Logitech Media Server - 3rd party addition for Sonos devices

  • 15 January 2020
  • 38 replies
  • 13893 views
Show first post
This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

38 replies

chicks

OK, given my previous experience with LMS, I was quite sceptical.  I did get a Pi, which required loading several missing libs and modules at the command prompt.  Not something anyone in my family (the typical Sonos target user) would begin to attempt, but at least there’s a ton of good tutorials online, given the Pi’s popularity. 

Yes, you can definitely group using the Sonos app, but of course, after May, the grouping of old with new Sonos devices goes away, so…  For me, grouping has never really been all that important, but for many Sonos users, I’m sure it’s critical.

The ability to play to any UPnP and/or ChromeCast device, Sonos being included in the UPnP device category, is a definite plus.  Missing is Amazon Music and a few others, but that can still be played via Sonos until it can’t (possibly after May), and then via an Echo Input into the Connect, at least to the segmented “old” players.  

At any rate, yes, with the Material skin, LMS is now quite nice and usable, for anyone with a modicum of technical ability.  I do love the integration with Allmusic’s metadata, and the clickable links to further drill into Allmusic.

 

 

C
Userlevel 6
Badge +14

That’s quite impressive!

chicks

LMS.  Ugh.  Had too many years of that buggy mess.  The UI is still horribly outdated.  Written in Perl IIRC - talk about outdated.  If you really want to deal with an in-home server, try Roon, supposed to be much more refined, and supports Sonos speakers as endpoints.

G

Using Sonos to access a ‘remote’ music library is possible, and relatively easy to set up, depending on where the music is stored.  

@Gofer

The Hub 3 doesn’t appear to have a usb port where you could attach a NAS.   My advice is to look for a wifi network drive - check out the RavPower FileHub - https://www.amazon.co.uk/RAVPower-FileHub-Wireless-Portable-Transfer/dp/B07MZT543W

@Davey_P

Where is your LMS music library stored?

Thanks for your reply @castalla 

I was thinking I’d need a raspberry pi + usb hard drive or something like a Synology NAS (much more expensive). I thought they would connect to the virgin media hub 3 via Ethernet rather than usb so I’m not sure what the ravpower filehub does. I also thought I might just need to buy a dedicated router too. 
If I buy a pi I’d use that to run lms, connect it to the hub via Ethernet and access my music library on a hard drive connected to the pi via usb. Does that sound like it would work or would I need anything else (eg the ravpower filehub)? 

 

C
Userlevel 6
Badge +14

Hmm … a pi would be fine but not sure where your hub fits in.  You should be able to plug a usb hard disk into the pi (pi 3b would be sufficient).

Forget the Rav file hub.   Have a look at the Picoreplayer setup help = https://www.picoreplayer.org/main_about.shtml

 

C
Userlevel 6
Badge +14

LMS.  Ugh.  Had too many years of that buggy mess.  The UI is still horribly outdated.  Written in Perl IIRC - talk about outdated.  If you really want to deal with an in-home server, try Roon, supposed to be much more refined, and supports Sonos speakers as endpoints.

You are missing the material skin (works both for mobile and webgui). 

I’ve just installed LMS on a pi zero w - works a treat and fast enough.  Currently have 6 connected devices (1 Touch player, 1 Radio, 3 chromecasts, 1 sonos Beam). Mixed streaming including Tunein, BBC iPlayer, Pocketcasts, Qobuz.

I suggest you are mis-informed about the current capabilties of LMS.

And it’s free unlike the 100+ GBP per year charged by Roon.  

C
Userlevel 6
Badge +14

LMS does offer Pandora … but not Sirius nor Amazon.

C
Userlevel 6
Badge +14

Just switched on speaker 7 (Roberts S1) - playing nicely alongside all the others … no bugs here.

B
Userlevel 1

I just posted this as a “new question”, but I just saw this thread. Maybe someone here can help?

Sometimes, I like to use Logitech Media Server (LMS) in addition to the Sonos app to control my Sonos devices. I have Sonos Move and a Sonos Play 5 (2nd edition). 

I installed a plugin in LMS called “UPNP/DLNA bridge”, so I can use desktop LMS and an app on my iPhone called Ipeng to control non-Squeezebox devices, including my 2 Sonos devices.

After installing the bridge plugin, I was able to initially see both my Sonos Move and my Sonos Play 5.

