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Sonos Amp and Sonos Sub, Sub stops playing after being paired and doesn't show in the Sonos App

Forum|Forum|11 months ago
October 15, 2025
20 replies
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Hi All,

I’ve got a Sonos Amp that runs in ceiling speakers in my Kitchen, along with a Sonos Sub Gen 3. In addition to that, I have an Arc and Sub Gen 3 in my living room, and a bunch of Play 1’s around the house. Only the Arc is hardwired into my network all other Sonos products are wireless. The rest of my system works just fine, but my Sonos Sub stops playing after some time and no longer shows up in the Sonos App. If I factory reset the Sub and re-add it, it pairs to my Amp just fine, but will eventually stop playing. The Amp is in my basement and the Sub is on the first floor of the house. They are maybe 30 feet from each other total. I’ve read that the Sub’s “bond” wireless to the player they are grouped with. I’m thinking perhaps my Sub is too far from my amp to keep a good wireless connection. Is there anyway to fix this without moving the sub or amp?

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Best answer by 106rallye

Networks going down in mixed set ups point at STP problems. See Unifi & Sonos STP issues? | Ubiquiti Community

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dbs179Author

Trending Lyricist I

Huh, apparently this is different than before, with the newer Subs and Amps (likely the mini Sub, and the gen 4 Sub, along with the Amp), here’s the data on the sales page for the Gen 4 Sub;

Sub 4 is not compatible with Play:1, Play:3, Play:5 (Gen 2), Connect:Amp, SYMFONISK Bookshelf (Gen 1), or SYMFONISK Table lamp (Gen 1).
All Sub products are not compatible with Move products, Roam products, Port, ZP80, ZP90, Connect, or Connect:Amp (Gen 1).

So, I’d likely call Sonos Support to discuss it.

When you speak directly to the Support staff, they have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your network and Sonos system.

Hi, thanks for the reply. I know the Sub (gen3) will bond with my amp. It is literally the only option in the app other than my arc. I even get the amazing "audio queue" when they bond that t lets me know the process is finished. The issue is after a bit the sub becomes "un-bonded". I think it might be and distance a different floors issue.

Airgetlam

That’s certainly possible, ‘bonding’ usually takes a 5Ghz channel to connect. On a ‘normal’ network, it would also connect via LAN, if both were wired to a router, but I’m not sure about the whole Unifi thing. Which is why I haven’t been commenting, I just don’t have the experience/knowledge.

I’d still recommend a call, though.

Bruce

C

craigski

Local Superstar

I think it might be and distance a different floors issue.

Yes, and/or your home WiFi is using 5GHz channels causing interference, especially if they are using 80 or 160MHz channel width. Is there an AP near or in between Sub and Amp by any chance? How many APs in total? I would consider moving Sub and/or AP if so to try to confirm.

If you have no option than to go wired, I would have a read here page 9 in particular:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/64d25b2ad1525118c018cbb3/t/67d08e530115140fb1f951be/1741721172373/01_TheGuildFieldGuides_SonosNetworkingBestPractices_Nov2024.pdf

If using a Fully Wired Surround Setup, first setup the entire system with WIFI enabled on all devices (make sure your STP settings are applied!). Then disable WIFI on the primary device, THEN disable WIFI for each of the satellite devices.

Use the link that @Stanley_4 posted above for the details for STP details for your UI network. Before you make any changes on your UI, make a backup, note the changes you make and be patient.

D

dbs179Author

Trending Lyricist I

I think it might be and distance a different floors issue.

Yes, and/or your home WiFi is using 5GHz channels causing interference, especially if they are using 80 or 160MHz channel width. Is there an AP near or in between Sub and Amp by any chance? How many APs in total? I would consider moving Sub and/or AP if so to try to confirm.

