We spend a lot of time grouping and ungrouping rooms. The issue is stems from my wife's use of Party Mode. She likes to use Party Mode while she is cooking. I ungroup the outside speakers so as not to offend the neighbors. I ungroup the upstairs when the kids go to bed. I turn everything off and then create a new group to set the morning alarm. In the morning, I create a group in the kitchen and family room to read the paper. There has to be a better way! Why can't we just create groups of rooms and label them something easy to remember like "Cooking", "Kids in bed", "Alarm" or "Morning Coffee"?
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I think the title should be "favourite groups". Or "favourite layouts"
Any player can only reside in one group at a time, but you should have the ability to select a particular layout at a time.
As a simple example
Four players. Bedroom, kitchen, lounge and outdoors.
Favourite layout 1 could be "all": all players in one group for when you may be cleaning the house and garden.
Favourite layout 2: "party" this could put the kitchen, lounge and garden in one group and the bedroom in another.
Favourite layout 3: "indoor party". This could put the kitchen and lounge in a group and leave the others alone. For when you aren't using the outdoors or don'the want to annoy neighbours with late music.
So each player is only ever in one group at a time, but you can select favourite layouts for groups. Its easy to see how this would be more beneficial the larger the number of players in a system.
Any player can only reside in one group at a time, but you should have the ability to select a particular layout at a time.
As a simple example
Four players. Bedroom, kitchen, lounge and outdoors.
Favourite layout 1 could be "all": all players in one group for when you may be cleaning the house and garden.
Favourite layout 2: "party" this could put the kitchen, lounge and garden in one group and the bedroom in another.
Favourite layout 3: "indoor party". This could put the kitchen and lounge in a group and leave the others alone. For when you aren't using the outdoors or don'the want to annoy neighbours with late music.
So each player is only ever in one group at a time, but you can select favourite layouts for groups. Its easy to see how this would be more beneficial the larger the number of players in a system.
I had the same idea. Could it be set up with logical groups for upstairs and downstairs. Also, the mute switch cancels the whole group, would it be better for this to ungroup that zone only? e.g. If the wife takes a call in the kitchen, and mutes the Sonos, the 'party mode' would continue to play in the rest of the house?
This is crazy. I was expecting this out of the gate as well.
What's crazier is this thread is 3 years old. This seems like a pretty easy addition guys, I can sketch the screens up for you if you'd like. Mobile apps are what my company does.
What's crazier is this thread is 3 years old. This seems like a pretty easy addition guys, I can sketch the screens up for you if you'd like. Mobile apps are what my company does.
In for creating new groups. Just got my second Sonos speaker today and it was the first thing I tried to do.
Just got my Sonos gear (1 x connect, 2 x connect:amp).
This was the first feature I was looking for.
The control software looks well polished, so I would expect a feature like this out of the box.
This was the first feature I was looking for.
The control software looks well polished, so I would expect a feature like this out of the box.
I too am a new user to Sonos and thought this was just a no-brainer. Can't believe this missed opportunity, so please add me to the list of users looking for the ability to create speaker configuration groups that are re-usable.
Same goes with me! Would be great to be able to do this.
3 years old and still not implemented. It is really a relatively easy task for sonos, so just do it.
This could then be called "smart speakers"...
This could then be called "smart speakers"...
I purchased 3 Play 5's a few days ago and this was the first thing I tried to do after setting them up! I tried to create a group and label it.
Wow. Came here looking for an answer for this as well as simply tired of grouping and grouping all the time to get what I need with 5 play 1s. The way forward is outlined in this thread over 3 years ago. Seems logical to have. Obviously this isn't a priority for Sonos but this sure would make the experience much easier. Let's get this done. Geez.
Have been trying to find a way to accomplish this. Basically, one sonos speaker to be part of multiple "groups" (or scenes). Hopefully this will be resolved soon (I can't believe it has taken over 3 years), especially given the fact that Google Home is allowing the creation of groups. Instead of having to "check/uncheck" speakers, one would "check/uncheck" groups (assuming one has created/selected the speaker that would be part of each group). The hardware (speakers) are very good but the software seems severely lacking. I'm hoping that the Google Home competition and the Echo/Alexa integration will force some advancement in the area of software.
+1
I really, really want the ability to have multiple groups. I can see the potential issues but it just needs any group with a player in use to be blocked from other users.
I really, really want the ability to have multiple groups. I can see the potential issues but it just needs any group with a player in use to be blocked from other users.
+1 
Ditto. Amazed this hasn't been developed yet. Do it already!
If you're on iOS then the SonoSequencr app can be used for managing permanent groups
So disappointed that three years on this remains unresolved. Just need the functionality to set 'Master Zones' to either over ride or in addition to rooms.
Hi,
I'm going to add my voice to this. I initially had a Play 5 for the living room and I just got two Play 3 setup in stereo in my kitchen.
