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GvM
Avid Contributor I
June 19, 2021
Answered

should Alexa respond to both speakers?

  • June 19, 2021
  • 10 replies
  • 412 views

I have two microphone-enabled sonos-one speakers in my sonos system. Instructions to Alexa work through only one of the two speakers. The microphone lamp is glowing on both speakers. How do I troubleshoot and fix this please?

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Best answer by nik9669a

So they are performing Surrounds duty. In this configuration only the Right surround speaker is Alexa-enabled.
If I remember correctly from these forums, there were occurrences where both speakers picked up a command but then answered slightly out of sync, or both would increase the volume. Sonos’s solution was to disable voice control to the left surround. 

 

Moderation edit:
With the release of 14.8 Voice Service Behavior for Home Theater Setups has changed:

  • When a home theater room has Sonos Voice Control or Amazon Alexa registered to rear surround speakers, the microphones on those/both surrounds will remain enabled.

  • The microphone on the voice-enabled home theater product will remain enabled and will respond to voice commands.

  • If Sonos Voice is setup on a speaker that's then added as a surround, SVC will remain on that surround speaker.

10 replies

buzz
buzz
Grand Maestro
June 19, 2021

Generally, Alexa will answer through the nearest speaker. If the speakers are stereo paired, both will play the program.

GvMAuthor
Avid Contributor I
June 20, 2021

Thank you, but should Alexa listen through both speakers? Both speakers show as online in the Alexa settings but only one of them responds to voice instructions....

buzz
buzz
Grand Maestro
June 20, 2021

Only one will answer. You could test things by disabling one microphone. If you have multiple units listening and the units are relatively close together, the wrong Room might accept the command. For stereo pairs, you can disable the microphones that are closest to the “other” room.

GvMAuthor
Avid Contributor I
June 20, 2021

But should they both listen?

nik9669a
Senior Virtuoso
June 20, 2021

But should they both listen?

Not if they are Surrounds. 

GvMAuthor
Avid Contributor I
June 21, 2021

I’m not sure what you mean. Mine are both Sonos-One. Should they both listen?  …. Greg

nik9669a
Senior Virtuoso
June 21, 2021

I’m not sure what you mean. Mine are both Sonos-One. Should they both listen?  …. Greg

Do you have them in a home theatre setup?

GvMAuthor
Avid Contributor I
June 21, 2021

Yes I do. TIA...

nik9669aAnswer
Senior Virtuoso
June 21, 2021

So they are performing Surrounds duty. In this configuration only the Right surround speaker is Alexa-enabled.
If I remember correctly from these forums, there were occurrences where both speakers picked up a command but then answered slightly out of sync, or both would increase the volume. Sonos’s solution was to disable voice control to the left surround. 

 

Moderation edit:
With the release of 14.8 Voice Service Behavior for Home Theater Setups has changed:

  • When a home theater room has Sonos Voice Control or Amazon Alexa registered to rear surround speakers, the microphones on those/both surrounds will remain enabled.

  • The microphone on the voice-enabled home theater product will remain enabled and will respond to voice commands.

  • If Sonos Voice is setup on a speaker that's then added as a surround, SVC will remain on that surround speaker.

GvMAuthor
Avid Contributor I
June 21, 2021

Excellent, that is what I need to know, thank you! …. Greg

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