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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
    dealster
    Lyricist I
    January 20, 2021

    Sonos needs to fix this ASAP. I don’t get how the news haven’t picked it up yet. 

      Play1plus
      Contributor I
      January 20, 2021

      Adding one more to the “please fix it calls”. Had Beam since Christmas and find inaudible Alexa responses really irritating, having to resort to going into Kitchen to get a proper response from the Kitchen Echo.

      Time that Alexa drops the TV sound for also too long before restoring volume. So you can’t hear a response and you get frustrated awaiting dialogue to return.

        Surge
        Lyricist III
        January 25, 2021

        Also having the same issue as everyone else.

        Alexa volume is incredibly quiet compared to TV audio / music. It seems that the Alexa volume is at the same volume as the lowered device audio that happens when you say the Wake Word.

         

        Sonos REALLY needs to add a separate volume control for Alexa, on ALL of their devices. Although the Arc+One’s 5.1 setup is currently my only prominent issue right now - my single One’s seem fine.

         

        SONOS - Sort your mess out! I’ve spent far too much money on all of this hardware for a barely functioning system!

          Markac
          Contributor I
          January 31, 2021

          I’ve been having the same problem. Another thing is that the beam has incredible hearing. It can hear me when I’m in the kitchen. This while  I’m standing right next to the Alexa dot in the kitchen. The inability of Sonos to correct this problem seems intentional. Why else would we all be having this problem after an update. I had a similar problem with a Apple product after an update. The update made the iPad defective. Apple replaced the iPad after checking it out and found they couldn’t fix the problem. 

            Wudever
            Lyricist I
            February 2, 2021

            Add another name. In my defense, I’ve been saying this for a LONG time. I have had a playbar, 2 One’s, and a sub for about 2 years and mine has always been this way. Submitted feedback multiple times and nothing has ever changed. The only way to be able to hear Alexa on either of my One’s is to crank up the playbar volume (this is what controls the whole system). When Alexa is done, you get blasted by the stupid loud TV or music volume. If you ask Alexa anything on normal TV or music volume, you cannot hear Alexa. Period. End of story. Don’t care what support says anymore. This is the issue and it’s been this way for way, way too long.

              StefanoPesce
              Lyricist I
              February 4, 2021

              Hi @dynAdZ.

              Thanks for reaching out and bringing this up to us.

              We appreciate all your feedback here in the community, and changing the voice assistant volume separately can be a very useful feature for sure, but this is not yet available at this time. We don't have any specific details that I can share around if this can come to Sonos, or when it might, but I'll make sure to log this as request and pass it along with the team. We work closely with the Amazon team too, but it's always best to let both sides know if there's a feature you're looking for.

              Please let us know if you have additional concerns we’d be happy to send them up for you.

              Hi, any news about this issue? 

              Thanks

                jdmass
                Lyricist I
                February 5, 2021

                I am yet another person experiencing the low volume problem with Alexis in our living room where we have a Playbar, Sub, One, and One SL.  Originally Alexa was fine, but after an update became inaudible.  I was amazed that there was no option to adjust Alexa’s volume (Other than telling her to speak louder, which only seems to be a temporary adjustment).

                We have a Beam in our bedroom and in there Alexa seems to be ok.

                This is incredibly annoying— please fix!!!

                  PredatorRidge
                  Lyricist II
                  February 9, 2021

                  Huge issue and given that it was introduced by a software upgrade it is shameful that sonos is not taking responsibility and working diligently to resolve it.  Definitely will be recommending that friends and family avoid purchasing sonos if this is the type of support we can expect.…

                   

                    froggy666uk
                    Trending Lyricist I
                    February 9, 2021

                    Just to add a plus one here - exactly the same issue, used to be fine, very frustrating.

                      plaurie
                      Contributor I
                      February 11, 2021

                      Well just spent £1000’s putting Sonus into my new house… after having to move from S1 to S2…. I have chosen enough Alexa enabled devices to cover my house but this volume issue renders them unusable… first I find that the Drop in feature isn’t supported so I can’t use my system as an intercom and now I find that at low volumes I can’t hear Alexa replies at all ! This is happening on my Moves and Ones - Sonus please acknowledge the issue and schedule a fix please...

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