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ARC (when playing TV via ARC) goes quiet for ~15 seconds after Alexa command.

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
December 10, 2022
30 replies
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My setup: ARC + 2 x oneSL (surround.) My ARC is defined as a Speaker in Alexa. It is not in the same group as the Echo.

When watching TV, if I say ‘Alexa turn on lights’ - it does - and provides audio feedback via Echo speaker. BUT, then the sound coming from ARC goes and stays very low for ~15 seconds before returning to normal. If I say ‘Alexa stop’ during this period, the volume pops right back up. This seems to happen if the music is coming from the Echo as well (though, in this case, saying ‘echo stop’ actually stops the music too.)

My Echo is located behind my head, close to me, and it is the one that answers - not the Sonos speaker, when I talk to it. Alexa audio playback happens, as desired, on the Sonos.

Thanks for any and all assistance in fixing this uniquely annoying issue.

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Best answer by yossie

I removed the Alexa voice assistant from my ARC altogether (shows no voice assistant.)

I deleted the Sonos Device and Speaker from my Echo . I left the Sonos skill installed.

On my echo I added a “speaker” - re-discovered the ARC, and verified that the ARC is now a speaker in my Echo Group.

I validated the follow-up is disabled on the Echo.

I reset (unplugged) both devices.

I still get the ~15 second “ducking” on my ARC after my Echo answers a question:

me: echo, play radio station
echo: playing radio station on sonos
sonos: starts playing
me: echo what time is it
echo: it is XX:XX
sonos: volume drops very low ~15 seconds before returning to normal

Followup: Once I removed the Sonos from the Echo Group, but left it as the default speaker, things appear to work right now.

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J

John B

I know, but I don't want the ARC listening at all. I want to use my Alexa (wake word Echo) for all listening purposes. I want the ARC to be a speaker only.

Please see my post that crossed with yours. And please stop referring to your Echo as your Alexa.

Ken_Griffiths

@yossie
Can’t you just tap the mic on the Arc and switch it off? Then remove the Arc and its Alexa component from all groups in the Amazon App?

Note too there is an option in the Amazon App to make the Arc the default output speaker for the echo device (even with the Arc mic switched off) - so that’s another option, but you need them in the same Alexa Group to do that.

J

John B

@yossie
Can’t you just tap the mic on the Arc and switch it off? Then remove the Arc and its Alexa component from all groups in the Amazon App?

OP said that he generally keeps mic switched off anyway. But on the face of it I agree with you.

Ken_Griffiths

Actually I have an almost identical setup with an Arc (‘Living Room’) and echo Dot (‘Amazon Lounge Alexa) but both use the Alexa wake word and I have both mics enabled. Both devices are set as controlling/enabling devices in the same Amazon Alexa Group (photo of group attached) and that works well for me for ducking purposes etc. FWIW

Y

yossieAuthorAnswer

Trending Lyricist I

I removed the Alexa voice assistant from my ARC altogether (shows no voice assistant.)

I deleted the Sonos Device and Speaker from my Echo . I left the Sonos skill installed.

On my echo I added a “speaker” - re-discovered the ARC, and verified that the ARC is now a speaker in my Echo Group.

I validated the follow-up is disabled on the Echo.

I reset (unplugged) both devices.

I still get the ~15 second “ducking” on my ARC after my Echo answers a question:

me: echo, play radio station
echo: playing radio station on sonos
sonos: starts playing
me: echo what time is it
echo: it is XX:XX
sonos: volume drops very low ~15 seconds before returning to normal

Followup: Once I removed the Sonos from the Echo Group, but left it as the default speaker, things appear to work right now.

J

John B

Well done for sorting out that last step. I do recall now that the speakers listed as members of a group will duck tor the command, while speakers listed as speakers are the ones that play the sound

Y

yossieAuthor

Trending Lyricist I

After my last change yesterday, the problem was FIXED. For a few hours, anyway. This morning it came back with a vengeance. Now, despite the speaker being selected in the Alexa app, the echo, when voice instructed, only plays on internal speaker. When I use the app, I can make it play on the ARC, but the ~15 second ducking is back, even though the Sonos is not in the Alexa group. The whole thing is kinda weird and frustrating. And, yes, I do get that Amazon and Sonos are separate companies talking over an API, but it can’t be that hard to get it to work, can it?

Instructions on this specific use case, that have been checked and proven would be very much appreciated.

The case being HOW to use an ARC as the music speaker for an Echo but retain the Echo as the listener, processor, and responder to voice commands. Oh, and no ducking after a command is processed.

Ken_Griffiths

After my last change yesterday, the problem was FIXED. For a few hours, anyway. This morning it came back with a vengeance. Now, despite the speaker being selected in the Alexa app, the echo, when voice instructed, only plays on internal speaker. When I use the app, I can make it play on the ARC, but the ~15 second ducking is back, even though the Sonos is not in the Alexa group. The whole thing is kinda weird and frustrating. And, yes, I do get that Amazon and Sonos are separate companies talking over an API, but it can’t be that hard to get it to work, can it?

Instructions on this specific use case, that have been checked and proven would be very much appreciated.

The case being HOW to use an ARC as the music speaker for an Echo but retain the Echo as the listener, processor, and responder to voice commands. Oh, and no ducking after a command is processed.

Maybe try the setup I’m using above with both (Echo/Sonos) products in the same group as that works just fine for me and also ensure that an echo device elsewhere in the home is not picking up the wake word (if you perhaps internal doors open etc.)

Y

yossieAuthor

Trending Lyricist I

Maybe try the setup I’m using above with both (Echo/Sonos) products in the same group as that works just fine for me and also ensure that an echo device elsewhere in the home is not picking up the wake word (if you perhaps internal doors open etc.)

EXCEPT that introduces the ~15 second “ducking” after an Echo command finishes executing. Apparently can’t win this one for trying.. I am back to square one.

Ken_Griffiths

Maybe try the setup I’m using above with both (Echo/Sonos) products in the same group as that works just fine for me and also ensure that an echo device elsewhere in the home is not picking up the wake word (if you perhaps internal doors open etc.)

EXCEPT that introduces the ~15 second “ducking” after an Echo command finishes executing. Apparently can’t win this one for trying.. I am back to square one.

I don’t have the 15 second ‘ducking’ that you mention, so you must have another issue/setting elsewhere in the Alexa App that’s causing that. As soon as I finish the instruction, the audio level of the Arc returns almost immediately.

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