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totom
Avid Contributor I
May 25, 2019

Chromecast functionality

  • May 25, 2019
  • 164 replies
  • 76568 views
Why is Sonos lacking the Chromecast functionality, which basically every 100€ WiFi speaker has. It makes it impossible to use YouTube music ( you have to open the Sonos controller and control it from there instead of just pressing the cast button) and it makes using the Google Assistant unnecessarily cumbersome. You have to specify the speaker after a voice command instead of being able to simply set Sonos as a default speaker. That not enough, it also makes it impossible to cast all audio to Sonos. Sonos always talks about being open and support all platforms, yet after waiting a year longer than Airplay 2 users (which got supported as soon as the service got released), we get a shitty, half-assed service lacking basic functionality. Sonos basically incentivizes people to switch to Google Home Max et al, to use get the full capability from the services.
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    164 replies

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    NullReference
    Avid Contributor I
    November 6, 2019

    So Sonos… Chromecast?

      delixfe
      Lyricist I
      November 7, 2019

      You know, I listen to audiobooks a lot.  Would be so great if I could listen with my Sonos speaker at home. But well, I CAN NOT. Crazy right? So my old Play 5 will play some music and I will look for a vendor who actually cares for Android users ...

        amun
        November 7, 2019

        You know, I listen to audiobooks a lot.  Would be so great if I could listen with my Sonos speaker at home. But well, I CAN NOT. Crazy right? So my old Play 5 will play some music and I will look for a vendor who actually cares for Android users ...

        Get hold of a Chromecast Audio - may need to be second hand these days, although some places still seem to have new stock. Plug it in to your Play 5 and cast away….

        .

        lemosmendonca
        Lyricist II
        November 7, 2019

        Update

        I had just acquired a pricy Chromecast Audio and installed it when I realised that something changed on my Connect:Amp and now I can issue commands on Google mini like “Play x song on Sonos” and it plays directly on the Sonos.

        This did not happen before. I only noticed because I had named the Chrom Audio as “SONOS” and when I first tried to cast to it saying the command above it replied “Playing x on connect:amp”.

        I will try again tomorrow to see if it sticks.

        amun
        November 8, 2019

        Update

        I had just acquired a pricy Chromecast Audio and installed it when I realised that something changed on my Connect:Amp and now I can issue commands on Google mini like “Play x song on Sonos” and it plays directly on the Sonos.

        This did not happen before. I only noticed because I had named the Chrom Audio as “SONOS” and when I first tried to cast to it saying the command above it replied “Playing x on connect:amp”.

        I will try again tomorrow to see if it sticks.

        You can cast direct to the Sonos players, but it all seems to get a bit messy with the queue concept. The CCA approach seems more logical, IMHO

        willn
        Contributor I
        November 15, 2019

        +1 for Chromecast support. I’m deliberating whether to hold fire and wait for Chromecast support before buying more Sonos kit or bite the bullet and replace all existing kit with Chromecast compatible kit. Need consistent solution throughout the home, mix’n’match is a mess and I’m not prepared to commit more Sonos spend until this is sorted. :thinking:

          ajkolenc
          Contributor I
          November 19, 2019

          Disappointed after setting up my Sonos Beam only to find out that the advertised "Google Assistant" support doesn't include casting support. Took quite a bit of digging to even discover that fact, and it greatly diminishes the ability to use the speaker in a Google home setup (no speaker groups, no default speakers, etc).

          If I knew this before buying the speaker, I would have found an alternative. Now I can only hope that Sonos decides to follow through on their (currently misleading) advertised support, and advise others not to make the same mistake I did. 

            epiic
            Contributor II
            November 22, 2019

            I am new to Sonos and just purchased a Beam. I was under the impression I could cast to the speaker from my Android phone but I cannot. I was shocked to learn this. The only workaround is to buy a Chromecast Ultra, connect it to my tv and cast to the tv and the sound will come out the Beam. 

             

            Its such a shame that Sonos didn't incorporate this simple feature for the prices they charge...

              BPmaine
              Contributor I
              November 23, 2019

              Wow, just picked up a Sonos One SL thinking that since Sonos Ones work with Google Assistant that Chromecast would be simple.  

              Now thinking I should return it and get a HomePod on sale since I’m on Apple most of the time and Sonos isn’t going to be easy to use for my Android and Chromebook using family members anyway.

               

              epiic
              Contributor II
              November 23, 2019

              Wow, just picked up a Sonos One SL thinking that since Sonos Ones work with Google Assistant that Chromecast would be simple.  

              Now thinking I should return it and get a HomePod on sale since I’m on Apple most of the time and Sonos isn’t going to be easy to use for my Android and Chromebook using family members anyway.

               

              If it was common knowledge that Sonos cannot cast, I bet their sales would be greatly reduced...

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