Contributor I

AirPlay cuts out on pause

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
August 3, 2019
107 replies
15288 views

I just got a Sonos One (Gen 2) after reading that Airplay was finally working well with it. I was hoping to use it as my speaker when streaming video from my MacBook Pro, but have been hounded by audio issues–even with it connected via Ethernet to my Airport. The audio cuts out if paused for more than a few seconds. The easiest fix has been to go to Volume in the Menu Bar, switch the output device to something else and then back to Sonos. It's a pain to have to do this over and over. The audio comes back without much delay.

I noticed that there is a substantial delay when I go to unpause music that's been paused for a bit as well, but not as bad as when unpausing Netflix or Youtube. The audio also cuts out in minute drops every now and then, which probably just comes from AirPlay sucking up my shitty wifi's bandwidth as I've read in other posts.

Given all the other unresolved issues I have read about and the hassle that was setting this up over the phone since the app's automated setup didn't work, I am thinking I am probably just going to return my speaker. I would rather have a cheap Bluetooth speaker that I don't need to run an additional application for or even have plugged into the wall all the time.

I feel mislead. I don't get the hype for this thing.

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Pinned Reply By Corry P

Hi all.

This was brought to my attention on another post - thanks @joycean

I have done some investigating and found out the following:

AirPlay 2 requires that a buffer be filled prior to playback. Airplay 1 does not. As live system sounds cannot be buffered (you’d need time-travelling software code), when AirPlay-ing from macOS system settings AirPlay 1 is always used.
AirPlay likely times-out if no data is sent (ie. silence), though I cannot find a figure for this period.
AirPlay 1 is not supported by Sonos, but tends to work. Therefore, if you are using AirPlay 1 and sending all system sounds to Sonos, it works, usually, but may have issues like those described here. As AirPlay 1 is not supported by Sonos, we will not be addressing these issues.
macOS Applications (like Safari, Apple Music and Spotify) do support AirPlay2, but you must initiate the connection from that application, not the Mac’s settings. The media stream can then be buffered to the speaker and synced for playback.

In our own testing, we were unable to produce this issue when using AirPlay 2. If you experience these issues while using AirPlay 2 (initiated at the application level rather than at the system level), we would very much like to hear about it. Please get in touch with our technical support team if this is the case, as this is something that we would want to resolve (be it a networking or software issue).

It would be interesting if any of you could recreate the issue as you have before, but while having one media paused (YouTube for example), start something else playing over the AirPlay 1 connection - when you restart the paused media, does it play through Sonos immediately? I suspect so, as the second media playing will have kept the connection to the speaker live. I suspect @eldiets1’s fix of having a minimised window does exactly this.

I hope this information helps you all to use your Sonos speakers with your Apple products in a satisfactory way.

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S

Sonos User Switzerland

Lyricist II

Same issue. Using Airplay to stream Netflix/Vimeo from Mac to Sonos. After resuming video there is a considerable initial delay before sound resumes. If video was paused for more than a minute, sound does not come back at all.

Thank you eldiets1 for the workaround! Sonos needs to solve this one fast.

H

Hybrid

Lyricist II

Same here, I just got myself 2 Symfonisks to use as computer speakers (and also I was curious what the Sonos hype is all about) and the implementation of AirPlay 2 is shocking. For comparison, my 5 year old AV receiver with AirPlay works like a dream.

What is the point of having a Sonos system, if I may ask?

S

Sonos User Switzerland

Lyricist II

I have not been able to figure this problem out either. HOWEVER I do have a fix. I have been trying to figure out what the issue was and why it might happen. Sitting here watching a podcast and then it hit me. What if your computer told your Sonos something was always playing but no audio was actually playing. Boom - play this video when you connect and minimize the tab.

Enjoy only connecting to sonos once….now if only we can have a default to Sonos audio feature

this dirty fix works like a charm 😂

It is so incredibly silly, that this is required for a high-end sound tech.

H

Hybrid

Lyricist II

I have not been able to figure this problem out either. HOWEVER I do have a fix. I have been trying to figure out what the issue was and why it might happen. Sitting here watching a podcast and then it hit me. What if your computer told your Sonos something was always playing but no audio was actually playing. Boom - play this video when you connect and minimize the tab.

Enjoy only connecting to sonos once….now if only we can have a default to Sonos audio feature

this dirty fix works like a charm 😂

It is so incredibly silly, that this is required for a high-end sound tech.

It’s pretty incredible, isn’t it. I’m glad I’ve gone for the cheap option first as my original plan was to buy 2+grand worth of hardware to replace my AV setup after hearing a demo in store. Thank you Ikea!

E

eradop

Contributor I

I’m pretty sure there’s a timeout in the AirPlay 2 protocol, but I’ve not done the research that you have….yet.

I have the new SONOS Port and it also tells Airplay to timeout during pause for any length… This thread is 6 months old, why has SONOS admin not piped in yet? This is a big annoyance to have to change output device away and back again to reset each time I hit pause. Why cant pause have a timeout delay or not even disconnect?

E

epona

Lyricist I

I am having the same issue. Thinking I will be returning my Sonos One and going with the HomePod instead.

controlav

Lead Maestro

I’m pretty sure there’s a timeout in the AirPlay 2 protocol, but I’ve not done the research that you have….yet.

Obviously Apple don’t document their protocol (because Apple), but the best unofficial spec I have found is at http://nto.github.io/AirPlay.html although it does not mention timeouts specifically.

Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.

T

toms_i

Lyricist I

The problem affects me as well. Every time I try to play music from my Macbook Pro (16”, 2019) via Airplay to the SONOS speakers (pair of 2 SONOS One’s) it will work however, as soon as I pause the music (or youtube video) and I try to resume later it would not play any sound. It really sucks. If SONOS does not fix this I definitely would not recommend the brand to anyone who wants some good airplay ready speakers.

D

Davesonos12345

Lyricist II

I have a set of ones gen 2 setup in stereo in my entertainment center playing airplay over my Apple TV. This problem is a deal breaker for me. Anytime I do much as switch apps the audio disconnects. Very very annoying to have to go back into the settings each time to re-initiate a link. Set of white 2nd gen Ones, like new, for sale if Sonos doesn’t respond to the issue soon.

D

Davesonos12345

Lyricist II

I found some temporary relief. Ill have to monitor the fix to see if its coincidental or not.

My apple TV and Sonos speakers were on separate networks (2.4GHz and 5GHz). I moved the Apple TV over to the 2.4GHz and its been working so far.... hopefully I have actually discovered something and not called home too soon. This does not explain why it wouldn't work on a wired connection, so i am skeptical.

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