Alexa Multi-room Music / Audio Groups
I have a new Sonos One that I am adding to home with 2 Echo devices. In the Alexa app I am trying to setup an Audio Group for multi-room music. However, the Sonos One does not show up as an available Echo device to add to the group. What is the trick for getting this to work? Thanks.
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I have found none of the advertising as misleading. In this particular instance, could you point to anything specific that stated Sonos speakers will play in sync with Echos? Personally, I never expected that type of function at all, and wouldn't assume it was coming. It makes no financial sense for Sonos to allows you to buy a cheap Echo and sync it with Sonos, and the syncing methodologies are so different, I wouldn't think it technically possible either. The only reason I list it as possible is it was described in the write up for the SDK.
What a second, what feature are we talking about here? If you mean being able to place Sonos speakers in Amazon's groups, then yes, I believe that will eventually happen. If you mean Sonos speakers and Amazon echos playing in sync, I don't think that will ever happen.
I understand why people are confused by the advertising, but it's meant to illustrate that you can use Alexa to control Sonos, not that they can operate as one completely in sync system.
Honestly, I think that's the biggest problem with voice control technology these days. For something that supposed to be rather easy to use, it's become rather complex and difficult to understand how in works, how this interacts with that, and what you can and cannot do with what you have.
I agree, though in truth, it remains to be seen. The SDK mentioned has not been released, and it does have the syncing of 3rd party speakers with Echo devices in the description. We won't find out if Sonos can or will take advantage of that part of the SDK until it is released.
You assumed wrong. This is an Amazon thing, in that it was promised last year via the new AVS Multi-Room Music SDK slated for release early this year. It seems to have been delayed. Anyway, complaining about it here is useless, Amazon is who you wish to talk to.
What a second, what feature are we talking about here? If you mean being able to place Sonos speakers in Amazon's groups, then yes, I believe that will eventually happen. If you mean Sonos speakers and Amazon echos playing in sync, I don't think that will ever happen.
I understand why people are confused by the advertising, but it's meant to illustrate that you can use Alexa to control Sonos, not that they can operate as one completely in sync system.
Honestly, I think that's the biggest problem with voice control technology these days. For something that supposed to be rather easy to use, it's become rather complex and difficult to understand how in works, how this interacts with that, and what you can and cannot do with what you have.
@jgatie thats fine from a tech standpoint and I plan on also posting in Amazon forums, however, i don't think its wrong to post here too. Who is responsible for the alexa + sonos advertising? If the advertising is misleading then I think this is a caveat that should be more clearly expressed. Also, partners like Sonos can also put pressure on Amazon based on collective feedback of their customers.
You assumed wrong. This is an Amazon thing, in that it was promised last year via the new AVS Multi-Room Music SDK slated for release early this year. It seems to have been delayed. Anyway, complaining about it here is useless, Amazon is who you wish to talk to.
This is a major flaw. Sonos & Amazon need to get together and fix this. Extremely disappointing to not be able to play music throughout the house where i already have echo spot's and shows and also play the same thing in my living room. I assumed this would work when i bought this weekend given the advertising of alexa + sonos and how well they work together, this seems like a big caveat that should have been pointed out.
This is very frustrating. If Sonos 1 had a line in (which it doesn’t) it would be much better to just connect a Echo Dot to it and voila. Better than Sonos One.
I would love to see Sonos add preset groups under "Rooms"... Hopefully, that would allow Alexa to play "xxxx" in "yyyy" where yyyy is a preset group in the Sonos app. Doesn't help those intgrating Echo etc, but if it works it would allow choosing a group of Sonos speakers by name.
It would also reduce the grouping process in the Sonos app if you have a frequent grouping you like to use. Just set up the group and then you can pick that named group under Rooms and it automatically groups the speakers chosen.
It would also reduce the grouping process in the Sonos app if you have a frequent grouping you like to use. Just set up the group and then you can pick that named group under Rooms and it automatically groups the speakers chosen.
