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Alexa or Micophones in General

  • January 17, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 47 views
AjTrek1

I’m a die hard Sonos supporter. My system works as it should. However nothing is perfect.

I’d like to see Sonos (if possible) do something to improve the microphone sensitivity for voice assistants. I have three Arc Ultra’s and all have difficulty picking up a request when audio is playing. Ironically, my Move 2’s are much more sensitive to picking up a voice command when playing audio.

I don’t believe this is an issue where I need to submit a diagnostic. I’m well enough familiar with Sonos to know when an issue is not a glitch but something that may be corrected via a firmware update unless it is hardware based. If hardware then I’ll have to wait for the Arc Ultra Plus 😂.

But seriously, hopefully the Moderators can push this as a low-level concern but one that would be most appreciated if addressed.

 

Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.

    4 replies

    Airgetlam
    • Airgetlam
    • January 18, 2026

    I’ve always considered ‘voice sensitivity’ a multi aspect issue. Sonos designs speakers first, so microphone placement is secondary, IMHO. Which is challenging. And since the speakers are generally emitting close to the microphone (due to these being speakers first), the microphone could be challenged by the sound being emitted, and having trouble ‘hearing’ the commands, at least the initiating ‘ducking’ command to start the process. 

    Whereas I’ve always considered the various devices created by the originating voice command companies (Amazon and Google, mostly) to be voice assistants first, and speakers second, so their physical design is microphone ‘forward’. 

    None of which changes your request, but explains why I tend to use these ‘other’ devices for voice input, and Sonos devices as speakers. 

    I’d be interested if there is anything that can be done to increase the ability to ‘hear’ your voice, since I don’t know if it would be hardware, or software based (do they reverse the output in the software  to negate playback so that the microphone can work? I’ve no idea, not my area of expertise). 

    Doubtful that you’ll get more than a ‘we’ll pass on your request’ post, but it’s certainly a worthwhile one.

    Bruce
      Mr. T
      • Mr. T
      • January 18, 2026

      You may have more success adding a voice assistant to the surrounds instead.

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        • nik9669a
        • Senior Virtuoso
        • January 18, 2026

        You may have more success adding a voice assistant to the surrounds instead.

        Agreed; the surrounds are generally located much closer to a viewing point than is a soundbar. Plus they generally have less sound to produce, when watching movies at least. 

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          • craigski
          • Local Superstar
          • January 18, 2026

          FWIW, I have Amazon Alexa show 5 in kitchen, and sometimes ‘she’ doesn't hear the commands (eg setting timer for cooking), but an Era 100 does in a remote room does. This would suggest the Era-100 microphone tucked away on a bookshelf in a remote room is more sensitive than the local Amazon Echo 5 in kitchen at head level nearest my mouth.

          The microphone hardware is a small part of the complex process of Amazon software in a multi Alexa device household deciding which device the command is aimed at, and which device ‘hears’ best based on background noise and room dynamics.

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