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willsimonds
Contributor I
June 22, 2025
Answered

upgrade - use of sonos roam as surrounds

I understand that Sonos Roam (and Move) can’t currently be used as surround speakers as to protect the Sonos ecosystem and not cause issues of the speaker was moved away and out of range. BUT - why not program it so that, if it’s connected to the base / charging dock / cradle / power supply, then it is in home theatre mode and setup as a surround. Then if moved and disconnected from the above, it is in roam / stand alone mode and no longer in surround sound setup. Removing one speaker would disengage the counterpart of the surround setup and then temporarily default all channels through the front speaker(s). This means users could have smaller speakers setup for surround sound (which I know appeals to some) to enjoy a movie at night and some tunes out in the garden during the day, for example. It could even go one step further. When on dock and charging it is listed in the app as left rear surround for living room, for example. When disconnected it could become garden roam and hung on an outdoor wall bracket… this way users wouldn’t need to worry about power outside and would naturally bring in their speakers at night to watch TV. 

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Pools-3015
Pools-3015Answer
Prodigy I
June 22, 2025

Its not as simple as some may think it is to bond surrounds to a soundbar or the Amp. 

When speakers are added as surrounds, they no longer use your homes WIFI as a connection. They use the private radio transmitted by the main device for that purpose. 

You are asking Sonos to develop a way of connecting to a main speaker, then disconnecting and automatically connecting to another WIFI, then automatically disconnecting from that WIFI and reconnecting to the main HT speaker’s WIFI?

Portable speakers have their uses and I dont see why adding surround abilities would be a good idea for them.

Users have issues simply connecting their regular speakers to their homes WIFI right now. 

I could be very wrong about this.. Sonos may have plans for this feature, but it opens another can of worms IMO.

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2 replies

Pools-3015
Pools-3015Answer
Prodigy I
June 22, 2025

Its not as simple as some may think it is to bond surrounds to a soundbar or the Amp. 

When speakers are added as surrounds, they no longer use your homes WIFI as a connection. They use the private radio transmitted by the main device for that purpose. 

You are asking Sonos to develop a way of connecting to a main speaker, then disconnecting and automatically connecting to another WIFI, then automatically disconnecting from that WIFI and reconnecting to the main HT speaker’s WIFI?

Portable speakers have their uses and I dont see why adding surround abilities would be a good idea for them.

Users have issues simply connecting their regular speakers to their homes WIFI right now. 

I could be very wrong about this.. Sonos may have plans for this feature, but it opens another can of worms IMO.

    buzz
    buzz
    Grand Maestro
    June 22, 2025

    There may be some technology licensing fees incurred if this capability is available. This would force up the price for everyone.

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