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trlgodfrey
Avid Contributor I
Apr 23, 2019 3:03 PM UTC
Question

Amazon Echo Input

To enable a couple of play 5's 2nd gen with Alexa and potentially more speakers if I add them (not necessarily Sonos One) and also a Sonos Connect plugged into a record player do I have to get the Echo Dot or does the Echo Input work in exactly the same way but just doesn't have a little speaker built into it. It seems the Echo Input only has hard wire or Bluetooth while the Echo Dot can connect to Sonos wirelessly. Is this correct?
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13 replies

jgatie
jgatie
Apr 23, 2019 3:10 PM UTC
You would need the Dot. Sonos only plays the music, you would need the speaker on the Dot for Alexa's responses. You could use the Input connected to the Line-in on the Connect or Play:5, but that is not optimal because of ducking and other issues.
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trlgodfreyAuthor
Avid Contributor I
Apr 23, 2019 3:12 PM UTC
thanks jgatie, so Alexa's voice responses come back to you from the dot but the result i.e comes back through the Sonos speakers? can you enable it so that it all comes back through the Sonos?
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trlgodfreyAuthor
Avid Contributor I
Apr 23, 2019 3:14 PM UTC
what is the voice recognition distance approximately on a dot?
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jgatie
jgatie
Apr 23, 2019 3:24 PM UTC
thanks jgatie, so Alexa's voice responses come back to you from the dot but the result i.e comes back through the Sonos speakers? can you enable it so that it all comes back through the Sonos?

Yes, the music plays over Sonos and everything else via the Dot, and no, you cannot set it to come through Sonos.

what is the voice recognition distance approximately on a dot?

I have one in a loft bedroom and it hears quite fine from 20'+ away. Of course that depends on what kind of ambient noise there is in the room. If there is loud background noise, you need to raise your voice above it.
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trlgodfreyAuthor
Avid Contributor I
Apr 23, 2019 3:25 PM UTC
great, thanks. Sonos One are the only Alexa built in speakers aren't they at the moment?
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melvimbe
melvimbe
Apr 23, 2019 3:25 PM UTC
thanks jgatie, so Alexa's voice responses come back to you from the dot but the result i.e comes back through the Sonos speakers? can you enable it so that it all comes back through the Sonos?

If you request to play music, the music plays on Sonos (assuming you've set it up that way with Alexa groups). That's not the same as 'result'.

And no, this isn't configurable. If you really, really, want to hear Alexa on your Sonos speakers, then you would not enable the Sonos skill, and plug the output of the echo directly to your play:5 or Connect. You've essentially using your Sonos as a dumb speaker at that point though.


what is the voice recognition distance approximately on a dot?

That's going to vary based on the current noise level of the room, physical obstructions, and at what height you place the echo. I'd say you are good at 10 ft with no noise or obstruction at around 4 ft height. 5 ft with loud noise.
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Danny
melvimbe
melvimbe
Apr 23, 2019 3:26 PM UTC
great, thanks. Sonos One are the only Alexa built in speakers aren't they at the moment?

..and the Beam.
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Danny
UKMedia
UKMedia
Apr 24, 2019 9:58 AM UTC
Hi

FYI - The Amazon web site says that Sonos speakers aren't supported by the Eco Input device: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Amazon-Echo-Input-Black-Alexa-Bluetooth-Speaker/dp/B07CH6JKW3/ref=lp_12598575031_1_14?s=amazon-devices&ie=UTF8&qid=1556099822&sr=1-14
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Remember: Sometimes Red Wine helps :)
JoanDW in NC
Lyricist I
Dec 3, 2019 5:43 PM UTC

I’m glad I didn’t read this earlier. I was able to get my Sonos One working with my new Echo Input. I had previously used it with an Echo Dot so it was already set up in my Alexa app. Alexa’s voice comes across fine on the speaker.

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    lindy2112
    Lyricist I
    Dec 11, 2019 4:22 AM UTC

    I’m glad I didn’t read this earlier. I was able to get my Sonos One working with my new Echo Input. I had previously used it with an Echo Dot so it was already set up in my Alexa app. Alexa’s voice comes across fine on the speaker.

    Can you share please how you did it? I’m about to return this Sonos One if I can’t get my routines to sound through this with the input. 

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