Optical Cable Connection From Amp 2.1 to my Computer to make Computer an audio source

The Amp’s digital input is HDMI-ARC. It doesn’t have an optical in.  Note: The Amp is the latest version of a Sonos amplifier.  If you own a previous model Connect:Amp, it has no digital input, HDMI-ARC or otherwise.  All Sonos amplifiers do have analog inputs, but those are not suitable for real time audio from a PC due to buffering which causes a 75ms delay..

My apologies….!!!….I also have a Connect gen 1...that is where optical in is...it is also part of my system...so the path would be usb out from laptop to Connect gen 1 optical...Sorry..!!…..will this work?

Edit: that input you mentioned isn't an input, it is an output, you would need to use the analog inputs.

As long as you have a USB to optical converter and don’t mind the delay. yes.

Thanks….no...I don’t mind the delay...it will be the sole content at that time going into sonos...Thanks Alot..!!!!

Connect also has no optical in, it has an optical out.  There are no Sonos devices with an optical in.

so a better method would be usb out from laptop to rca splitter to phono inputs on 2.1 amp?

You don't want a splitter, or Y cable, that only gets you two copies of one channel. 

You want a cable that is stereo, fits your USB device on one end and has two, one left, one right, RCA plugs on the other end.

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Gold-plated-Headphone-Compatible-Controller/dp/B00LM2Y2U4/ref=sr_1_3

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Headphone-Converter-Compatible-Samsung/dp/B082WG5VTK/ref=sr_1_8

Many other brands and options.

I wouldn’t count on a USB computer port staying synchronized with your screen activity. A better choice would be to use a dedicated analog output, such as a headphone jack. An HDMI port is another potential choice. Overall I’m not keen on attempting to use a computer as an analog audio source  because web page audio might take precedence or even a “bong” from an incoming message.

There is a group for Sonos as computer speakers, not something I'm going to do.

https://en.community.sonos.com/groups/sonos-products-as-pc-speakers-229137

OK...Great info..thanks…

How about 3.5 headphone jack out from my lenovo to rca left and right to amp phono inputs via splitter?

Thanks everyone..!!

The bottom line is, unless we are talking audio streaming only that has no need to be synched with the screen, Sonos’ analog Line-In is not a good bet because all real time audio must be buffered for transmission to other rooms.  Video specific units like the soundbars and Amps, which connect to a TV via HDMI-ARC, have a special connection to subs and surrounds that has a much smaller buffer, but it is limited to transmission in a single room.  If you attempt to send TV sound to other rooms, even that is delayed due to the buffer inserted for multi-room streaming.  

Thanks jgatie..!….yes this will be audio only...I am a musician and have bands studio recordings as files on my computer and I want to play them….basically only an audio source is needed….and my bad for stating the incorrect optic in/out!

I believe that the best signal available will be 3.5 headphone out on lenovo to phono in (l and r) on sonos amp...adjustments and alignment I assume can be made on the app?

Use a 3.5mm stereo y-cable,

Yes Thanks….any complications or directions in app set up between lenovo and amp after properly wiring (3.5mm headphone out to rca in l and r on amp)..? 

Could you not just point Sonos to you music library? https://support.sonos.com/en/article/add-your-music-library-to-sonos

The only advice I would give is disable all sounds from the computer.

Thanks…..anything in the sonos app?

I now have headphone out on the sonos (3.5mm stereo)….into phono inputs on back of sonos 2.1 (rca l and r)….signal shows strong on my computer…..so output is good….in sonos app on my phone in amp settings line-in says connected...source name I checked computer, source level 8 (pc), autoplay volume on 78%... what am I doing wrong please?

Oh...no sound out of sonos system….sorry

What Sonos headphone outs? Do you have a Gen 1 Play 5, the only Sonos I've had with headphone output?

Still have no clue what a Sonos 2.1 is. Could you give us the actual device name? 

Soory….headphones out on my computer...signal from my computer is strong….into phono inputs rca’s on back of sonos

Sonos amp 2.1

Is this your product?

Yes…..brand new...just setting it up..

If you unplug your Sonos Amp from the headphone out on your computer and replace it with headphones are you hearing audio?

Are you sure you followed all the steps here?

https://en.community.sonos.com/groups/sonos-products-as-pc-speakers-229137