If you use an iOS device, you should consider using the Soro app. It will allow you to create shortcuts, automations, and widgets to easily and quickly adjust the settings on your Sonos speakers. With Soro and the iOS Shortcuts app, you can create a shortcut or automation to do exactly what you mentioned above. And best of all, you can create a widget for your iPhone that will allow you to activate these shortcuts with one tap.
Read more here: https://apps.apple.com/mg/app/soro-for-sonos/id1550457805
I’ve tried the Soros app and it’s marginally better but I’d like the whole thing to happen without requiring me to reach for my phone. It’s so repetitive that it shouldn’t require manual intervention each time I switch input.
Turn on the TV → reach for phone to fix things.
Start music with voice commands in the kitchen while my hands are covered in food → still have to reach for the phone to fix things.
Remembering volume levels per input would solve my only complaint about my Sonos setup.
You can use Siri to run the shortcuts or widgets you create with the Soro/Shortcuts app.
I’ve tried the Soros app and it’s marginally better but I’d like the whole thing to happen without requiring me to reach for my phone. It’s so repetitive that it shouldn’t require manual intervention each time I switch input.
Turn on the TV → reach for phone to fix things.
Start music with voice commands in the kitchen while my hands are covered in food → still have to reach for the phone to fix things.
Remembering volume levels per input would solve my only complaint about my Sonos setup.
If you use Alexa on Sonos or have an ‘Amazon echo device’ in the home, then you can automate Sonos room grouping with a voice instruction too.
"Alexa play, some music” (or artist/album/playlist/track) can be setup to group the Sonos rooms you choose and play the requested audio. You can also define other groups to play on different configurations, like play on all devices upstairs or downstairs (just as two simple examples)
I should just add that the Alexa option doesn’t work for locally stored music - it’s only for online services like Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Apple Music and other MSP’s.
I’ve tried the Soros app and it’s marginally better but I’d like the whole thing to happen without requiring me to reach for my phone. It’s so repetitive that it shouldn’t require manual intervention each time I switch input.
Turn on the TV → reach for phone to fix things.
Start music with voice commands in the kitchen while my hands are covered in food → still have to reach for the phone to fix things.
Remembering volume levels per input would solve my only complaint about my Sonos setup.
If you use Alexa on Sonos or have an ‘Amazon echo device’ in the home, then you can automate Sonos room grouping with a voice instruction too.
"Alexa play, some music” (or artist/album/playlist/track) can be setup to group the Sonos rooms you choose and play the requested audio. You can also define other groups to play on different configurations, like play on all devices upstairs or downstairs (just as two simple examples)
You might be able to combine use of groups with Alexa routines to fully automate what @jonhath is looking for. Using Alexa groups will work to start music playback for a Sonos group, regardless of the current state of the Sonos rooms, but it won’t turn off, or mute, Sonos rooms from playing when autoplay kicks in. You would need a routine, or some other automation, to do that.
In general, while I get why it would be nice to have a specific configuration for this use case, I doubt people would want the exact same feature, or would want a modified version of this. This is really best suited for automation. For example, I can see myself using this feature of stopping playback of grouped rooms when autoplay in the living room kicks in...but really, I would want to stop playback in the kitchen even if it wasn’t currently grouped with the living room. At the same time, I would never want the backyard speakers to turn off just because I turned on the TV in the living room. I’m not saying that either desired behavior is right or wrong, just that the ability to customize behavior is a better solution in the long run. And of course, many will also want to automate lights and other smart devices as well.
I’ve tried the Soros app and it’s marginally better but I’d like the whole thing to happen without requiring me to reach for my phone. It’s so repetitive that it shouldn’t require manual intervention each time I switch input.
Turn on the TV → reach for phone to fix things.
Start music with voice commands in the kitchen while my hands are covered in food → still have to reach for the phone to fix things.
Remembering volume levels per input would solve my only complaint about my Sonos setup.
If you use Alexa on Sonos or have an ‘Amazon echo device’ in the home, then you can automate Sonos room grouping with a voice instruction too.
"Alexa play, some music” (or artist/album/playlist/track) can be setup to group the Sonos rooms you choose and play the requested audio. You can also define other groups to play on different configurations, like play on all devices upstairs or downstairs (just as two simple examples)
Is this something that is exclusive to Alexa? I set my speakers up with Google Home and don’t see a way to group speakers with Google Home.
If you use Alexa on Sonos or have an ‘Amazon echo device’ in the home, then you can automate Sonos room grouping with a voice instruction too.
"Alexa play, some music” (or artist/album/playlist/track) can be setup to group the Sonos rooms you choose and play the requested audio. You can also define other groups to play on different configurations, like play on all devices upstairs or downstairs (just as two simple examples)
Is this something that is exclusive to Alexa? I set my speakers up with Google Home and don’t see a way to group speakers with Google Home.
Yes, it’s exclusive to the Amazon Alexa Assistant.
