TV remote for grouped devices issue



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77 replies

Userlevel 2
support replied with this "I do think there is some validity to what you are saying which is why it will be forwarded to the necessary parties."

see here https://en.community.sonos.com/wireless-speakers-228992/control-all-grouped-sonos-using-tv-remote-control-via-playbar-6703084?postid=16035212

🙂
Userlevel 7
Badge +22
support replied with this "I do think there is some validity to what you are saying which is why it will be forwarded to the necessary parties."

see here https://en.community.sonos.com/wireless-speakers-228992/control-all-grouped-sonos-using-tv-remote-control-via-playbar-6703084?postid=16035212

:)


You'll forgive me for providing a little context won't you?

On another thread a poster described a scenario in which they were in their Living Room with Playbar grouped with other nearby speakers not in the Living Room set-up. Their phone rings and they want to mute ALL speakers using the TV remote.

Support suggested that this merited forwarding to the relevant team.

Here's my take:- Sonos support and unwavering in their politeness but it should be noted that it took several years for them to make that statement and all the threads posting similar requests are dominated by those suggesting that the idea is a non-starter.

My advice would be not to hang your hat on this ever happening.
Keeping the hope alive.....

I have a Playbar and 2 Play 1's grouped for 5.1 surround. Sounds great, just as Sonos intended. Since I have a perfectly good powered sub woofer (Velodyne 12"), I did not purchase the Sonos sub. To add more bass to my 5.1 experience, I use a CONNECT connected to my subwoofer. Not a true .1 solution in a 5.1surround system (I am getting another non-Sonos component to make that part work), but the bass added using this method is still very good for an overall good 5.1 surround sound experience.

The CONNECT w/3rd party sub is grouped with the Playbar/Play 1's, as others have done in similar configurations. The only way to control the volume level of both simultaneously is with the Sonos app on my iPhone. My TV remote only controls the Playbar/Play 1's (which are grouped for 5.1 surround). So as many others have requested, it would be great to have a user configurable "option" to allow the TV remote that is paired with the Playbar to control the volume of all Sonos speakers (in other rooms, etc) that are grouped with the Playbar.

Keep beating that horse, it ain't quite dead yet....
Very annoying that this isn't an option. I have 2 x play 5 and 2 x play 1 as well as a Sonos Playbar/sub 5.1 setup. Theyre all in the same room but I cant control them all together using my IR remote.
+1...new user here. Frustrated by the same problem. Playbar bonded with two Play1s. Grouped with one Play3. Would love my TV remote to volume up/down all of them at once.

Is the issue drawing a difference between: A) grouping the "source" of sound for a variety of speakers vs. 😎 grouping the volume control for a variety of speakers? i.e. some people want A, some want A & B?

