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Question

Continue having trouble getting my laptop audio to play thru Sonos Amp 2.1 system

  • April 11, 2026
  • 25 replies
  • 101 views

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  • Trending Lyricist I

Connecting laptop pc as an audio source via 3.5mm out on laptop to y’d rca phono ins on sonos amp 2.1...no sound coming out of sonos amp 2.1 system...laptop headphone audio meter shows strong signal. What am I doing wrong?..

Thanks so much…!!!! Bill

25 replies

  • April 11, 2026

What is a Sonos Amp 2.1 system?


MoPac
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  • Headliner III
  • April 11, 2026

 Is Autoplay ON?  If not are you selecting the Amp input in the app.


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  • Author
  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 11, 2026

Yes...autoplay is on..

 


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  • Author
  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 11, 2026

Sonos 2.1 amp, Connect Gen 1, 2 3rd party passive speakers, powered 3rd party subwoofer, TV


Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • April 11, 2026

Airgetlam
  • April 11, 2026

Never heard of an Amp 2.1. Is that what is stamped on the product label on the device?


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  • Author
  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 11, 2026

It is a brand new sonos amp….or referred to sonos 2.1 amp….$799


Airgetlam
  • April 11, 2026

Fascinating. I can find no evidence on the website that indicates there has been a .1 version released , much less a 2.0, for that matter. Only a Sonos Amp, listed here.

Can you please tell me the difference between the first version, the 2.0 and 2.1 versions? Is this data stamped on the product label on the device?


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  • Author
  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 11, 2026

Yes...the amp that you just listed is the amp that I have...Thanks for clarifying

 


Airgetlam
  • April 11, 2026

Ah, so it’s the Sonos Amp. There have not been (yet) been versions on it. Thanks for the clarification.

It does drive 2.1 speakers, so I can understand the urge to add that. But as far as I’m aware, there’s been only a single generation of the Sonos Amp. Sonos did slip two unlabeled versions of the CONNECT:AMP on us, so I’m always cautious. If it were labeled as 2.1, I’d be fascinated in what potential differences there might be…most of which would be relatively transparent to we users, much as (at the time the change in the) CONNECT:AMP. It only became significant when Sonos split the OS.


Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • April 11, 2026

The 2.1 throws me off as the Sonos Amp only has two channels of amplification.

It does have a line-level subwoofer output for connecting to an amplified subwoofer.

 

Found a lot of less than useful descriptions on resale sites, some thinking it was a v2 Connect Amp, not a new product. The 2.1 error and many others too.


jgatie
  • April 11, 2026

Dueling volumes may be at play.  Increase the volume on the laptop to alost max, then increase volume on the Amp.  You can also increase the input level on the Line-In of the Amp.


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  • Author
  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 12, 2026

Thanks jgatie….I’ve tried increasing all volumes...pc and amp and line input..

Airgetiam..glad I could satisfy you curiosity...any thoughts on my issue…?...Thanks...


  • April 12, 2026

Can you play other Sonos sources on your amp and hear it on the speakers?

 

Are you sure your RCA to 3.5mm cable is ok? Do you have another to test with? It is stereo (has two black bands on the 3.5mm plug)?

 

You followed this: Play Line-in on your Sonos Amp


Airgetlam
  • April 12, 2026

Sonos aren’t really designed to be PC speakers, even though there’s a few folks in this thread who do so. Everyone who has already posted in this and your other thread has said the same things I would, I don’t have anything ‘new’ or ‘different’ to add. My major concern was none of us knew what an Amp 2.1 was. Knowing that it is a normal Sonos Amp, and not 2.1, I’d leave others to help.

 


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  • Author
  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 12, 2026

Thanks...Yes I can...tv….youtube streaming from app…...I have tried 2 different 3.5 mm cable from headphone jack out on pc to rca in on sonos...yes..it is a stereo 3.5mm

Yes, I have followed directions and chose “computer” as source on line-in….as well as audioplay “on”...


