Why S1 and S2 Matter
In 2020, Sonos split their platform into two incompatible systems. Older speakers lacked the processing power and memory for new features, so Sonos created the S2 operating system for modern speakers and left legacy speakers on S1.
This created a painful choice for users with mixed systems: abandon perfectly working older speakers, keep everything on the outdated S1 system and lose access to new speakers entirely, or run two separate systems with two separate apps.
Most users chose the third option – and immediately regretted it.
The Problem: Sonos' Two-App Solution
With the official Sonos approach, users with both S1 and S2 speakers need both the "Sonos S1 Controller" app and the regular "Sonos" app installed. Each app controls a completely separate system.
What this means in practice:
Want to play music in your bedroom (S1 speaker)? Open the S1 Controller app
Now want to play music in your living room (S2 speaker)? Close that app, open the S2 app
Want both rooms playing in sync? Impossible — S1 and S2 speakers can never group together
Forgot which app controls which room? Good luck remembering
If you use Spotify or another single-stream music service, starting playback on your S2 system automatically stops playback on your S1 system. Voice assistants require separate accounts for each system – and both might respond to your commands simultaneously if speakers are nearby.
The result: confusion, frustration, and constant app-switching to control speakers that should work together seamlessly.
👉 You need one app that controls both systems without the constant switching.
How Lyd Makes This Possible
Lyd treats your S1 and S2 systems as separate households within one app. Switch between them with a single tap – no closing apps, no confusion, no separate interfaces to learn.
What you get:
One app controls both S1 and S2 speakers
Instant switching between systems via household selector
Same interface for both – no learning two different apps
Works on iPhone and Apple Watch
All Lyd features (Widgets, Live Activities, Shortcuts) work with both systems
The limitation that remains: S1 and S2 speakers still can't group together for synchronized playback – this is a Sonos restriction, not an app limitation. But everything else about managing two systems becomes dramatically simpler.
Even 15+ year old Sonos S1 systems benefit of all the modern features of Lyd such as Lock Screen and Dynamic Island controls
Key Features
One-Tap Household Switching
Switch between your S1 and S2 systems instantly. Open Lyd, tap the household selector, choose which system you want to control. No app closing, no separate login, no different interface.
On iPhone: Tap the three dots next to "Connected to Sonos", select the other household.
On Apple Watch: Open "More options", tap "Select household", choose your S1 or S2 system.
The switch is instant. Music continues playing on both systems – you're just changing which one you're currently controlling.
Lyd's household selector allowing for instant switching between S1 and S2 systems
Same Sonos Account, Separate Systems
Both households use the same Sonos account credentials. You're not managing multiple accounts or remembering different passwords – you're just switching which set of speakers you're controlling at any moment.
Which Speakers Are S1, S2, or Both?
S1 Only (Cannot Upgrade to S2)
Play:5 (Gen 1) – manufactured before 2015
Connect (Gen 1) – manufactured before March 2015
Connect:Amp (Gen 1) – manufactured before March 2015
ZonePlayer 80, 90, 100, 120, S5
Bridge
CR200 controller
Launched as S1 (Can Upgrade to S2)
Play:1
Play:3
Play:5 (Gen 2) – manufactured 2015 or later
Playbar
Playbase
One (Gen 1 and Gen 2)
Beam (Gen 1)
Move
Amp
Port
Connect (Gen 2) – manufactured March 2015 or later
Connect:Amp (Gen 2) – manufactured March 2015 or later
Sub (Gen 1 and Gen 2)
Boost
SYMFONISK Gen 1 models
S2 Only
Arc, Arc SL, Arc Ultra
Beam (Gen 2)
Era 100, Era 300
Five
Move 2
Ray
Roam, Roam 2, Roam SL
Sub (Gen 3), Sub 4, Sub Mini
Sonos Ace headphones
One SL (continues working on S1 if already there)
All SYMFONISK Gen 2 models
…
Not sure which generation you have?
Check your Sonos account page under System, or look at your speaker's serial number. For Play:5, if the first four digits are 1501 or higher, it's Gen 2 (S2-compatible).
Common Use Cases
Legacy speakers in bedrooms, new speakers in living areas: Your older Play:1 speakers work perfectly in bedrooms and bathrooms. Your new Era 100s handle the living room and kitchen. With Lyd, you control both sets from one app – tap to switch between bedroom control (S1) and living room control (S2) instantly.
Vacation home with old system, main home with new: Your vacation property has the original Sonos system you bought years ago (S1). Your main residence has the latest speakers (S2). Lyd treats them as separate households – switch between properties as easily as switching rooms.
Gradual system upgrade: You're slowly replacing older speakers as they fail or as budget allows. Until the transition is complete, you're running mixed S1 and S2 speakers. Lyd makes the in-between period manageable instead of maddening.
Separate floors or zones: Basement entertainment system uses older Connect:Amp units (S1). Main floor uses new Era speakers (S2). Each floor operates independently anyway, so the inability to group across systems doesn't matter – but having one app to control both floors does.
Why Lyd for S1 and S2 Control?
Lyd built its reputation as the best-in-class Apple Watch app for Sonos – trusted since 2019 for speed and simplicity. That same approach extends to solving the S1/S2 split: one elegant solution instead of Sonos's clunky two-app workaround.
The limitation – that S1 and S2 speakers can't group together – comes from Sonos hardware, not from Lyd. But everything else about managing two systems becomes effortless. One app. Instant switching. Same interface. Full functionality for both.
Not Convinced Yet?
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