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Kumar
Oct 24, 2017 2:54 AM UTC
Answered

Microphone sensitivity for the “Alexa” wake word is low

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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    Ryan S
    Ryan SAnswer
    Retired Sonos Staff
    Dec 20, 2017 10:30 PM UTC
    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.
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    zerreissen
    Lyricist III
    Oct 25, 2017 1:42 PM UTC
    Interesting... I've had the opposite experience. I was having issues with my Echo Dot hearing me. I had the dot placed right next to my Play:1 (which may have been part of the issue) on a shelf in the kitchen. I replaced the Dot and the Play:1 with the Sonos One and I find that the Sonos One can hear me better than the Dot could.
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    DaveyP
    Lyricist III
    Oct 26, 2017 7:30 PM UTC
    My one seems to be going off at the slightest thing ?! It is close to the TV though so could that be a problem, it went off when someone said “makes a ...” on the Tv earlier. Would love it to be a sensitivity setting if it’s software based.
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      MikeT.
      Lyricist II
      Oct 27, 2017 12:13 AM UTC
      I have my Sonos One installed just below my TV and everything sets it off, heaven forbid an Alexa commercial comes on.
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        KumarAuthor
        Oct 27, 2017 12:55 AM UTC
        Until Alexa includes effective voice recognition protocols in it, keeping the One near things like TVs/radios isn't a good idea. For such uses, an Echo/Dot is a better idea, with the mic on the One turned off. I haven't checked but I assume that the One will work just as a play 1 will in that configuration.
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          MikeT.
          Lyricist II
          Oct 27, 2017 1:33 AM UTC
          Kumar, thanks for your reply. I have an Echo Dot in my office just outside the living area and had to change the wake word on the Dot to Echo so both devices wouldn’t go off at the same time. Is the Echo system smarter than Sonos? My Echo Dot will recognize “my” voice from another room but the Alexa commercials don’t set it off. If I say the wake word or something similar it may.
          This may be a deal killer on Sonos until it gets smarter. I’ll give it some time and experiment with some additional locations.

          Thanks again for your reply!
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          KumarAuthor
          Oct 27, 2017 1:47 AM UTC
          Is the Echo system smarter than Sonos?
          No idea, frankly. Only Amazon/Sonos know for sure and I doubt they will comment. But these are things that can be tweaked to existing hardware and Sonos has openly said that their Alexa integration is a beta, so expect improvements.
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          MikeT.
          Lyricist II
          Oct 27, 2017 2:29 AM UTC
          Good point. I have been a Sonos fan for a while and have come to expect great customer service.
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          chickentender
          chickentender
          Oct 27, 2017 2:34 AM UTC
          I hope an update for the sensitivity comes quite soon. It was just curious at first but after 2 days of use it's genuinely becoming quite irritating. I have to repeat my wake-word more than once more often than I do not. Sometimes 3 or 4 times and always must raise my voice considerably approaching a shout depending where I am relative to the ONE.
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            gunkadoodah
            Lyricist III
            Oct 27, 2017 2:57 AM UTC
            Both Sonos Ones I received seem to be highly temperamental. I either have to scream at it or give up altogether. This is highly frustrating given that the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot usually get it on the first try.

            Call-in customer support told me to move it to the center of the room. Now who on earth would put a speaker in the center of the room?
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              KumarAuthor
              Oct 27, 2017 3:13 AM UTC
              No one would; I bet this is a request to only rule out reasons by doing this on a temporary basis.
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