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Contributor II
August 1, 2022
Answered

Play Sonos App in Car?

  • August 1, 2022
  • 15 replies
  • 3039 views

Hi,

I’m sure it’s been asked before but can’t find the answer… How can I use the Sonos app on my phone to connect to my car speakers via Apple Car play? Thanks!

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Best answer by melvimbe

The Sonos app is not a music player, it's just a controller for your Sonos speakers.  So no, you can't use the Sonos app to play music in your car. Use the streaming service app(s) instead. 

15 replies

ratty
August 1, 2022

Your Sonos app is not a media player. It’s a remote control for the speakers.

You wouldn’t expect to get a TV picture by simply taking your TV remote into the car, and it’s a similar concept.

melvimbe
melvimbeAnswer
August 1, 2022

The Sonos app is not a music player, it's just a controller for your Sonos speakers.  So no, you can't use the Sonos app to play music in your car. Use the streaming service app(s) instead. 

Danny
Contributor II
August 1, 2022

Your Sonos app is not a media player. It’s a remote control for the speakers.

You wouldn’t expect to get a TV picture by simply taking your TV remote into the car, and it’s a similar concept.

Yep. Was simply asking for confirmation. Thanks

Lyricist II
August 23, 2022

Strange responses considering the Sonos Amp & Sonos Port exist 🤔

Sonos is a remote control for speakers, true

Sonos Amp enables control & amplification of non-Sonos speakers directly

There are non-Sonos speakers in your car…

Sonos Port enables control of non-Sonos speakers via a non-Sonos amplifier

There are non-Sonos speakers and a non-Sonos amplifier in your car…

 

Keeping people inside the Sonos app is incentive in itself

Let alone whatever sort of Port-like device or Sonos head-unit may or may not be needed

 

When this exists it will seem silly that it hadn’t all along

D

ratty
August 23, 2022

Keeping people inside the Sonos app is incentive in itself

Let alone whatever sort of Port-like device or Sonos head-unit may or may not be needed

I think you may be missing the point.

The OP was asking about using the Sonos software app and Car Play to somehow obtain the Sonos experience in the car, not about adding some hypothetical Sonos car-specific hardware to the vehicle.  

As already stated, the Sonos app is merely a controller for Sonos hardware. It never touches the media stream at all. It simply isn’t possible to “keep people inside the Sonos app” without the requisite hardware.

Lyricist II
August 23, 2022

Keeping people inside the Sonos app is incentive in itself

Let alone whatever sort of Port-like device or Sonos head-unit may or may not be needed

I think you may be missing the point.

The OP was asking about using the Sonos software app and Car Play to somehow obtain the Sonos experience in the car, not about adding some hypothetical Sonos car-specific hardware to the vehicle.  

As already stated, the Sonos app is merely a controller for Sonos hardware. It never touches the media stream at all. It simply isn’t possible to “keep people inside the Sonos app” without the requisite hardware.

I’m aware it is not possible at this time. A mobile version of Port is the most likely bridge to provide the experience OP is seeking

Airgetlam
August 23, 2022

Tied to which internet service provider’s signal? Essentially, each “mobile version” of the port will need to become a hotspot type device, in order to allow streaming and have the various speakers connect to it. Which implies a monthly subscription for data, as well. 

Love the idea, the execution seems challenging to me. What happens to all my NAS data, too?

Bruce
Lyricist II
August 24, 2022

Tied to which internet service provider’s signal? Essentially, each “mobile version” of the port will need to become a hotspot type device, in order to allow streaming and have the various speakers connect to it. Which implies a monthly subscription for data, as well. 

Love the idea, the execution seems challenging to me. What happens to all my NAS data, too?

I think it could use your cell phone’s data via cable (or bt like a Roam does). Essentially a Roam that uses your head-unit’s Amp & speakers. Idk why I didn’t think of Roam earlier. 

NAS would function normally if accessible via the web

ratty
August 24, 2022

Why bother? My car has a built-in SIM and, if I bought the right data plan, could play direct from my Amazon Music account. It also plays from a USB stick containing a lightly compressed copy of my NAS data.

As it is I can use my phone and either Bluetooth or Android Auto to play any source, including downloaded content. No need for Sonos. 

buzz
Grand Maestro
August 24, 2022

This would require a huge expansion of the controller’s scope because it would need to interact with all of the music services in real time, potentially the user’s NAS drive at home, and automotive systems that are also attempting to be the center of the driver’s experience. Without a very robust mobile Internet connection, this would not work very well. 

Currently, the music services interface with the SONOS players directly. SONOS provides an API that any music service is free to use. Unless there would be some SONOS hardware associated with the auto, the situation would be turned around because the controller would need to interact directly with the services.

There would be a few nags, such as the controller (probably running on a phone) leaving the auto (perhaps going into a restroom or convenience store), stranding listeners remaining in the auto. The controller would also need to gracefully integrate with phone calls. We have enough issues with the very simple TV’s interactions that are supposedly designed to interact with A/V equipment. Tight integration with automotive systems would require cooperation with individual auto manufacturers and (perhaps) new industry standards. Currently, the auto companies are discouraging 3rd party audio systems.

The current controllers don’t store anything critical. Critical storage is done by the players. Full controller integration with the automotive system would require storing critical data in the Cloud or on each phone to be used in the automobile. How would the phones be updated? Would this be done in real time? What if a home user updates a playlist? How soon would this be reflected in controllers currently running in the automobile? How should the situation of multiple automobiles be handled? If there is SONOS hardware in the automobile that stores data, how is this kept current with changes made at home or in another automobile?