I tried searching for the topic posted, but I couldn’t find any assistance to my specific problem.
I have a Onkyo TX-NR6100 and a Sonos Port. The setup was easy on my 20 year old Denon receiver, but sadly that died, and I saw the “Works with Sonos” on the receiver I purchased thinking it would be a simple replacement. But I cannot figure out how to get my Turntable or local radio stations to play over the ERA 300’s I have. The local radio station is important because our son has a radio show for a local radio station that doesn’t have any sort of app or live streaming, we would like to stream it so we don’t have to listen to it on a little portable radio, or buy anything else.
My current setup from a search is as follows:
Port input connected to Zone2 Output
Coax Digital in port connected to Coax Digital In on the Receiver
Turntable connected to CD
Zone 2 is turned on
Coax Digital is set to CD
I called Sonos support and they only showed me how to connect the turntable to the port, which I already did, but I have to have the volume at 100% to listen to the music 2 feet away from the speakers.
I appreciate any assistance.
You say you’re using a co-ax input connected to a co-ax input. You need to use an output from one device to an input on the other. Try the line-in zone 2 output on the Onkyo to the Port line-in.
I misspoke. The digital out on the port is connected to the digital in on the receiver.
The line in on the port is connected to the zone 2 out on the receiver.
I don’t have a Port but I assume you can (a) group the Port and the Eras, or (b) select the Port line-in (Aux?) as the play source for the Eras. Have you done that? Are you playing something on the Onkyo to have something to hear it in the Sonos system? What volume level are you outputting from the Onkyo to the Port?
(The “Works with Sonos” on this Onkyo device is for a Sonos system to be a source into the Onkyo, as I understand it.)
Does the turntable have a built-in preamplifier?
Does the turntable have a built-in preamplifier?
No, if I only had the turntable, I would get a dedicated amp for it, but I also want to use the CD player and Radio with the Sonos.
I used to be able to do it with my old Denon that was very simple, but the new Onkyo has so many settings. I wonder if I’m just not getting it right. Maybe I don’t use the Digital Coax, and I just switch to an RCA cable?
You could. What does the Onkyo manual say? Does it not mention Sonos?
I would use an analog input to the receiver. Receivers don’t always have a digital to analog converter available for the analog outputs. Also, make sure that a phono preamplifier is available unless you are using the receiver’s Phono input.
Thank you. I’ll get another RCA cable and try that. I’ll update in a few days after I try it.
Does the turntable have a built-in preamplifier?
No, if I only had the turntable, I would get a dedicated amp for it, but I also want to use the CD player and Radio with the Sonos.
I used to be able to do it with my old Denon that was very simple, but the new Onkyo has so many settings. I wonder if I’m just not getting it right. Maybe I don’t use the Digital Coax, and I just switch to an RCA cable?
Yes, use the Zone 2 output on the Onkyo to the line-in on the Port. But, curiously, you already have that connected according to an earlier post.
You’ve not yet replied to my previous questions/suggestions. As well as making the physical connections, the Sonos devices need to be told what to play using the Sonos app.
I don’t have a Port but I assume you can (a) group the Port and the Eras, or (b) select the Port line-in (Aux?) as the play source for the Eras. Have you done that? Are you playing something on the Onkyo to have something to hear it in the Sonos system? What volume level are you outputting from the Onkyo to the Port?
(The “Works with Sonos” on this Onkyo device is for a Sonos system to be a source into the Onkyo, as I understand it.)
I tried Radio and Turntable playing. Line in is selected on the app. The volume level varies from 33 to 99.
When I connect the turntable directly to the port I can hear it playing, but it’s not amplified. so the highest sonos volume is like listening to music on 5.
When I connect the turntable directly to the port I can hear it playing, but it’s not amplified. so the highest sonos volume is like listening to music on 5.
This is a symptom of having the phono output on the turntable connected to the line-in input on the Port. You need to switch the turntable pre-amp (which can be internal or external) to Line output.
Is Zone 2 an independent zone, needing its source to be selected on the Onkyo device, or does it repeat what’s playing through the main speakers? If the former, have you selected your source to play?
I’m not familiar with this receiver. Some receivers have an option for zone 2 to follow zone 1 input selection.
Many receivers don’t allow an data from a digital input (like an optical port, or an HDMI port) to be carried by a zone 2 output (usually analog) , so make sure your test is from an analog (usually RCA) input.
It was infact switching the digital coax to RCA.
I appreciate all the tips. Thank you.
Most of us have been there — that’s how we knew about that little RCA trick. 
