Skip to main content
Question

Question about using Bluetooth (Roam/Era) to control older Sonos speakers

  • September 14, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 23 views
Forum|alt.badge.img

Hi,

I have 5 older Sonos speakers (Play:1 and Play:5 models) that still sound great, and I'm hoping to add Bluetooth/airplay playback capability to my setup.

My understanding from research so far is that purchasing a single Bluetooth-enabled Sonos device (Roam or Era) would let me stream via Bluetooth to that device, which would then relay audio to all 5 of my existing speakers through the Sonos app/system.

A few questions:

  1. Is this correct, will one Roam or Era let me Bluetooth-stream to all 5 of my existing speakers, or would I need more than one Bluetooth-enabled unit?
  2. Once set up, is grouping the rooms a one-time setup, or do I need to re-group them every time I turn the system on?
  3. If I'm hosting people and want guests to play music through the system, what's the process… do they need to group the rooms themselves, and would they need to download the Sonos app to do this? Or can they just stream from SoundCloud or Spotify direct into the system?
  4. Anything else I should know or watch out for with this kind of setup?

Thanks very much in advance, Anthony

3 replies

Stanley_4
  • Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • September 14, 2026

If they all use the S2 app you should be able to group them all together. 

Groups usually stay together unless something, network or power usually, disrupts them.

Not sure on tne Bluetooth as I don't use it.

Pools-3015
Forum|alt.badge.img+17
  • Pools-3015
  • Prodigy I
  • September 14, 2026
  1. I have an Era 100 that I use to send Bluetooth audio from a projector to a Play 5 Gen 2 and a Play 3 using the group feature. It works well.
  2. Unfortunately, everything in the group separates when I power off the projector and the Bluetooth connection is broken.
  3. As long as your guests can connect via Bluetooth to the speaker you choose, the audio should play through all the grouped speakers.
  4. If you have a large group of people, I would suggest streaming from the app. Humans tend to absorb bandwidth that could make wireless connections unstable.
    AjTrek1
    • AjTrek1
    • September 14, 2026

    Guests don’t need the Sonos app to simply Bluetooth audio to Sonos. Their device just needs to see the request to pair to the speaker that has been set to Bluetooth mode.

     

    Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.
      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement