Sharing a Sub - two rooms

This issue is really frustrating to me. I bought into the Sonos system with a Playbase, under the (what I now believe mistaken) impression that I could easily expand my system, as well as have the flexibility to easily switch between configurations of speakers in the same system.

I thought it would obviously be no problem to add a couple Play 5s and have them be an isolated stereo pair for music, while for tv they would take over the main L + R duties while the Playbase could dedicate itself to center channel work (by only using the 6 forward-firing drivers). It turns out nope, you can’t do that.

Then, I’m thinking OK, maybe I can live with the Playbase only for front channels for tv (the Playbase is actually quite good, but it would really be a shame to have 2 Play 5s sitting there doing nothing), but then I’d want to add a Sub. Which I can do, but of course I would want to have that Sub configured to work with both the tv surround group and the dual Play 5 music group. Now I’m finding out nope, can’t do that either? And the “solution” is to buy 2 $700 Subs and put them next to each other in the same room?

This is just ridiculous and frankly, insulting. It shoots a big hole in Sonos’ claimed flexibility. I want so much to buy into the Sonos system because I love the concept and the sound, but I’m not a sucker, there is no way I’m duplicating a bunch of speakers in the same room for 2 configurations (tv, music) that I will never use at the same time.

So now I’m sitting here with just my Playbase and ready to move into a big house next year that could be blanketed in Sonos speakers but I’m having major misgivings about it because it seems the system is not nearly as flexible as it could and should be. Yes, I’m sure there are some people who buy 2 Subs and put them in the same room, but if that’s my choice, Sonos will get 0 Sub purchases from me, plus (because of that) probably also not a couple Play 5s and not a whole bunch of Play 1s. Is that a good business decision?

There has to be a way to make this work from a technical standpoint, since multiple groups independently can access the same Sub, they just need to make the switchover applying the tuning from the current group, and check down a priority list for which group gets access if multiple groups are trying to play to it.

Seriously this is a big deal.  I’m pretty invested in the Sonos ecosystem and was super disappointed I can’t share my sub between my Beam and my Play Five that I use for music. 

If it counts, I would like this setting also.

Agree, facing same issue. Would really like to share sub

Hopefully the S2 upgrade will allow us to do this.

"For instance, if you have two Sonos speakers in your kitchen and three Sonos speakers in your living room, and another two in your bedroom, the S2 app will allow you to control them without you having to constantly “regroup” them individually"

Article: https://gearpatrol.com/2020/04/08/sonos-s2-update-guide/

While I’m on board with your hope, I think that statement you’ve quoted has more to do with grouping of rooms. The way Sonos treats the SUB is via bonding, which is a very different process than grouping. 

I have the same issue - would like the SUB to float between 2 Play 5s and PlayBase depending on whether I’m listening to music or TV. Ironically, a second Sub (in the same room) is currently on sale for $549. Asking EVERYONE - based on what you know and have heard regarding S2, does your gut tell you that S2 will NOT allow this kind of “duo-bonding” of the SUB? I’d even be ok if I had to make a quick selection (would be amazing but unrealistic to expect the process to be automated). Or, I just pay $550 for a second SUB.