Single ceiling speakers (already bought) being used in the bathroom and kitchen. I need to sum the stereo signal for those, as I listen to a lot of soul which is 'dual mono' i.e. drums on left, everything else on right. Can the output be set to mono?
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I'm installing a big Sonos system in a friend's house. Without a mono option the wiring is far more complicated: stereo input ceiling speakers, local impedance matching volume switches, what a nightmare. Thanks for skipping the obvious Sonos. Same camp as Mr. Olson, took it for granted that ceiling speakers and whole house audio would be familiar territory for these guys. With odd rooms and hallways and bathrooms, etc. why would they assume stereo is appropriate everywhere all the time? Odd...
"RCA Y cables to make it mono".... LOL... Good way to damage your unit. Sonos needs to make mono available in their software. It's that simple. All these other "solutions" are half-baked and a source of future problems, never mind extra cost. I can't believe there isn't even a reply from someone at sonos on this thread. Especially with at least two dealers chiming in.
Sebastian going mono is a simple software change. Two streams requires a whole new set of hardware. You are asking for one unit to do the work of two. I don't think that will happen. Most companies are not about sabotaging their own sales. Such capability would increase the cost per unit substantially, going mono should not.
Probably too late to help the OP, but he most likely had dual voicecoil speakers, which he is calling "mono". Any single speaker is "mono", but kitchen and bathrooms are often running on a DVC speaker which takes a stereo signal into one speaker and plays both left and right. He would have had no need for mono out on a sonos unit. However, I am a dealer and custom installer and this feature is long overdue. Commercial installations, places where you don't have more than two conductors to work with, yards, kitchens, etc all can use mono. Now I have to use a speerate amplifier and a summing device. Please fix this. I sell hundreds of units a year.
I found this. Seems like it will work.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/pcDI--whirlwind-pcdi-2-channel-passive-a-v-direct-box
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/XRF105--hosa-xrf105-5-foot
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/pcDI--whirlwind-pcdi-2-channel-passive-a-v-direct-box
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/XRF105--hosa-xrf105-5-foot
Sigh.
If driving a single speaker from a Connect:Amp is all you want, maybe you "installers" should read up on a little thing called a single point stereo speaker.
If driving a single speaker from a Connect:Amp is all you want, maybe you "installers" should read up on a little thing called a single point stereo speaker.
It would be extremely useful to switch a Amp unit to output two mono channels. I have recently put speakers into a bedroom with attached bathroom. I wanted to have one speaker rather than a pair in each. I fitted the BluCube CXCL-650-S which is a single 'stereo' speaker. (Nice sound quality, average flush finish.) With the option of Mono outputs I would of had a much larger choice of speakers.
Couldn't agree more : and Sonos while you're at it please make your mono smarter than the rest of the world's mono: let your amp push 2 different, independant streams in mono across each output - by doing this i can use one amp to deliver different, independant, programmable music to 2 separate bathrooms ! that would just be AWESOME ! While you're at it Sonos, please build a simple, wife-friendly, button-based controller for the kitchen and the bathroom that i can set next to the light switch - right now i have to bring the speaker wires to an attenuator, then back to teh speaker - having a nice little sonos volume + skip button controller would be so much smarter...
By all means I am not trying to debate you or anyone else who may try to justify lack of mono function. I understand your point about "corporate greed" and selling more units. In your example, 2 Connect:Amps are NOT a solution. Even buying a dedicated amp for each speaker is not a solution, so more Connect:Amps do not help me get full sound for each zone.
Again, I'm not sure what you want me to say. Your particular circumstances are unfortunate.
By the way, one person's "corporate greed" is another person's "corporate survival". Sonos employs people too. I hear they even pay them a salary.
You resurrected a 10 month long dead thread for that? Business must be bad. :?
I currently live in a condo rental with in ceiling speakers. One in bathroom, one in bedroom. I also have two small outdoor speakers not facing in the same direction on my patio. I have four reasons why a 4-Ohm stable amp can drive 4 speakers (8-Ohm each) with mono sound. So now I should replace 4 speakers in my rental due to a signal output setting?
