Sonos Abandons Plans for Streaming Box, Refocuses on Audio
After a turbulent 2024, marked by a disastrous app revamp that alienated many loyal users, Sonos was in desperate need of a comeback in 2025. However, its rumored solution—a premium streaming video player priced between $200 and $400—raised serious doubts. Many questioned whether venturing into an already crowded streaming market was the right move for a company best known for high-end networked speakers.
Now, according to The Verge, Sonos has officially scrapped its long-rumored streaming player, codenamed Pinewood. While the company has not made a formal public announcement, executives reportedly confirmed the decision during an internal all-hands meeting. This shift comes just two months after the resignation of Sonos’ longtime CEO, signaling a possible course correction for the brand.
A Course Correction for Sonos
The Pinewood project, if leaks were accurate, was intended to be a high-end streaming device with an integrated HDMI switch, allowing users to connect game consoles, Blu-ray players, and other media sources while seamlessly integrating with Sonos’ wireless speakers. The concept aimed to address home theater lip-sync issues by offering a latency-free audio pipeline, but concerns quickly arose over its steep price tag—potentially exceeding even the premium-priced Apple TV 4K and Nvidia Shield.
Further controversy emerged when reports suggested Sonos was partnering with The Trade Desk, a digital advertising firm, leading to speculation that the streaming player could serve ads or track viewing habits—a stark departure from Sonos’ traditional hardware-first philosophy.
Given the lukewarm reception of the Sonos Ace headphones and the lingering customer frustration over the botched app update, it seems Sonos ultimately opted to retreat from unfamiliar territory rather than risk another misstep. The cancellation of Pinewood likely means no major new product category launches in 2025, but it also spares Sonos from further alienating its core audience.
While shelving a long-running project is never easy, this move may allow Sonos to refocus on what made it successful in the first place: premium, multi-room audio. If the company can regain customer trust and double down on innovation in the speaker market, it may yet turn the page on its troubled recent history.
