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Microphone sensitivity for the “Alexa” wake word is low

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Ken_Griffiths
Had a system update today, does this fix the issue?
No, but I don’t now think this is simply a Sonos issue, but more to do with Amazon, as I’m getting similar issues now between two echo dots ... it’s like one dot has microphones that are more sensitive that the other ... both are echo Dot v2 running the same (latest) firmware.
J
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Had a system update today, does this fix the issue?
Ken_Griffiths
I have the new Sonos One located in our (almost) square-shaped Kitchen with a doorway leading to a 15 foot, rather narrow, Hallway.

Halfway along the hallway is an Amazon echo Dot (Gen-2) and a Play 1 speaker, each situated on a large marble telephone table with surrounding lamps etc.

Whenever I dish out Alexa commands in the kitchen area and whilst standing (or sitting) much closer to (and facing) the Sonos One speaker, I still occasionally get a response back from the echo Dot device in the hallway ... it’s s bit odd because the next instruction, a few moments later, can often result in the subsequent response then coming from the Sonos One, even though I have not moved my position or changed voice direction.

I’ve just dug a tape measure out of the toolbox and measured the distance from the chair, where I sometimes issue the Alexa instructions, and the Sonos One and it is approx. 2 metres. The distance from the same chair to the echo Dot is approx 5 metres. I have very quickly sketched a very rough diagram to show the type of layout in question.

Admittedly this switching of Alexa responses from the two different devices is not what I would call a frequent thing, but it does happen very occasionally and I can find no reason why this happens just on a few occasions... I will add that I’m not even facing the doorway when these 'unexpected' responses occur from the Hallway Dot.

So my thoughts are the Sonos microphone sensitivity may not be quite what it should be, but I do also appreciate that the Sonos voice control is still running in beta at this present time.

However, because these issues are so infrequent and somewhat difficult to reproduce, I can only say I will just simply see how things improve after each new Sonos firmware update.
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J
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Still an issue, had to reset mic again..

How long until we get a fix pls?
Master T
Userlevel 6
Badge +9
@nwk1022 Try turning the mic off and then on again. That will usually restore the sensitivity of the Sonos One, at least until Sonos releases a permanent fix.
S
I’m having the same issue. I have two Sonos Ones in my living room downstairs. My Kitchen Echo upstairs will hear me better than my Ones downstairs even when I’m downstairs.
N
I thought I was the only one who noticed the mic sensivity got so much worse since the past few days all of a sudden. It doesn't recognize my voice at all when song is playing... The song isn't even that loud at all and when I literally shout 'Alexa' right in front of the speaker, it just doesn't get it. So frustrating.
chickentender
same experience here - noticed the last few days back to shouting. How can something have changed without there being any software update? Very odd. About to turn the mic on and off again as suggested here to see if that helps....

This is my question in another thread (and again apologies - but finding answers in this forum is very difficult at times)... I've been experiencing this mic sensitivity "fall-off' as well - and it's almost as bad as the sensitivity was upon release last fall - aka shouting and not being heard. How has this happened if there has not been an additional update??? Or has there been an update. Frustrating - I thought we'd gotten over this hurdle.
F
I have both a Sonos One and an Echo. Trying to solve the Sonos One voice sensitivity issue by updating the app to version 8.2.3 but it tells me that I'm up to date at version 8.3.1 and no update available?
E
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Good to hear Ryan! I just got my sonos one and noticed the same mic sensitivity issue described here. When comparing it to my old google home mini and the JBL Link 300 the mic on the sono doesn't seem to pick my voice up unless I'm right by it or talk at an abnormal volume when at a distance. My prior two smart speakers would pick me up on the opposite side of the room at normal talking levels. Once this is fixed and google assistant comes this will be the Smart Speaker to beat!
Ryan S
Userlevel 7
Badge +26
We're working on it Nick. I'll make sure to post in here when the final fix is out. They've been making some changes to improve things, but it's not quite ready yet.
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N
Userlevel 2
Badge +1
I am having this same issue with all 3 of my Sonos Ones. As stated above, turning the mic off and on again does work. However, within a week, the mic sensitivity diminishes drastically again and performing this temporary fix over and over again is getting very annoying! Sonos - when is a proper fix coming?
J
My Sonos One in my kitchen is useless as an Alexa device. Commands are constantly heard by an Echo Dot that is 40 feet away. I can be 6 inches from my Sonos One and speak in a soft voice. The Sonos one will activate on "Alexa" but the Dot will do the command. How the Dot can even hear me is a mystery. I am surprised that it can pick up my voice at that volume from that far away.

I have tried turning the microphone on and off. That does not help.

What is the best way to get help in resolving this?
TuffDadSF
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I have 8 echo devices including the Sonos One and the Sonos is so weak in hearing me. Constantly at the volume I need to speak to it will actually make 1, 2 or 3 other echos in the house respond to me. I'm going to try moving the Sonos One to one more place in the living room to try to help it. Kind of sucks as I am now 3 speakers invested in Sonos.
Master T
Userlevel 6
Badge +9
Had this happen to me again yesterday. Turning the mic on and off makes an immediate difference, but not all of my One's are conveniently located to do this. Hope there's a fix in the works soon.
D
Userlevel 1
same experience here - noticed the last few days back to shouting. How can something have changed without there being any software update? Very odd. About to turn the mic on and off again as suggested here to see if that helps....
M
Userlevel 3
Hi Ryan, I was just coming on to say I had to do this this morning as well. I went ahead and submitted my diagnostics, 8473850.
J
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Still doing it, just had to reset mic again. Ok afterwards. When’s the fix for this?
Would you mind submit a diagnostic from your Sonos system and reply back with your confirmation number? I'd like to get the details on over to our team to look over.

Done 8473846 thx
Ryan S
Userlevel 7
Badge +26
Still doing it, just had to reset mic again. Ok afterwards. When’s the fix for this?
Would you mind submit a diagnostic from your Sonos system and reply back with your confirmation number? I'd like to get the details on over to our team to look over.
Mark good posts by pressing the like button, and select the best answer on questions you've asked to help others find solutions.
J
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Still doing it, just had to reset mic again. Ok afterwards. When’s the fix for this?
Y
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Many thanks Ryan, that has improved it. ??
Ryan S
Userlevel 7
Badge +26
Hi YvieG, did you try turning the mic off and back on as I suggested above? Did that help? If not, I'd suggest that you give us a call on our support line.
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Y
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I have the same problem, I came on here to see if there is a setting I need to adjust, but it would appear that a £200 speaker has a lesser microphone than a £35 (echo Dot) one.
Come on Sonos, sort it out please
Ryan S
Userlevel 7
Badge +26
@Ryan Thanks I just tried that with the mic button and it does actually seem to hear me better now. Is this a hardware or a software problem though because if it’s hardware related I’d rather return it and wait for updated models to be released. Cheers.
It's entirely software. The microphones are great. We've seen a few times where the mics are getting into a weird state after rebooting and toggling it off and on clears that out. We're investigating, but if it gets hard of hearing, try that on off trick and see if that does it. It shouldn't come up often.
Mark good posts by pressing the like button, and select the best answer on questions you've asked to help others find solutions.
D
@Ryan Thanks I just tried that with the mic button and it does actually seem to hear me better now. Is this a hardware or a software problem though because if it’s hardware related I’d rather return it and wait for updated models to be released. Cheers.
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