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Contributor I
December 14, 2017

Desktop Audio with SONOS speakers?

  • December 14, 2017
  • 47 replies
  • 10435 views
Trying to utilize a single SPEAKER to channel desktop audio(voice, music, gaming sound) and Sonos streaming music. WHat needs to be done or hooked up?
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47 replies

Edward R
Retired Sonos Staff
December 14, 2017
Hi, dadolknees. Welcome to the community. This would depend entirely what Sonos product(s) you have. In order to do this, you would need a Sonos product that has a line-in capability. Then, of course, you are required to use an auxiliary cable to get the sound to the speaker. At this point in time, there is no "Sonos sanctioned" way to go about doing this wirelessly. Others have found some measure of success with some third-party applications, though we'd have to wait for them to chime in and provide those workarounds... As I say, those methods are not endorsed by Sonos.
Try searching our articles for help with your question: https://www.sonos.com/en/support
Airgetlam
December 14, 2017
Note that any analog audio input to the Sonos ecosystem also comes with at least a 70ms delay, for processing of the signal, which would likely make it unsuitable for gaming, or movie watching. There are some who say it doesn't bother them, but most seem to think it's a deal breaker.
Bruce
Contributor I
December 14, 2017
Ok..so If I don't uitlize the Play5, with the in-line capability, either the Play1 or 3 won't cut it, right? The Play5 speaker is just too powerful for a 10x10 room(office). So i'm WAITING to hear from the COMMUNITY, to see if there's a 3rd party application or ADAPTER that can be used to harness the sound out of the desktop amplifier.
Airgetlam
December 14, 2017
I occasionally attach my old MacBook Pro to the line in on my PLAY:5 in order to listen to TuneIn premium. I usually group the line-in with my PLAYBAR, so the sound comes from that, rather than the PLAY:5 which is in another room with the computer. It does require me to play with the pause/play button on my DVR in order to sync them up, though.

Works fairly well. I wouldn't want to do that while playing a video game, though. Games tend to use audio cues in order to let the player know about something. I'd hate to lose the 70+ms when it might mean life or death.
Bruce
Airgetlam
December 14, 2017
I guess what I didn't make clear is 2 things. 1) I'm part of the community. If I worked for Sonos, you'd see Sonos staff next to my board name. and 2) Once the line-in is in the Sonos ecosystem, you can send it to any other Sonos speaker in your setup, which is how I group my PLAYBAR to the line-in on the PLAY:5. That's why there's that 70ms delay, it's both processing analog to digital as well as buffering so that it will play in sync across all Sonos speakers.
Bruce
Contributor I
December 15, 2017
I tried to run the 6 ft linefrom the Desktop CPU out to the SONOS PLAY5...I hear nothing! What did I miss or do wrong?
However, was just testing to see if that solves the desktop sound issue, but don't intend to stay with the PLAY5l it's just too big for a 100sqft room!
WHAT IS THE ANSWER? DO I need CONNECT, or is that only for streaming music. Again, I need to channel the DESKTOP SOUND out trhough SONOS speakers. Are there any hookups to go out from the desktop that can send sound through PLAY3 or PLAY1. Playbar? Anything??
Airgetlam
December 15, 2017
Did you go in to the Sonos controller app and adjust the settings of the Line-In on the PLAY:5? It would be in that room's settings.
Bruce
Contributor I
December 15, 2017
I have no idea where to find the ROOM'S Settings?
Airgetlam
December 15, 2017
Do you know where "Settings" is in the Sonos app? Unfortunately, I'm not a home, so I can't open the app to give you a fully detailed explanation. Generally, as I recall, it might be under the three dots at the bottom right of the screen. Click on Settings. Then go to Room Settings. The choose the name of the room that is your PLAY:5. Then there should be (I think, I'm hazy here, look around) either an advanced settings, or maybe just a line in settings. You need to first turn on the line in, then make adjustments to the level of the line in. Shoot, let me find the FAQ for all this, it may be better than me typing off of my faint memory.

Here you go.

https://sonos.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1091/~/using-line-in-on-sonos

Feel free to poke around in that FAQ area. They have a lot of articles that cover a majority of issues people might have.
Bruce
Contributor I
December 16, 2017
OKAY! I've got the Line-In working and any music service that's on my desktop plays through the SONOS system.
However, I also want to hear SOUND from the INTERNET, such as news or entertainment videos...or even sounds from the computer when my grandkids are playing games! I WANT THIS SOUND SYSTEM TO REPLACE MY little PC speakers! Am I wishing for too much??