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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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Seven3Five

Contributor I

I’m having the same issue. I have two Sonos Ones in my living room downstairs. My Kitchen Echo upstairs will hear me better than my Ones downstairs even when I’m downstairs.

Master T

Prodigy I

@nwk1022 Try turning the mic off and then on again. That will usually restore the sensitivity of the Sonos One, at least until Sonos releases a permanent fix.

J

JTT74

Lyricist III

Still an issue, had to reset mic again..

How long until we get a fix pls?

Ken_Griffiths

I have the new Sonos One located in our (almost) square-shaped Kitchen with a doorway leading to a 15 foot, rather narrow, Hallway.

Halfway along the hallway is an Amazon echo Dot (Gen-2) and a Play 1 speaker, each situated on a large marble telephone table with surrounding lamps etc.

Whenever I dish out Alexa commands in the kitchen area and whilst standing (or sitting) much closer to (and facing) the Sonos One speaker, I still occasionally get a response back from the echo Dot device in the hallway ... it’s s bit odd because the next instruction, a few moments later, can often result in the subsequent response then coming from the Sonos One, even though I have not moved my position or changed voice direction.

I’ve just dug a tape measure out of the toolbox and measured the distance from the chair, where I sometimes issue the Alexa instructions, and the Sonos One and it is approx. 2 metres. The distance from the same chair to the echo Dot is approx 5 metres. I have very quickly sketched a very rough diagram to show the type of layout in question.

Admittedly this switching of Alexa responses from the two different devices is not what I would call a frequent thing, but it does happen very occasionally and I can find no reason why this happens just on a few occasions... I will add that I’m not even facing the doorway when these 'unexpected' responses occur from the Hallway Dot.

So my thoughts are the Sonos microphone sensitivity may not be quite what it should be, but I do also appreciate that the Sonos voice control is still running in beta at this present time.

However, because these issues are so infrequent and somewhat difficult to reproduce, I can only say I will just simply see how things improve after each new Sonos firmware update.

J

JTT74

Lyricist III

Had a system update today, does this fix the issue?

Ken_Griffiths

Had a system update today, does this fix the issue?

No, but I don’t now think this is simply a Sonos issue, but more to do with Amazon, as I’m getting similar issues now between two echo dots ... it’s like one dot has microphones that are more sensitive that the other ... both are echo Dot v2 running the same (latest) firmware.

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northan

Lyricist I

I have had the sonos one for a couple of month now, this is my first sonos device.
I thought if I'm to start replacing my echo's this would be a good place.
I'm starting to wish I hadn't. The response to any wake work is abysmal, I can be right next to it, shouting and still nothing.
In fact the dot upstairs gets me before the Sonos will. The kitchen dot will more likely get my voice 80% of the time before the sonos responds.
is there anyway I can justify keeping this, apart from the sound beinng great, it's not really doing whats it's designed to do?
Does Sonos frequent these forums and offer advice or updates?

L

ljo13

Lyricist II

Looking forward to any fix that might come out for this. I have the same issues. I used to walk into the room and ask Alexa to turn on the lights with my Echo Dot. It always worked flawlessly. Now with the Sonos One, I have to speak louder or even turn towards the One to make it work.

Seriously considering to disable Alexa on the One and reconnecting my Echo Dot. It's just not convenient enough. The Wife Acceptance Factor of the One doesn't really give me a choice.

Ken_Griffiths

Looking forward to any fix that might come out for this. I have the same issues. I used to walk into the room and ask Alexa to turn on the lights with my Echo Dot. It always worked flawlessly. Now with the Sonos One, I have to speak louder or even turn towards the One to make it work.

Seriously considering to disable Alexa on the One and reconnecting my Echo Dot. It's just not convenient enough. The Wife Acceptance Factor of the One doesn't really give me a choice.

Yes I am experiencing the same issue too with my Sonos One in my Kitchen... my nearby echo dot in the nearby hallway is much more sensitive and hears my commands moreso than my Sonos One, even though I am in closer proximity to the Sonos One.

It really does need fixing!... hopefully Sonos are looking into this issue.

C

coulston

Lyricist I

I have also noticed that voice sensitivity has significantly decreased in the past couple of weeks. Any time music is playing I need to shout in order for Alexa to respond, and it often requires several tries. It's embarrassing when guests are over, and unless a fix is available, I'm not likely to use Alexa at all.

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