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Feature Suggestion: Custom Sound Profiles or Scenarios

  • January 8, 2026
  • 11 replies
  • 82 views

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Feature Suggestion: Custom Sound Profiles or Scenarios (Movies, Music, Gaming, etc.)

As a regular user of the Sonos ecosystem, I’d like to suggest a feature that I believe would be highly useful and practical: the ability to create custom sound scenarios or audio profiles that allow users to save and apply different settings depending on the intended use.

For example, when watching a movie, it would be ideal to activate a profile that includes:
- Trueplay On  
- Height audio +10  
- Bass +10  
- Surround +3  
- Voice enhancement On  

Whereas for music listening, another profile might include:
- Trueplay On  
- Height audio +10  
- Bass +15  
- Surround 0  
- Voice enhancement Off  

Right now, making these adjustments manually each time takes extra time and interrupts the smoothness of the user experience. This feature could be added to the Sonos app under a “Usage Scenarios” or “User Profiles” section, allowing for quick access and customization without compromising the simplicity of the current interface.

Many other audio and home theater platforms offer similar functionality, and I believe this would be a great step forward for Sonos in delivering an even more flexible and personalized experience.

Thank you for your attention and for continuing to innovate in one of the most reliable and powerful audio platforms on the market. What do you think?

11 replies

Airgetlam
  • January 8, 2026

I like the concept, I expect the Forum moderators will pass it along.
 

Although I’d be somewhat worried about how much space is required to store this data, and how much memory is there, especially in systems with older speakers which may have much less available RAM. 


Airgetlam
  • January 8, 2026

Oh, one further note.  In case my last post wasn’t clear, most data isn’t stored on the controller, but on all speakers. Which is why a guest can open up the Sonos controller and see all the settings. It would be easier to store stuff on the controller if Sonos allowed only one to connect. 
 

Given that I use an iPhone, two iPads, and a couple of Macs to control my system at times, I’m happy it’s not restricted. 


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  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • January 9, 2026

Thanks for your detailed response. I understand the concern regarding storage on the speakers, especially with older models that have limited RAM. However, I believe this feature of custom profiles or sound scenarios could be implemented efficiently if the storage and sync logic were linked directly to the owner’s account, rather than solely relying on the speaker hardware.

Currently, many Sonos system settings already sync across devices via the cloud, as long as they are connected to the same Sonos account. This allows any device (iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, etc.) using the same account to access settings, groups, and preferences immediately and consistently.

In this way, custom profiles could be stored in the user's cloud account and simply interpreted by the speakers when activated. This would avoid adding memory load to each speaker, especially since these profiles would only be called on demand (e.g., when starting a movie or playing music).

It would also maintain the current multi-device flexibility without compromising system performance or limiting control to a single device.

What do you think? Would a cloud-based implementation tied to the user account address the issue you mentioned?


Airgetlam
  • January 9, 2026

Not stored in the cloud as far as I’m aware, all ‘data’ is stored in the speakers. I think Sonos would have to create the entire concept and application of a ‘cloud’, much less a server where all that data is stored.  But there’s no reason not to ask for it, I just don’t see it happening soon, if at all. Which has no affect on the actual asking for it ;)


Airgetlam
  • January 9, 2026

The only data points I think Sonos stores is your system, and your account name. They get more data when you submit a diagnostic, but that’s merely a point in time snapshot, not ongoing data.


AjTrek1
  • January 9, 2026

@Airgetlam 

As you and I are Apple users …IMO this thread and other like it are suggesting something similar to iCloud for iOS devices where an iOS’s configuration can be stored and re-downloaded to a repaired or new iOS device. However as you know iCloud storage comes at a cost albeit IMO very cheap.

The other option is to regularly backup an iOS device to a computer which technically is free except for the cost of the computer.

As far as creating a profile for each user to be stored somewhere by Sonos IMO would be a very expensive proposition for Sonos to implement. That’s most likely why playlists are stored on speakers unless it a streaming service where the playlists are created.

There is one possibility where profiles might be stored in the future and that is on the shelved Sonos Streamer. 🤔

Of course I’m just speculating about all the above 😂

 


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  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • January 9, 2026

Thank you for your perspective, it’s always great to see thoughtful input from fellow users. That said, I think there’s a bit of confusion about what’s actually being proposed here.