If you have no option than to go wired, I would have a read here page 9 in particular:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/64d25b2ad1525118c018cbb3/t/67d08e530115140fb1f951be/1741721172373/01_TheGuildFieldGuides_SonosNetworkingBestPractices_Nov2024.pdf

If using a Fully Wired Surround Setup, first setup the entire system with WIFI enabled on all devices (make sure your STP settings are applied!). Then disable WIFI on the primary device, THEN disable WIFI for each of the satellite devices.

Use the link that @Stanley_4 posted above for the details for STP details for your UI network. Before you make any changes on your UI, make a backup, note the changes you make and be patient.

I have a Unifi AC-LR on each floor. However, the AP in the basement and the first floor are not directly between the Amp and my Sub. I’m using 20MHz Channel Width for my 2.4GHz and 40MHz for my 5GHz. Unifi is set for 160MHz for 6GHz, but my access points don’t have a 6GHz radio in them. I moved my Sub across my Kitchen last night so it is about 10 feet away from the Amp and a floor above (still wireless). I had to factory reset it and re-add it, for it to come back online, but it is still showing in the App today and playing with the Amp. And by the way, thank you for that link. I’ve never seen it and it full of great information! THANK YOU!!

C

craigski

Local Superstar

I’m using 20MHz Channel Width for my 2.4GHz and 40MHz for my 5GHz. Unifi is set for 160MHz for 6GHz, but my access points don’t have a 6GHz radio in them. I moved my Sub across my Kitchen last night so it is about 10 feet away from the Amp and a floor above (still wireless). I had to factory reset it and re-add it, for it to come back online, but it is still showing in the App today and playing with the Amp. And by the way, thank you for that link. I’ve never seen it and it full of great information! THANK YOU!!

Glad you got it (getting it) sorted. 40MHz channel width is a wise choice for 5GHz band, no need to be greedy.

D

dbs179Author

Trending Lyricist I

I spent the whole afternoon messing about with the Amp and Sub (everything else was unplugged and/or turned off). I also cleared all of the data cache in my Sonos app, so I was setting everything up fresh. I had my Amp set up and working great with no Wireless network at all. As soon as I try to “bond” the Sub to the Amp my entire wireless network goes down. I’m not sure what is going on. I followed all of the steps in the article that @Stanley_4 posted in my Unifi network. After a few hours I gave up and moved the sub to a less optimal location where it does connect over the hidden 5Ghz connection to the Amp and moved all of my Sonos gear back to wireless. So far it is working well. Fingers crossed it stays that way. Thanks for all of the input on this topic, I appreciate it. I might call Support next week when I have some time, to see if they can get me going on a wired set up.

106rallyeAnswer

Networks going down in mixed set ups point at STP problems. See Unifi & Sonos STP issues? | Ubiquiti Community

D

dbs179Author

Trending Lyricist I

Networks going down in mixed set ups point at STP problems. See Unifi & Sonos STP issues? | Ubiquiti Community

Yep, totally understand that is the issue, just not sure how to fix it. @Stanley_4 linked to a Github that seemed to indicate you can leave Unifi in RSTP mode for mixed use with some specific settings. I followed all of those, and even with just the two devices was having STP problems. Ubiquiti has different “rules” for how to set up Sonos, but since I have a Roam and Move (both can only do wireless) they indicate I have to use a full wireless set up. I listened to music most of the night last night and was still experiencing the random drop outs on different players occasionally, so I’m sure there is more messing about with this in my future. Thanks for the links I’ll check them out.

D

dbs179Author

Trending Lyricist I

So after messing about with everything and looking at network data, I had a hunch that one of my Unifi AP’s was going bad, or was too old to handle as many clients as I had connected. I upgraded one AP (the one all my Sonos devices connect to) to a Unifi U7 Pro and so far the fully wireless set up has been rock solid. Still wish I could get everything wired, but I’m happy this seems to have fixed the issue.

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nik9669a

Senior Virtuoso

Thanks for the update, and good to hear it’s (hopefully) sorted.

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