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Audio glitches with Youtube Music via the Sonos App?


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Since the switch to Youtube Music (from Google Play Music), has anyone else noticed audio glitches periodically in the music they listen to via Youtube Music in the the Sonos App?

Every so often in a song I get a quick static glitch sound. This does not happen with other sources, like Sonos Radio or Bandcamp. 

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Best answer by Mark P 29 October 2020, 22:14

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For anyone else following along, Sonos phone support told me their engineers have been having the odd problem with Youtube Music and are looking into it (ie, it is not my wifi). No timeline or guarantee, but at least I know there’s nothing more I can do on my side. 

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I’m having a similar issue as well. It is limited to just the YouTube Music service and the glitches sound like a sub-second static of varying length and pitch.  The glitch also comes through all linked units at the same time.

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Man - I’m so glad I found this thread.  I love YTM - because I also get AdFree YouTube streaming for me and my son.  Awesome deal.   

I managed to record the glitch.  Is this what everyone is hearing?

 

Thanks for taking the time to make this!

This is really interesting because my glitches are totally different. One sounds like a click and another sounds like the volume was lowered for a split second but you can still hear the audio.

Here’s a recording of each:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10IkxX60opuVGJ53J8NkWz8DKAFfSrIdN

 

 

I went ahead and started a thread on the YTM side: https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/thread/104742971

Let’s try getting some attention on that side by upvoting and adding any new details :)

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Man - I’m so glad I found this thread.  I love YTM - because I also get AdFree YouTube streaming for me and my son.  Awesome deal.   

I managed to record the glitch.  Is this what everyone is hearing?

 

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Any update on this?

 

I’ve noticed the same issue.  As per dflores often at the same moment on the same track.  It sometimes also sounds like the music speeds up slightly for a few seconds.  It’s definitely YTM - was a long-time user of GPM and only notice this when I transferred across.  Never have this issue with other streaming services, local music library or radio.

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I’m having a similar issue as well. It is limited to just the YouTube Music service and the glitches sound like a sub-second static of varying length and pitch.  The glitch also comes through all linked units at the same time.

That sounds like what I’m experiencing. Weird that it’s only Youtube Music. 

Selfishly, I’m glad someone else is having a similar issue, so I’m not just crazy (and hopefully that means we’ll get some help).

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@controlav.

 

Sorry, you feel this is ridiculous.

What other conclusions can you come to, when YTM casts fine for hours with no glitches,  Yet when playing the same tracks through Sonos there are glitches in EVERY track?


Because the YTM SMAPI endpoint is a poorly written piece of software (so many examples on this forum), unlike the old Google SMAPI endpoint and (I assume) the direct YTM endpoint (wherever that is).

Started to get glitches on YTM like 2 weeks ago and I just found this thread. It's honestly driving me crazy. I can't believe the first messages of this thread are from like 9 months ago and that Sonos still didn't solve the problem. Like probably a couple of you guys, I have like 4k worth of Sonos speakers at home. No problems till 2 weeks ago. Same WiFi system for a couple of years now, router on every floor of the house, 2 of the speakers are even hard wired. Can't believe I must now listen to music with glitches like we're in 1998...

SONOS, it's your responsibility to adress this problem. You say you sell hi-fi speakers with the best connectivity, prove it. It shouldn't take months. Have your engineers work with Google asap. It's a shame. 

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Not solved, and not likely to be solved. Here’s the answer I got back from the support desk:

“I just heard back from our specialized team just now. I know this isn't the answer you were hoping for, and I sincerely wish I had a better one to provide. However, the concerns that have been reported were deemed to be beyond our support boundary.”

Was this from Sonos support (which would make sense), or Google (which would confirm they don’t give a rip)?

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@controlav.

 

Sorry, you feel this is ridiculous.

What other conclusions can you come to, when YTM casts fine for hours with no glitches,  Yet when playing the same tracks through Sonos there are glitches in EVERY track?


Because the YTM SMAPI endpoint is a poorly written piece of software (so many examples on this forum), unlike the old Google SMAPI endpoint and (I assume) the direct YTM endpoint (wherever that is).

I think @controlav has an interesting point but perhaps could have explained it more clearly to folks who aren’t software engineers.

@ChrisKalas the reason YTM sounds fine through Chromecast while it’s glitchy on Sonos is likely because Chromecast can interface with YTM directly since Google controls it, while Sonos can only use interfaces made available to third parties.

It seems YTM doesn’t even have an official way for third party apps to access the service. Has anyone seen other non-Google apps besides Sonos that can play YTM? I’ve seen some unofficial open source interfaces which allow searching and accessing data about artists/albums/etc, but there’s no public interface for actually streaming music as far as I know. 