  • April 12, 2026

So you have a TV connected to the amp via hdmi? Is TV autoplay turned on? (I don’t know if this applies to the amp, it does other home theater devices) youtuble streaming from what app? The tv youtube app? What about a sonos source? Do you have any services setup in the sonos app? Apple music? Amazon? Local Library?

I think you need to describe your full sonos setup. We’re just guessing here as you haven’t really described how you have things set up.

Line-in is disabled if the amp is used as surround in home theater set ups. Is it set up like that?


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  • Author
  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 12, 2026

Gotcha...Thanks so much for the feedback, and sorry so vague...this is sorta new to me..!….

tv autoplay is on in sonos app

Group on autoplay is on

Youtube app on sonos is the source

I have no services set up except Youtube in the sonos app on my samsung phone...no services on amp

TV to amp via hdmi arc….amp to 2) 3rd party 8 ohm speakers as well as powered 3rd party subwoofer..sonos connect gen 1 is also part of the system, but currently has no purpose...Ethernet connected to both amp and connect1…

No sonos surround sound has been considered

Attempting computer to amp via 3.5mm stereo out from headphone jack (yes it works with wired headphones) to phono in on back of amp (l&r)...sound is perfect everywhere but computer, also ethernet cabled.

On sonos app: Home theater section.. Tv Autoplay on….Group autoplay on...Use IR on….Line In section.. Says connected (even though laptop is not currently), Source Name: Computer, Source Level: 8

Autoplay On

Any input is appreciated kdowling..!!

Bill

 


  • April 12, 2026

The first thing I would do is turn off the autoplays until after you have everything working.

Next I would disconnect the HDMI cable from the amp until you get Line-in working.

Youtube app on sonos is the source

This is YouTube Music in the “Your Services” section of the Sonos app, correct?

...sound is perfect everywhere but computer

Does this mean you can connect something else using the 3.5mm-RCA cable and it works? Can you try with something other than your computer headphone out? I think this is going to be the most important test. If you can’t get anything to work with Line-In, maybe there’s a problem with the Amp and you need to contact Sonos Support.

Back to the computer… make sure you are playing music that is coming out the headphone jack on the computer and the volume is turned up first. In the Sonos app, make sure the Amp is the currently selected player and then select the Line-In source.

Let us know if there’s any progress. 


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  • Author
  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 12, 2026

Thanks…!!!...I will do and get back….


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  • Author
  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 12, 2026

Hey Everyone…..thanks for the help...just talked with sonos...the solution was only one issue….line in was selected on phone sonos app (black icon) but not on computer sonos app (brown icon). now everything is all good...Thanks again..!!

Bill


Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • April 12, 2026

You have to choose  Brown is S1 and Black is S2.

Neither apps or devices will communicate across the S1/S2 divide, all devices and controllers that you want to work together MUST be on the same S? version.


  • April 12, 2026

It doesn’t make sense to me that the Amp could be seen in both the S1 and S2 apps. Which was why I refrained from commenting. Also, the Amp would have come with S2. He would have had to downgrade it to S1. Not something done without meaning to. I remain confused :)


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  • Author
  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 12, 2026

Well noted…..sonos tech support did NOT point this out...but I notice extra work that I have to do….all amp set up was done on the black sonos app on my phone….except for setting up line in additionally on the laptop brown app.

The extra work is while the amp recognizes the different sources  tv, sonos library in the sonos app  (brown) on the computer, and switches all back and forth ok...I HAVE to manually adjust volume dramatically up or down on my computer task bar and/or volume in sonos brown app on computer each time I switch back and forth...otherwise sound comes out at full volume this SEEMS to be the only problem thus far…????

Thanks again for input….much appreciated..?? 


106rallye
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  • April 13, 2026

The Windows app is in maintenance mode and does not receive feature updates. That’s why it is brown, not black. Since all apps are just remotes to the system there should not be a difference in behaviour of the system depending on which app you use.

There will always be a difference in volume between different sources.