*** Official SONOS Thread ***

Just a heads up that "The Rainforest" and "Mr John of Lewis" have the Play:1 in stock for £149 each - which actually works out the cheapest they've ever been - by a pound.

Great if you were thinking of expanding you're Sonos collection but couldn't justify buying two.

EDIT: Also, to expand on what Mistadave has said again - it's been covered in the thread before but when you "pause" a radio station it actually stops it. When you "play" them again they continue live. As far as I'm aware there's no real way to "pause" the radio. It's just an off/on button.

When it's a streaming music service that's queued up (like Spotify) then the play/pause button works exactly as expected.

To clarify further, if I started playing my "evening music" Spotify playlist on my phone then stopped it (via my phone, OR via the play/pause button on the device) when I went to bed, when I got up in the morning and pressed the play/pause button on one of the devices (even another one in the same group) it will resume where it left off.

This is why we find that having a "reset" alarm in the morning is a good idea. We've got a alarm that comes on in the morning for all the devices downstairs set up to tune in to Radio 2, with ZERO volume then turn itself off again 15 minutes later - the shortest time it can be. This means when we go downstairs we just press the play/pause button and Radio 2 comes on without having to use our phones - which we just find easier.
 
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beachBOYken said:
By the way with the speakers grouped does pressing the volume control on the device or via the app control both speakers?
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Pressing the physical volume button on any individual speaker changes the volume just for that one, even if grouped.

In the app, when you click on the volume slider it will adjust the volumes for all speakers in the current group but ALSO display the volumes for each speaker above the master volume slider. As such you can tune each speakers volume individually form the app as well.

If you do adjust one volumes speaker then the master volume slider on the app will then adjust all speakers volumes at the same time while keeping the user defined separations of volume for each speaker - it won't automatically set them all the same again, but you can easily just tweak them to all be the same again just as you set them differently.
 
beachBOYken said:
One thing I noticed is apple music that is downloaded to your device for offline listening does not stream to the sonos (apple protection ********). So you have to stream from the internet.

Had me thinking, if I lost my internet for a while could I still stream music from on my device or do they rely on the internet?
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I can't comment about Apple Music, but my parents ONLY use local content. Judging by the awful speed of their internet there's no way it's doing anything online with it before it starts playing.

Whether or not the Sonos requires an internet connection to function otherwise I don't know, but I wouldn't have thought so.
 
beachBOYken said:
thanks.


I noticed when I installed the Sonos app on a second device (iPad) with a different apple account, my own apple music subscription was available on the device.
Did not think that would happen, but its good.
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Yeah, it's great - you can add multiple accounts for all the services.

Great for both me and my partner as sometimes she'll ask me to put on one of her playlists that she's not shared.
 
Just a heads up for anyone using the UniFi (Ubnt) wireless network APs / UAP things (possibly other similar setups as well)

While I love my UniFi kit I was having a problem with my Sonos. After kitting out the upstairs my Sonos controller on my phone was only picking up 3 out of 6 when I was downstairs, then the other three when I was upstairs.

Now you can probably guess what was happening already but the above is a very simplified explanation of months of the controller not picking up any Sonos devices or 4, or 5 - it all appeared to be very random.

Anyway, what was happening is that the controller was only showing the Sonos devices connected so the same AP. Despite the fact that every other aspect of my network working (I can even carry a Skype call between the two APs) the Sonos devices were obviously can't communicate with the controller on a different AP for some reason. It didn't help that they kept changing which AP they were connected to every so often (with the other half turning them off/on, power cuts or me turning the power in the house on/off as we do some renovations).

So yeah, while a Google around suggests other people are having the same problems and have modified some of the UniFi AP settings to no avail the quickest way I found to resolve this has simply been to use the Sonos mesh.

Now I've got enough devices the mesh works across the whole home (large house is part of the reason I needed the UniFi kit in the first place!) and to set it up it's as simple as taking the existing Sonos setup (on WiFi) and plugging one of the devices into Ethernet. It then automatically creates the mesh.

For good measure I blocked them on the UniFi AP's as well so they couldn't fall back to WiFi so I'll know if the mesh setup breaks rather than it causing confusion - but I have to say it's night and day.

