Renowned Enthusiast I

Spotify volume decreased?

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
May 10, 2025
82 replies
5159 views

Hello everyone,

Lately, I've noticed the volume level seems lower when integrating Sonos and Spotify. I've tested this on several Era 100s, Fives, and Sonos Ones, and I find myself needing to increase the volume significantly compared to last week. Do you know if there have been any recent changes to the Spotify integration volume? This occurs whether using Spotify Connect and the Sonos app. Do you have the same feeling?

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Pinned Reply By Mike H

Hey hey folks! Someone on Reddit called this out as well, so I did some digging to investigate what has changed. The short answer is that the volumes is perceived lower due to volume normalization.

Now for the longer answer:

Spotify gives us a volume normalization gain value to apply to each track. Earlier this year, we began applying this gain value whenever users use Spotify Connect. This change was needed because it helps with cases like loud advertisements that play between tracks, which can be very apparent and annoying, especially for free users. They might have experienced a jarringly loud ad when all they wanted was to listen to some chill, relaxing music.

Most of the gain values provided by Spotify are negative, which means they lower the volume. That’s why many users perceive this decrease in volume as a drop in quality, which isn’t the case.

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kdth_jhspk69Author

Renowned Enthusiast I

Yeah, that's exactly what's happening with my setup. I can't figure out if it's Spotify or Sonos messing things up.

A

amalik12

Lyricist I

I've been having the same issue. The sound volume sounds noticably lower if I play music on the Sonos speakers via Spotify Connect, but has its normal volume if I start playing Spotify via the Sonos app or through the Spotify smart TV app.

K

kdth_jhspk69Author

Renowned Enthusiast I

Do you know if this must be fixed by Sonos or Spotify? Because happens using Spotify Connect.

K

kdth_jhspk69Author

Renowned Enthusiast I

Has anyone contacted to Sonos support to check this issue?

R

RTX6400

Lyricist III

Not yet. Was going to do more comparison tests with my other non sonos system see if it is a spotify connect issues next week when I got time. It will probably be hard to prove prior it sounded better on spotify connect as I have no videos/evidence of how it was prior other than my own experience.

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kdth_jhspk69Author

Renowned Enthusiast I

I've contacted to Sonos support checking Spotify from Sonos app, Spotify Connect and Spotify Airplay. Only happens with Spotify Connect, so their conclusion is that is a Spotify issue (what a surprise). I'm quite concerned that this issue began coinciding with the most recent Sonos software update.

Airgetlam

Given that Sonos plays what it is handed, including volume of the source settings, that’s not overly surprising. If Spotify has changed what they’re sending from the Spotify server, Sonos doesn’t ‘know’ that to make adjustments.

Bruce

Corry P

Sonos Staff

Hi @kdth_jhspk69 et al

Thanks for your post!

I am sorry to hear of this issue you are having with streamed music from Spotify sounding quieter than other sources.

We’d like to look into this for you all. Please be aware that although Spotify’s Loudness normalization page states that third-party speakers do not perform normalisation, we in fact do perform this step. Perhaps the issue lies there, somehow.

I’d like to ask you all to please reboot any speakers/players where you have encountered this volume issue, whether playing via the Sonos app or the Spotify app, then recreate the issue, and finally submit a support diagnostic. Once you have done so, please reply here stating that you have performed these steps, and please include the name of the room where you played, and state which app you used to initiate the playback. Please do not post any diagnostic numbers on the public forum.

Thanks.

Edit: Correction - we don’t not apply normalisation with Spotify, though we do with some other services.

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein

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kdth_jhspk69Author

Renowned Enthusiast I

Done, I've sent you a message with the info. Thanks for your interest in this topic.

Yes, using Spotify Connect all the normalization, quality, etc controls in the app are disabled the moment you connect to the speakers.

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savadgan

Lyricist II

I am facing the same issue, its not only limited to Spotify it is also for Apple music. Volume needs to set at 50-60 for music streaming but for TV 20-30 is enough. I have arc ultra + sub.

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