Sonos Roam Speakers Pose Serious Threats to Property and Safety as Users Report Fire Incidents; Company Acknowledges Issue but Claims ‘Overall Incidence Rate Is Very Low’

The issues plaguing Sonos extend beyond mere software glitches; serious hardware malfunctions are raising alarms among customers. Recent reports indicate that certain models of the Roam speaker have been igniting, presenting a tangible risk for users. Despite the gravity of the situation, the company seems hesitant to recognize the severity of the matter.

Environmental Conditions and Fire Risks Associated with the First-Generation Roam Speakers

A disturbing account shared by a Sonos Roam owner on Reddit highlights the dangers. User ‘jssumm’ reported that their two-year-old speaker, which had seen minimal use, began emitting the odor of burning plastic. Upon investigation, it was confirmed that the Roam had caught fire, with the most significant damage occurring at the USB-C charging port.

“My 2-year-old Sonos Roam, which sits mostly unused, set itself on fire the other day. It hadn’t been used or even touched for at least a month—I’d been out of town—and I noticed a funny smell in the room it’s in. After a few hours, the smell was getting worse, and I could then recognize the smell as burning plastic, so I unplugged everything in the room. The culprit was the Roam, already singed and bulging at the usb connection.”

In response to growing concerns, a Sonos representative provided a statement to Bloomberg, indicating that the number of reported incidents is low, but acknowledging that environmental factors may contribute to the issue. The company has promised forthcoming software and hardware updates aimed at reducing these incidents further.

” We’ve closely tracked a limited number of reports involving the USB-C charging connection on some first-generation Sonos Roam speakers. While the overall incidence rate is very low, and environmental conditions appear to play a role, we’ve taken several proactive steps to even further reduce the likelihood of this issue, including software updates and hardware improvements.”

While Sonos may downplay these alarming incidents to protect its brand image, the potential for a significant fire when a homeowner is absent cannot be overlooked. Such an occurrence could lead to severe repercussions for the company. Thankfully, the newly released Roam 2 does not seem to exhibit similar issues, but we will continue to monitor Sonos’s actions closely regarding the first-generation speakers.

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