I'm not sure what you want me to say. Anecdotal stories about your personal circumstances are not applicable to corporate decisions on how to maximize profits. Fact is, if Sonos allowed mono output, every installer in the world would cut costs by using a single Connect:Amp to drive 4 mono speakers in separate rooms instead of 2 Connect:Amps. Your situation doesn't change that fact.
I disagree. Having mono output makes it a more versatile amp. Connect amp is a great product. It's bridgeable to 4 speakers. Reading other posts, mono is highly desired by many. I'm not looking to debate others, just hoping to have this feature added.
Having mono output allows you to do one thing and one thing only; to use a single Connect unit where you would otherwise use two. That is not the type of "versatility" Sonos profits from. It's not rocket science to understand the economics behind this issue, nor the reason why it isn't going to be "fixed" (not that it is broken in the first place). If you want two channel output through a single speaker from a Sonos Connect/Connect:Amp, buy single stereo speakers that are fit for that purpose.
I currently live in a condo rental with in ceiling speakers. One in bathroom, one in bedroom. I also have two small outdoor speakers not facing in the same direction on my patio. I have four reasons why a 4-Ohm stable amp can drive 4 speakers (8-Ohm each) with mono sound. So now I should replace 4 speakers in my rental due to a signal output setting?
I disagree. Having mono output makes it a more versatile amp. Connect amp is a great product. It's bridgeable to 4 speakers. Reading other posts, mono is highly desired by many. I'm not looking to debate others, just hoping to have this feature added.
Having mono output allows you to do one thing and one thing only; to use a single Connect unit where you would otherwise use two. That is not the type of "versatility" Sonos profits from. It's not rocket science to understand the economics behind this issue, nor the reason why it isn't going to be "fixed" (not that it is broken in the first place). If you want two channel output through a single speaker from a Sonos Connect/Connect:Amp, buy single stereo speakers that are fit for that purpose.
One more vote for mono option here for all the reasons listed above
MB... Easy there buddy. I'm a professional of this industry for 30 years. I know about designing AV systems. It's not a "poor choice of equipment or lack of knowledge" although I did point out that some of these requests are not logical. Here is the bottom line: the lack of mono ability on connects is an oversight. And it isn't being addressed. I know one of the founders of Sonos and will get in touch with him directky and bring up the issue. Clearly it's going nowhere posted here. Not a single reply from anyone at Sonos.
Sonovo - I hope you did put in a request. My master bath has one speaker, and so does the bedroom. My patio has outdoor speaker. Mono output is greatly needed. Car audio amps have mono settings, let alone an expensive home audio product.
I may need to start a new thread but thought this thread was relevant to what I am currently challenged with. In my old house I had a 6 zone Sonos system with Sonos Connect Amps powering a pair of speakers in each room. Worked great no issues and everyone in the family loved it...fast forward we just moved....in this new house we just purchased most every room has a single mono speaker wired with 2 wire from the ceiling to a wall volume control and then 4 wire (but only using one pair) going back to a central location. I was hoping to reuse my connect amps but very much NOT waning to cut drywall and run new 4 wire from each wall control to every mono speaker) do I have any options? I was also willing to replace the mono speaker with dual input stereo speaker (that would accept 4 wire, 2 pairs). The house was build in 2005 but I still can't believe they saved much money on cheaping out on the lack of 4 wire to every speaker.
After doing some research, I think the fact I dont have that 4 wire from wall switch to each speaker really limits me with at least my current equipment. If I sell all my connect Amps and buy just Connects and a multi zone amp, do I have options then? I am struggling on the stereo to mono aspect and the lack of wiring. All of these rooms would be non critical listening but would like to have different zones for my office, bedroom, kitchen, etc.
Any recommendations on what I may be able to do?
After doing some research, I think the fact I dont have that 4 wire from wall switch to each speaker really limits me with at least my current equipment. If I sell all my connect Amps and buy just Connects and a multi zone amp, do I have options then? I am struggling on the stereo to mono aspect and the lack of wiring. All of these rooms would be non critical listening but would like to have different zones for my office, bedroom, kitchen, etc.
