Most often, delays and disconnects are caused by network issues, between your controller and router, or the router and the speakers. I’d certainly check the wifi interference FAQ, as well as performing a Sonos network refresh, by unplugging your Sonos devices from power (or powering them off, if battery connected), and rebooting your router. Once the router has recovered, power back on your Sonos devices. This will give them both a fresh IP address, as well as a refresh of the Sonos OS. Finally, check your system for updates, in case there are any that need to be applied.

If, after checking these things, you’re still experiencing an issue, I would recommend that you submit a system diagnostic within 10 minutes of experiencing this problem, and call Sonos Support to discuss it. But don’t post the resulting diagnostic number here, they get sensitive about GDPR.

There may be information included in the diagnostic that will help Sonos pinpoint the issue and help you find a solution.

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.

Thank you for the suggestions.  I have rebooted both my router and my modem but the problem just persists.  I did find a Sonos article that verified the existence of a system operating this way is fine so, I’m not convinced that that was the problem.  Obviously, I’m not a computer guru and can only try just so many things before getting extremely frustrated and disappointed that I can’t use my system the way it should work.

I am a long-time subscriber to Sonos and have been a loyal customer of theirs for almost 13 years; so I’m confident this can get figured out.  It’s just so exasperating when things don’t work when you want them to.

I have ALL my music stored on my computer, still purchase songs through I-Tunes and have built my Music Library with music I’ve purchased through them, as well as loading the music I had on CD’s.  I don’t subscribe to the Cloud, nor do I pay for Apple Play.  I refuse to pay anyone for music I’ve bought in good faith over the years.  To me, it’s like paying ransom.  At one point, “Apple” locked my music and I couldn’t listen to any of it.  When that happened, Sonos told me it was an Apple issue and Apple said it was a Sonos issue.  But when I talked to Apple about that years ago when it happened, I told them they were holding my music hostage and I refused to pay them a dime for music I had purchased from them or had on my CD collection.  Since then, I was able to once again listen to everything after they “unlocked” it.  

With this issue, if I go into my Music Library or my playlists and select the songs in question, independently, they play just fine.  So, this problem, yes, I would agree has more to do with my “network”/router.  But, who knows.  I’m just not savvy enough to try much else.

My computer (Windows 11), desktop is also hardwired into my “Switch”/Modem, as is my Router (a 3-unit Eero) which Sonos Support thought may be the issue but when I turned my WiFi off, the problem just persisted.  Unfortunately, when I talked to someone there I (like a complete dunce) couldn’t even turn my Firewall off to allow remote access.  But she didn’t suggest powering off by Sonos equipment as you suggested; so, I may give that a try.  Thank you for that idea!

I just responded to an e-mail their rep sent with a request for someone to schedule another “session”.  Hopefully, they will contact me to try and help again, perhaps looking at things remotely.  The person I spoke with the other day, yes, had me send a diagnostic and she was able to identify the issue.  At this point, I just don’t feel comfortable doing anything more than putting up with this unpredictable, intermittent issue for a while and waiting for someone to contact me again.  

THANK YOU!

Novice (sort of) utilizing this option through SONOS; so, please bear with me.  I just wanted to offer an  update to this thread of conversation . . . in the event anyone out there is interested.

A person whom I believe was a Tier 3 support tech had me move one of my SONOS speakers (a PLAY 3 that I was using on a different level of our home) upstairs to my home office where my computer is wired through the EERO 3 router I have there, via an ethernet cable.  The system worked fine that way with one of my SONOS components wired into the “Switch” behind my computer that I also use for my internet/WiFi connection.

So . . . bottom line, according to this rep, was that if I have one of my SONOS components wired that way, into my router, I shouldn’t encounter any more issues.  He suggested, however, the “BOOST”.  My issue with that option, though, is that SONOS no longer offers support for that component so I’m not thinking that would be a possible “fix”, as the app probably wouldn’t even allow me to “add” it.

My thought, now, is that I consider purchasing this:  https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/roam-2-black and have that substitute for the “BOOST”.  That way, I could then still have a SONOS component wired into my router which then would allow me to use my PLAY 3 downstairs near my elliptical workout machine like I used to.  It’s rather large, compared to the newer smart speaker I could easily place on my desk near my computer, upstairs here in my home office.

Opinions, suggestions anyone?

Okay, so here’s an update to my update . . . 

The installer I’ve used for most of my system told me that that little speaker I mentioned doesn’t have an ethernet port in the back and it really wouldn’t do what I was hoping it would in substituting for the BOOST.  He suggested the Era 100 with an adapter.  Hopefully, that will do the trick.

Thanks for taking the time to listen to the ramblings of an old woman who barely understands any of this!

Wiring a Sonos unit is a good start to getting around some potential for wifi interference , but the SonosNet signal, created by the wired unit, be it an ‘older’ speaker or a BOOST is still a WiFi signal, and still subject to forms of interference. 

Before spending any money to resolve the issue, I recommend that network refresh I mentioned above. First, the only cost is time. Second, although your installer may not recognize it, the Era speakers are ‘new’, and don’t use or create SonosNet, so there wouldn’t be any benefit to your older PLAY:3.. I happen to believe that the issue you’re experiencing is a duplicate IP address issue, caused when the Sonos unit updates with new firmware, and requests a new IP from the router. If the router has lost its place in the table (DHCP) it maintains for assignments, it can hand the Sonos a duplicate IP, and then both things will ‘fight’ for time from the router. Form your side, that looks like disconnects by the Sonos from the router, and causes loss of playback and restarting of the playlist, when it regains the connection. 

