Strange Volume Effect with Echo Dot and Sonos

Forum|Forum|9 years ago
October 7, 2017
26 replies
4951 views

I have an Echo Dot connected to a Connect via analog in...and the Connect connected from analog out to my speakers via a Sonance amplifier. I'm finding that, since starting the Sonos skill, when I talk to Alexa, her volume out of my Sonos/speaker setup is at such a low volume that it is barely audible. This lasts for about 10-15 seconds, and then volume goes up to normal. I have the volume control on the Dot set a maximum and the Sonos volume set at a normal listening level. Before setting up the Sonos skill, the volume was always fine...right where I set it. Interestingly, if I immediately invoke "Alexa" after she starts speaking (like if I ask for the weather), when I can barely hear her, and tell her to turn up the volume, her output immediately goes to the normal audible volume. Also, once the Sonos music starts, volume is normal, based on my volume setting in the Sonos app. However, if I again invoke "Alexa", her volume is low again.

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Best answer by jgatie

That is because of the "ducking" feature which lowers the Sonos volume so Alexa can hear. I'm sure Sonos never figured people would continue to use the line-in function after the Alexa implementation was in place (and why would they?).

Show previous replies

A

Alan P Sanders

Lyricist III

@jgatie - this is definitely a bug, for a few reasons:
1) It eliminates a function that people liked and is now not possible - asking the alexa a QUESTION and having sonos answer. Sure - you will tell me to eliminate the skill and problem solved. But that's the issue, the skill is the bug.

2) If I eliminate the skill, I can no longer use the Play One. So basically my choice is to get the full functionality of my Play 5 or the Play 1. I can't have both.

3) Sonos/Alexa integration doesn't support Spotify, the most popular music streaming service in America.

4) There is zero help content on this, just a bunch of people in comment threads running around in the dark with flashlights. They didn't anticipate this at all. It was a screw up. Full stop. Period.

jgatie

Sorry to get into semantics, but a feature is not a bug when it works as designed. It is simply incompatible with your desired configuration. Not a big difference, but it was not a mistake to make it that way, it was an intended design.

Spotify was announced as coming by Christmas.

I'll not comment on the last thing. My Alexa skill experience is that it works pretty good for a beta. YMMV.

A

Alan P Sanders

Lyricist III

Sorry to get into semantics, but a feature is not a bug when it works as designed. It is simply incompatible with your desired configuration. Not a big difference, but it was not a mistake to make it that way, it was an intended design.

Spotify was announced as coming by Christmas.

I'll not comment on the last thing. My Alexa skill experience is that it works pretty good for a beta. YMMV.

I see what you're saying. It wasn't a bug, it was an intentional design choice that sucks. Of course customers will want to use their Play 5 for more than music - like interacting with Alexa (the main use case for the entire device). You are saying Sonos knew they were taking this away from customers, and did it anyway.. Whether a bug or an intentionally poor design choice, I hope they fix it.

Sounds like the sonos skill is still in beta and will improve over time - until then I'll just have a limited function $500 speaker in my bedroom OR a Play 1 that doesn't work. Thanks, Sonos. Awesome customer experience.

jgatie

Sonos probably never thought people would keep the inferior line-in method in place after the Alexa functionality was implemented. I must say it surprised me that people still want it, it seems quite redundant to me. Then again, having been in software for 30 years, nothing should surprise me. People like what they know.

Either way, Sonos has stated they are looking into improving this for those who still want the line-in connected.

A

Andywoodstick

Contributor I

Sonos probably never thought people would keep the inferior line-in method in place after the Alexa functionality was implemented. I must say it surprised me that people still want it, it seems quite redundant to me. Then again, having been in software for 30 years, nothing should surprise me. People like what they know.

Either way, Sonos has stated they are looking into improving this for those who still want the line-in connected.

Hi, I don't use the line-in method but I still get the volume dipping in the kitchen (play1 not the new version) when someone talks to the echo upstairs

Is this behaviour expected for my set up?

R

Rhiathame

Lyricist I

jgatie, inferior or not, it is currently the only way to play my Audible books through my 5 Sonos speakers and having it cut out for the 10-15 seconds for ducking is still annoying. Especially if the 10-15 seconds makes up the entirety of the sound.

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