Enthusiast I

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Alexa Multiroom music simultaneously on Sonos and Echo devices

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
December 15, 2018
73 replies
100192 views

In September 2018 Amazon released the AVS Device SDK that allows Alexa enabled 3rd party speakers to use Alexa Multiroom Music (MRM). This means Amazon now supports music played from Echo speakers and 3rd party speakers at the same time.

Does Sonos plan to update their Alexa enabled speakers (One, Beam) to allow Alexa multi-room music?

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Best answer by Ryan S

Hi everyone,

We're constantly working with the Amazon Alexa team to bring more features and to improve the experience, in fact, we're in the middle of launching Alexa Groups with them right now. This does not include grouping Sonos players and Echo devices to play the same music at the same time, but it's a feature we've certainly heard requests asking for the functionality. I don't have any specifics I can share as to if multiroom music with Sonos and Alexa playing together will be available, but I'll make sure to let the team know continues to be requested.

I can't speak specifically to that chat, but if it was from a year ago, the Alexa integration has changed considerably since then (and as already pointed out, there were other mistakes/inaccuracies in it). As development continues, features are added and some may move lower on the list of priorities. We'll continue to bring new features and experiences to Alexa on Sonos and are hard at work to bring voice control to Sonos in many different ways, in order to bring the best possible music listening experience.

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LoveSmartStuff

Lyricist I

Copying my reply from another thread in case others find it useful:

I have my Sonos speakers (a Playbar and two Ones working as rear satellites in a surround configuration) working in an Alexa multi-room music configuration. Mind you, the music streaming source is not the Sonos player. Here's what I have set up: Fire TV Cube connected to TV via HDMI, TV connected to Playbar via digital optical. Multi-room music group ("Downstairs"): Echo, Echo dot connected via an aux cable to a stereo receiver, Echo Show and Fire TV Cube / Sonos. I can ask any of the Echo devices to play music on the group. I had to tweak the audio sync setting on the Fire TV Cube to get the music playing through the Sonos speakers in sync, but other than that it works great - 4 downstairs rooms, playing the same music, all in sync. So, while the Sonos isn't actually playing the music, the music is coming through the Sonos speakers and I get my music throughout my "Downstairs" as desired. 🙂

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fabiogelbcke

Lyricist I

Bought myself a one specificallh cause the Best Buy salesman told me it would support MRM with my echo :/

If I could I’d return it, but I bought it while on a trip to the US and I live in the UK

bockersjv

Local Superstar

The thing is it does support multi room music, just not with different manufacturers of speakers. I can see this ever being available and if it did happen i suspect it would be without exact music sync :(

What you need is more Ones 🙂

V

vicc729

Contributor I

Since there is no indication that Sonos is going to incorporate music sync into their products anytime soon, I have decided to return my Beam and I'm going to build out my system another way. Music sync is too important to me and I don't want to be hamstrung into only buying sonos ones for the foreseeable future. Especially since Amazon could drop competing products at any point.

melvimbe

Since there is no indication that Sonos is going to incorporate music sync into their products anytime soon, I have decided to return my Beam and I'm going to build out my system another way. Music sync is too important to me and I don't want to be hamstrung into only buying sonos ones for the foreseeable future. Especially since Amazon could drop competing products at any point.

The choice is yours, but it's worth noting that Sonos version of multiroom audio allows for playing from external sources, such as a local library, TV audio, or a line in source, while Amazon can only stream from a handful of streaming services. As well, Sonos allows you add/remove speakers in the middle of playback, while Amazon does not.

You won't be forced to buy sonos ones, as any Sonos speaker will work in the system, even the upcoming Ikea speakers. If you want to specifically control a speaker by voice you can 'pair' a Sonos speaker with an echo dot, or control them all with a single dot.

And while Amazon could drop the integration with Sonos, I think that's highly unlikely as they would essentially be forfeiting all Sonos customers to Google Home for voice control.

Danny

bockersjv

Local Superstar

What? Sonos have the best music sync in the business.

Still as long as the bunny finally got it.

D

Dofharry

Lyricist I

Just want to add my voice to the calls for MRM.
Beam in the living room, Dot in the Kitchen... It feels like it should just work.

While I get why Sonos might want to force us into buying more Ones, I hope the chat around it prompts them to add it in.

Keep rattling the cage!

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vicc729

Contributor I

Amazon gave access to MRM since the fall. I have to imagine that if Sonos wanted to make this happen it would have already. Probably just as unlikely, but I'm hoping Bose makes the switch and forces their hand.

NickTheGreat

Trending Lyricist I

Heck, I'd be happy with a little cooperation between Sonos and Echo. I can be sitting at my diining room table, and ask "Alexa" to play some music. I'd had my voice carry past my dining room One and past my Kitchen Ones to the Echo sitting next to my Playbar, and have the Echo start playing the song.

I like the Echo there to turn my A/V stuff off and on, but it seems like they have turf wars once in a while.

bockersjv

Local Superstar

Amazon gave access to MRM since the fall. I have to imagine that if Sonos wanted to make this happen it would have already. Probably just as unlikely, but I'm hoping Bose makes the switch and forces their hand.

I think it very unlikely General Sonos and Echo devices would play in sync. However those Amazon Enabled speakers (One and Beam) may get this but it would be hard to sync any grouped non Alexa enabled speakers. I still think this is unlikely though.

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