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broskiier
Contributor I
August 15, 2016
Question

Solo Play 1 speaker sounds like its only playing one side of stereo.

  • August 15, 2016
  • 15 replies
  • 4887 views
Hi, Sonos aside, what I'm trying to describe is how a song sounds when you listen to it with only 1 speaker (of a 2 speaker pair) activated and you can only hear one "half" of the song in that speaker. The leading instruments (as an example) sound muted, as they are supposed to be played out of the second speaker.

This effect is happening on my solo Play 1 speaker, albeit only for certain songs. If you want to try and replicate, play "Dear Mr. Fantasy" from this album on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/4DVHx9Smqa6ZZX99rU4zkI

For me, the leading vocals and guitar are quite muted.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
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    15 replies

    Show previous replies
    Anonymous
    January 17, 2017
    Thanks! I didn't know that!
    It seems weird that sound engineers would apply a phase shift of exactly 180° necessary for the sound to cancel out, but it's a sound explanation for what's happening here.
    Airgetlam
    Airgetlam
    January 17, 2017
    Fascinating. Thanks, Ratty and Peter Mc, for a completely new concept to bounce around in my head. I'd have never thought that was possible, but it makes perfect sense.
    Bruce
    Kumar
    January 18, 2017
    Probably one significant reason for the occasional play 1 sound quality whinges that are posted here. No one takes the trouble to see if such cases are ever cured by playing the exact same recording in the same way via alleged "HiFi" speakers before posting the grief, because it is easier to dash off a post.
    ratty
    ratty
    January 18, 2017
    Probably one significant reason for the occasional play 1 sound quality whinges that are posted here. No one takes the trouble to see if such cases are ever cured by playing the exact same recording in the same way via alleged "HiFi" speakers before posting the grief, because it is easier to dash off a post.
    You mean that someone on the internet could be wrong?!
      snowak
      Lyricist I
      February 21, 2017
      Hi Broskiier,

      I am also having this issue with my single PLAY:1 in my dining room. I noticed a missing rear vocal track on a song today—one that was recorded long after the glory days of the 60's and 70's. This song is from a recent album recorded in 2013.

      I should also mention that I have a CONNECT connected directly to a Yamaha HiFi system in my basement, where it plays the track correctly—the rear vocal track is audible.

      It's as if my PLAY:1 believes it's working in concert with another PLAY:1, as a stereo pair, and is thereby playing only one channel. I tried a factory reset of the PLAY:1 with no luck. Perhaps it's lonely and is trying to tell me something.

      Were you ever able to solve your issue?

      Thanks!
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