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Contributor I
April 22, 2020

Cannot control volume of my Beam when listening to Google News (via Google Assistant)

  • April 22, 2020
  • 18 replies
  • 748 views

Hello guys,

 

I am quite new to the Sonos world but so far I have been nothing but satisfied. However, today I experienced something that I cannot seem to fix. When I command the Google Assistant to play the latest news, Beam’s volume goes down no matter how loud it was before. Plus I cannot increase the volume either from the app of physically via Beam. The volume is stuck at low for the news! That is if I increase the volume manually the volume bar moves in the app, and the sound is very loud if I change to music, but the news in that moment do not react. 


I have done a Factory reset but it did not help. Plus, this problem did not occur earlier, as we were able to control the volume for news normally. 


Any suggestion what it may be? Could it be some Google Home or Assistant settings? 

 

 

Very thankful for any help!

Tnx in advance

Regards 

Dule

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18 replies

Lyricist III
April 23, 2020

Having the exact same issue with my new Beam right now. Listening to my Google Assistant news briefing, and some recordings are incredibly quiet while some are super loud (it's not like this on my Google Home Hub). The Beam's volume buttons are reacting to my touch but doing nothing until the news is over, then it plays music/whatever at normal volume. Also tried this on my Sonos One, same issue.

Dule13Author
Contributor I
April 24, 2020

Having the exact same issue with my new Beam right now. Listening to my Google Assistant news briefing, and some recordings are incredibly quiet while some are super loud (it's not like this on my Google Home Hub). The Beam's volume buttons are reacting to my touch but doing nothing until the news is over, then it plays music/whatever at normal volume. Also tried this on my Sonos One, same issue.

 

Exactly, it’ so annoying. But have you had this issue from day one? As a matter of fact I did not have this problem from the beginning (been using Sonos for couple of weeks). 

Lyricist III
April 24, 2020

Having the exact same issue with my new Beam right now. Listening to my Google Assistant news briefing, and some recordings are incredibly quiet while some are super loud (it's not like this on my Google Home Hub). The Beam's volume buttons are reacting to my touch but doing nothing until the news is over, then it plays music/whatever at normal volume. Also tried this on my Sonos One, same issue.

 

Exactly, it’ so annoying. But have you had this issue from day one? As a matter of fact I did not have this problem from the beginning (been using Sonos for couple of weeks). 

 

Nope, I first noticed it when I posted. My Beam is new though, so I'm not sure if it's that or a recent software update that caused it.

April 25, 2020

Hi @Dule13, and @nluchs. Welcome to the Community. I understand that you are having some issues with Google Assistant on your Beam. In both of your cases, the Assistant volume is lower compared to what the Beam is playing, correct? 

Do either of you have a Sonos One, or Move in your systems? If so, how does Google Assistant work on those devices; is it also low voice volume?

We would like to have you submit a diagnostic of your system and reply back with the confirmation number. This will allow us to see how your system is functioning, and help provide a resolution.

Dule13Author
Contributor I
April 26, 2020

Hi @Dule13, and @nluchs. Welcome to the Community. I understand that you are having some issues with Google Assistant on your Beam. In both of your cases, the Assistant volume is lower compared to what the Beam is playing, correct? 

Do either of you have a Sonos One, or Move in your systems? If so, how does Google Assistant work on those devices; is it also low voice volume?

We would like to have you submit a diagnostic of your system and reply back with the confirmation number. This will allow us to see how your system is functioning, and help provide a resolution.

 

Hi Richard! Tnx for answering. 

Well I do have two Sonos One’s but they are of SL type and I use them as surround speakers in the same room. So, I only use Beam with Google Assistant. 

 

To be clear it is both Assistants voice and the Google news volume that is lower. For example, I am listening to music at high volume and they I ask the Goolge to play the latest news. From that point, both the Google voice and all the news are at low volume and the volume is “stuck”. Cannot be changed via voice, Sonos app or physically via Beam. (the volume bar moves and everything else will be louder after the news stops, but the news are stuck at low). 

 

Ok, i will submit a diagnostic. 

 

Tnx again! 

Cheers

Dule13Author
Contributor I
April 26, 2020

My confirmation number is: 605783975

Lyricist III
May 2, 2020

Hi @Dule13, and @nluchs. Welcome to the Community. I understand that you are having some issues with Google Assistant on your Beam. In both of your cases, the Assistant volume is lower compared to what the Beam is playing, correct? 

Do either of you have a Sonos One, or Move in your systems? If so, how does Google Assistant work on those devices; is it also low voice volume?

We would like to have you submit a diagnostic of your system and reply back with the confirmation number. This will allow us to see how your system is functioning, and help provide a resolution.

Thanks Richard, just confirmed the issue is still happening and submitted a diagnostic. I have reproduced it on both the Beam and a Sonos One that I have in another room.

Diagnostic confirmation number: 1644282426

Also, when the Beam is playing news and I tell it “hey google, stop” the response is “I need to know which device to use. Try again by telling me the device.” It’s like it doesn’t even realize that it’s actively playing news.

May 5, 2020

Sorry for the delay in response. To see if this clears up the issue, I would like to have you remove Google Assistant from your Sonos devices, and then red add it back. Does the issue still continue, or does it seem to improve? 

You can remove a voice service by going to Settings>Services & Voice> Google Assistant> (Name of the Room)> Remove Assistant. 

Lyricist III
May 15, 2020

Sorry for the delay in response. To see if this clears up the issue, I would like to have you remove Google Assistant from your Sonos devices, and then red add it back. Does the issue still continue, or does it seem to improve? 

You can remove a voice service by going to Settings>Services & Voice> Google Assistant> (Name of the Room)> Remove Assistant. 

Hi Richard, just tried removing the assistant from all speakers and added them back. Played my news briefing and still couldn’t adjust the volume.

Also, I _can_ somewhat adjust the volume of the GA responses outside of the news briefing, but the minimum volume is still a good bit louder than the Sonos minimum volume. Very jarring in a quiet bedroom.

May 15, 2020

Thanks for trying that, this is very strange behavior. Because of that, we would like to troubleshoot this issue with you over the phone. I am going to send you a direct message so we can gather more information from you to create a phone case on your behalf. This way, when you call in. We know what was done already.