Sonos to end support for CR100 controller from April

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Sonos says the hardware of its original remote control has reached the end of its lifespan.

Though many Sonos users may not realise it, you didn't always control your Sonos system with an app on a phone or tablet. When Sonos launched back in 2005, it did so with the CR100 controller, a now rather chunky remote control that did the job.

But 13 years is a long time in wireless audio and Sonos has now told customers that the device is no longer fit for purpose. From "early April", it will no longer be supported, and an update will mean it no longer connects to Sonos systems.

Sonos has suggested users use the free Sonos app on a phone or tablet instead, while offering them a £100/$100 voucher towards a future Sonos purchase. And while some Sonos owners are unhappy, it doesn't seem too bad a deal to us.

And if you really want to keep using it, you could ignore any future Sonos updates and take the risk with that liable-to-get-hot battery. But we wouldn't recommend that...

Joe Cox
Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff and The Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).