Airplay 2 support for PLAY:1, PLAY:3, PLAYBAR - BEWARE

Be warned about all this talk of old speaker compatibility. It is very misleading. I was advised prior to Airplay 2 release about the functionality we were likely to get. It is very limited.

Sonos never said old speakers were airplay 2 compatible. You're thread title isn't stating anything new. As for you being advised, by who?


Based on that advise I now have mixture of compatible (SONOS ONEs) and in compatible SONOS speakers (PLAY 3, PLAY:1s, PLAYBAR). Firstly if you have ONEs set as surrounds to a PLAYBAR they will not be compatible with Airplay2 as it is a closed group and the ONEs cannot be seen, this is because the PLAYBAR is the lead speaker in that set (not compatible). This negates Airplay 2 completely. (this is what I did in an attempt to provide access to my older speakers throughout the house). The only way I can bring that theatre set into play is by having an additional play ONE (thats 3 now) to drive the airplay2 commands.

All correct. and Sonos has stated the exact them thing. Although of course, you can use play:1s for your surround speakers.


Also, 'accessing' older speakers by simply having a single SONOS ONE limits your entire network of speakers as it must be part of the group. For instance if room A has a compatible SONOS ONE and room B has an in compatible PLAY:1 you cannot play music in room B without playing in room A too (as it needs to be one group/room not two), which kind of ruins the notion of multi room. Essentially you have to set up your entire multi room house as one single room/group and toggle the mute/volume on each room depending on which you want to 'hear'. This will then further restrict the beauty of airplay 2 and Siri as you will not be able to send room commands to seperate spaces. You will not be able to say 'play music in the kitchen' as the kitchen will be grouped with the rest of the house. Its a complete hack.


Huh? Sonos was a multi room system long before airplay 2 was even thought. The idea that Sonos is no longer a good mutiroom system because not all of the speakers in the line are airplay 2 compatible....doesn't make any sense. There are plenty of choices for audio outside of airplay 2. There is zero need to group your entire house together at one time....only when you want to play audio in the whole house. You absolutely can music in the kitchen while you play music elsewhere.


The ONLY way around this is to have at least one compatible speaker in each room/group. ie, ditch everything you have and start again.

You would only need to do that if you want to control everything from airplay 2 functions and/or siri, completely ignoring everything else that Sonos does.

I think you are missing the point I am making. I understand older speakers are not compatible, clearly. My point is that despite the advise (from SONOS themselves) and subsequent general assumption that your network of older speakers will open up to Airplay 2 by simply adding one SONOS ONE is misleading. Yes adding a ONE will activate any older speakers within that group but that in turn means you then lose all Muti room function as every old speaker needs to be grouped as a single room if you want access to airplay 2 functionality. Not sure how clear I can make that. The crux of my point it that if, like me, you have a mix of speakers that are either compatible or in compatible with Airplay 2 you cannot use the multiform feature in the same way when using airplay 2, ie via the Apple music app / Siri (which is essentially the stand out reason for people wanting to play music via airplay2)

Do you disagree that you cannot control multiple groups/rooms that include older speakers and a single SONOS ONE?

to your point:
"You would only need to do that if you want to control everything from airplay 2 functions and/or siri, completely ignoring everything else that Sonos does."

Of course, thats the entire point of this conversation. There is a massive compromise if you wish to do so. it also means toggling between airplay 2 use and regular SONOS app use will be a nightmare as you may have set up 4 groups around the house for regular mutiroom use and when the moment arises you'd like to use airplay 2 instead you will have reconfigure those 4 groups into one and control individual rooms via the mute button.

I am not complaining about the facts, I am bringing to light the reality of attempting to activate your entire 'old speaker' network on to Airplay2 because it is not viable in the way I believe most people will anticipate.

And yes granted, the title of my thread suggests I thought PLAY:1 etc was compatible when I know that is not the case. Its the percieved notion of them becoming compatible I have a problem with.

I am not complaining about the facts, I am bringing to light the reality of attempting to activate your entire 'old speaker' network on to Airplay2 because it is not viable in the way I believe most people will anticipate.


You’re not bringing anything to light that hasn’t been thoroughly documented by Sonos and the technical press. What you believe most people will anticipate only applies to the uninformed, who are not most Sonos customers.

I'm actually really impressed with the way Sonos have implemented Airplay 2. It mostly just works. You only have to look at Bose who have promising Airplay 2 for over a year and they aren't even giving their customer's an update on when they should see it. Between Airplay 2 and Sonos supporting Apple Music I've never been so reassured I chose Sonos over Bose. For what it's worth I flogged most of my Play:1's on eBay (They do fetch a good price used) and then paid the remainder to upgrade them to Sonos Ones, which meant it wasn't too expensive. Personally I think Sonos should ditch selling the Play:1 altogether, just like they did the Play:5 Gen 1.

The Playbar not having Airplay 2 is my only big disappointment, and that Sonos Ones as rears don't bring it to the system. Here's hoping Sonos work that situation out somehow. Bringing out some kind of connect like device compatible with Airplay 2 that can speak to the Playbar would probably be the most logical solution if the Playbar can't handle it natively. Buying a Sonos One just to group with the Playbar on mute is a very expensive way round.

The Playbar not having Airplay 2 is my only big disappointment, and that Sonos Ones as rears don't bring it to the system. Here's hoping Sonos work that situation out somehow. Bringing out some kind of connect like device compatible with Airplay 2 that can speak to the Playbar would probably be the most logical solution if the Playbar can't handle it natively. Buying a Sonos One just to group with the Playbar on mute is a very expensive way round.

Just on the theatre issue, would having an Apple TV solve this issue? That would provide the access point surely.

I think an ATV would address this issue.... if you trust Airplay in any form to be reliable, which many do and some (me, for example) don't. At least not yet.

Let's also not forget that whatever its limitations, Airplay 2 is a free enhancement on Sonos. As @melvimbe says, take away Airplay 2 and Sonos is still a market-leading multiroom hifi system. It's obviously desirable that people know what is and isn't possible, but I think Sonos has been pretty clear on that.

I really don't understand what's the issue with adding AirPlay 2 support on previous speakers. is there any hardware limitation?

I really don't understand what's the issue with adding AirPlay 2 support on previous speakers. is there any hardware limitation?

Yes there is

And the limitation is...?

The Playbar not having Airplay 2 is my only big disappointment, and that Sonos Ones as rears don't bring it to the system. Here's hoping Sonos work that situation out somehow. Bringing out some kind of connect like device compatible with Airplay 2 that can speak to the Playbar would probably be the most logical solution if the Playbar can't handle it natively. Buying a Sonos One just to group with the Playbar on mute is a very expensive way round.

Just on the theatre issue, would having an Apple TV solve this issue? That would provide the access point surely. An Apple TV is only a half solution.

What I mean by that is that the newer Apple TV's compatible with Airplay 2 only have an HDMI port, no optical. This means in order to use it with the playbar you have to turn the tv on first. It also means that if you have dialog enhancer or night mode on, you will also need to go into the Sonos App to disable them, so they don't affect the music as it is coming through the TV audio and therefore Sonos treats it as TV sound. If you have to jump through all these hoops, why even bother with Airplay? Just use the Sonos app.

For people who have an existing Play:5 with line in, our best bet outside of Sonos figuring this out, is if Apple do release an software update to the airport express making it compatible with Airplay 2. If this happens, you can plug the airport express into the Play:5 line in, name the airport express "Lounge" or whatever you like and then set the line in to default to your Playbar system. This in theory would work very well and only needs a software update from apple.