Echo Dot - Sonos as Default speakers

-- nice update --

Edit

I've been testing the limitations of this new Alexa functionality.

I wonder if you could help me?

Does this mean all music goes through the "Preferred Speaker", where all other audio comes out of the Dot speaker? I know this sounds like a ridiculous question, but I can't phrase it better because I'm so unfamiliar with the echo: what actually counts as music? If I play something from Spotify, obviously that's music... but what about a talk radio source, for example?

Also, can you have one Echo that plays through a Sonos, and another that plays through itself? The situation I'm thinking is an Echo in the living room that plays through the living room Sonos, and an Echo in my son's bedroom where he can play Lego Ninjago soundtracks without it coming out of the downstairs speakers.

Actually, that makes me think of something else - can the Echo be commanded to play music in the Sonos Library? Or is it restricted to streaming services like Spotify? Same question on playlists - can the Echo "find" both Spotify playlists and Sonos playlists?

I think it is just when you utilize the music sources in the alexa - so that would be amazon music, spotify, etc. or default radio app too (see them all under Music section under Alexa settings)

If I ask it to play like a video though it comes out the Alexa speaker.

This is set by Alexa device - so you set the Living Room to play from the living room Sonos. Your son's bedroom echo wouldn't be associated with the living room echo so wouldn't play from the living room echo. If he had a sonos speaker in his room he could associate it with the echo in his room.

Alexa Echos can only find playlists from music services in Alexa app. I can not currently search for Sonos playlists.

I've been testing the limitations of this new Alexa functionality.

I wonder if you could help me?

Does this mean all music goes through the "Preferred Speaker", where all other audio comes out of the Dot speaker? I know this sounds like a ridiculous question, but I can't phrase it better because I'm so unfamiliar with the echo: what actually counts as music? If I play something from Spotify, obviously that's music... but what about a talk radio source, for example?


Hi

The Amazon announcement states that Replies to voice commands will remain on the Echo Dot triggered but request for Music playback will be directed to the preferred speaker. I've just tested with BBC Radio 2 with the command 'Alexa, Play Radio 2' - this output on the Echo Dot, then 'Alexa, Play Radio 2 from TuneIn' and this output through my Play:5 which is set as the Preferred Speaker.

I've been testing the limitations of this new Alexa functionality.
Also, can you have one Echo that plays through a Sonos, and another that plays through itself? The situation I'm thinking is an Echo in the living room that plays through the living room Sonos, and an Echo in my son's bedroom where he can play Lego Ninjago soundtracks without it coming out of the downstairs speakers.


To set this up, you create a Group in the Alexa App and add a Alexa Device (Echo Dot) and the Sonos player as Devices within that Group then set the same Sonos player as the Preferred Speaker. No other Alexa devices are impacted unless you include them in an Alexa Group.

I've been testing the limitations of this new Alexa functionality.

I wonder if you could help me?

Does this mean all music goes through the "Preferred Speaker", where all other audio comes out of the Dot speaker? I know this sounds like a ridiculous question, but I can't phrase it better because I'm so unfamiliar with the echo: what actually counts as music? If I play something from Spotify, obviously that's music... but what about a talk radio source, for example?

Also, can you have one Echo that plays through a Sonos, and another that plays through itself? The situation I'm thinking is an Echo in the living room that plays through the living room Sonos, and an Echo in my son's bedroom where he can play Lego Ninjago soundtracks without it coming out of the downstairs speakers.

Actually, that makes me think of something else - can the Echo be commanded to play music in the Sonos Library? Or is it restricted to streaming services like Spotify? Same question on playlists - can the Echo "find" both Spotify playlists and Sonos playlists?

At this moment in time only Streaming services can be initiated via Voice Control, however once initiated via the Sonos App local music libraries can be control via Voice Control. (Pause, Resume, Next & Volume)

I've just got an Echo Dot and have paired it with 2 grouped Sonos Play:1 speakers and was hoping this option would become available. I'm probably missing something obvious here but I'm looking through the Alexa app and can't find the option to choose a 'preferred speaker'. How do you access it?

Press the little house icon on the bottom bar. It's on the far right.
You should have each room already set up.
Click on room and add the alexa device in that room if not already there
Then preferred Music Speaker pick your sonos player from the list.

Press the little house icon on the bottom bar. It's on the far right.
You should have each room already set up.
Click on room and add the alexa device in that room if not already there
Then preferred Music Speaker pick your sonos player from the list.

I hadn't created a room so did that and now I can see the option. Will try it when I get home from work. Many thanks for the help.

I think it is just when you utilize the music sources in the alexa - so that would be amazon music, spotify, etc. or default radio app too (see them all under Music section under Alexa settings)
Ah, okay. Didn't realise the Echo had a "music" section... so that makes sense.

This is set by Alexa device - so you set the Living Room to play from the living room Sonos. Your son's bedroom echo wouldn't be associated with the living room echo so wouldn't play from the living room echo. If he had a sonos speaker in his room he could associate it with the echo in his room.
Okay, thanks.

Alexa Echos can only find playlists from music services in Alexa app. I can not currently search for Sonos playlists.
Ah, I think I've suddenly realised something. You aren't using Alexa to control the Sonos (like you say "Alexa, do X" and the Echo then says to the Sonos "You need to do X") - instead you're using Alexa to control the Echo which is simply using the Sonos speaker as an external audio output? If so, that all suddenly makes more sense to me.

But if that's the case, can you still control the audio from the Sonos hardware buttons (play/pause/volume) or from the Sonos app (next/prev/play/pause/volume) without confusing Alexa? I mean, can I start a playlist by asking Alexa, listen to track 1, skip track 2 on the Sonos app, listen to track 3, and ask Alexa to skip to next and get track 4? Or will Alexa think I'm still on track 2 and "skip" to track 3, or get lost completely?

I've just tested with BBC Radio 2 with the command 'Alexa, Play Radio 2' - this output on the Echo Dot, then 'Alexa, Play Radio 2 from TuneIn' and this output through my Play:5 which is set as the Preferred Speaker.
Hmm. Not sure I understand why it treats those differently, to be honest!

To set this up, you create a Group in the Alexa App and add a Alexa Device (Echo Dot) and the Sonos player as Devices within that Group then set the same Sonos player as the Preferred Speaker. No other Alexa devices are impacted unless you include them in an Alexa Group.
Brilliant, thanks.

At this moment in time only Streaming services can be initiated via Voice Control, however once initiated via the Sonos App local music libraries can be control via Voice Control. (Pause, Resume, Next & Volume)
I see, thanks.