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Sonoson
Enthusiast I
December 15, 2018
Answered

Alexa Multiroom music simultaneously on Sonos and Echo devices

  • 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.

      73 replies

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      melvimbe
      melvimbe
      December 18, 2019

      I only expect it because it seems reasonable and desirable.

       

       

      Ok, I think we’re good hear, probably a bit of semantics.  I see your point that as a consumer looking in, you would want the feature, and not knowing anything else, would feel it shouldn’t be a big deal.

       

       

      I think people who want the Sonos speakers to interplay with other speakers like my echos or my smart speaker smoke detector or my home theater Panasonic and KEF don't care about the Sonos multi room native protocol.

       

       

      I would honestly say that if this is the sort of setup you want, then you’re better off not getting Sonos.  

       

       

      Fortunately on the Bose forum I found a workaround where you just pair or feed an echo input device to each non confirming target and you can treat that pass through as an Amazon mrm.

       

      But this workaround has extra cost, consumes extra space and power, and is extra hassle. Thus the feature request.

       

       

      You can do this with Sonos too.  The Amp, Port, and Play:5 all have aux inputs.  It’s what a lot of peopel did before there was any Sonos integration whatsoever.  This sort of setup isn’t advised now though, as using Alexa for control and Sonos for speakers (music/TV) results in a more robust system.

       

       

      IoT. Can't they all just get along? ;)

       

      Well, partly because Sonos has patents and such invested that they don’t want to just abandon by letting other companies use their tech, or abandoning their tech for an inferior MRM (and it is inferior).  I know, it doesn’t have to be all or none situation, but you can kinda see why IoT isn’t always so easy.  Heck, I’d love to be able to control my arlo camera and ring doorbell with one app...but that’s not going to happen. 

       

      Kind of related, but Amazon was reported to be trying to put together some voice control standards, so that you could easily get a device and pick between multiple voice control choices.  Google was not on board with this.

      Danny
      Feenom
      Lyricist III
      December 19, 2019

      BTW Pioneer, that also works with complex speaker configs and has its own multi room protocol. They said, much like Sonos, it currently supports Alexa voice control, but Amazon MRM will be supported in an upcoming firmware update. 

      Get on it Sonos!

      jgatie
      jgatie
      December 19, 2019

      BTW Pioneer, that also works with complex speaker configs and has its own multi room protocol. They said, much like Sonos, it currently supports Alexa voice control, but Amazon MRM will be supported in an upcoming firmware update. 

      Get on it Sonos!

       

      Just to note; Denon promised a Windows Mobile app and Chromecast support several years ago.  Bose promised Alexa support, then discontinued their entire lineup of multi-room speakers in order to achieve it.  So I would take such statements with a big grain of salt.  

      Feenom
      Lyricist III
      December 19, 2019

      Somebody was saying earlier vendors fight each other.

      Google Amazon and Apple just announced a standards push for home stuff. Praise jeebus.

      https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-amazon-google-partner-on-smart-home-tech-2019-12

       

      melvimbe
      melvimbe
      December 19, 2019

      Somebody was saying earlier vendors fight each other.

      Google Amazon and Apple just announced a standards push for home stuff. Praise jeebus.

      https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-amazon-google-partner-on-smart-home-tech-2019-12

       

       

      Yea, I saw that earlier.  Noticable that there is no mention of standardization of control of streaming sources nor speaker destinations/multiroom protocols.  Not surprised by that.  This is a good step in the right direction.

       

      I thought I had seen are article about this a few months back where Amazon and Apple wanted it, but Google was out.  Maybe it was on something else.

      Danny
      e.m.
      Lyricist I
      December 23, 2019

      I just spent an hour trying to put my new Sonos play:1 Speakers in a multiroom group. Thanks to this thread, i discovered i was wasting my time. If i had know this before, i would not have brought the speakers. I have my existing Bose system playing through an Alexa Pair Gadget in parts of the house, as well as echos in Kitchen, etc. I wanted the Sonos to support mh Music Everywhere Group. I add my voice to those who would like to add quality Sonos Speakers to their existing setup. Thanks for this thread.

      In the same boat! Just got mine today and really thought I could just add them to my existing echos and go about listening to the same song all throughout the house, with an elevated sound in the kitchen through the shiny new sonos :)  I thought I did my research beforehand but I guess not. This might be a deal breaker forcing me to return both my sonos 1 and beam :/ bummer!!  If i could use them with my existing echo speakers i have in every room of my house, I might be able to slowly phase the sonos in and swap them out one at a time, (since we don’t really use the features like drop in) but to make this work simultaneously like my echos, I would have to buy 10 sonos speakers which is just not happening overnight. All that frustration being said -The posts im reading were from a while ago. Has there been an update in the past year on a projection date? 

        ACPotato
        Lyricist I
        December 23, 2019

        I’d like to +1 this feature request.

         

        I’ve a house of Echo devices, and an old Bose SoundTouch that I’m looking to replace (use AirPlay on it for Apple TV, which is why it’s separate to Echos).

         

        Only thing holding me back from a change to Sonos is lack of MRM.  If it were added, I’d buy the Sonos in an instant. Just want a good sound system with AirPlay and Echo MRM support, and Sonos is sooo close :)

          Demus
          Lyricist I
          January 7, 2020

          I’d like to +1 this feature request.

          Just want a good sound system with AirPlay and Echo MRM support, and Sonos is sooo close :)

          Me too
          I have just bought a Sonos not realising that this was an issue, seriously considering returning it and getting a refund and hoping someone can develop a speaker that ticks all of the boxes!

            Ephem
            Lyricist I
            January 11, 2020

            Hello,

            Love the sound quality of my Sonos One but I will definitively not buy additional units as long as Sonos does not support Alexa multiroom music mixed with other Amazon devices.

            Customer has always the last word, if Sonos does not want to go this way, customer will anyway find a workaround.

            I am now considering the Amazon Echo Studio as a serious alternative.

            Come on Sonos, just do It

              bockersjv
              bockersjv
              Local Superstar
              January 11, 2020

              Another one post complaint. Sonos change it or else the bunny gets it!  
               

              This is not a simple thing to fix so would be very suprised if it ever happens. 
               

              The alternative is to buy more Sonos units,  they are easy to group and sounds better too

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