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CuzFeeshe
Enthusiast I
April 9, 2023

Unable to play song ‘song’ - the song is not encoded correctly. Issue since 15.2

  • April 9, 2023
  • 144 replies
  • 24857 views

Since the 15.2 release there is quite a few songs that display this error when trying to play them.  These seem to be mainly songs that are not lossless.  They were purchased over time from Apple Music.  They will still play if I use the Apple Music app, but they will no longer play from Sonos app.  I suspect some lossy codex broke with latest release. Occurs with all my Sonos products.

Is this a known issue? 

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    Pinned Reply By Corry P

    Hi @The Etron 

    Thank you for reporting the issue with TuneIn Podcasts - we were able to replicate the problem and are now investigating.

     

    For everyone else, please note that there are multiple reasons for the “not encoded correctly” error occurring:

    • Apple Music used to (years ago) provide music tracks with Digital Rights Management (DRM), which results in Sonos being unable to play them. Re-downloading those specific tracks would be the only way to fix this. Other sources may have done the same.
    • Failed WiFi transmissions can also cause this error. Our support team can identify if/where this is happening and assist.
    • Actual errors in the files themselves can also cause this error - if this is the case, the same files will produce the error each time, and probably at the same point. Again, replacing the files will be the only way to resolve. Most likely to be seen with Music Library rather than with music services.

    I recommend each of you get in touch with our technical support team who have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your Sonos system and what it reports.

    I hope this helps.

    Edit: I should add that if there were an issue with our software rather than encoding/transmission issues, we would also need to you get in touch to have the issue documented and investigated.

    144 replies

    Show previous replies
    dieg00
    Lyricist III
    May 4, 2023

    Have you checked this thread?


     

    shiyau
    Lyricist I
    May 7, 2023

    I encountered the same problem, half the playlist won’t work but i am using Youtube Music. Guess Sonos that’s broken rather than Apple or Youtube

    TacomaTuttle
    Lyricist I
    May 8, 2023

    Same problem here, using Apple Music and version 15.3.

    I am using IKEA shortcut buttons for play lists around the house and this no longer works.

    To begin with, I thought it was the IKEA hub playing up but when I run the Sonos app, I can see the playlist being cycled though the songs and constantly flagging “wrong encoding”.

    To begin with it would cut songs short and skip to the next, but now it is about 90% of the songs in a playlist.

    very very frustrating.

      dieg00
      Lyricist III
      May 8, 2023

      The way to push is by calling customer service, because these guys from Sonos might not be checking this forum. 

        Airgetlam
        Airgetlam
        May 8, 2023

        And, there are multiple possible answers, it may not just be a single cause. Providing data to Sonos CS directly would likely help either identify the particular issue for the programmers working on it, or provide an immediate solution to your particular use case. Either way, a win. 

        Bruce
        Serottaguy
        Lyricist I
        May 11, 2023

        I just called Sonos to report the same issue.  After being on hold for several minutes, the tech came back on to say that this is a known issue and that it is with Apple.   There are work arounds, he said, but they require dealing with each improperly encoded song - which would take hours for me as I have a large library.   Hopefully Apple or Sonos figure it out and quit blaming each other.  I’d like to get all of my music back!    I am just a listener, not a lyricist.   Not sure where that came from after my name!

          PrivatePlace
          Contributor I
          May 12, 2023

          Glad I logged into this forum.  The teleophone support has been absolutely abysmal.  I am having the same problem(s) only I have NO airplay anything in my setup.  Just sonos speakers.   Furthermore most of my music is from CD rips and I have purched 0 music from Apple.  So the lossless element does not seem to be a factor… however, the erros are exactly consistent… “incorrectly encoded” and yes, the songs that I  know of, have been in my setup for 2+ years… but NOW they won’t play.  Furthermore they won’t even show up in Search after I do a music library update.   

          I super miss the days when Sonos just worked.

            Palos
            Contributor I
            May 18, 2023

            I am having same issues. Songs not coded from Apple very frustrating. If I play from Apple via air play it is ok. 
            Is the sound quality worse if I do that instead of playing from Sonos app?

            Sonos this is a big deal you have to fix this. 

            Bill Epi
            Lyricist I
            May 21, 2023

            I have the same issue.  A large portion of my enormous iTunes/Apple Music library simply won’t play on Sonos now.   

             

            Sonos support: Please fix this soon !!!     Thanks

            dieg00
            Lyricist III
            May 21, 2023

            Hey guys,

             

            If you have not done it yet, you have to call customer service! 

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