However, after about an hour, the Sonos Move disappeared from the list of available devices in LMS. What’s strange is that I can still view Sonos Play 5 and my Samsung TV (in addition to my Squeezebox Boom and Squeezebox Radio) in LMS. Any ideas on how to get the Sonos Move to show up again in LMS?

When I open the list of plugins, under the list of "Players currently in the configuration file", the Sonos Move still is listed. I've tried hitting the "restart" button next to "Start the Bridge" but didn't work. I also tried rebooting the Sonos Move too. I can view both Sonos devices in my Sonos app, but again, I cannot view the Sonos Move in the LMS server, nor in my iPeng app which I used on iOS.

If there is anyone familiar with LMS and this plugin, I’d appreciate any troubleshooting suggestions. Thank you.

C
Userlevel 6
Badge +14

Started this thread a while ago.

But, given recent postings in other threads, I’m bumping it as a reminder that it can be used for wider discussion of the LMS integration with Sonos.

To reiterate my first comments, it doesn’t replace the sonos ecosystem but just adds another route for sonos use.

U

LMS offers some interesting features which you can use alongside the standard Sonos setup.  Using LMS requires that you install the server software on a networked device (eg. a PC running Windows, iOS, or Linux, and even some NAS) - a popular choice is the Raspbery Pi (even including the ultra-cheap Pi Zero at 20 USD).   Installing the software is a task for an average user (and is largely accomplished via a web-browser interface).  Once installed, Sonos devices are seen by LMS as squeezebox players, and have full access to all the features which the server software offers.

Why might you consider this as an addition to your Sonos system?   Here are some pros:

  1.  LMS is complementary to the native Sonos setup.  You do not lose any Sonos features.
  2.  LMS is multi-platform.   Media control is also multi-platform (via web--browser access).   Apps are also available for both Android and iOS (either free or at low cost.
  3. There is no limit for local music libraries
  4. Offers access to Spotify, Qobuz, Tidal and Deezer streaming.  You can also access one of the UK’s most popular radio services, with listen again features!  Podcasts are also available.
  5. A recent addition (in beta) integrates local music library with your Spotify library (albums and playlists).   Probable that Qobuz and other streaming will be integrated)

An active and very supportive community forum

… and a couple of cons:

  • Additional cost (if necessary)
  • Initial installation effort

 

I’m offering this brief overview in a spirit of cooperation and sharing.   Maybe somebody will find it interesting and useful.

It is not intended to decry or compete with the base Sonos system..

I have been playing with this a bit and have a few more points to note. I did not spend hours setting up a rasberry pi or anything complicated. Instead I have an old laptop with an external SSD attached. The SSD has my music library and the latest downloads for LMS on it (if Logitech goes away tomarrow I can still rebuild a working LMS system). The laptop runs myMedia to provide local library music to my Amazon Echos and LMS to run the squeezeboxes. I run two households of Sonos and all 4 systems (Sonos1, Sonos2, LMS, and MyMedia) all point to the same music library on the SSD so any changes or additions are immediately availble to all systems. Some things I noticed include:

  • Both Sonos households are discovered by LMS so even though I can’t group across households within Sonos I can synchronize between players in each from LMS.
  • If I set up a queue in LMS to play on a Sonos group and then go look at it within the Sonos app everything is reflected correctly and there is no problem starting somthing from one platform and then switching control to the other.
  • Because the LMS controller is browser based there is no concern about controller devices suddenly falling out of support or having featues limited. (Of course Sonos setup features are not reflected in LMS so you still need the Sonos app for some things.)
  • The Logitech Duet dedicated controller works perfectly for controlling Sonos speakers through LMS. It has a nice screen and a jog wheel similiar to the CR100 and sits in a nice charging cradle always ready for instant use.
  • LMS is an easy way to create m3u play lists which work for both Squeezebox and Sonos. It is nice to be able to back up play lists to physical media and share them across platforms.
Local music library with carefully constructed playlists - no shuffling!, Integration with Homeseer Automation, No touch screen devices, No streaming services, No Apple products ever
C
Userlevel 6
Badge +14

You could try the Material skin plugin - allows any browser to get a nice alternative gui.  Works exceptionally well with Android’s Kiwi Browser.

The controller is good but battery life is a bit short.

C
Userlevel 6
Badge +14

Hi

I've had a long break from this topic so I'm a bit rusty.

I know little about the Move... Sounds to me that it may be something to do with how its network connection is maintained. 

Have you tried deleting/erasing the bridge config file and starting again?   (not just a restart of the plug in) 

Terms & ConditionsCookie settings