SONOS Speakers and Spotify

kurtainsider

If you buy a Sonos wifi speaker it will not play Spotify unless you have a Premium subscription.

Why doesn't it bother people that you can spend approx €200 on a speaker that then decides what you can and can't listen to on it?

Imagine buying a TV and getting it home only to discover that it won't show the BBC for instance unless you sign up to a €10/month subscription. I imagine that this TV brand would be run out of town immediately.

Why hasn't this become a marketing catastrophe for SONOS?

massy086

kurtainsider wrote: »

If you buy a Sonos wifi speaker it will not play Spotify unless you have a Premium subscription.

Why doesn't it bother people that you can spend approx €200 on a speaker that then decides what you can and can't listen to on it?

Imagine buying a TV and getting it home only to discover that it won't show the BBC for instance unless you sign up to a €10/month subscription. I imagine that this TV brand would be run out of town immediately.

Why hasn't this become a marketing catastrophe for SONOS?

Because if you can afford Sonos you can afford spotify premium

burkey2k0

And it's not Sonos, it's obviously Spotify doing this...

Denny_Crane

Apologies for being a smart arse, but buying a TV and then finding you dont have the full range of BBC services is exactly what does happen in Ireland as we dont pay the licence fee.

kurtainsider

Denny_Crane wrote: »

Apologies for being a smart arse, but buying a TV and then finding you dont have the full range of BBC services is exactly what does happen in Ireland as we dont pay the licence fee.

Apology accepted

fred funk }{

kurtainsider wrote: »

Apology accepted

Get a hold of yourself man. You been sipping the Sherry?

kurtainsider

fred funk }{ wrote: »

Get a hold of yourself man. You been sipping the Sherry?

Well I do like a glass of sweet sherry on Christmas day.

Denny_Crane

Shes not so sweet when you can't get the Barry White playlist without the ads :pac:

Issac

The sound quality on the free version of Spotify is not as good as premium. Maybe the manufacturers don't want the speakers to play the lower quality files on the free version as it may sound like the speakers are not as good as they actually are.

dudara

Does it say this explicitly on the product labeling / packaging / description?

dmc17

Issac wrote: »

The sound quality on the free version of Spotify is not as good as premium. Maybe the manufacturers don't want the speakers to play the lower quality files on the free version as it may sound like the speakers are not as good as they actually are.

And buying an expensive speaker to listen to low quality sound doesn't really make sense anyway

kurtainsider

dudara wrote: »

Does it say this explicitly on the product labeling / packaging / description?

I didn't keep the packaging so I can't say. However, I bought it in a shop where the sales person certainly didn't mention it. I never saw the packaging until I had agreed to buy it in any event. If they had pointed out to me that the speaker would decide what it would play I wouldn't have touched it. Even if I didn't have a spotify account it's the principle of the thing that I don't like.

IamtheWalrus

I have a sonos set and you're right, only spotify premium. Would a friend let you log in under their account?

kurtainsider

dmc17 wrote: »

And buying an expensive speaker to listen to low quality sound doesn't really make sense anyway

That's as maybe but after spending a lot of money shouldn't it be the purchasers decision at the end of the day what to play?

ongarite

kurtainsider wrote: »

That's as maybe but after spending a lot of money shouldn't it be the purchasers decision at the end of the day what to play?

No, you can play any content you own or have on your phone or tablet.
If you want to play content you don't own through streaming service then Spotify Premium is required. This has been made clear for months by Sonos & Spotify.
Premium account can play all content while free account will only play certain tracks from albums with ads dropped in..
Not exactly an experience a premium brand like Sonos want to associated with.

kurtainsider

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

I have a sonos set and you're right, only spotify premium. Would a friend let you log in under their account?

Possibly, but the point I'm making is that the speaker shouldn't block me out of my free Spotify account. It's a speaker, I paid plenty for it - why can SONOS hop into bed with Spotify to coerce it's customers into taking out a premium account?
What's next - a cooker that will decide what it'll cook? - a car that will decide where it will and won't take you?

The comparisons above may sound ridiculous but a speaker that decides what it will and will not play is equally f***ed up.

Cabaal

kurtainsider wrote: »

Possibly, but the point I'm making is that the speaker shouldn't block me out of my free Spotify account. It's a speaker, I paid plenty for it - why can SONOS hop into bed with Spotify to coerce it's customers into taking out a premium account?
What's next - a cooker that will decide what it'll cook? - a car that will decide where it will and won't take you?

The comparisons above may sound ridiculous but a speaker that decides what it will and will not play is equally f***ed up.

You can stream content from your phone, so you can play the free low quality content via your phone or tablet. It's sonos product, they can restrict or make agreements with whichever content providers they wish, customers are free to go elsewhere if they don't agree.

Who shells out money on an expensive speaker without doing basic research?

kurtainsider

ongarite wrote: »

No, you can play any content you own or have on your phone or tablet.
If you want to play content you don't own through streaming service then Spotify Premium is required. This has been made clear for months by Sonos & Spotify.
Premium account can play all content while free account will only play certain tracks from albums with ads dropped in..
Not exactly an experience a premium brand like Sonos want to associated with.

