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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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      flq06
      Lyricist III
      January 12, 2020

      If other vendors can do it most likely because Amazon/Sonos wants to drive their own respective sales… very disappointing from a customer stand point.   It’s right there in plain sight on the Amazon developper page: https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/docs/alexa/mrm/multi-room-music-sdk-overview.html but as the getting started states: 

       

      To get started with implementing MRM on your device, contact your Amazon Business Development representative.

       

      Who says BS between the 2?

       

      There are other features I’m waiting for that Sonos still doesn’t support, such as bilingual Alexa which is extremely convenient on my echo dot around the house except the kitchen/dinning where the Sonos is.

       

      Not to say that I can't even leverage my Sonos properly as it cannot be controlled from a different wifi network (still in the same house).  In 2020, where data privacy concerns are at peak, and when everybody recommends to have a dedicated smart home network it is just telling me that Sonos doesn’t consider all security aspect and assume your home is a safe place.

       

      Thankfully I only have 1 Sonos speaker… might get it out of the door very soon and replace it with the new Amazon Studio - at least they will all (echo and speakers) act “smart” together.  I haven’t reach an irreversible cost of change yet by buying a ton of Sonos.  I guess the couple bucks I’ll loose reselling it is my cost of being an early adopter.

        John B
        January 12, 2020

        There are clearly two distinct groups of people here.  Sonos is perfect for one group and not suitable for the other.  I shall call them the ‘Sonos adopters’ and the ‘voice control adopters’.

        Sonos adopters have decided that they want their whole-home audio system to be Sonos.  I am in this group.  I like the quality of the sound above all, and the choice of sources, the HT option, and much else besides.  It wouldn’t cross my mind to buy a Google or Amazon speaker.  I am pleased to have voice control as one of my control options, but could live without it.  I don’t give a hoot that Sonos Alexa-enabled devices don’t do everything an Amazon Echo device will do.  I wouldn’t use them anyway.

        Then there are the ‘voice control adopters’.  They come from a different perspective.  Not an inferior or superior perspective, just different.  The voice control features are important, and Sonos speakers are just one of a range of speakers that they want to mix and match.  But Sonos just doesn’t fit that mould at the moment.  It is designed as a complete, integrated, audio synced multiroom system.  In fact, Sonos own all the key patents for synching music and are currently suing Google for patent infringement.

        It just has to be admitted that for the voice control adopters, Sonos isn’t a good option as currently designed and conceived.  You need to be ‘all-in’ with Sonos or you are better off not buying Sonos at all.

        Especially given the patent infringement lawsuit, I think it is unrealistic to expect Sonos and other speakers to sync any time soon.  If ever.

          Galaxis
          Lyricist I
          January 18, 2020

          +1 on adding Echo MRM support. I didn’t realize this shortcoming when I bought the Sonos One about a year ago. Sound quality is excellent for its size but now limited to the patio where I can’t hear my other Echo linked hifi speakers. Probably will pass it on for an Echo Studio.

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