Port and AV Sync -- any solutions other than direct mode?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
June 17, 2020
15 replies
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I understand that using a Port to stream music to non-Sonos speakers though an AV receiver works great. But if you want to group your Port (room) with Sonos speakers in another room (I have Sonos Ones) there is a delay. So it is out of sync. One solution is to use direct mode (or similar modes) on the AV receiver, but that takes away the sub and room equalization, etc.

So is anyone using the Port with an AV receiver, and has been able to use modes other than pure/direct (or whatever the AV receiver calls it) - and still have it sync with grouped Sonos speakers? I would like to use All CH Stereo with my AV receiver (where all speakers play, including the sub). But not sure if that is considered “processing” that will introduce delay. At a minimum, I would like to use Stereo (which uses the sub and equalization).

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Best answer by ratty

No-one could really comment without knowing what AV receiver you’re using. Have you consulted the AVR’s user documentation to try and establish the All CH Stereo delay figure?

There is no inbuilt Sonos solution to this issue. The Port’s outputs will be in sync with the other Sonos players; they can’t be moved ahead in time.

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caesar327Author

Prodigy I

It turns out my fears of the Port (connected to my A/V receiver, running 5.1 speakers) not being in synch with my other Sonos speakers, were unfounded. I received and set up the Port today. I’m able to use stereo or all ch stereo with the Port (those modes engage my subwoofer and room equalization). All Sonos speakers I can hear are in synch when grouped. I have the Port in the family room and Sonos Ones on the same floor in my home office and in the kitchen.

I have an Onkyo TX-SR508 , and I have their Audyssey EQ, including Audssey Dynamic EQ engaged. I do NOT need to run “direct mode” to stay in synch (which disengages the Sub and Audyssey EQ. Note that I’m connected to my A/V receiver via the Coaxial/digital out from the Port.

:sunglasses:

As another datapoint, the same is true for my AV amp -- a (now somewhat elderly) Yamaha AX757SE. It doesn’t add discernible downstream processing delay when used in 2/7-Channel stereo mode, so it plays in sync with other Sonos speakers.

So it may just be simply specific A/V model or amp/receiver related. I guess some AVs add more processing or do it better than others. Frankly, I’m shocked, but happy, my Onkyo (which is adding Audyssey processing), adds no delay.

P

PMacDiggity

Contributor II

So it may just be simply specific A/V model of amp/receiver related. I guess some AVs add more processing or do it better than others. Frankly, I’m shocked, but happy, my Onkyo (which is adding Audyssey processing), adds no delay.

Yes, this is absolutely correct, I had a Denon AVR that had no perceivable delay with Audyssey on, a Pioneer AVR that had a delay with room correction on, but none with it off, and a Yamaha that has delay even in “Pure Direct”.

Y

Yiannis74

Unfortunately pure direct (on the AV receiver) is the only way at least for some receiver models (not all). The Marantz 1710 and 1510 I previously owned would introduce a small (yet perceptible) delay even with the pure direct enabled. It resulted in a small echo when I grouped the sonos connect with a play 1. A solution to this is indeed feasible but it would require a software tweak to enable a user to adjust grouped sonos sync. Some audio platforms allow for this but sadly not helpful in the context of sonos limitations: Google chromecast advanced settings offer this and so does Roon (but again not for sonos). In the case of Sonos, trying pure direct is the only option. Some older receivers that do not digitise the input will work perfectly in sync. There is another option but it is super clunky and introduces additional equipment: Adding a stereo integrated amplifier alongside the AV receiver. The AV receiver would need to feed the power amp section (av bypass) and the sonos connect would feed one of the integrated amplifier’s line inputs. This would ensure no delay for the sonos port / connect and may also give you a different sound flavour to play with.

Being able to use the sonos port / connect in conjunction with an AV receivers DSP and room correction would be fantastic in my opinion. Most living rooms and the way many of us have to position speakers is… compromised to say the least :-). The sonos bass / treble eq is rather limited unfortunately. Unfortunately the lack of group sync adjustment option excludes this use case unless if you never group with other sonos speakers.

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DieselBen

Lyricist I

I had a delay with my port connected to my Yamaha RXV-485 compared to the other Sonos speakers grouped in nearby rooms. I connected wired Ethernet and disabled WiFi for the Port. I also switched from digital coax to analog connection. The receiver is set to “Direct” and it drives my front L/R speakers as well as the sub with no delay. I tried some of the other options like 5-channel stereo but it just doesn’t sound right. Note I tried just analog with Direct previously and it still had lag. Wired Ethernet seemed to be the key change for me.

ratty

Wired Ethernet seemed to be the key change for me.

Pure coincidence, unless your wireless connection was so choked as to be struggling to maintain adequate bandwidth. Propagation times across the network are otherwise irrelevant. Sonos players each contain playout buffers. Music data is clocked out of the buffers in sync by means of regularly exchanged timing information.

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