Would love to see this fixed Sonos! Thank you!
Issue is still not solved??? Come on Sonos.... This should be a basic feature! If I have a playbar and rear speakers on my living room, if I press the mute button on my tv remote why only the playbar goes to mute??? To me it makes no sense for this option not being available...
This makes perfect sense. The software should allow one to group a Player with other Sonos products (In my case, Connect:Amp) and allow the TV remote to control the entire group. It is simply an option that users should be able to choose. For those that do not want to use the system that way, they can simply not group them. What is so hard about this?
Userlevel 5
Badge +2
Hello Peter, Here's a bit more info on the difference between Grouped players and Bonded players: https://sonos.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1930 The main distinction is that Bonded players are grouped semi-permanently and operate as one big unit, thus the unified volume control. Grouped players are in a temporary group and are still identified as individual units with separate volume controls. I'll switch this over to the Share an Idea section so others can +1 as a feature request.
Userlevel 2
Hi Ryan, Thank you for the additional information. However, whilst it explains how bonded and and group systems work, its not really addressing that actual issue. Whilst you can still individually control volumes within a group using the user interfaces, there is still a master control that controls all devices within the group. It should follow (my belief) that any controller used on a grouped device (inc. TV buttons) should act as a master volume controller rather that adjust an individual device. Therefore, I'm still of the belief that this is a bug, not an enhancement. I really think you should discuss this internally, as the current implementation from an end user perspective is simply wrong. In fact, it hard to believe why its current implementation would make sense in practical use. I therefore, ask you to reconsider your position with regards to categorising this as a feature rather than a bug. Regards Peter
Hi Ryan, Thank you for the additional information. However, whilst it explains how bonded and and group systems work, its not really addressing that actual issue. Whilst you can still individually control volumes within a group using the user interfaces, there is still a master control that controls all devices within the group. It should follow (my belief) that any controller used on a grouped device (inc. TV buttons) should act as a master volume controller rather that adjust an individual device. Therefore, I'm still of the belief that this is a bug, not an enhancement. I really think you should discuss this internally, as the current implementation from an end user perspective is simply wrong. In fact, it hard to believe why its current implementation would make sense in practical use. I therefore, ask you to reconsider your position with regards to categorising this as a feature rather than a bug. Regards Peter
Personally, I disagree. I do not want my TV remote controlling all grouped devices. Nor does it logically follow that it should, in my personal opinion. I'm with Sonos on this one, it is not a bug.
Userlevel 2
Hi Ryan, Thank you for the additional information. However, whilst it explains how bonded and and group systems work, its not really addressing that actual issue. Whilst you can still individually control volumes within a group using the user interfaces, there is still a master control that controls all devices within the group. It should follow (my belief) that any controller used on a grouped device (inc. TV buttons) should act as a master volume controller rather that adjust an individual device. Therefore, I'm still of the belief that this is a bug, not an enhancement. I really think you should discuss this internally, as the current implementation from an end user perspective is simply wrong. In fact, it hard to believe why its current implementation would make sense in practical use. I therefore, ask you to reconsider your position with regards to categorising this as a feature rather than a bug. Regards Peter
That's interesting, can you tell me why, when you have balanced a set of speakers in a group and you change the volume using a TV remote that you wouldn't want the rest of the group to be adjusted proportionately.
Hi Ryan, Thank you for the additional information. However, whilst it explains how bonded and and group systems work, its not really addressing that actual issue. Whilst you can still individually control volumes within a group using the user interfaces, there is still a master control that controls all devices within the group. It should follow (my belief) that any controller used on a grouped device (inc. TV buttons) should act as a master volume controller rather that adjust an individual device. Therefore, I'm still of the belief that this is a bug, not an enhancement. I really think you should discuss this internally, as the current implementation from an end user perspective is simply wrong. In fact, it hard to believe why its current implementation would make sense in practical use. I therefore, ask you to reconsider your position with regards to categorising this as a feature rather than a bug. Regards Peter
Because when I group speakers, it is across rooms, and the volume I have set in one room is not necessarily the volume I want in another room. Example: Super Bowl party, with the sound from the living room TV broadcast going to the bathroom, the kitchen and a sun room, so people can roam around and still hear the game. If the main gathering of guests in the living room gets loud enough to have to raise the volume a significant amount, I certainly don't want the other rooms being raised the same amount.
Hi Ryan, Thank you for the additional information. However, whilst it explains how bonded and and group systems work, its not really addressing that actual issue. Whilst you can still individually control volumes within a group using the user interfaces, there is still a master control that controls all devices within the group. It should follow (my belief) that any controller used on a grouped device (inc. TV buttons) should act as a master volume controller rather that adjust an individual device. Therefore, I'm still of the belief that this is a bug, not an enhancement. I really think you should discuss this internally, as the current implementation from an end user perspective is simply wrong. In fact, it hard to believe why its current implementation would make sense in practical use. I therefore, ask you to reconsider your position with regards to categorising this as a feature rather than a bug. Regards Peter
"Let me clarify a scenario, you have a play bar and connect amp running ceiling speakers, which are all grouped to get an amazing sound. Someone tell you to turn the volume down, you pick up a TV remote and it only turns down half the speakers. You then have to use another device to turn the other set down. Does this make sense?" I would never, ever do this. In fact, I don't consider this "amazing sound", I consider this a mishmash which ruins the sound. I prefer the directionality of 2 stereo speakers (or 5 speakers + sub in a true 5.1 configuration) played as designed. YMMV.
Userlevel 2
