sonos amp PINs

Frustrating for you: yes. Frustrating for anyone setting up for the first time: probably. But no other complaints in four years suggests that it’s not too big a concern. 

Maybe Sonos could offer a sticker or something with the PIN when the Amps are built in.

But as an installer could you not write down/photograph every pin for your clients future use? Is using the PIN really necessary when using the change ownership function on the app?

try this for yourself install 16 stone in a rack that doesn’t roll Cable tie them all in place so they look nice and neat ;

once they’re all working ..    

then go back, Factory default them all, and add them back in

Then let me know how easy that was to accomplish

I think you’ll get my point once you try it

It is a ridiculous arduous task that completely destroys a clean set up in order to accomplish

Clearly, your product managers are out of touch

Why on earth would you need to factory reset them just to add them back in?

A network change would not require that, especially if they are all hardwired to the network.

how about ….

when a customer purchases a house with

sonos system installed… 16 sonos amp audio zones

original owner isn’t around anymore….

Moderator Note: Modified in accordance with the Community Code of Conduct.

I like that idea.  When I purchase Matter capable smart devices they usually pack in QR Code stickers for each device.  Sonos could do the same thing for devices that require the PIN as part of the setup.

I can understand the OP’s frustration. I had to work with Tech Support on an issue with my two Amps several years ago.

The PIN is located on the bottom of the Amp in very tiny graphics. To make matters worse there is very little contrast between the color of the Amp and the PIN. My poor eye sight doesn’t help matters.

Sonos IMO (in a future Amp generation) could possibly employ the same technique when setting up the Sub (that started with Gen 3) by using NFC and one’s phone.

JMHO.

Sonos did indeed not think this through. Especially since the Amp was designed to be used by installers. A new version of the Amp (introduced in 2019) would probably have NFC.

A professional installer should be aware of this problem and maybe Dymo the PIN on the front of the Amps.

The nearly invisible and hard to access PINs aren't just an Amp problem.

My photo collection is a PITA, just for my simple system, not going to work for an installer.

Definitely a pain. Needed the PIN when I downgraded a port to S1. There was no way I could read it using a flash light and a mirror. Had to pull it out and have my wife read it off to me.

Your phone camera can really help, turn on the flashlight and the camera can usually get a usable image.

While it is handy go ahead and get the rest of them.

all good ideas guys..

but when these amps are stacked, dressed cabling,

getting the back of these units. is a major PIA

u have to destroy the dressed configuration to get at the back of the amp. unstacking and pulling them out one by one. miserable experience for an installer. completely unacceptable for a customer.  when factory defaulting

the u its enough of a hassle by itself.

taking pics or additional labeling with these PINS in an accessible location is the only alternative. 

regardless, this was not thought through.  this customer experience is the s***s… 👎

Moderator Note: Modified in accordance with the Community Code of Conduct.

Must have been some post if a moderator had to edit it!

But yes that would be frustrating in your situation. It would frustrate me too. But most of us here probably do not have more than two Amps. I just had a single Amp in my house.

They didn’t have larger systems in mind during that time period. It’s not just the Amp, but Ones as well.

But here is a chance to pay it forward and place labels on the front of each amp after you remove them to perform the factory reset.

Honestly, a label on the bottom would be my solution…or on the ‘back’ of the device. So it isn’t normally ‘seen’ in common use, but readable for future folks who have difficulty with grey on grey printing. I’m a fan of ​@Stanley_4 ’s picture solution, it’s easier to ultimately see (and enlarge), and my label printer is the prefect object to transfer the data to. But yea, someone at Sonos made it harder than average. Good solution, poorly implemented (too small, not enough contrast, IMHO). And great idea from ​@Pools-3015 to bite the bullet and do them all at the same time. 

I’m going to be contrary to a label, QR code or anything short of an NFC solution. Sonos did it for the subs so why not for the Amps! Sonos would have to provide an indisputable reason for not implementing NFC (which I know I’d never get) 😂 Jokes aside having to use a PIN in the current manner is soooo 20th century IMO. 

i am personally against any label /iD placement that disturbs moving the unit to read it. especially when these amps are stacked and cabled in place. having to dismantle the configuration should be a no-no practice.

the etching on the back-side was a bad idea from it’s release as a product.  

it has caused me to install them one at a time on a table top with just the power  cord plugged in.

once configured, then i permanently mount them

That withstanding,  having to default ANY if them and reinstall - for any reason- is STILL A NIGHTMARE

In a pro installation, likely in a rack, I think that you should keep a list of PIN’s and assign a simple reference number to each. You can attach an inconspicuous tag to each unit or create a system photo  annotated with the PIN’s or reference numbers.

yes, but imo - thats a bandaid for a poor product definition

I think that most agree that the current PIN location is a poor design. As Sonos hadn’t integrated NFC nor QR scanning at the Amps introduction it’s a moot point at this time.

The best that can be hoped for is that in the next incarnation of the Amp Sonos will integrate a better recognition method for initial setup purposes or when a factory reset is required. I’m pulling for NFC.

So until then all this back n’ forth is like beating a dead horse. The OP has made their point and received good suggestions on how to make theirs and other installers experience less stressful.

Hopefully Sonos will take the OP’s and other recommendations into consideration when the next Amp generation is introduced. 
 

EDIT:

I suggest that the OP submit their observations as a feature request to keep this subject in the pipeline.