Any recommendations on what I may be able to do?
One more vote for mono for all the above reasons
Nvm no real mono coming out, ignore my comment.
Yes, that is one solution to make the existing Sonos mono. But the majority of us here are making our case to Sonos to put the Mono functionality in their Amps so that we don't have to buy 3rd-party equipment and can keep the configuration simple (less equipment).
I had a follow up email, pasted here, from Sonos support UK:
Thanks for calling in today. As discussed, we do not recommend using the Amp in Single Mono as it could potentially shorten the lifespan of the unit. I will however pass on your feedback to the development team, as the more people that get behind this request - the more likely it is to be implemented.
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to reply to this email. If you need to call back in regarding this issue, please quote the case number found at the bottom of this email.
Kind Regards,
John P
Thanks for calling in today. As discussed, we do not recommend using the Amp in Single Mono as it could potentially shorten the lifespan of the unit. I will however pass on your feedback to the development team, as the more people that get behind this request - the more likely it is to be implemented.
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to reply to this email. If you need to call back in regarding this issue, please quote the case number found at the bottom of this email.
Kind Regards,
John P
The new Sonos Amp says this in its Specs: "Speaker output connections: Banana plugs (2) capable of stereo or dual mono sound." https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/amp.html (click the link and then "Specs")
Yes! Finally a solution!
Mahalo to all who helped Sonos understand the need for mono!
Aloha!
Excuse my ignorance but does Dual Mono mean that you cannot drive just one mono speaker from the new Amp? I am one of the many many people who has single, mono speakers in a variety of bathrooms and I was just about to purchase a bunch of Sonos kit to drive them but if the new Amp can't drive a single monos speaker I'll have to use another manufacturer's solution. Thanks in advance!
No, it would be able to do that. Both the Left and Right speaker ports on the amp will produce the same mono channel. If you only want one mono speaker, than you only would connect a single side.
I would note though that you might want to consider using a single amp for two or more bathrooms, if you are ok with them having the source and adding external volume controls. Alternatively, sticking with the single speaker per amp plan, I'd consider getting stereo input ceiling speakers.
But would that not eventually blow the channel to which you had not connected a speaker?
I don't see any requirements from Sonos that you have to use both Mono outputs.
It says in the spec 'dual mono' which seems to imply that it needs to drive two speakers, one on each channel, both receiving a mono signal so they can go in separate rooms. So I called Sonos support and asked them. They put me through to a tech guy who went off and did some research and came back and said, and I quote, "You can do it* but I wouldn't recommend it because it might shorten the life of the amp."
* 'it' being to wire one channel of the amp only, to one mono speaker, and set the amp to mono. In other words the spec does indeed mean 'dual mono' i.e. it is intended that each channel of the amp is wired to a separate speaker but the same signal is sent to both.
SO it seems that Sonos still has no solution to this. I'm going elsewhere: after having been an early adopter of Sonos and having installed over fifteen units in various places, and with a renovation project requiring another thirteen, I am no longer able to make their system work for me...
"dual mono sound" didn't imply to me that you HAVE to connect 2 speakers. The same Sonos Amp specs also say "Dual Ethernet ports" and you don't HAVE to use both Ethernet ports. Maybe Sonos used poor wording in their specs and it should be edited, or maybe they didn't. I'll reach out to my Sonos Rep and let them dig around in Sonos to see if they get the same answer you got. I hope that tech guy you spoke to is wrong. If it turns-out that you HAVE to install at least 2 mono speakers, that will limit my installs also.
BTW, what is the name of that tech guy at Sonos you spoke to (I want to make sure my Rep at Sonos talks to someone else...Tier 2 or higher)?
Mahalo
The new Sonos Amp says this in its Specs: "Speaker output connections: Banana plugs (2) capable of stereo or dual mono sound." https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/amp.html (click the link and then "Specs")
Yes! Finally a solution!
Mahalo to all who helped Sonos understand the need for mono!
Aloha!
