Feature Request: Standalone Sub

The problem is, grouping doesn’t do the job.  A more complex configuration is required, including the means to handle the crossover.  When you group Sonos rooms, every room plays the same.

I am sorry, but this is a complete non-starter.

I would expect Sonos would still provide the ability in the app to set the crossover and level on the Sub the same as it is when bonded. I understand the crossover also serves as a way to blend the main speakers but that isn’t necessary if you have speakers that can support the low end frequencies. The Move definitely can, and if I want to add a secondary Sub to an existing Speaker/Sub configuration, the crossover on the Speaker is already handled there.

Is there a technical reason why a Sub can’t be treated just like another connected, Sonos speaker?

Yes. Did you ever come across a subwoofer that has not been cabled to a traditionell system? Since it’s not a standalone device it wouldn’t know what’s being played.

Subwoofers are never used alone, as they are intended to augment the low-frequency range of loudspeakers that cover the higher frequency bands.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subwoofer

Yes - it’s called a Sonus Sub.  It would know what is being played in the same way any other Sonos speaker does. You stream your content to it. Did you read the use cases in the original post?  Here’s another use case:

Currently, the Sub requires bonding with another supported Sonos device.  My feature request is that Sonos remove this restriction and allow the user to create a room with just the Sub that can then be grouped with another room(s).  In theory, since Sonos is already taking care of the sync via the group functionality, would work famously.

Think about it this way.  When you plug in your new One, Five, etc., you’re prompted to create a room.  What I propose is Sonos allow Sub to either bond to a device or configure as a new room.  You want to group it with a pair of Moves? Done.  As a second Sub in your HT? Done.  As a secondary Sub when you take your Moves out to the garage and you don’t want to be bothered to relocate your first Sub?  Done.

The idea has merit.  The question is whether or not it is technically possible.  What I don’t know is if Sonos streams the content directly to the Sub or is redirected via the master “bonded” device.  If it streams directly to the Sub, should be feasible.

If this config were possible, and the sub wasgrouped to a home theatre system a 70msec delay would exist, making the sub out of sync with the other speakers. 

Why would that be? The delay would not be there if bonded to an Arc or Amp, so what makes it different?

The link below are my ‘first thoughts’ on a standalone ‘grouped sub’ suggestion ...and why I believe it wouldn’t work with the current Sonos hardware. It explains the audio delay too:

https://en.community.sonos.com/controllers-software-228995/feature-request-allow-sonos-move-to-pair-with-sub-6833720?postid=16495379#post16495379

Thanks for the detail in the other post. I’m trying to wrap my head around the delay. For arguments sake, let’s think of the Sub as Five. Would there still be the delay if the Five was grouped with an Amp? Grouped with an Arc? Grouped with a Move?

if the answer is no, which I believe it is, why would it be different with a Sub. Especially if in the same room as the Arc, Move or Amp.

I regularly group a pair of Moves with my Kitchen Amp set up and haven’t noticed any delays.

There would be a delay - that’s why the ‘Amp’ (or any Sonos HT product) has the ‘Group Audio Delay’ feature in the Room Settings. 

See my reply above

It depends on the type of audio you are playing - try TV DD 5.1 audio-out to the Amp & it’s bonded surrounds ... and then put your ‘grouped’ Move Speakers next to your Amp speakers you should then hear the apparent audio-delay.

So does the same delay logic apply when playing just music?  My OP wasn’t pitching this necessarily as solution for HT -  More for these two primary use cases:

The other post you replied to was specifically targeted as solving for bullet #1 but could be applied to situations where the user desires more than one Sub in a location or where the Sub is far from the Amp but the user wants to play only music.  At that point, would there still be a sync/delay issue since the Sub would be operating as just another connected product in the group?