Previously the other half thought the Sonos was becoming a massive pain in the ass, and begrudged the app not letting her stop or start it (randomly) but now it works flawlessly and she's admitted that she likes it now!

So yeah, thought I'd post this in the off chance someone else is having similar trouble. If you're having any trouble with devices appearing on the controller, set up the Sonos Mesh by plugging one of your speakers into WiFi and don't look back.
 
Dooksy said:
Good post as I have that AP. Although I have no plans to at the minute, I may end up getting a second in the future. My Sonos Connect is connected via wifi so I assume they have a mesh set up. Is there a way to check?
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If they're connected with WiFi then they're NOT using the Sonos Mesh (I see now it's called SonosNet - anyway, same thing).

It's been explained a number of times but there's two setups you can do with the Sonos.

WiFi and SonosNet.

To use WiFi every single Sonos device is connected via WiFi.

To use the "SonosNet" you connect ONE device via Ethernet to your network and then the Sonos devices themselves create their own WiFi mesh network (SonosNet) that the other devices connect to.

To confirm this if you follow these instructions to see the information "About My Sonos System" you will see a entry labled "WM:0" or "WM:1".
https://sonos.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2626#var_2

If it says WM:1 then you're using your home WiFi.

If it says WM:0 then you're using the SonosNet.

If you do get a second AP, or just want to change from WiFi to SonosNet before that, then all you need to do is plug in an Ethernet cable to any device and it will automatically swap over. From the UniFi controller page you will see the Sonos devices drop off and from the Sonos controller on your phone you'll see the "WM" information change from "1" to "0".

https://sonos.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3046/kw/sonosnet

Can I switch my system from a Standard Setup to a BOOST Setup?

Yes. If you experience frequent dropouts or audio interruptions on one or more Sonos product, you can switch your system from a Standard Setup to a BOOST Setup by simply wiring any of your Sonos products to your router, and your system will switch over automatically. You will need to keep one of your Sonos products wired to your router permanently in this configuration.
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Basher said:
Does it do anything more advanced? Like play x on Sonos in room Y?

It's not worth the investment for just on/off for me.
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The Yonomi app that you currently need to use is working as a "translator" between the Echo and the Sonos.

Yonomi lets you create "routines" that can trigger favorites from your Sonos list on any one or more of your Sonos devices.

Once a routine is created you give it a name - this name is what you need to say to Alex to start the routine.

This makes it a bit of a pain to set of "organic" commands like "play some jazz on the sonos in the living room" because you'd need to create a command called "play some jazz on the sonos in the living room" and, in turn, set up individual commands for "play some jazz on the sonos in bedroom" or "play some soul on the sonos in the living room".

So while it's possible, it's not straight forward.

Download the Yonomi app, it's free and rather than using the Echo to trigger the commands you can just do it manually to see if you can get it to work how you want.
 
I found the link on my phone but can't see it now on my computer - from what I've read the beta isn't out of the iPhone.

Can anyone confirm that's got it working that they've got it working on iPhone / Android because I can't get it working on my iPhone...
 
Still not found the need for a Play5.

For me the biggest advantage of the Sonos is the multi room capability. I much prefer quieter music in all the rooms rather than louder music in one.

Even when I take one of the Play1's outside it does a fantastic job.

When you can buy 3xPlay1's for the cost of a single Play5 I just don't see the need as yet.
 
Dooksy said:
The Play 5 Gen 2 is outstanding, so much better than the first one and the 3. Love mine in the kitchen.
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You're comparing the Gen2 against the Gen1 speakers - have you tried a Play1 at home? Have you got multiple Sonos currently?

I let two of my colleges in the office borrow one of my Play1's as they both had the Play5 Gen2 and were looking to buy another.

They both ended up buying the Play1 "starter kit" (i.e. the pair for £300) last year instead of a second Play5.

Don't get me wrong, I fully understand and appreciate the better sound stage you're getting from the Play5, I'm just wondering if you've tried it and you truly think it's worth it.

I can appreciate the point of view for people that maybe have multiple sonos already that are essentially upgrading their system over time. But again, I think for anyone starting out your best focusing on what Sonos does best, and that's multiroom.

