So you have an Alexa device and Sonos players, where do you go next?
1. Make sure your Sonos and Alexa devices are all powered up and connected to the network.
If you're new to Sonos, this means Installing the Sonos app, and going through the steps for Setting up Sonos here.
If you're new to Alexa, install the Alexa app (currently only available in the US, UK, and Germany) and make sure your Alexa device(s) show up. They will be listed under Settings > Devices. Amazon has a setup guide for the Echo Dot here.
2. In the Alexa app, search for and add the Alexa Skill for Sonos.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to authenticate your Amazon account, then your Sonos account.
4. Finally, inside your Alexa app, select discover devices under Smart Home or on the Sonos skill page.
You are now ready to try out some commands! There’s a great, comprehensive list here.
Wondering how it all works? Check out the How it works thread.
If you run into any trouble, please feel free to take a look here to start, or ask any question in the Amazon Alexa and Sonos forum.
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Google announced some very cool devices today and while they fall short of the home theater experience I have to believe that their own integration with the Google Assistant is spot on.
You're suggesting that Google's integration with Google will be good? Yeah, Amazon's Echo also integrates nicely with Alexa. This isn't an accurate comparison, and I'm doubtful you actually think it is either.
Any "partner" that has you at the bottom of the search list of your own company name clearly shows their level of commitment.
This has nothing to do with search ranking algorithm; it has to do with level of commitment and promotion strategy.
You're being absurd with these statements. It isn't reasonable to expect ecosystem owners to override user preferences, and it'd be objectionable if they did.
It's also such a ridiculous point that you're nitpicking. The search order is your complaint? Well take it up with Amazon.
I'm truly disappointed at how far behind the curve Sonos is
Do tell us who's ahead of them in this space...
I truly appreciate the feedback but the honest truth is that Sonos made this announcement and commitment over a year ago and the "public beta" is truly just an indication of their level of confidence to deliver - not a true public beta.
I seriously have no idea what you're trying to convey here. Maybe if you use honest, truth, true, or truly a few more times I'll get it.
Sonos v8 is a full release. The Alexa skill is a public beta. These are things that are true. What's your point?
Any idea why Spotify isn't working yet? It's the most popular music streaming service. Hopefully, it's added sooner rather than later.
I don't have any insider information, but let me give you the most logical answer.
The Alexa integration launched with the core functionality that Alexa already brings to bear. It makes sense, those would be the easiest things to make work. Everyone who's asked why not Deezer or Napster or whatever... same reason. Maybe in the future Sonos gets it working with them, but frankly maybe not if Alexa never has the control.
In the case of Spotify I have to assume the extra integration that Sonos:Spotify already has is something they don't want to mess up. So rather than hold all of the functionality they will get it next.
Amazon, the owner of the Prime music streaming service, did not enable its primary competitor spotify in this release.....shocker.
Good point, except for Spotify has been available as an option to Amazon Music as the default service on Echo/Alexa devices since early 2016. More likely is the interface requires Spotify's help, and getting three parties to get together to wok on software is like the old adage about monkeys and a football.
I don't use Spotify, so I could be off on this, but it seems like there are several differences between Pandora, XM, iheart, and tunein...and Spotify. The first group are all essentially channels, you don't request a particular track or playlist per se. Spotify, you do. As well, you can play Spotify music on Sonos through the Spotify app. You can't play Pandora music on Sonos through the Pandora app. Again, I don't know how everything works with Spotify, but I can see where it could be a little more complex.
Amazon, the owner of the Prime music streaming service, did not enable its primary competitor spotify in this release.....shocker.
Good point, except for Spotify has been available as an option to Amazon Music as the default service on Echo/Alexa devices since early 2016. More likely is the interface requires Spotify's help, and getting three parties to get together to wok on software is like the old adage about monkeys and a football.
Amazon, the owner of the Prime music streaming service, did not enable its primary competitor spotify in this release.....shocker.
@Ryan
I have 5 play1’s and an alexa device for each.
Scenario,
In my bedroom and master bath I have 2 P1’s I ask alexa to play Kings of Leon. That works perfect, so when I leave the room I say alexa pause or stop.
I then walk to my family room, 1 P1 there, I ask alexa, play some reggae it works perfect, but when I head to sonos app, to check things, the speaker menu says bedroom+bathroom (King’s of Leon *no longer playing) I then select the speaker menu on the bottom, and I can see the bars jumping up and down on my family room speaker, but there is no way of actually navigating to that speaker unless I group some speakers to the family room.
