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castalla
Local Superstar
January 15, 2020

Logitech Media Server - 3rd party addition for Sonos devices

  • January 15, 2020
  • 38 replies
  • 16510 views

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..

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    38 replies

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    Davey_P
    Lyricist I
    August 19, 2020

    Thanks for the input. My LMS is a raspberry pi (picoreplayer) and it serves my Jogglers in the home. 

    castallaAuthor
    Local Superstar
    August 19, 2020

    @Davey_P

     

    Why not just install the upnpbridge plugin on LMS (this will create a player for every Sonos device).  You can then just play your music library using the LMS controllers (eg. web gui, or even better install the Material skin for a great interface).

     

    It's the courageous bee's knees - all 6 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝. - - - - - Make Sonos Great Again - - - - -
    Davey_P
    Lyricist I
    August 19, 2020

    @Davey_P

     

    Why not just install the upnpbridge plugin on LMS (this will create a player for every Sonos device).  You can then just play your music library using the LMS controllers (eg. web gui, or even better install the Material skin for a great interface).

    That’s exactly what I have just done! Thanks for the prompts and the wife is happy now as we can remove the amp in that room and just use the Joggler as a controller for the beam. 
     

    thanks again

    Dave

    Gofer
    Lyricist I
    August 22, 2020

    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)? 

     

    castallaAuthor
    Local Superstar
    August 22, 2020

    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

     

    It's the courageous bee's knees - all 6 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝. - - - - - Make Sonos Great Again - - - - -
    W99
    Lyricist I
    November 25, 2020

    I used to play music from a server using a Squeezebox feeding a conventional amplifier & speaker set.  The Squeezebox failed and I now have a well working Sonos system getting music from a Qnap NAS which runs on Linux.   However, I miss not being able to play the music on my laptop (using the Slimserver client program in Windows) or on my iPad.  Reading this thread I see that LMS can be loaded onto a server and used as an alternative way of controlling Sonos speakers.  What is not clear to me is

    With LMS installed, can Slimserver in Windows play the music to a PC, or the iOS app SqueezePad play the music to an iPad)?

    If it can do, could somebody please guide me:

    1 where do I get the LMS server program for my Qnap server (it’s not in the Qnap AppStore). 

    2 I would need some how-to advice on installing the app on my NAS (I’ve only ever installed apps from the Qnap AppStore before)

    Many thanks to anyone responding / helping me with this

    Werner

     

    Barrypg
    Trending Lyricist I
    February 28, 2021

    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.

    castallaAuthor
    Local Superstar
    April 13, 2021

    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) 

    It's the courageous bee's knees - all 6 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝. - - - - - Make Sonos Great Again - - - - -
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