Oliver Haslam on February 16, 2018, 6:32 am

Sonos One Speakers, Like Apple HomePod, Leave White Rings On Wooden Surfaces As Well

Apple’s HomePod has been experiencing what can only be described as a lukewarm response from the technology industry, including many ardent Apple fans. The reasons for that are many, although not necessarily always valid, but one criticism that was wholly unexpected revolves around its ability to leave white circular marks on wood surfaces.

It’s a phenomenon that Apple itself has acknowledged and believes to be something that is relatively normal for speakers with specific vibration-fighting bases, and as it turns out, the company might actually be right.

When Apple responded to initial reports of the white rings appearing on some wooden surfaces, it suggested that everything was normal and that, in theory at least, the marks should go away on their own.

It is not unusual for any speaker with a vibration-dampening silicone base to leave mild marks when placed on some wooden surfaces. The marks can be caused by oils diffusing between the silicone base and the table surface, and will often go away after several days when the speaker is removed from the wooden surface.

While everyone was frothing about Apple’s response, the folks over at Tom’s Guide noticed something interesting about the Sonos One speaker that they also had on a wooden surface, alongside a HomePod no less. Just as Apple had claimed, other speakers also create the same white rings – including the much lauded Sonos One. Who knew?

As the folks at Tom’s Guide point out, it is clearly not just Apple’s HomePod that has a problem – if indeed we can call it a problem at all!

“When I got home, I saw a large white ring, a telltale indication that the HomePod’s silicone base had messed up the finish. But, as I was inspecting the damage, I noticed a series of smaller white marks near where the HomePod was sitting.

A closer inspection revealed that the Sonos One speaker, which also has small silicone feet, had made these marks on my cabinet. Looking around the top of the cabinet, I noticed a bunch of little white marks, all left from the Sonos Ones as I moved them around. So, they will damage your wood furniture, too. We’re awaiting comment from Sonos.”

The answer to all this? Either don’t put your HomePod (or Sonos One) on a wooden surface or if you must, then put it on some sort of coaster. We have concerns about what that will do to the sound quality these things produce, but it may be better than the white rings of death!