Has anyone considered the Sonos Connect? It appears that you can connect an Echo directly to it and then use the Echo to control all your Sonos speakers. It's expensive, and only works with one Echo device. Doesn't seem like a better solution than a Sonos One, unless you need other features that the Connect offers.
Even Sonos seems to be confused on this issue, so it's no wonder so many consumers are too. Check out this page, where it reads, "Sonos + Echo. Easily connect Alexa to your existing Sonos speakers using an Echo device." When you click on "Learn More", it takes you to an explanation of how to set-up Alexa on a Sonos One. https://www.sonos.com/en-us/alexa-on-sonos
I finally decided to purchase a couple of Echos, only to learn today through trial and error and this thread that you can't group them with Sonos speakers, including the ones with Alexa built-in. I, like others, thought that there was compatibility between Sonos and Alexa, not understanding that such compability is limited to the Sonos One. Unlike others on this thread, I'll be keeping my Sonos speakers with Alexa built in and returning the Echos. With the Sonos One, I can enjoy the excellent sound quality of Sonos and a whole-house music setup (I have Sonos speakers in every room) through the Sonos app. Through the Sonos Ones I can have Alexa where I want her to read me the news and weather and play selected music using voice command on whichever speakers I select through the Sonos app. Isn't that the best of both worlds? Why do I need an Echo? I will be buying two more Sonos Ones to put where I was planning to put the Echos. The sound quality is way better on a Sonos. If Amazon wants me to buy-in to the Echo concept, they're going to have to offer more.
It's not Sonos who needs to fix it. Currently, there is no support for ANY 3rd party speakers in Alexa groups, Sonos or otherwise. Amazon is said to be working on a new SDK to address this which will be out in early 2018. Nothing Sonos can do about it.
However, I can go into Sonos app, select the group “Z”, which did magically appear in Sonos app after creating in the Alexa App. At that point (interaction within the Sonos App), then if I say “Alexa, Play Spotify on X”, then Spotify is played on all speakers just selected within the Sonos app.
I know this probably doesn’t help those of you who are mixing Echo’s and Dots with Sonos, but maybe it will help looking into or setting up Sonos and the Play1 Alexa-enabled speaker (whose sound is FANTASTIC btw).
This was more helpful in addressing my problem -- inability to control other SONOS speakers with SONOS ONE -- than anything else SONOS or Amazon has published on the issue. The trick, apparently, was to go into Smart Home to setup the group. That said, it still doesn't work. *sigh* Here's how it plays out after the group (which consists of only SONOS speakers) is created:
Me: Alexa, play [INSERT SONG] on [INSERT NEW GROUP].
Alexa: I can't play music on the group yet. To play on your speaker, use the device name or setup multi-room music in the Alexa app.
So, basically, she's telling me she can't do what I'm asking unless I do what she's already asked me to do.
If SONOS doesn't fix this soon, I'm going to start replacing my SONOS speakers with Homepods. Here's to hoping Apple launches some bigger speakers soon.
Multi-room play can work great if you have your sound network based on Sonos (not Echo). Go into the Sonos app and name one of your speakers "Sonos". Make sure this speaker "Sonos" is always in the speaker group you create on the Sonos App. Make sure Alexa has discovered all of your Songs speakers (whether Songs One or others) and then just ask Alexa "Alexa, play "whatever" on Sonos". Works like a charm. Music will play on all the Sonos grouped speakers if you ask Alexa to play on any one of them. I just named one of the Speakers "Sonos" to make the verbal command seem seamless. Cool!!
Userlevel 7
+20
The Sonos One is an 'Alexa Enabled Device', Amazon impose some limitations on these compared to 'Alexa Devices'.