The idea of “Sound Profiles" or “Usage Scenarios” (like Movie, Music, Gaming, etc.) is not comparable to iCloud-style full device backups or deep user configuration sync. It’s far simpler.

Sonos already stores basic system configurations: EQ settings, Trueplay data, speaker groups, volume levels, etc. Either on the speakers themselves or in the linked account, allowing seamless continuity across multiple controllers (phones, tablets, etc.). What’s being suggested is an extension of this same principle: the ability to save and apply a set of preferences under a labeled profile.

For example:

- Profile: "Movie Night" → Bass +10, Height +10, Trueplay ON, Surrounds +3

- Profile: "Music Mode" → Bass +15, Surrounds OFF, Voice Enhancer OFF

This wouldn't require substantial new infrastructure or data storage. These are just a few numerical values and toggles, far lighter than even a small playlist. The profiles could be stored locally on the controller and optionally backed up to the Sonos cloud (which already manages user accounts and systems), much like how Sonos remembers speaker layouts or services.

The feature would:

- Improve UX by reducing repetitive manual adjustments.

- Cater to audiophiles and casual users alike.

- Add value to the system without adding much overhead to Sonos infrastructure.

It’s not about backing up devices, but about simplifying interaction with an already-configurable system and enhancing personalization. I hope this helps clarify the vision!


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  • Local Superstar
  • January 9, 2026

I better option, IMHO, is to allow ‘Actions’ in the Sonos App and use iOS shortcuts to apply settings in the Sonos iOS App, including adjusting sound options,  grouping, ungrouping players, etc. Allowing specific ‘moods’ or ‘scenes’ to be created at push of button or voice using Siri. No requirement for storing on Sonos System or Sonos App, as iOS shortcuts are created in iOS on mobile device and backed up to iCloud.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/shortcuts/welcome/ios


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  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • January 9, 2026

Thank you for your input. iOS Shortcuts do offer some flexibility for Apple users and can help automate basic actions like grouping rooms, playing music, or adjusting volume. However, I believe this solution doesn’t fully address what I’m proposing with custom sound scenarios or profiles.

My suggestion focuses on something more specific and deeper: the ability to save and apply EQ and audio configuration profiles (such as bass, height audio, surround levels, voice enhancement, and Trueplay) tailored to different usage contexts like Movies, Music, or Gaming. These parameters are not currently exposed as actions within iOS Shortcuts via Sonos, making it impossible to automate them through that method.

Additionally:

- iOS Shortcuts are limited to Apple users, and don’t serve users on Android or other platforms.

- Shortcuts are stored on the device, not in the Sonos account, so they can’t be easily shared or accessed across household members.

- They still require users to manually adjust detailed sound settings, which my proposal aims to streamline.

Instead, a built-in “Use Case Scenarios” or “User Profiles” feature in the Sonos app would allow users to save complete sound setups directly to their account, accessible from any device and shareable across household members without relying on external automation tools or third-party platforms.

This proposal is aimed at improving user experience, efficiency, and personalization, while maintaining the simplicity that makes Sonos so appealing.


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  • Enthusiast I
  • January 9, 2026

IMO this would be a nice addition to the Sonos ecosystem. Having the ability to customize sound on a per‑source basis and automatically apply those settings would be incredibly useful in everyday listening, at least in my use case. 

I agree it is fair to assume that not every S2 device has the processing and/or memory to support this, but Sonos has already begun segmenting S2 firmware so older and newer hardware can run different feature sets. Sound profiles may be the kind of feature that could both nudge users toward newer hardware and for some keep them from switching to alternatives like WiiM, which already offers similar sound profile options.


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  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • January 9, 2026

I completely agree with you Raguu. That’s exactly the intention behind this proposal, to offer a smoother and more personalized experience for those of us who use Sonos in different day-to-day scenarios (movies, music, gaming, etc.).

As you mentioned, Sonos already segments features based on hardware, so implementing sound profiles by scenario or source wouldn’t need to be universal it could be available only on devices with the technical capability, such as newer models.

Moreover, this feature wouldn’t just add value to the Sonos ecosystem, it would also strengthen user loyalty and help prevent users from switching to alternatives like WiiM, which already offer similar sound profile options. It would be a smart way for Sonos to stay competitive without compromising its core simplicity.