First thing I tried to do was having:
Group 1: All speakers
Group 2: Only the Play 5 in the living room
Group 3: Only the pair of Play 3 in the kitchen
Then it would have been super easy to just switch from one group to another whenever the need arise. But no, I have to do all with just one temporary group to which I have to add/remove speakers each and every time...
Please Sonos, you do amazing products, you have for sure amazing software engineers too when you look at the Spotify integration for example. Doing this feature, that in my opinion should have been integrated from day one for a true amazing experience, that have been requested here more than 3 years ago, is basic.
I was planning to get a PlayBase for the basement on home entertainment setup. Seeing how, with only two systems, management is a pain; I'll wait till I get this feature.
Cheers
PS: I also get a lot of disconnection when playing music that is on my iPad or iPhone. But I'll open a ticket for that 😉
I'm going to add my voice to this. I initially had a Play 5 for the living room and I just got two Play 3 setup in stereo in my kitchen.
First thing I tried to do was having:
Group 1: All speakers
Group 2: Only the Play 5 in the living room
Group 3: Only the pair of Play 3 in the kitchen
Then it would have been super easy to just switch from one group to another whenever the need arise. But no, I have to do all with just one temporary group to which I have to add/remove speakers each and every time...
Please Sonos, you do amazing products, you have for sure amazing software engineers too when you look at the Spotify integration for example. Doing this feature, that in my opinion should have been integrated from day one for a true amazing experience, that have been requested here more than 3 years ago, is basic.
I was planning to get a PlayBase for the basement on home entertainment setup. Seeing how, with only two systems, management is a pain; I'll wait till I get this feature.
Cheers
PS: I also get a lot of disconnection when playing music that is on my iPad or iPhone. But I'll open a ticket for that 😉
FYI, group 1 - all - this already exists.
I don't see how this is difficult to use and I have more rooms than you.
If I had selected all to start with and I want to "concentrate" the music in two out of the rooms. I simply tap "group" and untick the rooms I want to remove. Works right away.
If I am playing music in the kitchen only and want to "move" that music to the bathroom (without disturbing other rooms in the house, which might be playing different music right now), I just tap "group" and untick the kitchen and tick the bathroom, then tap "done" the music from the kitchen is "moved" flawlessly to the bathroom.
I don't see how such scenarios could be solved better just by creating pre-set groups.
I personally can see how a pre-set "cinema" group could make sense, but that's already solved via bonding surrounds with playbar/base and setting the surrounds to ambient vs full.
I don't see how this is difficult to use and I have more rooms than you.
If I had selected all to start with and I want to "concentrate" the music in two out of the rooms. I simply tap "group" and untick the rooms I want to remove. Works right away.
If I am playing music in the kitchen only and want to "move" that music to the bathroom (without disturbing other rooms in the house, which might be playing different music right now), I just tap "group" and untick the kitchen and tick the bathroom, then tap "done" the music from the kitchen is "moved" flawlessly to the bathroom.
I don't see how such scenarios could be solved better just by creating pre-set groups.
I personally can see how a pre-set "cinema" group could make sense, but that's already solved via bonding surrounds with playbar/base and setting the surrounds to ambient vs full.
Personally, I'd want the ability to setup common routines, not so much preset groups. Even with preset groups, I'm going to have to take several actions to get it all done, and grouping is really the easiest step. I want to be able to setup a routine that will play source 1 on zones A & B at specific volumes, while turning off all other zones, for example. I actually can do this now when using a smart hub, while controlling lights at the same time, and even schedule at a certain time or triggered off an event. It would be nice if Sonos can do this on it's own, but as smart homes get more and more common, all Sonos needs to do is play nice with smart hubs as far as I'm concerned.
Sonos you should be ashamed! Terrible that you can't implement something so basic.
There is the app called Sonosequencer that creates routines to do what you want. You would just have to open Sonosequencr and click button to perform grouping and volume setting routine you would like.
Particularly with the addition of Alexa it is very cumbersome to ask her to play music with 7 or 8 separate commands to play music say “on the first floor”. If we could permanently group a bank of speakers as “first floor “.
+1 Additionally, I would like the grouping to remember the volume level for each room as well. Not all rooms are created equal in a group.
The whole ecosystem needs a revamp as it is in danger of falling behind in terms of functionality. The basic premise is great, and the sound is awsome, but lack of responsiveness and innovation in new features is telling of a company resting on its laurels. I love Sonos and the whole concept, but after spending £1000s on 16 devices and spending time in this forum I can’t help feeling that wihout a change in their approach the investment won’t continue as other options will materalose which adress all the gaps in functionality. There as SO many software enhancements that could be made to improve thw flexibility and usability if the current hardware simply being ignored. Which is a shame. Mapybe after the IPO they’ll be aquired by someone who has a vision to expand and truly innovatebeyond the basics that have a pretty solid foundation. I for one will be looking to replave my 3 month old 5.1 Sonos system with something else. Which will mean I won’t be soending a penny more with Sonos unless they are going to present something WOW on 6/6 😞
I love the idea!
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