonos previously was organized by business units, meaning there was one team for every product line. Now, the company is structured by functionality, meaning it's grouped into areas like hardware, software, design and operations. That mirrors Apple Inc.'s approach. (Besides sporting a Sonos tattoo, Conrad has one of a Mac on his arm.) The old structure 'made it hard for the team to prioritize experience across the business units, which is so fundamental to what Sonos is,' Conrad said. The company, he said, is now staffed for success, has a clear set of goals and a more defined line of escalation to top managers. This 'has unlocked the progress we've made on software and how the team is feeling about what they show up to do here,' he said. Conrad said Sonos hasn't fully determined how it will be impacted by tariffs the US has imposed on foreign imports, but that it stopped building products for the US market in China years ago, instead relying on Malaysia and Vietnam. Still, it's pulling forward manufacturing to bring hardware devices into the US while levies are stable ahead of anticipated changes, he said, because it's premature to try to figure out how this 'multidimensional problem' gets solved. And while Conrad is interim CEO, he is very clear about wanting to drop the first part of that title. 'I hope the next chapter is I get named permanent CEO and I get to lead the company on a 5-year or 10-year plan, not on a 2-year plan,' he said. 'I have big ideas and I can't wait to get going.' More stories like this are available on
