Amazon Music HD dropouts

Hi all

Jumping in with a specific scenario in the hope that it may point at a particular root cause for the issue.  

I am also having repeated dropouts over multiple players, when starting an ‘HD’ stream (Amazon HD, and local ALAC files), and can reproduce this on WiFi and on SonosNet. 
 

I have since downgraded Amazon to SD, so now only get the issue on local high bitrate files. 
 

The only scenario in which I get NO dropouts, is when on SonosNet and the group coordinator is NOT wired directly to the router. 

On WiFi, I always get dropouts, no matter the group coordinator. 
 

On SonosNet, if the group coordinator is wired then I get dropouts.

Can provide other details if required but this was the only variable that caused a change in behaviour - anyone out there have any inspiration…?

Thanks

Scott

@Scotia,

it sounds like you ‘might’ have Interference on the wireless channels you are using, both SonosNet and WiFi. Perhaps see if these steps below help to resolve your issue…

• Set your Router’s 2.4 GHz WiFi to use a ‘fixed’ non-overlapping WiFi channel, either 1, 6 or 11 and if your router allows it, set it’s channel-width to 20MHz only.
• Next set your SonosNet channel in the Sonos App network settings so that it is at least 5+ channels away from your chosen router channel.
• Cable just one Sonos Product (preferably standalone) and not a HT surround, or Sub, direct to your router - keep that device at least 1 metre away from the router too. 
• Also (if practicable) cable the device that is holding your local music library to your router/LAN too.

See if that then improves things for you.

Hi Ken

Many thanks for the suggestions, much appreciated.

Apologies, I didn’t give a lot of detail in my post - this was just to try and focus on the wired group coordinator aspect. Was surprised that selecting a non-wired group coordinator had an effect, wondered if it may be indicative of something in particular. 
 

I have tried a variety of troubleshooting steps, and had a couple of calls to support, so have covered the interference issue as far as I am aware. Sadly, channels 1, 6 or 11 all have the same issue with no observable difference in the interference. Always using fixed channels that don’t overlap with my router.
The Sonos matrix is usually red and orange (sometimes yellow) down the left hand column, but always green and yellow in the middle. I thought this meant that although there is lots of interference, the players are dealing with it and the connections between them are good. Happy to be corrected!

My local library is on a WiFi connected Pi but I had the same issue with a wired Mac, so seems it may not be that. 
 

Wired player is a standalone One SL, though I also wired my playbase (again standalone) on the advice of a tech support rep on a call “more wired players are better”. These are the only 2 it is practical for me to cable (both into a dumb switch then router), sadly both on one side of the property and most of the others players are on the opposite side. No players in the middle except for a Move. 
 

If I can prevent drop outs by selecting a different group coordinator, can the problem be interference?
 

Consider two scenarios where the only change is unplugging the network cable from the playbase. (Always using the playbase as the group coordinator). When it’s wired I get dropouts, when it’s connecting via the SonosNet mesh I get none.

OneSL remains wired in both cases. Grouped are 8 players across 6 nodes.

Another test was with the same group of players and both OneSL and Playbase wired, using a different player as the group coordinator (Play:5, connecting via SonosNet mesh). No dropouts.

This has been reliably reproducible thus far, but sadly no closer to finding out why…

Ah well, will start looking at how many lossless files I actually have, can probably save myself some headaches by just reducing bandwidth!

Cheers,

Scott

So am I perhaps understanding the things you mention .. and correct in thinking .. that the times when there are audio dropouts encountered, that your wired switch is somewhere in the mix?

If so, have you tried a different cable between your router and switch and/or maybe considered trying a different switch altogether?

What switch is it?

I have seen it where some switches may create a few issues with streaming audio/video, even unmanaged switches, so it’s perhaps worth exploring that device (and cabling) as possibly playing a role in your issue.

Even with my several Wired Sonos and short distances to the wireless, 15 to 20 feet, and playing ripped CD FLAC files I sometimes see issues. Not so much with Amazon SD music.

I have an RF monitor (not just WiFi) that looks at the 2.4 channels and shows noise and utilization. Pretty cool and it lets me pick the cleanest of the three for my Sonos. BUT every neighbor, about 20 show usable signals, seems to be set to Auto Channel Selection.

What that automation seems to result in is mass migrations from channel to channel - and worse they seem to bunch up with a majority all being on one channel instead of distributed. When my Sonos channel is the one they choose I have issues, a quick channel change on my Sonos and WiFi system and all is working again.

As getting smarter neighbors seems to not be an option (they keep getting worse) I’m really looking forward to seeing Sonos on 5 GHz.

Hi Stanley

It is slightly disheartening to learn that a system which sounds to be in a favourable configuration, with a knowledgeable owner, still has issues but I guess this is something I may just have to get used to.

Might invest in an RF monitor to see what else might be hampering performance, but I certainly have very shouty neighbours so may be in a similar position. Could you offer any specific make/model recommendations please? That would be much appreciated.

Regarding auto channel selection, when I first became aware of the option many years ago, I checked and it turned out my router and Sonos had selected the same channel, both on auto. D’oh.
 

Ken, I shall keep trying. I can change cables, switches and go direct to the router on one player so will try those too.

Many thanks!

Scott

I’m using the RF monitor built into my Ubiquity Access Point and the Cloud Key controller.

Sonos keeps working to improve things but they also have to consider how to keep the older geatr working with minimal impact. The S1 / S2 split is still generating grief.