Makes me wonder how Sonos is able to do it. My guess is that they have a special arrangement with Youtube which gives them access to a non-public interface, since the integration adds value to both Sonos and YTM as products.

If there is a special arrangement, then it’s hard to say whether the cause of the glitches is on Sonos’ or Youtube’s side.

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Sonos causing YTM glitches.

I have an AV amp with a Sonos Connect attached via analogue AND a Chromecast Ultra in a HDMI port.

If I play ANY music over Sonos from YTM there are always Glitches. (this did not happen with Play Music)

If I play ANY music cast from YTM there are never any glitches.

I can only imagine that Sonos is deliberately hobbling YTM for some reason.  FYI all my Sonos kit is hardwired and my internet is a stable Fibre connection.  It does not make any difference if I use a digital connection from the Sonos Connect to the Amp.

PS there is the side issue with ‘Likes’ on Sonos for YTM tracks.

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LZL - that makes sense.

Arguably, SONOS should not be providing the service if it does not come up to expected standards (no matter who is providing it).

Please don’t get we wrong, I’ve been very happy with SONOS since 2010 when I bought my first bundle (including a CR200 that is still working fine)

Napster - worked great for years until artists started pulling their music

Google Play Music - worked great, no issues at all

YouTube Music - works but glitches in every track

 

Hopefully a bright spark will come up with a solution soon.

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I think @controlav has an interesting point but perhaps could have explained it more clearly to folks who aren’t software engineers

Makes me wonder how Sonos is able to do it. My guess is that they have a special arrangement with Youtube which gives them access to a non-public interface, since the integration adds value to both Sonos and YTM as products.

If there is a special arrangement, then it’s hard to say whether the cause of the glitches is on Sonos’ or Youtube’s side.

There is no special arrangement: YTM implemented a SMAPI endpoint like every other music service, which is publicly documented, then they give Sonos the urls to it to add to the global list of services. Anyone who knows how (eg my apps) can consume that endpoint for enumeration. Playback does require certificate pinning, so only the official Sonos apps can stream (this is to avoid piracy so makes sense).

However reliable streaming does require the YTM endpoint actually provides streams in a reliable and timely fashion, and that appears to not be the case. My guess is that there aren’t enough servers allocated to that SMAPI endpoint because Google don’t care enough.

I have the same issue with YouTube music as well.   High pitched static chirp every once in a while.  On all 4 play 1 and one play 5.

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For anyone else following along, Sonos phone support told me their engineers have been having the odd problem with Youtube Music and are looking into it (ie, it is not my wifi). No timeline or guarantee, but at least I know there’s nothing more I can do on my side. 

Same issue, didn’t have the issue with Google Play. The glitch only occurs while using YTM via Sonos. I listen to YTM on my iPhone, I don’t experience the glitch.

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Look, let be honest, YTM on Sonos sucks in various ways, and the ad company owner has shown little interest in fixing anything. Try iBroadcast instead, and save your money (and privacy).

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I've been talking to the YTM support desk like someone suggested, and supposedly they're going to send my comments to the specialist team. I'm not holding my breath, but maybe if more people submit tickets they'll do something about it.

 

I'd just cancel my YTM subscription, but like someone else above, I mainly subscribe for ad free YouTube. There's no way I can go back to watching ads on YouTube again. 

 

Edit: oh and I also sent them a link to this thread, but I don't know whether they read it. 

I’m also having this problem - seems to have started in the last month or so for me. Hello Sonos - what’s going on? I’m a dedicated long time user and supporter of your products. This is unacceptable particularly given the length of time this has been an issue (based on the comment dates in this thread)! I’m a beta participant - send me some software to monitor locally or something!

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I appreciate the sentiment, @controlav , but I’ve got a family plan for Youtube Premium and don’t exactly want to get yet another service because I’m suddenly having audio glitches via Sonos. 

@Mark P I submitted another diagnostic report, but never heard back. Is there anything else I can try other than switching services?

Add me to the list. YTM and the squeeks. I can't personally hear it, but it drives my wife crazy. No problems on Spotify. Please Sonos fix it. 

I don’t know if I just noticed, but this seems to have just started for me.  I have the skipping, and the static noise.  Any movement on this?  Guess I’ll go over to the YouTube music thread too.

 

This combined with the no thumbs up . . . very sub-par.  

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I'm having this problem since they forced you to switch from the Google play music app to yt music. It is driving me nuts. 

Just wanted to add that we are having the exact same problem with YouTube music and Sonos. It's rather annoying.

Hopefully, a solution can be found!

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Sorry, forgot to add that. It's from the YTM support desk.

Same issue here.

Thread is answered but the issue is not solved. Shame!

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