This is a crude commercial deal by Sonos and Spotify to coerce people to sign up for a premium account. Nothing to do with those awful ads polluting their lovely speakers.

kurtainsider

Cabaal wrote: »

You can stream content from your phone, so you can play the free low quality content via your phone or tablet. It's sonos product, they can restrict or make agreements with whichever content providers they wish, customers are free to go elsewhere if they don't agree.

Who shells out money on an expensive speaker without doing basic research?

Do you know what? You're correct. Sonos sees its customers as mugs and there is a school of thought that says that it's OK to behave as cynically as you like so long as you can find a mug. I was a mug in this occasion and was treated by Sonos as such.

It's my view that this is unethical and underhanded.

Paulw

The Sonos website say that it plays music from over 30 online streaming services.

But, it does say that it requires Spotify Premium.

http://www.sonos.com/en-ie/streaming-music

Maybe a little research would have been useful before buying an expensive speaker.

kurtainsider

Paulw wrote: »

The Sonos website say that it plays music from over 30 online streaming services.

But, it does say that it requires Spotify Premium.

http://www.sonos.com/en-ie/streaming-music

Maybe a little research would have been useful before buying an expensive speaker.

You're dead right.
If I had done my research I'd have discovered that there was 2 products involved in the deal - the speaker AND myself.

IamtheWalrus

You have my sympathy man. Although my 2 sonos produce great sound quality, they are a bit restrictive (BBC5 Live games are not allowed). The music I listen to is all on my laptop so it suits me ok.

fred funk }{

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

You have my sympathy man. Although my 2 sonos produce great sound quality, they are a bit restrictive (BBC5 Live games are not allowed). The music I listen to is all on my laptop so it suits me ok.

That's not Sonos restricting it, it's whatever service you're listening to it on.

Dodge

Yeah BBC 5 live streams don't allow live EPL commentary in Ireland (it's a rights issue)

Not sure I see any consumer issue here?

kurtainsider

fred funk }{ wrote: »

That's not Sonos restricting it, it's whatever service you're listening to it on.

Sonos restricts it.

Guy:Incognito

kurtainsider wrote: »

Sonos restricts it.

5live won't play pl games in Ireland . Doesn't matter whether you're playing it through a Sonos speaker, the phones speaker or hooking it up to a 30 year old technics .

UsedToWait

kurtainsider wrote: »

You're dead right.
If I had done my research I'd have discovered that there was 2 products involved in the deal - the speaker AND myself.

So are you selling it?
How much you looking?

IamtheWalrus

Dodge wrote: »

Yeah BBC 5 live streams don't allow live EPL commentary in Ireland (it's a rights issue)

Not sure I see any consumer issue here?

It was the UK.

IamtheWalrus

kurtainsider wrote: »

Sonos restricts it.

Just checked and it's the Beeb that restricts it

kurtainsider

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

Just checked and it's the Beeb that restricts it

The points have become mixed up. I was referring to Spotify and Sonos.

Nervous Wreck

Company sells product with certain usage restrictions that they advertise openly and honestly. What's the consumer issue here?

kurtainsider

Nervous Wreck wrote: »

Company sells product with certain usage restrictions that they advertise openly and honestly. What's the consumer issue here?

I've taken a look at the Sonos site and what's clear is that they make a huge thing out of Spotify on the Sonos but aren't very upfront that a premium account is required.

It is mentioned in passing in the little video thing featuring the by now mandatory large group of uber-cool twenty somethings all preparing food communally in their dreadlocks. A side observation - for some reason they are putting the food on the plates in a fairly normal manner and not standing there with their faces 2 inches from the plate with their arms extended at full reach over their heads and dropping the food onto the plate from there as is the norm in these videos. Not sure why this is.

L1011

UsedToWait wrote: »

So are you selling it?
How much you looking?

This isn't Adverts. No buying/selling.

adox

kurtainsider wrote: »

I've taken a look at the Sonos site and what's clear is that they make a huge thing out of Spotify on the Sonos but aren't very upfront that a premium account is required.

It is mentioned in passing in the little video thing

I've had a look at that video and it's mentioned 6 seconds into it!!

kurtainsider

adox wrote: »

I've had a look at that video and it's mentioned 6 seconds into it!!

6 seconds eh? Good for you. What did you think of the way they were plating up?

Paulw

kurtainsider wrote: »

I've taken a look at the Sonos site and what's clear is that they make a huge thing out of Spotify on the Sonos but aren't very upfront that a premium account is required.

http://www.sonos.com/en-ie/streaming-music

Click on Spotify. --

Spotify gives you access to any song, anytime, to any Sonos player in your house. Just search for an artist, album, or track and hit play. You can create playlists, or collaborate with a friend to make the ultimate mix. All you need is a Spotify Premium subscription.

