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Contributor I
Oct 16, 2026 5:06 PM UTC
Answered

Add new music library

We have a Brennan B2 unit (described as ‘a CD ripper, hard disk jukebox and complete audio system’) and have tried many many, times over several years (no exaggeration!) to play music stored on the Brennan hard drive through a Sonos One speaker in a different room - but with both connected to the same router by wifi. It has proved unbelievably frustrating and we have tried every solution suggested by either the Brennan or Sonos communities. We even sought speciality advice from Richer Sounds. Sonos does – most of the time – recognise Brennan as a music library and sometimes is successful in playing a track from the Sonos app. But, with maddening regularity, Sonos fails to play that track. The only source of music I can access on the Sonos system with reasonable reliability is Sonos radio stations and some others (e.g. BBC Sounds). Another workaround is to use the Brennan app and direct it to play specific tracks on the Sonos speaker. This also works sometimes – but not always. I am aware of the significance of DLNA and NAS and have ensured the settings are as recommended. And, yes, I’ve rebooted the system and checked passwords umpteen times ...

At one point, I wondered whether the problem was that the wifi signal was not strong enough, so we bought a Sonos Boost and a Sonos Connect. However, that has made no difference. To be honest, I have now given up.

The specific reason for this enquiry is because I want to access my music files in a new room, which currently has no speakers. If the Brennan:Sonos link worked reliably, I would simply buy another Sonos speaker and connect it into the same system. However, it doesn’t work reliably - so I don’t want to make additional purchases which will only work erratically. I would be better off cutting my losses and buying a cheap internet radio, which would be adequate to access BBC Sounds, but without any potential to play music from my stored files.

I am wondering whether there is any other way of playing the music library, currently stored on the Brennan hard drive, though a new Sonos speaker - and with a reasonable degree of reliability. Presumably it would involve copying the Brennan hard drive onto another storage unit and connecting that into the new Sonos speaker. But how? Through a hard wire (ethernet, perhaps)? However, I wouldn’t know where to start with this.

I would very much welcome advice from someone more knowledgeable than me!

Many thanks

Smilja
SmiljaAnswer
Oct 19, 2026 12:00 PM UTC

​@Gilzean, Is this guide helpful?

https://thebrennan.com/blogs/how-to-guides/using-sonos

»And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space, Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind.« (›Windmills Of Your Mind‹ [1967]. Music by Michel Legrand ; English lyrics written by Alan & Marilyn Bergman)

35 replies

GilzeanAuthor
Contributor I
Oct 17, 2026 4:19 PM UTC

As has doubtless become pretty obvious by now, I am new to this community – and am not familiar with the etiquette.

I am very grateful to everyone who has offered advice. However, I think I will now take a day or so to try out some of these suggestions.

Hence, I will probably not be responding to any new posts for a while. But rest assured that I will report back, if the issue is resolved.

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AjTrek1
Oct 17, 2026 8:37 PM UTC

It’s not about etiquette as you didn’t violate any community rules. What it is about is understanding or coming to the realization of what you know and don’t know. That’s the purpose of this community… to educate and provide answers/solutions when possible. That said continue to ask questions and come back with your findings after trying the suggestions presented. Good luck and hope to hear from you soon!

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AjTrek1
Oct 17, 2026 4:43 PM UTC

​@Gilzean 

Just to clarify below is a picture of my Mesh network. You will notice I have three nodes ( which you call repeaters) all listed under my main router at top. Each node has clients which are close to them which is the purpose of a Mesh to split the client load. Even so the nodes and clients attached to them are ALL under the main router which means the nodes are not assigning IP Addresses. You should have a similar view. 
 

 

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buzz
Grand Maestro
Oct 18, 2026 1:29 AM UTC

I have no experience with Brennan.

To me this seems like a network issue. In my opinion you’ll be better off powering down the CONNECT and BOOST. Functionally, you don’t seem to need them and they use older WiFi technology. Describe your network for us.

As a test wire both the ONE and Brennan to your network.

