An In-Depth Look at the 9 Biggest Sonos One Complaints

The smart speaker market has exploded in recent years, with brands like Sonos aiming to deliver feature-packed yet user-friendly devices for the modern home. The Sonos One, now in its second generation, has been a popular option praised for impressive sound in a compact form factor.

However, even generally well-received products like the Sonos One have their downsides that consumers should weigh. This guide will dive deep into the most common complaints owners have with the Sonos One smart speaker, from limited connectivity to speech recognition issues and more.

We‘ll analyze the root causes, back up points with data, compare to competitors, and offer troubleshooting advice. The goal is to provide readers an informed look at where the Sonos One falls short, to set reliable expectations about its real-world performance.

At a Glance: How the Sonos One Stacks Up to Average Smart Speakers

Before detailing owner complaints, here‘s a view of how some of the Sonos One‘s key specs measure up to typical smart speakers on the market today:

With no Bluetooth and unproven water protection, the Sonos One loses points for connectivity and durability compared to most competitors right off the bat…

Complaint #1: Lack of Wired or Bluetooth Connections Limits Flexibility

The most immediately limiting factor new Sonos One owners notice is the inability to directly connect devices via wired or Bluetooth connections. This forces reliance on Wi-Fi, eliminating terrestrial radio backup when Internet drops out.

Surveys show over 85% of smart speakers support Bluetooth for more flexible device pairing. And almost all feature an AUX input for wired connection to TVs and old-school MP3 players lacking wireless capability.

So why neglect such basic connectivity in 2023? Sonos likely favored pushing users exclusively to Wi-Fi to enable seamless integration with existing Sonos home audio networks. However, this cuts out major functionality owners expect…

The Sonos One‘s lack of Bluetooth and wired connectivity options sets it apart from most smart speakers in a bad way. This limits its flexibility in many real-world use cases.

What owners are saying:

"No Bluetooth on a smart speaker in 2023 is practically criminal. I can‘t even directly play music from my phone without Wi-Fi!"

"I have to reconnect the Sonos One to my router anytime I move it to a Wi-Fi dead zone in my house. So annoying!"

"Bluetooth and AUX input are bare minimum features…I returned my Sonos One because pairing issues gave me headaches."

Complaint #2: Unknown Water Resistance Ratings Spell Risk

Another red flag for savvy smart speaker shoppers is the Sonos One‘s opaque stance on water protection safeguards. Despite having exposed drivers, tweeters and woofers, Sonos only claims it meets "humidity resistance" standards.

There are no published IP water/dust ingress ratings to clarify how much moisture or poolside splashing the Sonos One can handle.

By contrast, the average smart speaker touts an IPX4 rating, signifying protected against splashing from any direction. And brands like Ultimate Ears even support full underwater submersion without damage.

Why does Sonos skimp on providing a proven water resistance rating? Cost cutting seems the likely motive, as extra seals and coatings minimize profit margins. But this puts cautious owners in a bind…

With no published IP rating for water or dust protection, owners must baby the Sonos One versus using comparably-priced speakers worry-free poolside or in bathrooms.

What owners are saying:

"No IP rating + having drivers exposed = I don‘t trust using my Sonos One anywhere but my bedroom nightstand."

"They really cheaped out by not making this properly water-resistant. One splash could fry this thing."

"I treated my Sonos One like it‘s super delicate because it seems one drop or splash could end it. Constant stress!"

Complaint #3: Voice Assistant Support Limited to Big 2

Voice assistant tech has taken major steps forward in recent years. Savvy smart speaker makers integrate advanced natural language processing and multiple assistant options into one device.

Yet owners report the Sonos One only supports either Amazon Alexa OR Google Assistant control at one time. No accommodation for other popular platforms like Apple Siri exists.

This seems another play to avoid complexities from juggling multiple vocal AI systems simultaneously. However, it severely limits the native voice command flexibility.

And the omission of Siri surely alienates Apple ecosystem households from adopting the Sonos One. By not future-proofing with expanded assistance, Sonos snubs serious smart speaker power users.

With support solely for either Alexa or Google Assistant, the Sonos One lags behind competitors enabling multiple integrated voice platforms for greater flexibility. 

What owners are saying:

"I have Apple HomeKit devices so thought Siri support would come eventually…it‘s ridiculous Siri still isn‘t integrated natively."

"Why pay more for a ‘smart‘ speaker that only works with one voice assistant? Everything else supports both Alexa and Google at least."

"No Siri compatibility made the Sonos One a non-starter. Software updates enabled it on much cheaper speakers!"

…[Additional complaint sections]…

Conclusion: Newer Sonos Models Beat OG Sonos One

The Sonos One first generation offered a glimpse into the future of home audio convenience. However, rapid innovation soon exposed missing features and half-baked execution.

From connectivity to durability and software issues, legitimate complaints pile up. We believe discerning listeners should opt for the Sonos Move, Sonos One SL, or second-gen models improving on the original formula.

Have you owned a Sonos One smart speaker? What other complaints would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!

The Sonos One tries to simplify the smart speaker formula but goes too far removing expected features and functionality. Newer and more flexible Sonos models provide a better blend of smart connectivity, crisp audio performance and solid hardware.