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KenAdams
Contributor I
December 8, 2018

Alexa ducking - why not fixed with groups?

  • December 8, 2018
  • 15 replies
  • 918 views
Hi,

Since we are now able to put an echo device and a Sonos speaker into a group in the Alexa app and don’t need to add „... in the living room“ or so at the end of the play command: why are still all the speakers being ducked? The system knows which speaker I am talking to and which Sonos in connected. I don’t get it!

Thanks for shedding some light onto this!
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      15 replies

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      Seeky
      Prominent Collaborator II
      December 11, 2018
      I think you can force an alexa update by putting the dot on mute.

      Must be server side, my Echo and Dot have the same firmware and only one device works as expected.
      Mayhew132
      Mayhew132
      Trending Lyricist II
      December 14, 2018
      Managed to get my “ducking” working after speaking with Sonos, basically in order for the speakers to “duck” they need to be included in the Alexa Enabled Group on the app (I didn’t do this and just had them added as the preferred speaker).

      In the screenshots below you can see 2 use cases covered:

      In the Office I have just the device “Office” added in the group, as well as being set to the preferred speaker:



      In the Kitchen (as it is located in an open plan area with the Living Room) I have the preferred speaker set to Kitchen, but in the Alexa group I have both “Kitchen” and “Living Room”:



      This gives me the desired result of only the speakers in the Alexa group ducking when invoked via the Alexa device set for that room (e.g. Living Room Echo Spot ducks Living Room and Kitchen).

      Hope that helps!

      Guy
        Seeky
        Prominent Collaborator II
        December 14, 2018
        I found my issue, I forgot to add one Echo to a group, turns out that Echos which arn't in a group duck all Sonos speakers.
        andrewmk
        Renowned Enthusiast II
        December 14, 2018
        Just wanted to chip in with my experience.

        Sonos (the company) gets a lot of grief round these parts but they’ve made good on a promise to make my kit (some of it years old) work with Alexa, and now that the ducking issue is fixed it’s amazing. Sonos deserve full marks for this. They don’t get everything right (still think your apps are sucky guys, sorry), but Sonos + Alexa is an awesome combination. Hopefully many of those who said they would stop recommending Sonos can start doing so again!!

        Andrew
        KenAdamsAuthor
        Contributor I
        December 27, 2018
        I agree, Andrew! Sonos and Alexa are great together and the overall multiroom experience unbeaten.

        I hope Sonos will keep its momentum and stay around for a long time!
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