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That dreaded "I have several speakers and they intermittently cut out" scenario

  • March 26, 2026
  • 10 replies
  • 68 views

I’ve used the system in my workdays for some years now, and love it, but notice that when I played playlists controlled from my streamdecks I would have intermittent drop outs and cuts, like the left/right/sub would independently drop and then come back after a few seconds.

I had searched a lot, dont many updates, restarting my router and all the satellites in the mesh, nothing worked. At this point, if you’re hoping theres a silver bullet, sorry, BUT. I recently got a mate who had been playing with music generation online, and I really liked the stuff he made so got a copy of it onto my main pc, and added the folder as a music library in the sonos app. Other than having some of the worst playlist management options I’ve ever seen, like having to remove and re-add a library source to update it…. it HAS NEVER CUT OUT. I only just realised it this morning as yesterday I’d hit a different playlist and had the cut out but didnt make the connection. 

So I figure its either the sonos linkage with tidal or its getting the individual speakers to each get their own feeds, dunno. But as the system seems flawless ( will uipdate if I ever notice it doing it, but hasnt so far, in the 49 track playlist that i have going all the time now) I dare say if I’d switched to the wiim or fiio or whatever I’d been looking at I’d have had the same problem. I’d also say the fix for the streaming network issue is to change the player so theres a master unit that connects to the stream and then sends to the other speakers in the group.

Anyway, just put this here because I love the system, the sub still blows my mind ( is the squre one with the water in the cup demo) and we use the surrounds and play bar in the bedroom at night to play rain sounds. Couldnt be happier. ( oh yeah the rain in the bedroom is also from a file in my library, would do the same thing on that when i used to play something off youtube with different units taking turns at not working )

10 replies

Airgetlam
  • March 26, 2026

Can you tell us about your reboot sequence? If the Sonos weren’t unplugged/powered down while you rebooted the router, it’s possible you didn’t receive the ‘full’ benefit of rebooting. 

Alternately, I would recommend that you submit a system diagnostic within 10 minutes of experiencing this problem, and call Sonos Support to discuss it. Don’t post the resulting diagnostic number here.

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.


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  • Trending Lyricist II
  • March 26, 2026

I’ve had the same problem for years (but was never a problem the 2 or 3 years I used Sonos.  I’ve submitted to support without any success. I’ve tried with all the speakers on Ethernet and wireless.  I finally got an Apple mini (because 99% of listening is with Apple Music) and it has never dropped.  I’ve sunk enough money into Sonos to give up but I do give a word of warning to people thinking of Sonos. 


Airgetlam
  • March 26, 2026

I’d still recommend that network refresh I suggested in that first paragraph. But as you’ve stopped using Sonos, it seems I’m too late. 


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  • Trending Lyricist II
  • March 26, 2026

Yes, Sonos was unplugged when I rebooted network.   I haven’t stopped using Sonos (mainly because I have a couple thousand invested) but also because it is an intermittent problem that I can live with. I can go for weeks with it stable and then it will drop a couple times in a row and then be stable again.  I know there may be an issue with my network but not sure what else I can try. The apple mini was to use as a test to see if airplay or apple streaming was an issue.  


AjTrek1
  • March 27, 2026

@Maddyindc 

Glad to see that you are willing to consider that your Local Network may be at fault. To help we need specifics about your network:

1) Is it a separate router and modem?

2) Is it an integrated router and modem?

3) Is it a Mesh Network consisting of a main router and satellites? 

4) If a Mesh Network are the components:

  • Provided by your ISP?
  • Are they your components utilizing the modem provided by your ISP?
  • If the modem is provided by your ISP does it have an integrated router?

Let us know.