Far be it from me to argue with level three support, though. It might just be distance and or material causing wifi interference . If that’s the case, an Era speaker added as a wired unit won’t help, as they will not create the SonosNet signal that the PLAY:3 unit would latch on to. If you can’t find a BOOST on the used market (they’re no longer produced), I’d look for a Sonos One, also on the used market. They’re a ‘newer’ device, although still no longer produced, but do create that SonosNet signal when wired, that your PLAY:3 can connect to. 

Wow!  Some of that just whooshed right over my head.  Did you hear it?   WHOOOSHHHH!

Anyhow, makes sense to me (if only in a remedial way).  Will be sure to let my installer know what you’ve shared.  The more the merrier, I say . . . all opinions, ideas and suggestions are most appreciated and welcomed. Will share what you’ve written with him.  

In fact, I just heard from him and he’s working on similar issues with others since I contacted him.  So, if anything else, my stupid problems seem to have gotten him on the trail for answers.

You know . . . if SONOS were truly interested in helping folks out with this issue (that, apparently, others have / are encountering), you would think they could come up with a way to get their components connected to a reliable network if they want to sell their products and actually have folks actually be able to use them, reliably, without these goofy problems that leave those of us without IT expertise to fend for ourselves.  

Hopefully, simply connecting my existing computer/router to a SONOS BOOST or other SONOS product will do the trick. YIKES, what a headache!

Stay tuned . . . and, THANK YOU!!!!

Good luck!

Unfortunately, Sonos is merely a client to any network provided, and has no control over that network. It is up to the administrator of the network to provide a good connection. In 99% of the cases, a normal home network works, and that is what Sonos designs for. However, a few networks get ‘untidy’, and Sonos has difficulty in both receiving, and sending, the information it needs.

I hope your installer is successful. 

Your comments are not going unappreciated, my friend.  THANK YOU!

Since I last wrote . . . my installer (who, BTW, is great to work with) gave me some additional thoughts.  Apparently, my little issue is part of one he is encountering with someone else in an indirect but related way but he is one busy guy so he said he wouldn’t be able to help until week after next.  He has, though, arranged for me to pick up the BOOST today so that’s the plan . . . for me to pick it up and hook it up on my own.  I’ve scheduled a callback with someone at SONOS for tomorrow afternoon to help me with installing it.  I’m not convinced that it’s completely necessary but it’s worth what I’m being charged for it to have the reassurance that I’ve tried SOMETHING.  I’m betting it won’t be terribly difficult, especially with someone from SONOS willing to try.  It won’t be with the same person I’ve been talking to, unfortunately; but, I think it’s better than me removing the thing from the box and poking around with my network/router connections completely on my own.  We’ll see, I guess.  Since the PLAY 3 is portable, and since things have been working fine just “rebooting” it the other day with that SONOS person having me do what he had me do . . . I’m pretty convinced that you were right . . . “Rebooting” things may be the best solution when/if I encounter the same sort of issues again.  But, I’m thinking that’s just a temporary fix of sorts and having the BOOST, connected to everything may be a bit of a more permanent/reliable answer.  I don’t know.  We’ll see.

BTW, I’m not so sure that “Tier 3” person I thought was an actual “Tier 3”, actually is Tier 3.  The link he sent me to schedule an “appointment” with was for a Tier “2” person; so, we’ll see if they end up reviewing things before calling me back tomorrow.  Sure hope so, as they’ve only got me scheduled for an hour’s worth of their time and I would hate to waste any of that precious, golden hour rehashing my issues.  

You’ve been of so much help and seem to really know your stuff.  I, on the other hand, do not; so I must rely on someone else to give me options.  I can connect and reconnect wires okay if I have someone talking me through it; but, since my ARC and my Port are difficult to wire and “de”wire, as they are configured in our house . . . the PLAY 3 and this “Boost” thing seem to be the only options at this point.  Any more than that . . . I’m afraid will take the expertise of someone with far more experience and knowledge than this old lady has.

Again, STAY TUNED.  

Thanks for everything!

Just in case anyone, in particular Airgetlam . . . . is interested in the latest . . . turns out my Tier 3 person was “only” a Tier 2 person and my callback SONOS rep was also a 2.  Not that really matters a whole lot.  In any event, turns out that my recent “BOOST” purchase wasn’t all that necessary because moving my PLAY 3 upstairs and plugging it into my router “Switch” as I was told a few days ago connected me to the SonosNet network and seems to have had the same effect the BOOST would have had.  The issues I was having haven’t returned to my system, as of this writing.  I was told yesterday that, should the problem resurface, I should try simply doing the same thing with the BOOST after adding it while my PLAY 3 is also plugged into the “Switch” that connects my computer to my router and leaving it there.  According to them, I could then leave my PLAY 3 in the lower level of my house which is where I want it to “live”.  I tried “adding” the BOOST I purchased myself but couldn’t add it because an update for it couldn’t be done.  I got that far with things but when I ran into trying to “update” it, there it stalled.  Apparently, if I need to add it to my system, the PLAY 3 would need to be wired into my router at the same time and my “SWITCH” with its 8 ports would enable me to do that.  They suggested that, again, if the problem I was having returns, that is what I would need to do.  So, I’ve decided to just leave things as they are for now since everything seems to be functioning okay.  If I need a SONOS unit connected upstairs, here, having the BOOST here and adding it as they suggested (later, if needed), should resolve things.  Hopefully, though, I won’t need to do that.  At least I have it here if I need it later.

Soooooo, I think I’m okay for now . . . but, time will tell, I suppose.  

THANKS for everything.  Your suggestions have been much appreciated!