Known issue? Or what do you think?
Hopefully you understand.
I have 5 play1’s and an alexa device for each.
Scenario,
In my bedroom and master bath I have 2 P1’s I ask alexa to play Kings of Leon. That works perfect, so when I leave the room I say alexa pause or stop.
I then walk to my family room, 1 P1 there, I ask alexa, play some reggae it works perfect, but when I head to sonos app, to check things, the speaker menu says bedroom+bathroom (King’s of Leon *no longer playing) I then select the speaker menu on the bottom, and I can see the bars jumping up and down on my family room speaker, but there is no way of actually navigating to that speaker unless I group some speakers to the family room.
Known issue? Or what do you think?
Hopefully you understand.
Any idea why Spotify isn't working yet? It's the most popular music streaming service. Hopefully, it's added sooner rather than later.
It might be worth removing the Alexa skill and discovered devices and retrying from scratch. Perhaps there's a bug when renaming devices? Something is cached?
Great. I am impressed that Alexa/Sonos are trying to integrate. Bugs are expected in Beta. Hopefully in a few weeks/months this will be better. But right now it's pretty useful to use for voice command.
It looks like a few people are having similar problems, there's an active thread about it at the moment.
Yes! They need to have different names :)
EDIT: Also looking at your other replies, you need to make sure you use 'in the Bedroom' or similar for commands like increasing the volume too.
I just tried. Dot says "Living Room isn't responding. However, the Dot responds to play/stop for Sonos - just not volume Si odd."
Yes! They need to have different names :)
EDIT: Also looking at your other replies, you need to make sure you use 'in the Bedroom' or similar for commands like increasing the volume too.
I just tried. Dot says "Living Room isn't responding."
Yes! They need to have different names :)
So I changed my Dots to have "Dot" in their names, but the sound still only plays in the Dot - not the Sonos! Ugh. Yes, the skill has been installed.
Have you installed the Alexa skill and linked it to your Sonos account? The same Sonos account used by your speakers?
Yes
Yes! They need to have different names :)
EDIT: Also looking at your other replies, you need to make sure you use 'in the Bedroom' or similar for commands like increasing the volume too.
If I look in the Alexa app, the SONOS devices are showing up and names as above, do I need to rename the Echo Dots to solve the problem?
Are you saying the right phrase e.g. ending with 'in the Living Room/Kitchen/Office'?
Yes. To clarify, my Dots names are the same as the Sonos, unlike the first person in this thread. Should I add "Dot" to the Dot names? For instance, "Bedroom Dot" for Dot and just "Bedroom" for Sonos?
If I look in the Alexa app, the SONOS devices are showing up and names as above, do I need to rename the Echo Dots to solve the problem?
Are you saying the right phrase e.g. ending with 'in the Living Room/Kitchen/Office'?
Yes. To clarify, my Dots names are the same as the Sonos, unlike the first person in this thread. Should I add "Dot" to the Dot names? For instance, "Bedroom Dot" for Dot and just "Bedroom" for Sonos?
Have you installed the Alexa skill and linked it to your Sonos account? The same Sonos account used by your speakers?
Yes e.g. "Alexa, play Heart London in the Bedroom". This will play Heart FM from London using the TuneIn service on my Sonos called "Bedroom".
Note that commands are linked in the first post. There's a decent list of what one can do with this integration.
I took your example, but it just plays Heart Radio on my Dot, not in the Sonos speakers.
Yes e.g. "Alexa, play Heart London in the Bedroom". This will play Heart FM from London using the TuneIn service on my Sonos called "Bedroom".
If I look in the Alexa app, the SONOS devices are showing up and names as above, do I need to rename the Echo Dots to solve the problem?
I am having this problem as well.
Additionally, when I say "Volume Up/Down in [room]" - my Dot says "[room] isn't responding." Is there a solution?
Yes e.g. "Alexa, play Heart London in the Bedroom". This will play Heart FM from London using the TuneIn service on my Sonos called "Bedroom".
If I look in the Alexa app, the SONOS devices are showing up and names as above, do I need to rename the Echo Dots to solve the problem?
Are you saying the right phrase e.g. ending with 'in the Living Room/Kitchen/Office'?
You must say what you want Alexa to play it on. It has no idea. Default is always the Alexa device. Easy when you read the question syntax.
Do the release notes say it can play genres?
Is there a way to play a radio stations? What command do you use? Thanks
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