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  • Trending Lyricist II
  • March 27, 2026

Initially it was an integrated modem/router owned by me.  I have since changed ISP’s and it is now company supplied.  It is not a mesh network, I live in a 1200 sq foot apt and router is centrally located.  When on wifi the signal noise is usually about 55/90.  and signal strength of 45-50.  I have tried setting the wifi channel (picking ones that neighbors don’t use and also letting the router choose. I have tried both wireless and ethernet (the apt is wired for ethernet).  Streaming internet and Apple Airplay (airplay both streaming and playing only local content).  Assigned IP and dynamic.  I have 2 AMP,’s, 2 Sonos One’s, and 3 Play 1’s. (usually it is just one Amp and the 2 Sonos One’s grouped).  It is an intermentant problem that can go weeks between happening and then several times within a couple of hours.  It is never all devices at one time.  I have only sent a diagnostic to Sonos once.  Not impressed with their response but they couldn't identify any problem. As you can see, I have spent a lot of time on troubleshooting network issues.  Every time I think I have it fixed, it seems to eventually happen again.  Generally it solves itself in about a minute but on occasion I need to deselect the device and reconnect, and on rare occasion, unplug device and reconnect. It happens rarely enough that it is very hard to determine if there is anything else going on and I wouldn’t care at all except that it almost always happens when I really don’t feel like dealing with it, or have company and don’t want to get involved in troubleshooting.


buzz
  • March 27, 2026

I once rearranged my network. Some of the device IP addresses changed. I always reserve addresses and after restarting the network things were working fine. A few weeks later I had a few intermittent issues with an ancient NAS. The intermittent issues bugged me a little because NAS drives usually fail and that’s the end. After a little while I began to suspect a duplicate IP address, but I’m too smart for that, right?  Finally, I swallowed my pride . . . checked for duplicates . . . darn! As I rearranged things I had forgotten about a seldom used palm sized device hidden in a cabinet. It had a fixed address, now shared by the NAS.

While troubleshooting, if you assume that the problem must be [ … ] or cannot be [ … ], you are likely to be blindsided.


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  • Avid Contributor I
  • March 27, 2026

Initially it was an integrated modem/router owned by me.  I have since changed ISP’s and it is now company supplied.  It is not a mesh network, I live in a 1200 sq foot apt and router is centrally located.  When on wifi the signal noise is usually about 55/90.  and signal strength of 45-50.  I have tried setting the wifi channel (picking ones that neighbors don’t use and also letting the router choose. I have tried both wireless and ethernet (the apt is wired for ethernet).  Streaming internet and Apple Airplay (airplay both streaming and playing only local content).  Assigned IP and dynamic.  I have 2 AMP,’s, 2 Sonos One’s, and 3 Play 1’s. (usually it is just one Amp and the 2 Sonos One’s grouped).  It is an intermentant problem that can go weeks between happening and then several times within a couple of hours.  It is never all devices at one time.  I have only sent a diagnostic to Sonos once.  Not impressed with their response but they couldn't identify any problem. As you can see, I have spent a lot of time on troubleshooting network issues.  Every time I think I have it fixed, it seems to eventually happen again.  Generally it solves itself in about a minute but on occasion I need to deselect the device and reconnect, and on rare occasion, unplug device and reconnect. It happens rarely enough that it is very hard to determine if there is anything else going on and I wouldn’t care at all except that it almost always happens when I really don’t feel like dealing with it, or have company and don’t want to get involved in troubleshooting.

Pretty much exactly my experience as well.


MoPac
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  • Headliner III
  • March 27, 2026

 If the ISP Modem/Router is located in a low position in the room see if you can get it up higher.  Mine is on a bookshelf about two feet from the ceiling.  Not sure this will help in an apartment environment, but worth a try.


Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • March 27, 2026

Didn't read back to see if you did, but the assigned/reserved IP addresses might solve the issue. If nothing else they remove it from the possible problems list, a good thing as it is very hard to detect the issue.

Height can help, helps more, the more people are in the room ducking up the Wi-Fi signal. Router and speakers both help. Here going to an access point mounted high was enough, the speakers get enough signal at their seated - ear level height.

If you wired them all and still got the issues it isn't Wi-Fi, if you only wired some it is possibly still Wi-Fi, just the Sonosnet version of it.