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Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

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Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#201

Post by HeWhoLurksLate »

p1necone wrote: post #128
kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Millennial audiophools need their 192kHz 32-bit playback. Grandpa's sound system just won't cut it for reproducing those refined ultrasonics.

Grandpa's sound system was analog, not digital (as are all sound systems at some point before the speakers because sound is analog) In fact I actually have a 192khz, 32 bit dac connecting my PC to a Technics stereo amp from the 80s. Pithy snark only really works when you actually understand what you're talking about.

Spot-on.

I have an Apple USB-C to Headphone jack (named the AppleDAC by some of the people I know online) at the core of my setup- it goes from an HTPC (with a type-A to C adapter) to an older Akai amp. Works great for what I need it to, and for $8.99 + adapter, the thingies are lovely- if you have a TRRS headset, the AppleDAC will enumerate as a headset and it just works, too.

Melding new and old tech is where it's at, IMO.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#202

Post by lvturner »

Not super familiar with Sonos, but why do they 'need' to connect to a server in order to work at all? Do they bundle in some kind of subscription streaming service or something?

I always thought they were just wireless speakers that I used locally on my own network...

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#203

Post by crazygringo »

It seems like a lot of commenters here (as well as the tweets) are totally missing the purpose of the recycle mode.

If you want to sell, give away, or otherwise let someone else reuse your Sonos, then DON'T PUT IT IN RECYCLE MODE. Easy peasy.

Recycle mode exists for when you intentionally want to get a Sonos trade-in credit for recycling your speakers for materials. But because you don't send the speakers directly to Sonos (instead to a local recycler), they have to trust you're actually recycling it instead of keeping it or selling it. So the recycle lock is a clever mechanism to ensure that. Otherwise you could "cheat" by getting the credit AND still using/selling your speakers.

So if you want your speakers to be reused... don't take the credit!! Donate or sell them instead! It's your choice.

It seems to me like overall it's a good set of incentives. The credit helps encourage people to recycle them at all instead of just throwing them in the trash, right? But doesn't prevent people from otherwise selling or donating them. Since it gives the consumer all the choice, this seems like a win for all sides, no?

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#205

Post by lvturner »

llampx wrote: post #71
kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Millennial audiophools need their 192kHz 32-bit playback. Grandpa's sound system just won't cut it for reproducing those refined ultrasonics.

The same millenials who are buying Bluetooth speakers at unprecedented rates?

It's almost like the word "millennial" is completely void of meaning...

Who ever would have thought labeling three decades worth of people across the whole globe with a single label AND THEN trying to draw generalisations from it was a fools errand?

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#206

Post by Trias11 »

Light bulb manufacturers goes to great extents to artifically shorten lifestyle of bulbs.

I adjusted to that by keeping bulb receipts. Then buying new ones to replace failing ones. Then coming 3 weeks later to get refund or credit for failed ones.

Putting pressure on retailers to stop carrying crappy products.

I know it's not exactly audio stuff but manufacturers engaging in misleading to the point of fraudulent practices need to be dealt with.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#207

Post by shawnz »

reeddavid wrote: post #23

What a total waste. Apparel companies are starting to participate in the secondary market for their used gear, why can't Sonos do something similar? Examples: - Patagonia Worn Wear ( https://wornwear.patagonia.com ) - REI Used Gear ( https://www.rei.com/used/shop/gear ) - Arc'teryx Rock Solid ( https://rocksolid.arcteryx.com ) As it stands, Sonos is effectively buying their old speakers and then throwing them away. C…

It's not clear to me from the information here that Sonos themselves can't refurbish a device that's been put into recycle mode. This seems to be a technique to block third party refurbishers only.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#208

Post by song »

crazygringo wrote: post #203

It seems like a lot of commenters here (as well as the tweets) are totally missing the purpose of the recycle mode. If you want to sell, give away, or otherwise let someone else reuse your Sonos, then DON'T PUT IT IN RECYCLE MODE . Easy peasy. Recycle mode exists for when you intentionally want to get a Sonos trade-in credit for recycling your speakers for materials . But because you don't send the speakers directly…

People understand the purpose of it quite well. They just completely disagree with your analysis.

First, the most environmental form of recycling is for an object to be reused as is. So, if any item is given to a recycling center, if the recycling center can just sell it directly to someone else, then it's much more environmentally friendly.

Second, the credit doesn't encourage people to recycle them at all instead of throwing it in the trash, there's no verification that they've given it to a recycling center. The only thing is that after the recycling mode is enable, the device becomes a useless paperweight.

So it's an extremely environmentally unfriendly policy from a company who pretends they care about the environment.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#209

Post by nl »

segfaultbuserr wrote: post #138
nl wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think this was a sarcastic comment. Obviously "reproducing the ultrasonics" don't actually matter for music reproduction....

Of course it's a sarcastic comment, and I know it when I was comment. It seems that it was you, who are unfamiliar with its background and implication. "Reproducing the ultrasonics" here is a sarcastic reference to any sampling rate higher than 24 kHz (it actually backs back well before digital music). Audiophiles often prefer it because it's claimed that it has a wider frequency response, a lower quantization noise…

It seems that it was you, who are unfamiliar with its background and implication.

What makes you think I am unfamiliar with the background?

Was it the polite way I pointed out that you had clearly missed the sarcasm?

Either way, the hostility is unnecessary.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#210

Post by staktrace »

matttproud wrote: post #174
throwaway100773 wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Im in the market for sound equipment. I just crossed these guys off my list.

Separate from this issue here, Sonos should be off your list. The UX becomes progressively worse and opaque, your time will be wasted owing to mandatory software updates, needless churn, etc. I have been a user since 2014, and I emphatically will not continue to be their customer once my existing devices bite the dust.

This describes my experience exactly as well.
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