EDIT: I also think that neither of us is going to change each others mind on this :D
 
Downloaded the update then forgot to try it :)

Probably shows how much I'll actually use it since we rarely actually change from either from one radio station or a single playlist my partner and I update.
 
So got a chance to try the Spotify integration last night. I find it works really well.

Not had any longer delays than using Sonos app itself. I've got 5meg internet so it's not that rapid normally but like 5 seconds normally, 10 seconds tops.

Anyway, yeah, means other people that come to the house can choose music. In retrospect our workaround of a playlist shared with friends meant that no one could "take over" the music (apart from Mark who likes to add 1000 copies of that one song he wants to listen to...no one likes Mark...) but yeah, little more flexible in some ways.
 
Father Ted said:
I'd be interested to know how any Android users are finding the app? Reading the reviews on the Play store there seem to be a lot of negative ones. I really like the idea of these but so much is depnedent on how good the app is.
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I'd say it depends how you use it.

For us we're heavily invested in Spotify, but even before the Spotify App integration the Sonos app is fine - but you can almost get away with never using it!

Three things that make it work well for us:

1) It's easy to add favorites from any service (like a radio station, of a Spotify playlist)

This way we don't really use the Sonos app to control anything other than switch between those two services. By using the Spotify app on our computers or phones we're updating a playlist that the Sonos speakers will just automatically see the updates to.

2) The hardware "play/pause" button remembers whatever service was used last. So if you get up in the morning and press "play" it either turns the radio back on or picks up where it left off in your Spotify playlist

3) Use an "Alarm" to reset the device. You can create an alarm that comes on in the morning to any service, playlist or favorite. This way the whole system resets. I.e. we have it set so that our Alarm is Radio2 at 7am. That way every day, no matter what we were listening to the night before the whole system resets to Radio2 without us touching the app.

We've got the alarm set to only be on for 2 hours before it automatically turns off, that way we avoid using the app once again before leaving the house for work.

Or, you could avoid using the app simply by pressing the play/pause button as you leave the house.

Again, an alarm could be made that turns on to your favorite Spotify playlist before you get home OR you do what some people do and create a "silent" alarm (zero volume, only on for 30 minutes) that changes to your favorite playlist and when you walk in the door if you press the play button on the device it starts your playlist.

You can also get 3rd party apps like Yonomi that run on your phone and automatically start your Sonos when it connects to your WiFi :)


The addition of the real Spotify integration works a treat. If you didn't listen to radio and only used Spotify currently then there's zero need to use the Sonos app other than configuration of settings. Something that when you've got it set up to your liking you do only once.

Quick edit: I should clarify that I use the iOS app and everything works "fine". Quickly reading the reviews it sounds like certain features (even like the alarms) are just plain buggy but it also seems like there's not a lot of love for Google Music, which I suppose if you're invested in must be a pain!
 
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M1k3H said:
Ability to have internet output from any Sonos device.
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What does that mean?

As far as I understand it having any Sonos device hard wired only means that it uses the Sonos mesh rather than you home WiFi to communicate and play music in sync.

All of which is possible on WiFi as well, hell, it's the single purpose of the things! :)
 
roysters said:
Really eager for the amazon alexa / Sonos support. I stupidly bought the dots thinking i could connect them to my play 1s...
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It's very much an interim solution but you can download the Yonomi app (for free) that lets you do this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl1YN_YnuRA

Essentially the Yonomi app runs on your phone and is a "device" that Alexa can control. In Yonomi you can create routines that start/stop the Sonos that you can trigger with Alexa.

EDIT: Also note they seem pretty committed to making it happen natively. Just need to hold out a little longer: http://venturebeat.com/2016/08/31/amazon-alexa-sonos-guide/
 
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ChrisD. said:
Zero point in hiding your SSID anyway.
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So much this.

You're making your life, and that of your family and friends life harder for ZERO benefit to convenience or security.

If anything you make yourself a target by being "the over paranoid one" that stands out.

I even did a wee google to see if there was any benefits that I didn't know about, literally every article lists why it's a bad idea... Stop doing it. Enjoy your Sonos. Never look back.
 
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