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AjTrek1
Oct 18, 2026 3:24 AM UTC

Removing the Boost has been voiced to the OP. They described their network as consisting of a FRITZbox and Fritz Repeater. The Connect is being used to stream Sonos to the Brenan which doesn’t make sense as the Brenan is a streamer.

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Stanley_4
Grand Maestro
Oct 18, 2026 5:01 AM UTC

The Brenon can (I think) also send what it is playing out tne RCA jacks to tne Connect. Doing that appears (from my reading above) to be an attempt to work around music library issues.

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Smilja
Oct 18, 2026 9:54 AM UTC

The OP only owns the Connect and one or more Ones. He’s on S1. So the Boost is unlikely to be the culprit, plus it isn't working in Wi-Fi mode either.

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»And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space, Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind.« (›Windmills Of Your Mind‹ [1967]. Music by Michel Legrand ; English lyrics written by Alan & Marilyn Bergman)
Stanley_4
Grand Maestro
Oct 18, 2026 12:55 PM UTC

I missed the "not working with Wi-Fi" and no energy to fight tne hidden posts issue to find it.

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AjTrek1
Oct 18, 2026 12:03 PM UTC

​@Gilzean 

If you are as suggested by ​@Smilja using the Sonos S1 system then none of what I suggested will likely work. That’s another teaching moment for you. Sonos operates an S1 system for outdated gear such as a Connect (Gen 1). Sonos has the S2 system for Connect (Gen 2) and current gear. When posting it’s helpful to know and mention which Sonos system one is using… S1 or S2. Good luck to resolve your issue.

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GilzeanAuthor
Contributor I
Oct 19, 2026 11:29 AM UTC

As promised, I have tried out some things and am now reporting back.

I have disconnected the Sonos Boost entirely.

The Sonos Connect still has a wired connection to the Brennan via phono leads.

I have opted out of Sonosnet entirely and am relying solely on home Wi-Fi (via FRITZ!Box).

I have re-entered the FRITZBox password to the speaker and Connect.

Sadly, the outcome is much the same. Sometimes it works OK and sometimes it doesn’t. If not, I get the message ‘Couldn’t play content’ or ‘Access denied. Couldn’t play [title of track].’

In response to some of the questions: (a) The speaker is described on the bottom as ‘One Gen 2’. The other simply says SONOS Connect’. (b) I have no other Sonos products (and, as mentioned above, have disconnected the Boost). (c) I have not altered any settings on the FRITZ!Box or Repeater and, to be honest, wouldn’t know how to do so.

One other thing, In the past, I have sometimes been able to play music from the Brennan on Sonos by going to the Brennan app and telling it to play via Sonos, rather than its own speakers. This morning I tried the same thing but Brennan no longer recognises Sonos as an option. Obviously one of the changes I’ve done has stopped that route working!

So there we have it. Thanks to everyone for taking an interest.

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AjTrek1
Oct 19, 2026 11:45 AM UTC

Regarding “access denied” or “could not play content” that is not your Sonos system. That is  a coding issue with the streaming app (source) or the actual song not being coded correctly for Sonos. As far as the Brenan not seeing Sonos I suggest contacting their technical support.

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Smilja
SmiljaAnswer
Oct 19, 2026 12:00 PM UTC

​@Gilzean, Is this guide helpful?

https://thebrennan.com/blogs/how-to-guides/using-sonos

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»And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space, Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind.« (›Windmills Of Your Mind‹ [1967]. Music by Michel Legrand ; English lyrics written by Alan & Marilyn Bergman)
GilzeanAuthor
Contributor I
Oct 19, 2026 4:47 PM UTC

Thank you - yes - Brennan recognises Sonos again …!

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Smilja
Oct 19, 2026 8:22 PM UTC

That's great to hear. 🙂

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»And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space, Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind.« (›Windmills Of Your Mind‹ [1967]. Music by Michel Legrand ; English lyrics written by Alan & Marilyn Bergman)