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dynAdZ
Contributor I
October 1, 2020
Answered

Alexa volume issue since 12.1

  • October 1, 2020
  • 131 replies
  • 10277 views

Hi folks,

I’m experiencing issues related to the volume of Alexa since the Sonos update to 12.1. I’m using a surround setup with one Sonos Beam and two Sonos Play:1 in my living room. Since a few years, the Alexa response volume was just static and not related to the music volume set by Sonos. This was a good thing because you could listen to music in very low volume while you could talk to Alexa and get a normal, relatively loud response.

Since 12.1, the Alexa volume seems to be related to the overall speaker volume. Now when the volume is set maybe between 1-20%, it is just impossible for me to communicate with Alexa because her responses are extremely quiet. I can only start to understand her again when the volume slider is maybe at 25-30% or higher, but then of course the music is also proportional louder, which is not good.

Is there any way to set the Alexa volume independent of the music volume?

Thank you very much in advance.

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    Best answer by nabheet

    Well I have an interesting update. I am not sure but the I may have accidentally fixed my Sonos Beam Alexa volume issue. 
     

    I am not sure what exactly fixed the issue but I had made quite a few changes. I started with enabling Trueplay in the Sonos app. Then set the treble/base/midrange volume to maximum values in the Alexa App → devices → [sonos speaker], then changed it back. I also enabled the loudness radio button in the EQ setting in Sonos App. Then I had also changed the speaker in the Alexa App for the Sonos speaker from Built-in to itself, basically the name that Alexa thinks it has. And then changed it back. 
     

    I don’t know how to validate my changes as I think my Sonos Beam is working fine currently. Both my TV volume and Alexa volume seem to be in the same range. 
     

    also, forgot to mention that my TV is really old so I have used the included Fiber Optic output sound to HDMI adapter. 

     

    Hoping this will help someone else or invalidated. 

    131 replies

    Show previous replies
    Ray Magini
    Lyricist I
    January 17, 2021

    Same issue for me since some weeks (probably since version 12.1). Volume of Alexa is too low and almost not hearable. 

    xander4
    Lyricist I
    January 17, 2021

    Beam and surround play one speakers. 
    Alexa worked perfectly when first got them. 
    now Alexa is unusable if I have a TV on or listening to music. 
    Have waited patiently for Sonia to fix this issue. As it is a Sonos issue and not and Alexa problem. The fact they generally won’t even acknowledge it is enough to make me look at alternative options for when I move to a new place. 
    Alexa is fine when everything else is off and volume can be adjusted so it operates at a suitable noise level. 
    Trueplay does not fix the issue. All other suggestions- disabling and reenabling etc make no difference. 
    Certainly prevented me purchasing an ARC !! 

    Sort it out Sonos!! 

      Fez33
      Fez33
      Trending Lyricist II
      January 17, 2021

      Every body on here whom are having problems please contact sonos support and they will need to do  something about it

        Notownblues
        Contributor I
        January 17, 2021

        Same here on Beam. This volume issue and the no ducking option when removing Alexa built-in from Beam and use Echo instead are so frustrating to the point I’ve been looking at other brand alternatives. Such a shame because the sound is great but Alexa built-in rubbish in my opinion. It looks like Sonos is really slow at fixing issues too.

          Salvador7830
          Lyricist I
          January 19, 2021

          Same here .. surprised Sonos has not addressed issue. Alexa is basically useless, debating now on returning for a Bose or Samsung instead. Disappointing.

            mega90
            Lyricist III
            January 19, 2021

            Are you kidding me? Marking a “best answer” from 3 months ago?

              mitchellkmeyer
              Lyricist I
              January 19, 2021

              I agree mega90, the moderator or whoever is responsible for pushing that response from three months ago to the “best answer” status, which also does not resolve or acknowledge the issue at all, is bull.  Seems like Sonos is pretending that the issue doesn’t exist.

              Now I’m wondering, do they even use their own products in their own home?

                Breezzzy
                Lyricist II
                January 19, 2021

                They have marked the best answer I have 2 full set ups in my house and will now be leaving Sonos.  They have messed up this time by trying to act like a problem doesn’t exist.  Beyond done with Sonos

                  etchasketch
                  Lyricist II
                  January 19, 2021

                  My “new normal” is to hold my ear next to the Sonos when I ask Alexa a question. I have tried the suggested solutions in this thread. It is a trivial problem for Sonos to solve. I returned to this thread because I received a notification of a “best answer”. The best answer would be for Sonos to allocate 3 hours of engineering time to solve this problem. 

                    Roberteve
                    Lyricist III
                    January 19, 2021

                    I've been waiting patiently for 2 months now for sonos to resolve this issue. Seems a lot of people are having this issue as well. Wasted so much time messing around with sonos set up and alexa set up with no joy. It's about time sonos took this issue serious. 

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