Very easy to find.

kurtainsider

Paulw wrote: »

http://www.sonos.com/en-ie/streaming-music

Click on Spotify. --

Spotify gives you access to any song, anytime, to any Sonos player in your house. Just search for an artist, album, or track and hit play. You can create playlists, or collaborate with a friend to make the ultimate mix. All you need is a Spotify Premium subscription.

Very easy to find.

Imagine having to go through all that before buying anything. Does everyone except me do this before every purchase I wonder? The consensus would appear to be that you should and it's your own look out if you don't.

If boards is representative of consumers attitudes is it any wonder these companies are pis*ing themselves and running rings around people?

Anyway - I've made the same point so many times now it's starting to bore even me. I've nothing more to add to this thread.

Paulw

kurtainsider wrote: »

Imagine having to go through all that before buying anything. Does everyone except me do this before every purchase I wonder? The consensus would appear to be that you should and it's your own look out if you don't.

Not sure what you mean by "all that". You bought a speaker and you wanted to use Spotify on it. I assume that before you bought you had an idea of what you wanted?? If you wanted Sonos then in 3 clicks from the Sonos homepage you find it says "Spotify Premium".

For me, yeah, I do some research before I spend any serious money on a product, and I fairly much know what it can and can't do before I hand over money. I would usually know more than the sales person I am buying from. They want my money, and I want a certain product with certain features.

I certainly don't buy a product and then go online to moan about it because of information that is out there that I didn't check in advance.

While you're clearly unhappy, neither the store nor Sonos have done anything wrong.

ongarite

Spotify integration has only been added in the last month, before that you had to use the Sonos app for mobile/desktop to play music stored on your devices.
Would you have bought a Sonos speaker before the Spotify announcement?
If not then the news that it requires Premium account has been public since the beta tests running since summer.

matrim

This is because Spotify require you to have a premium account to play on any third party device. Nothing to do with sonos. If I want to use Spotify on my media center I need a premium account too.

A Dub in Glasgo

I took one look at the whole Sonos hype (for some) and decided it was not for me as the cheapest speaker was only wifi streaming. If you wanted to hook up a player through an AUX connection, you had to get the £350 speaker. Damn expensive stuff. I don't use spotify and sounds like they might be the one forcing you to pay and play. I may be too old for this, but I do like to have my music in my hands to play on what I want and where I want

ThisRegard

You can hook up Spotify to any aux input that you want to. Spotify premium, for the music lover, is the best thing that has happened in recent years.

A Dub in Glasgo

ThisRegard wrote: »

You can hook up Spotify to any aux input that you want to

Have another read what I actually said

BlondeBomb

matrim wrote: »

This is because Spotify require you to have a premium account to play on any third party device. Nothing to do with sonos. If I want to use Spotify on my media center I need a premium account too.

That's not true.

Spotify (Free) plays fine through Bluetooth on my JBL speakers.

Also seems to work with a number of other brands. If you go into any outlet that have speakers out for customers to test you can see this when pairing with Bluetooth.

Keyzer

kurtainsider wrote:

Imagine having to go through all that before buying anything. Does everyone except me do this before every purchase I wonder? The consensus would appear to be that you should and it's your own look out if you don't.

Do what exactly? Spend 10 minutes researching the product? If that's the question, then yes, it's expected.

I spent a year researching a watch I purchased recently.

Very entertaining thread though.

Paulw

BlondeBomb wrote: »

Spotify (Free) plays fine through Bluetooth on my JBL speakers.

That's not the issue. You can play almost anything over bluetooth. The issue is that when the device itself streams the music it requires Spotify Premium.

A Dub in Glasgo

Keyzer wrote: »

I spent a year researching a watch I purchased recently.

I bet the time flew by :pac:

Irish_Elect_Eng

As buyer with a tendency over the years to accumulate lots of obsolete tech as a result of my very-early adopter addiction, I find the "research" period a great defense against wasting money :-)

For most mundane little research will protect your against most of the pitfalls of any new purchase thanks to the excellent reviews and user experience information available from day 1.

For bigger purchases or personal treats / hobbies, I find the search, research, customization, etc all part of the experience of getting my value out of the experience, though it can drive the wife a bit mad a times.

IamtheWalrus

Irish_Elect_Eng wrote: »

As buyer with a tendency over the years to accumulate lots of obsolete tech as a result of my very-early adopter addiction, I find the "research" period a great defense against wasting money :-)

For most mundane little research will protect your against most of the pitfalls of any new purchase thanks to the excellent reviews and user experience information available from day 1.

For bigger purchases or personal treats / hobbies, I find the search, research, customization, etc all part of the experience of getting my value out of the experience, though it can drive the wife a bit mad a times.

I hate the research. It usually lessens the chance of me buying. I want my new toy now! So I can empathise with the OP.

colm_c

It's a total Spotify way for them to get people to upgrade.

There's a bunch of over the air features enabled when you get premium, including Apple Airplay, Google cast and sonos.