Sonos has launched a new subscription service for its connected home speakers.
Sonos Flex subscriptions start at €15 ($16.50 USD) per month and can be cancelled anytime. It seems as though the high-end speaker manufacturer is borrowing a page out of Apple’s playbook.
Sonos Flex Subscription Breakdown
- €15 per month — Connect two Sonos One smart speakers to use together or in separate rooms.
- €25 per month — Sonos Beam soundbar and two Sonos One speakers for TV audio.
- €50 per month — Playbar, subwoofer, and two Sonos One smart speakers for a home theater setup.
All Sonos speakers are available in black and white. The benefit of the rental model is Sonos will replace them with the latest models as they’re released.
Subscribers can alter their subscriptions and send the devices back at any time. Sonos says new orders take about four days to process and delivery is free. An optional professional installation process is offered to Amsterdam residents. (Not surprising, Sonos’ European HQ is located about 20 minutes away.)
This new subscription program is Sonos’ latest effort to lower the barrier to entry. The company also recently partnered with IKEA for its Symfonisk series. That series offers a Sonos smart speaker for just $99.
Sonos says it is hoping to capitalize on customers who prefer subscriptions for services like meal deliveries, entertainment, and home fitness. Sonos isn’t the only hardware manufacturer jumping behind the subscription model, either.
While the allure of replacing speakers with new ones might be appealing, the subscription is in no way a value. Thirty months of the cheapest tier is enough to pay off the two Sonos speakers.
When asked about a potential rent-to-own feature, Sonos says they’re open to it. They’re currently seeking feedback from customers who do decide to rent their high-quality sound.
Right now, the program is only available in Europe. No word if it will be available in the United States. Leasing cars makes sense, but does leasing a set of speakers even with promised upgrades?