I am very disappointed with sonos1 for the fact that it doesn't have ALL the capabilities with Alexa as do the alexa dot's have. I don't understand that logic at all. for all the peeps out there that want to have sonos1 and be able to use alexa you will be disappointed because some of the features are not available. your getter off getting a alexa echo with distribute multiple dots throughout the house and take sonos1 out of the equation. I will be returning my sonos1 very soon. 😠
I personally don't need Echoes or Echo Dots to group with Sonos but agree that on giving Alexa the Sonos"skill", you'd expect to be able to. I certainly expected to be able to control Sonos grouping (fully) using an Echo Dot and "I can't play music on the group yet" is disappointing. The mos salient point I think is @Tomparks above - what is the point of having Alexa built-in to new Sonos speakers, if it still can't control grouping in the same way as the Sonos apps? There seems no incentive to add to or replace existing Sonos speakers with "Alexa" capable ones.
I’m not sure the logic behind sonos and Alexa when Alexa is built in to sonos 1 but won’t support multi room music like the echo’s do. It’s the same..... “Alexa”. This is very frustrating after I spent the money for this I may be returning my sonos and just get the Amazon Alexa plus and a couple more echos and eliminate sonos from the equation. So sad. Could have been a highly recommended product but without that capability it’s useless and I will not recommend the product. :@:@
I just got a Sonos1 to add to my in-ceiling Sonos speakers and outdoor speakers. I went through setup in Alexa app to group speakers (I.e. multi-room music) via Smart Home > Add Group) and created two groups. So, SONOS in-ceiling “X” and new SONOS1 “Y” we’re grouped as “Z” (yes, I’m generalizing the name because posts like this last forever, and who’s to say 5 years from now hacking won’t be to the point where people are querying your IOT devices in your home by their name to hack into your house!). I thought I would be able to say to Alexa “Play Spotify/Amazon Music/Etc on Z,” but this doesn’t work. Alexa says “I can’t play music on the group yet.”
However, I can go into Sonos app, select the group “Z”, which did magically appear in Sonos app after creating in the Alexa App. At that point (interaction within the Sonos App), then if I say “Alexa, Play Spotify on X”, then Spotify is played on all speakers just selected within the Sonos app.
I know this probably doesn’t help those of you who are mixing Echo’s and Dots with Sonos, but maybe it will help looking into or setting up Sonos and the Play1 Alexa-enabled speaker (whose sound is FANTASTIC btw).
However, I can go into Sonos app, select the group “Z”, which did magically appear in Sonos app after creating in the Alexa App. At that point (interaction within the Sonos App), then if I say “Alexa, Play Spotify on X”, then Spotify is played on all speakers just selected within the Sonos app.
I know this probably doesn’t help those of you who are mixing Echo’s and Dots with Sonos, but maybe it will help looking into or setting up Sonos and the Play1 Alexa-enabled speaker (whose sound is FANTASTIC btw).
I was excited to unbox my new speaker today. That quickly faded when I couldn't get it to work with my Echo and then read this thread. Considering returning it...
Userlevel 7
+22
Sonos would rather you do multiroom with Sonos speakers I'm most certain.
I was excited to get this as a Christmas present from my daughter and first time using SONOS speakers. However, now that I can't connect multi room music through Alexa, I'm returning it. have to admit, the sound is really good from the SONOS one.
I don't think it's a Sonos thing like previously stated. If that WAS the case, other brands would be able to do it too. Don't blame Sonos for something they cannot control. I have read more than one article that Amazon is in process of a new SDK that will allow this function sometime early this year.
It was a bummer but I knew it going in when purchasing my first Sonos, a Sonos One. With all these new "smart" devices coming out, integration between brands is key or you'll be left behind.
If you do your homework, you won't be disappointed later.
BTW, the sound well outweighs integration being a "deal breaker".
It was a bummer but I knew it going in when purchasing my first Sonos, a Sonos One. With all these new "smart" devices coming out, integration between brands is key or you'll be left behind.
If you do your homework, you won't be disappointed later.
BTW, the sound well outweighs integration being a "deal breaker".
Userlevel 1
Sonos please support this. I have multiple echo devices and just purchased the sonos with alexa solely to add some higher quality audio to that multi-room system in specific rooms. I had intended to extend with additional Sonos products but not being able to link in a group with the Echos as others have said is a deal breaker and will send me back to amazon. Its pretty much redudant already.
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