Lower minumum volume level

Hi,

I'd like to bump this tread. Got 2x Play 5, a Playbar and a sub installed this July and it is really annoing not being able to play music on a low "background" level the way I could with my old "analogue" system. In fact it is so annoying that I would hesitate buying all this if I knew at the time (all things comsidered it takes a bunch of money to buy this). Please can Sonos consider checking out if this could be made right?

Many thanks!

Rasmus

Hi,

I'd like to bump this tread. Got 2x Play 5, a Playbar and a sub installed this July and it is really annoing not being able to play music on a low "background" level the way I could with my old "analogue" system. In fact it is so annoying that I would hesitate buying all this if I knew at the time (all things comsidered it takes a bunch of money to buy this). Please can Sonos consider checking out if this could be made right?

Many thanks!

RasmusCan I just make sure I understand this? You put surrounds on 'Ambient' for music play, you put the volume slider to zero then tap once on the volume bar to edge it up the minimum amount. And that is too loud for background music?

Yes, even if I would have the ambient mode on. I don't like to have that when I play music however since less music is distributed through the Play5s as compared to the soundbar and the crisp in the Play5s is uncomparable to the soundbar. Its just not as premium of a sound. When thinking of it, isn't it a bit strange that the ambient mode redistribute the sound among the speakers in this way.. 🙂

Is there any further response from Sonos on this? I have a stereo pair for daytime use and would like to be able to also use it very quietly at night but the minimum volume is too loud.

Use the controller on the app or computer. Slide the volume control button all the way to the left, the mute lights on the Sonos unit will glow green. Tap to the right of - not on - the button once. The light will go away, but nothing will be heard to meet your definition of quiet, it will be quieter. Keep tapping to the right until the sound levels RISE to meet your expectation of quiet. Job done, you don't need a Sonos reply. If the above however does not meet your needs, you do, because you have a hardware defect.

Unfortunately that’s not right, but I appreciate your help. I’m already on the lowest volume using the app (using the same method as you said) but it’s still too loud. And it can’t be a hardware defect as I have two speakers (stereo pair) and both are at the same volume level.

I find it hard to believe these speakers can’t go to a lower volume, which is why I wanted a reply from Sonos to understand if this is being considered or if I’m going to have to return it (I don’t want to! I love the sound during the day but they are too loud for night time background use in a small room). Turning off Loudness helps but then I have to dig through menus every night and switch back each day.

My stereo pair that sits on my desktop needs more than one tap away from mute for me to hear anything from the speakers even when sitting close to it at the desktop. There are some rare exceptions based on the song/recordings; for example Big Mama Thornton belting out Hound Dog where the mastering level is also higher than normal. But in my bed at some distance away, even she would need more than one tap.

I am sure you will probably get a Sonos response to this, but the chances are much improved if you raise a ticket with Support for the issue.

May I ask if you have tried the following on a phone controller? Slide the volume bar to zero. Then tap the volume bar once instead of trying to slide it back. For me this produces a volume level that is almost inaudible, and lower than I have been able to achieve with any other method.
It isnt just I that say this.

My stereo pair that sits on my desktop needs more than one tap away from mute for me to hear anything from the speakers even when sitting close to it at the desktop. There are some rare exceptions based on the song/recordings; for example Big Mama Thornton belting out Hound Dog where the mastering level is also higher than normal. But in my bed at some distance away, even she would need more than one tap.

You are lucky. I play meditation music over a distance of 1 meter from an overhead position, and - using the exact same technique as you described - the music is intolerably loud if instruments are used in the composition (wind going through the treetops is still audible - and pleasant). Using the volume buttons move the sound level up 5 ticks and that's enough to have a party in the bedroom!

I must applaud your sensitive hearing. I wish mine worked that well.

I am puzzled a bit though. If you find the lowest setting as suggested by John B as being too loud then playing the speakers at 20% volume must be, to others standards, positively deafening for you. I find the lowest volume setting on a pair of Play 1 and also on a pair of Play 5 to be very quiet amd much quieter than any back ground noise.

Ah, these ageing ears...
It isn't just I that is lucky.