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Contributor I
April 29, 2018
Answered

Home Theater Surround Sound with Play 1 and One

I’ve seemed to run into a pickle. I bought a Sonos Play 1 and a Sonos One with Alexa for my surround sound theater system with my Playbar. Yet, when I go to set up the surround sound, the two seem to be incomparable to create a system together in that way.

Has anyone else experienced this and is there a work around? I’m unsure why Sonos would make it so this wasn’t possible with the unnecessary of having two Alexa speakers in one room.
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Airgetlam
AirgetlamAnswer
April 29, 2018
Indeed, the speakers are dissimilar enough internally that Sonos did not choose to allow them to be paired, despite the physical size similarity. I’d recommend looking for an app called Sonosequencr, which apparently allows you to do so. There are many other threads on this concern.
Bruce

12 replies

Airgetlam
AirgetlamAnswer
April 29, 2018
Indeed, the speakers are dissimilar enough internally that Sonos did not choose to allow them to be paired, despite the physical size similarity. I’d recommend looking for an app called Sonosequencr, which apparently allows you to do so. There are many other threads on this concern.
Bruce
Stuart_W
World-Class Superstar
April 29, 2018
Indeed, the speakers are dissimilar enough internally that Sonos did not choose to allow them to be paired, despite the physical size similarity. I’d recommend looking for an app called Sonosequencr, which apparently allows you to do so. There are many other threads on this concern.

I haven't seen it suggested this will allow the Play:1 and Sonos:1 be set up as surrounds.

If you have just bought the speakers then either return one and buy the other or use it as an excuse to get Sonos in another room - I'd buy another Play: 1 and use that with the other one for the surrounds and put the Sonos:1 somewhere else.
Arc + Sub (Gen 1) + 2 x Play 1/ Stereo Play 3s/ Era 100 Stereo in Kitchen, One Stereo in Bedroom, Play 1 stereo pair in Study, Play 1in Bathroom, Sonos Move 2
Chris
Lead Maestro
April 29, 2018
You can use Sonosequencr IOS app to make the mixed pairing in the surround situation (with one surround being Play:1 and the other Sonos One). Let me find you the instructions as they were different then doing a normal stereo pairing.
Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)
Chris
Lead Maestro
April 29, 2018
Open Sonosequencer.... at the bottom of screen there is the word devices. Click on devices. List of your Sonos speakers will come up. click on the playbar/playbase speaker name. In the top section you see the word Config. Click on config. This will bring you to the configuration screen to setup your surround speakers in any combination you want.
Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)
Airgetlam
April 30, 2018
Stuart, I have to admit I've not tried it myself, but I think I assumed that if they could be made a stereo pair, then they could be made as surrounds. Happily, Chris is on the spot to confirm. In the meantime, I prefer to stick to the whole "as designed" aspect, both for audio clarity and ease of use. With my luck, as soon as I start messing around with non-standard stuff, it'll all break, and I'll be up the creek, looking for help 🙂
Bruce
Enthusiast II
April 30, 2018
I'd image that internally the play 1 and sonos one are probably very similiar if not exactly the same
SONOS ARC | SONOS Sub | SONOS Play 1 x 2 | LG C9 OLED | PS5 | RTX3090 Gaming PC | Sennheiser GSP600 Headset | Audio Pro T8L Desktop Monitors
Stuart_W
World-Class Superstar
April 30, 2018
Stuart, I have to admit I've not tried it myself, but I think I assumed that if they could be made a stereo pair, then they could be made as surrounds. Happily, Chris is on the spot to confirm. In the meantime, I prefer to stick to the whole "as designed" aspect, both for audio clarity and ease of use. With my luck, as soon as I start messing around with non-standard stuff, it'll all break, and I'll be up the creek, looking for help :)

Thanks Chris for confirming that Sonosequencr IOS app does allow the Sonos:1 and Play:1 to be set as surrounds. It's good to know for the future so I can advise correctly.

I'd still stand by my advise though! Buy more Sonos gear!
Arc + Sub (Gen 1) + 2 x Play 1/ Stereo Play 3s/ Era 100 Stereo in Kitchen, One Stereo in Bedroom, Play 1 stereo pair in Study, Play 1in Bathroom, Sonos Move 2
Chris
Lead Maestro
April 30, 2018
Sonos has stated they are not the same internally or in their sounds stage. Many may find that they are close enough but Sonos says no and therefore shouldn't be paired. Sonosequencr allows people to do it anyway.
Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)
Airgetlam
April 30, 2018
Didn't someone say you could pair a PLAY:5 and a PLAY:1 as stereo speakers using that app? Seems like a major fail to me, but I guess if it works for some people, who am I to complain 🙂
Bruce
Chris
Lead Maestro
April 30, 2018
Yes you can pair any crazy combination. Of course Sonos would say play:1 and Sonos One is crazy combination.
Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)