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barathri
Contributor I
November 24, 2022

CD / Bluray player for use with a Sonos system

Greetings,

My current setup includes a Sonos Beam and a few Play / One models that I would like to put together in my living room. I currently have a CD player and a TV that share the Beam using an HDMI switch. This works, but the drawbacks are:

  • “TV volume is fixed”, which means I can’t use the remote control to change the sound (so either I walk to the Beam or I have to use my phone);
  • the CD player outputs is music solely to the Beam, as expected from the setup of course.

I would like to be able to play my CDs in the same way that I play my local FLAC files on my system: selecting which outputs should be use, setting up the volume of each device individually or globally, etc. Is there a reasonably priced CD player that could be used for that? I understand that I could buy a Sonos Port and connect my current CD player, but the price deters me. I don’t care about streaming services. Blu-Ray capabilities would be a plus as I have a few 5.1 records in that format.

I welcome suggestions from everyone, but I live in Europe, so I’d prefer answers from European users since they can point me to items I can find here (I don’t want to think about taxes on foreign items).

Thanks for your help!

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18 replies

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buzz
buzz
Grand Maestro
November 27, 2022

This is my expectation. Is this creating an issue for you?

barathriAuthor
Contributor I
November 27, 2022

Yes, I’d like to be able to take advantage of my setup for playing my discs in the same way. If the only way to achieve that is to buy a > €400 Port / Connect as suggested above, then so be it. I’ll live with my current setup and just play CDs through the Beam.

But do you have an explanation for this behaviour? Given that both inputs are optical outs converted to HDMI entering the same switch, I don’t understand the difference in treatment by the system.

buzz
buzz
Grand Maestro
November 27, 2022

I’m not fully understanding your issue. Are you able to listen to CD’s using your current connections?

barathriAuthor
Contributor I
November 27, 2022

Yes I am. I just want to be able to have the sound come out on multiple speakers. This works when the TV is the source (groups are active and everything), but not when the CD player is. I use a switch similar to this one (couldn’t find the exact same model anymore):

https://www.amazon.com/Splitter-Tekholy-Aluminum-Bi-Directional-Switcher-Splitter/dp/B09CDNNZNM/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3VPSO25VB4A50&keywords=hdmi+switch&qid=1669545320&sprefix=hdmi+switch%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-6

buzz
buzz
Grand Maestro
November 27, 2022

Are the “multiple speakers” other SONOS Rooms or are they surround speakers bonded to BEAM? 

barathriAuthor
Contributor I
November 27, 2022

These are Sonos Ones and Plays, connected through the network and grouped with the Beam using the app.

barathriAuthor
Contributor I
November 27, 2022

Well, nevermind. Restarted the system and now everything works as I wanted. The mysteries of technology ...

Pepstn
Contributor I
August 28, 2023

The above discussion is helpful and a little confusing.  I have the same need to connect a CD player to a system where a Sonos Amp is powering Sonus faber speakers.  A Samsung 55” 90Q tv is connected to the Sonos eArc and works beautifully for tv sound through the speakers.  There is not need for a center channel as the phantom center channel created by the Sonos Amp is terrific and the clarity is better than my previous Sonos Arc.  Now, I want to add a CD player.  I was advised by technician at SVS (who sold me my 12 gauge speaker cables), that rather than adding a CD player to the line in, to get a blu-ray player which also plays CDs.  Sony makes good model x700M and x800Ms that have two HDMI outs as well as a coaxial cable out.  The coaxial cable out would be perfect for the CDs, except Sonos doesn’t have a coaxial input and doesn’t pass through 24hz-192khz.  It reconverts any CD player’s analogue out back into digital and then does its own “hidden” thing to reconvert to analogue.   My question is:

  1. Can I use the HDMI video/audio channel connected to the tv for just DVD video watching and connect a second HDMI to the TV from the blu-ray player’s “Audio only” output just for the CDs.
  2. If yes, can I listen to CDs with the tv off, or does it have to be on at all times to listen to the CDs through Sonos Amp/Sonus faber speakers.
  3. Panasonic makes a blu-ray player with a 2 channel line out - could that be used for just the CD playing (connecting directly to the Sonos Amp line in?) and then the video would be HDMI to the TV?  Or would it be better to use the Panasonic’s second HDMI out to the tv, same as for the sony.  This model is higher end and allows connections directy to seven-channel home theatre, but it has two channel RCA out as well
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