Custom URL Without Tunein

Sonos tends not to discuss ‘pipeline’ projects. It has been the same for quite a while, with the FAQ here. Are you having an issue? 

I have been adding URL stations since 2012 and the TuneIn link no longer will accepts them.  I looked at multiple solutions that don’t work.

Tim C

Have you tried searching the radio station in Sonos radio?

I don’t use this feature, but I’d think it works for most people. Specific stations/links might help those familiar with it help you. Have you called Sonos Support to discuss it?

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.

Absolutely and even when it does work, the process is clunky and frustrating. I still don’t understand why they never brought this feature back.

That said, I’m not upset about it. Sonos can’t do everything, and I’ll vote with my wallet. I’ve actually retired the Port in my kitchen (where I do most of my listening) and switched to a different streamer (the WiiM Pro). In addition to radios, it handles local libraries and audio formats much better. 

The feature is still there, but its hidden in some of the apps.

My app (see profile) makes it easy to add custom streams (including testing they are valid before actually adding them) and play them back.

I have a free login with TuneIn and always sign in before adding a new URL.  On my old S1 that I use at my office with a couple of older Play 5’s, I still can add URL’s without issue.  It is the S2 that has changed over the last 6 months that I am seeing these issues.  What I am missing in the S2 TuneIn section is “My Radio Stations”.  I see the favorite section and I am able to add to that section by applying the heart but I can’t get any of them to play over to my SONOS S2 for playback.

My guess is they will never directly support this as they want people to pay for TuneIn or SonosRadio in order to generate advert money.

Oddly, the TuneIn/SonosRadio feeds of the same stream experience intermittant skips/pauses.  Streaming these directly with another system does not have these skips. Apple Music, at much higher bitrates, streams flawlessly… 

Conspiracy or not?

Any monies you pay to TuneIn don’t come back to Sonos. And as far as I’m aware, you don’t have to pay for TuneIn to have an account. 

Nor does Sonos put any additional advertisements on TuneIn streams. 

Seems extremely unlikely there is any conspiracy at all.