Hi Ryan, Thank you for the additional information. However, whilst it explains how bonded and and group systems work, its not really addressing that actual issue. Whilst you can still individually control volumes within a group using the user interfaces, there is still a master control that controls all devices within the group. It should follow (my belief) that any controller used on a grouped device (inc. TV buttons) should act as a master volume controller rather that adjust an individual device. Therefore, I'm still of the belief that this is a bug, not an enhancement. I really think you should discuss this internally, as the current implementation from an end user perspective is simply wrong. In fact, it hard to believe why its current implementation would make sense in practical use. I therefore, ask you to reconsider your position with regards to categorising this as a feature rather than a bug. Regards Peter
well, perhaps you wouldn't. But I have a finely crafted kitchen which I don't want to spoil by placing Play5's and 3's everywhere.
Hi Ryan, Thank you for the additional information. However, whilst it explains how bonded and and group systems work, its not really addressing that actual issue. Whilst you can still individually control volumes within a group using the user interfaces, there is still a master control that controls all devices within the group. It should follow (my belief) that any controller used on a grouped device (inc. TV buttons) should act as a master volume controller rather that adjust an individual device. Therefore, I'm still of the belief that this is a bug, not an enhancement. I really think you should discuss this internally, as the current implementation from an end user perspective is simply wrong. In fact, it hard to believe why its current implementation would make sense in practical use. I therefore, ask you to reconsider your position with regards to categorising this as a feature rather than a bug. Regards Peter
It has nothing to do with the architecture, it has to do with the sound. I would never group ceiling speakers with my Playbar within hearing distance of each other because 5.1 directional sound would be ruined with some of the voices coming from another room. As I said, YMMV. And how exactly do you know I don't have a "finely crafted kitchen" or that I have placed "Play5's and 3's everywhere"? I never mentioned what gear I have, except for a Playbar. Rather assumptive, no?
Userlevel 2
Hi Ryan, Thank you for the additional information. However, whilst it explains how bonded and and group systems work, its not really addressing that actual issue. Whilst you can still individually control volumes within a group using the user interfaces, there is still a master control that controls all devices within the group. It should follow (my belief) that any controller used on a grouped device (inc. TV buttons) should act as a master volume controller rather that adjust an individual device. Therefore, I'm still of the belief that this is a bug, not an enhancement. I really think you should discuss this internally, as the current implementation from an end user perspective is simply wrong. In fact, it hard to believe why its current implementation would make sense in practical use. I therefore, ask you to reconsider your position with regards to categorising this as a feature rather than a bug. Regards Peter
I can sense you're getting upset about this, I wasn't making any assumptions on what you have or don't have, it was more a statement on taste, clearly, yours is different to mine, which is fine. I'm afraid I don't understand your use of acronyms, so you'd have to explain further if you'd like a response. Getting back to the issue, all I was asking Sonos for is a consistent use of remote functionally on a group. You're scenario is as valid as mine.
Hi Ryan, Thank you for the additional information. However, whilst it explains how bonded and and group systems work, its not really addressing that actual issue. Whilst you can still individually control volumes within a group using the user interfaces, there is still a master control that controls all devices within the group. It should follow (my belief) that any controller used on a grouped device (inc. TV buttons) should act as a master volume controller rather that adjust an individual device. Therefore, I'm still of the belief that this is a bug, not an enhancement. I really think you should discuss this internally, as the current implementation from an end user perspective is simply wrong. In fact, it hard to believe why its current implementation would make sense in practical use. I therefore, ask you to reconsider your position with regards to categorising this as a feature rather than a bug. Regards Peter
YMMV is "your mileage may vary". And I'm not upset; I'm a bit annoyed at the thinly disguised suggestion that your tastes are more geared to the "finely crafted" and somehow superior to mine. People can disagree without playing cheap games of one-upsmanship (especially when one has no idea of the class or tastes of the other participants). And you are are correct, your scenario is just as valid as mine, when taking things like decor into account. However, my scenario is only concerned with the actual audio quality. Last I checked, Sonos is an audio company, not an interior design company.
In addition to my comments above, I see the Playbar volume as analogous to the volume buttons on the other Sonos players. When you use the volume buttons on the other Sonos players, they control that player and that player only (plus any bonded players). The Playbar volume control acts the same way.
Userlevel 2
I thank you for your opinion, but I'm afraid we will have to agree to disagree on this subject, as I see the TV remote the same as other Sonos remotes, it should effect the master volume control.
This would be very useful!  Due to the layout of my condo, I decided to opt (at least for now) for only one Play:3 to use with my playbar, and encountered the same grouping/volume control issue.
I'm with Peter on this one.  Anytime I group a zone with my Playbar, for instance my Connect AMP, I want to be able to turn down my Connect AMP when I turn down my Playbar volume with my remote. Having to adjust the volume on my Connect Amp within the Sonos app is a real pain. 
I agree with the original post....this is a bug. If I have multiple speakers in my tv room grouped I want my IR remote to adjust them all together. Otherwise what the hell is the point? I have multiple speakers set up in my tv room beyond the play bar and surrounds. It is common sense that they would all adjust together and a BUG or bad programming that it is not even an option.
Userlevel 2
+1 for me too. I had this issue with my playbar grouped with a pair of play3s. It was very annoying, but most of the time i kept them bonded, because it was even more annoying to redo the whole stereo to 5.1 setup wenn you split the speakers from the playbar.
Now i tried to use the speakers with my logitech harmony hub. And from the start it felt like it should have been like this from the beginning. Similar to the Play/Pause-Button-Change. The only problem is, you can't change the Volume for the whole group. So you end using the apps only for Volume adjustment, what is very disappointing. PLEASE add the option in the software and for Logitech to make a Mastervolume!
   
Userlevel 1
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Still waiting for any news about this feature. Its absolutely needed. Please Sonos!
+1. I have a Play:1 in the kitchen grouped to the Playbar to fill in TV sound in the kitchen. I would like my TV remote to be a master volume control for the entire group. Probably should be implemented as an option in Settings.