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Contributor I
September 13, 2014
Question

How to connect a dj-controller to SonosNet

  • September 13, 2014
  • 17 replies
  • 30496 views
I am planning on buying a Playbar, Sub and 2 Play:3's, mainly for use as 5.1 hometheatersystem.
I also want to connect my Pioneer DDJ-Ergo-K dj-controller, to the SonosNet, in order to be able to hear my mix trough all Sonosspeakers.
How can i do this? I already know that Sonos has the Connect and Connect:Amp, which have an analog input that i can use. If this is really the way to do it, do i use the Connect or the Connect:Amp?
I do have 1 doubt; i have found on the internet that when i connect a mixer to the Connect (:Amp), there might be a slight delay. (The music in the headphones is not in sync with the music played trough the speakers, which is not acceptable when mixing).
If there will be a delay, i could use a receiver:
Connecting the Pioneer dj-controller to the analog input of the receiver, then connecting the receiver with HDMI to my tv, which has the Playbar connected on it. The Playbar will send the music to the other Sonosspeakers.
Is this a possible solution to the problem? Or will i still have a delay? 

Thank you for the respons!
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    17 replies

    Chris
    Lead Maestro
    September 13, 2014
    There is a slight delay when using Connect (Connect:Amp same way - connect Amp has amp built in to it for external speakers like a receiver).   They should probably just be called Connect and Amp.  Amp does have analog inputs (like the Play:5 does to).  Connect has analog/digital outputs and analog inputs (so the outputs are what make Connect different).

    As far as delay there is a slight one.  It is not a lot but enough for example if you had hooked up to TV and had TV speakers on and Sonos on you would hear echo like in stadium if that makes sense.  Without TV speakers on I have not noticed it enough to cause lip sync to be off with TV.  I know that is not what your trying to accomplish but giving you idea of how much delay.

    The delay has been quoted as 70ms.  So there would be an echo between your headphones and the speakers.

    Now the Playbar has a digital input that does not introduce any delay.  You could hook your DJ controller up to the Playbar (I would do directly as going through receivers/tv etc. is going to eventually add delay).  Probably easiest thing to do is when you want to use DJ controller just unhook the fiber cable from the TV and then hook to your controller.  If your controller doesn't have digital out just get a fairly inexpensive analog to digital converter (example: http://www.amazon.com/Analog-Digital-Audio-Converter-Adapter/dp/B005F20756/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&...)

    Otherwise if don't want to move the cable back and forth you are going to need some time of switch to hook to playbar to switch inputs.  Which are out there as well.
    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)
    De JeanAuthor
    Contributor I
    September 15, 2014
    Thank you for your answer, Chris!
    Connecting to the optical input on the Playbar seems to be the best way to do it.

    However i explained my problem to the dutch Sonos Technical Support too, and they say, that connecting to the Playbar would also mean i can only play my mix on the Playbar, Sub and 2 Play:3's, and not to any other Sonosspeakers in my house.
    Can you confirm this will not be possible?
    If this is idd the case, can i use the optical input on a Sonos Connect, instead of the optical input on the Playbar to be able to play my mix to all Sonosspeakers in my house?
    Or will i get the 70ms delay, like with an analog connection?

    Thanks again!
    Chris
    Lead Maestro
    September 15, 2014
    That answer is incorrect.  If you have the optical connected to the Playbar and playing via your soundbar ... you can then group any other speaker in the house to the playbar and play whatever the Playbar is playing.  The only limitation when it comes to the digital input into the Playbar is that in order to play on all other Sonos speakers you have to be playing playing via the Playbar at the same time (although volume of playbar could be turned down to 0).

    Other Sonos inputs you can actually play what is being input into it even if that speaker is not playing it.  ie.  if I have TV input into a Play:5.  I can Play TV sound on a Play:3 in another room even though leaving Play:5 playing other music.
    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
    September 15, 2014
    There is not optical input on the Connect only analog input.  Playbar is only Sonos with digital input.

    The digital ports on Connect are both output.
    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
    September 15, 2014
    I just double confirmed for you.  I turned on TV on my 3rd floor connected to Playbar optical input. 

    I am now listening to the to the 3rd floor TV on my Connect in my office on 1st floor (just by grouping my office with the Playbar as you would any room).
    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)
    De JeanAuthor
    Contributor I
    September 16, 2014
    Thank you very much for all the info and the testing!
    I think i will try and connect everything like you suggest. I only hope that the 'analog-to-digital'-converter will not introduce a delay. Eventually this is also a convertingprocess... (i guess you don't have any info about that?)

    Anyway, thanks again for everything and when i have my setup completed, i will try to come back to give an update!
    De JeanAuthor
    Contributor I
    October 6, 2014
    UPDATE - In the meantime i have bought my Sonos-speakers. (Playbar, Sub & 2 Play:3's). What a sound! :-)
    I have connected my dj-controller trough an 'analog-to-optical-converter' to my Playbar, and it works just great! No delay's or other problems!
    Thanks again, Chris, for all the information and doublechecking! 
    Chris
    Lead Maestro
    October 6, 2014
    great to hear De Jean
    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)
    Lyricist I
    May 2, 2015
    great to hear De Jean


    Hi De Jean, can you tell me the analog to digital converter you use? Thx Sebastian
    CapnLes
    Virtuoso
    May 2, 2015
    That is one of the many great things about Sonos.  Once you get a signal in to the system you can play it any where you want.  
    My Sonos system is rock solid 100% of the time and your system should be too!