Excuse my ignorance but does Dual Mono mean that you cannot drive just one mono speaker from the new Amp? I am one of the many many people who has single, mono speakers in a variety of bathrooms and I was just about to purchase a bunch of Sonos kit to drive them but if the new Amp can't drive a single monos speaker I'll have to use another manufacturer's solution. Thanks in advance!
No, it would be able to do that. Both the Left and Right speaker ports on the amp will produce the same mono channel. If you only want one mono speaker, than you only would connect a single side.
I would note though that you might want to consider using a single amp for two or more bathrooms, if you are ok with them having the source and adding external volume controls. Alternatively, sticking with the single speaker per amp plan, I'd consider getting stereo input ceiling speakers.
But would that not eventually blow the channel to which you had not connected a speaker?
I don't see any requirements from Sonos that you have to use both Mono outputs.
It says in the spec 'dual mono' which seems to imply that it needs to drive two speakers, one on each channel, both receiving a mono signal so they can go in separate rooms. So I called Sonos support and asked them. They put me through to a tech guy who went off and did some research and came back and said, and I quote, "You can do it* but I wouldn't recommend it because it might shorten the life of the amp."
* 'it' being to wire one channel of the amp only, to one mono speaker, and set the amp to mono. In other words the spec does indeed mean 'dual mono' i.e. it is intended that each channel of the amp is wired to a separate speaker but the same signal is sent to both.
SO it seems that Sonos still has no solution to this. I'm going elsewhere: after having been an early adopter of Sonos and having installed over fifteen units in various places, and with a renovation project requiring another thirteen, I am no longer able to make their system work for me...
The new Sonos Amp says this in its Specs: "Speaker output connections: Banana plugs (2) capable of stereo or dual mono sound." https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/amp.html (click the link and then "Specs")
Yes! Finally a solution!
Mahalo to all who helped Sonos understand the need for mono!
Aloha!
Excuse my ignorance but does Dual Mono mean that you cannot drive just one mono speaker from the new Amp? I am one of the many many people who has single, mono speakers in a variety of bathrooms and I was just about to purchase a bunch of Sonos kit to drive them but if the new Amp can't drive a single monos speaker I'll have to use another manufacturer's solution. Thanks in advance!
No, it would be able to do that. Both the Left and Right speaker ports on the amp will produce the same mono channel. If you only want one mono speaker, than you only would connect a single side.
I would note though that you might want to consider using a single amp for two or more bathrooms, if you are ok with them having the source and adding external volume controls. Alternatively, sticking with the single speaker per amp plan, I'd consider getting stereo input ceiling speakers.
But would that not eventually blow the channel to which you had not connected a speaker?
I don't see any requirements from Sonos that you have to use both Mono outputs.
The new Sonos Amp says this in its Specs: "Speaker output connections: Banana plugs (2) capable of stereo or dual mono sound." https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/amp.html (click the link and then "Specs")
Yes! Finally a solution!
Mahalo to all who helped Sonos understand the need for mono!
Aloha!
Excuse my ignorance but does Dual Mono mean that you cannot drive just one mono speaker from the new Amp? I am one of the many many people who has single, mono speakers in a variety of bathrooms and I was just about to purchase a bunch of Sonos kit to drive them but if the new Amp can't drive a single monos speaker I'll have to use another manufacturer's solution. Thanks in advance!
No, it would be able to do that. Both the Left and Right speaker ports on the amp will produce the same mono channel. If you only want one mono speaker, than you only would connect a single side.
I would note though that you might want to consider using a single amp for two or more bathrooms, if you are ok with them having the source and adding external volume controls. Alternatively, sticking with the single speaker per amp plan, I'd consider getting stereo input ceiling speakers.
But would that not eventually blow the channel to which you had not connected a speaker?
I ended up using a Sonos Connect (not Amp) and a separate Pyle PA amp for my back yard. Not nearly as convenient as having a single device, but the Pyle amp takes a stereo input and outputs only mono and has lots of options for speaker impedance. I set the volume on the amp to the loudest I would ever want in my back yard and control the volume through the Sonos controller.
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