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Microphone sensitivity for the “Alexa” wake word is low

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
October 24, 2017
261 replies
37503 views

I still have to use either, but here is the Stuff magazine take on this, from their review:
"Finally, Alexa seems to be less responsive on the Sonos One, at least compared to the Echo, meaning you have to speak a little bit louder for it to hear you. Considering my Echo will sometimes pick up an unintended ‘Alexa’ reference while I’m chatting in another room, this probably isn’t as significant a shortcoming as it sounds.
Read more at https://www.stuff.tv/sonos/one/review#RDh9IciKOQwAQ2K0.99

But something that is a concern that Sonos ought to look at, if what you say is more applicable.

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Best answer by Ryan S

Sonos version 8.2.3 is now available for the Sonos One (other Sonos devices will stay on 8.2.2). This update improves Alexa responsiveness for Sonos One users in US, UK, Germany, and Austria.

You should find that Alexa is getting better at listening, with a decrease in the times Alexa speaks up when not called. Alexa on Sonos One is now more likely to carry out your desired action when requested; especially when it’s noisy, when the speaker is further away, or when speaking quietly.

Update within your Sonos app by going to More > Settings > Online Updates.

We’re continuing to work with Amazon and the Alexa team to improve Sonos One voice control. You can expect to see more developments as we go. Let us know what you think of the changes. We’d love to hear from you.

Show previous replies

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danjss

Contributor I

same experience here - noticed the last few days back to shouting. How can something have changed without there being any software update? Very odd. About to turn the mic on and off again as suggested here to see if that helps....

Master T

Prodigy I

Had this happen to me again yesterday. Turning the mic on and off makes an immediate difference, but not all of my One's are conveniently located to do this. Hope there's a fix in the works soon.

TuffDadSF

Lyricist I

I have 8 echo devices including the Sonos One and the Sonos is so weak in hearing me. Constantly at the volume I need to speak to it will actually make 1, 2 or 3 other echos in the house respond to me. I'm going to try moving the Sonos One to one more place in the living room to try to help it. Kind of sucks as I am now 3 speakers invested in Sonos.

J

Jiver

Lyricist I

My Sonos One in my kitchen is useless as an Alexa device. Commands are constantly heard by an Echo Dot that is 40 feet away. I can be 6 inches from my Sonos One and speak in a soft voice. The Sonos one will activate on "Alexa" but the Dot will do the command. How the Dot can even hear me is a mystery. I am surprised that it can pick up my voice at that volume from that far away.

I have tried turning the microphone on and off. That does not help.

What is the best way to get help in resolving this?

N

Nick4021

Contributor II

I am having this same issue with all 3 of my Sonos Ones. As stated above, turning the mic off and on again does work. However, within a week, the mic sensitivity diminishes drastically again and performing this temporary fix over and over again is getting very annoying! Sonos - when is a proper fix coming?

Ryan S

Retired Sonos Staff

We're working on it Nick. I'll make sure to post in here when the final fix is out. They've been making some changes to improve things, but it's not quite ready yet.

Mark good posts by pressing the like button, and select the best answer on questions you've asked to help others find solutions.

E

EJAY81

Trending Lyricist I

Good to hear Ryan! I just got my sonos one and noticed the same mic sensitivity issue described here. When comparing it to my old google home mini and the JBL Link 300 the mic on the sono doesn't seem to pick my voice up unless I'm right by it or talk at an abnormal volume when at a distance. My prior two smart speakers would pick me up on the opposite side of the room at normal talking levels. Once this is fixed and google assistant comes this will be the Smart Speaker to beat!

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Foz

Lyricist I

I have both a Sonos One and an Echo. Trying to solve the Sonos One voice sensitivity issue by updating the app to version 8.2.3 but it tells me that I'm up to date at version 8.3.1 and no update available?

chickentender

same experience here - noticed the last few days back to shouting. How can something have changed without there being any software update? Very odd. About to turn the mic on and off again as suggested here to see if that helps....

This is my question in another thread (and again apologies - but finding answers in this forum is very difficult at times)... I've been experiencing this mic sensitivity "fall-off' as well - and it's almost as bad as the sensitivity was upon release last fall - aka shouting and not being heard. How has this happened if there has not been an additional update??? Or has there been an update. Frustrating - I thought we'd gotten over this hurdle.

N

nwk1022

Contributor I

I thought I was the only one who noticed the mic sensivity got so much worse since the past few days all of a sudden. It doesn't recognize my voice at all when song is playing... The song isn't even that loud at all and when I literally shout 'Alexa' right in front of the speaker, it just doesn't get it. So frustrating.

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