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Sonos One 2nd Gen not sensitive enough microphone

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
May 2, 2019
39 replies
4927 views

I purchased a new Sonos One 2nd gen last month, and I immediately noticed that the microphone was nowhere as sensitive as the gen 1 version. For Alexa to respond, I have to be quite near the Sonos One, and I've had to raise the volume of my voice to be heard.

I relocated from Europe earlier this year and was waiting for all my Sonos gear to arrive with my furnitures. Those have now arrived and I set it all up over the past few days.

So I have Sonos One devices in all bedrooms, all but one are 1st gen, the 2nd gen being in my bedroom.

When I say "Alexa, turn on the light", it's typically Alexa in another room that will respond. "Alexa set a timer for 5 minutes" and you can hear it being setup in another bedroom.

Now I don't know if it's an issue with this particular gen2 that is faulty, or that somehow the gen2 has a less sensitive microphone. But it's pretty much unusable as an Alexa device. If I say "Alexa!" with a rather low voice, I can hear the "ding" noise on all the other Sonos One but the gen2 that is closer to me.

Any ideas if that sensitivity can be adjusted?

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AjTrek1

Hi jya

Try turning the mic off and on again. That's been tried before as a reset.

Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.

A

Altezza

Lyricist I

I'm also seeing less sensitivity from the microphone on my Gen 2 vs. Gen 1. In addition, when Alexa does respond, it often says its not available while the Gen 1 works fine! They are both on the same network and turning the mic off and on as well as unplugging or resetting the Gen 2 doesn't seem to resolve the issue. Any ideas?

Ryan S

Retired Sonos Staff

I'm also seeing less sensitivity from the microphone on my Gen 2 vs. Gen 1. In addition, when Alexa does respond, it often says its not available while the Gen 1 works fine! They are both on the same network and turning the mic off and on as well as unplugging or resetting the Gen 2 doesn't seem to resolve the issue. Any ideas?

The "not available" message could be due to network strength, have you tried flipping the locations of the two devices to see if the issue follows the player or stays in the location?

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A

Altezza

Lyricist I

I'm also seeing less sensitivity from the microphone on my Gen 2 vs. Gen 1. In addition, when Alexa does respond, it often says its not available while the Gen 1 works fine! They are both on the same network and turning the mic off and on as well as unplugging or resetting the Gen 2 doesn't seem to resolve the issue. Any ideas?The "not available" message could be due to network strength, have you tried flipping the locations of the two devices to see if the issue follows the player or stays in the location?

Ryan S, thanks for your response. I've tried that and network strength is definitely not the issue. As with the first poster, often times, the Gen 1 will respond even though its in another room while I'm standing right over the Gen 2 trying to give it instructions.

In addition, when Alexa on the Gen 2 does work, it often will not acknowledge an instruction. For example, if I say "Alexa, set a 5 minute timer", the status light will blink on the Gen 2, but Alexa won't confirm whether the timer is set or not. It's only after repeated asking will it finally set and/or confirm the timer. As mentioned, Alexa also seems to go offline very often on the Gen 2 as Alexa responds "Sorry, I'm having trouble understand right now. Please try again a little later." Turning off the microphone or unplugging helps temporarily, but these issues always come back.

The inconsistency of Alexa on the Gen 2 is very frustrating!

P

ppetrella

Lyricist II

I've also noticed the microphone Struggles to pick up my voice when there is ambient noise or music playing.
Is Sonos working on improving their software to better filter out background sounds and home in on voice commands?

T

Tonda748

Lyricist I

Since last week I have 3 one’s in different rooms WiFi and cable. They all respond very badly. I had Harman Kardon citation on trail and even with the protective plastic on the mic it could hear and understand me clearly. They are google only so I returned them and bought sonos. But is this hardware or software related? And does anyone know if this will be fixed? I would like to know because I can still return them.

M

Maos

Lyricist I

Same problem here only got mine for Christmas 19 and not picking our voices up very well at all….any fix yet? If not it's going back, Such a shame as its a nice sounding speaker

K

Keithmac

Virtuoso

Does the Gen 2 have less microphones inside?, seems logical it will not be as sensitive?.

jgatie

Same problem here only got mine for Christmas 19 and not picking our voices up very well at all….any fix yet? If not it's going back, Such a shame as its a nice sounding speaker

It gets better as it learns your voice.

R

richardblake80

Lyricist I

My Sonos one 2nd Gen also has a problem with the microphone it does not hear you unless you shout over any ambiant noise. It is in the lounge and quite often will respond to the TV but will not respond to voice commands. Are there going to be a software issue or a hardware issue as my Amazon echo in the next room will quite often respond before the Sonos One.

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