Reduce idle consumption energy level (currently around 5W)

I have just started dow the Sonos road with two Play:1s plus Bridge. Upon googling "sonos play:1 sleep" and found this topic. I can hardly believe they don't have a minimal power consumption sleep mode. 😞

I find it hard to believe that in this day and age of energy conservation where devices are often required to have standby modes that the Sonos speakers are on all the time. For something so technology aware, so ahead of the marketplace, and so expensive, wouldn't you have thought that a standby mode was required? All my technology equipment round the house has one from the TVs to the YouView to the PlayStation.

I'm pulling out the power on all the devices whenever they aren't in use, including the Bridge. However it can't really be that hard to implement a timed standby mode that drops the components into a listen mode where they wait for a signal from the apps or the Bridge, which waits solely for the app, to kick into life.

Honestly this omission shocked me when I set-up my first two Sonos units the other day. In fact this, coupled with two other issues I have, are making me consider using my 28 day return period.
I love the sound and simplicity is sonos but would have returned mine if I'd have realised there is no real standby!

This most definately should be implemented

I have reduced the idle power consumption of my play:5 to about 5 watts by turning off the WiFi link. I have found the instructions at http://bsteiner.info/articles/disabling-sonos-wifi.

Any news on this item yet?

Well actually I found lately that the hiss comes from the ethernet port itself... as loud as if it was a 128 port professional switch! I wonder what poor components Sonos uses...

To Sonos Official people here, I hope you are aware that entertainment hardware that is not in use, has to reduce their idle energy level by 2014 within the EU. If the criteria are not met the units can not be sold anymore and lose the CE certification.

Same concern. I see this last post was 5 months ago. Any updates or future software roadmap plans? I hope this big pain won't require us to update any hardware in future... Tim

So far there are following suggested features to reduce idle energy consumption:

-- Stand-by or listen-only mode during idle to maintain network connection and wake up when necessary.

-- Programmable timer built into firmware to shut down and power up any player at specific times programmed by users.

-- Mesh network connections must be maintained in wireless network for music distribution from centralised media depositories (NAS or computer).

-- When network module is in operation to maintain wireless network connection for music distribution, all digital amplifiers can be powered down when they are not in use.

To cater to all new/old models of player without resorting to change in hardware, I suppose the least intrusive and cheapest way of implementing the features is to move all networking functionalities from all players to the bridges. Namely all players connect only to bridges but not other players to establish connections within wireless network. Few bridges form a backbone wireless network to route music data and wake-up alerts to the players. These bridges can be powered on all the time but not the players, one of the bridges is connected to router for Internet access through Ethernet link. Obviously bridge consume far less energy than player. Players must be positioned carefully for good sound reproduction but not the bridges, thus ensure better signal transmission and network coverage.

So all hardwares can be maintained as before except firmwares for bridge and player must be updated to support extra power saving features. Bridge should be bundled with every purchase of players as it is no longer optional item. Same as before, few players can share a single bridge.


I should elaborate my points further to show complete picture:

-- I am well aware of using external timer to power up and shut down Sonos system as right now I am using Belkin WeMo Switch to achieve that with iPhone app through home wireless network and even Internet as well (when I am away from home).

-- When a device is powered down, low-power timer circuit within the device is still kept alive to wake up the device according to programmed schedule. You should be able to achieve the same thing on any Mac model through programmed schedule under Energy Saver of System Preferences, namely the Mac will power up and shut down by itself without any intervention.

-- Existing mesh network connectivity of all Sonos media players is transferred from the players to the bridges. Mesh connected network among players is changed to star connected network where all bridges form hubs (centres) of the stars with all bridges connected wirelessly together and one of them is connected to router through Ethernet link.

-- Obviously bridge consumes far less energy than player even when it is kept powered up all the time. Scheduled shutdown and power-up of players are controlled by the bridges rather than the players. Any player only have to listen passively to one of the bridges and executes received commands.

-- Distribution of music data wirelessly is handled entirely by the bridges but not the players anymore and the bridges serve as controllers to players at the same time for scheduled power-up/shutdown.

All these features should be within reach of Sonos developers.

So far there are following suggested features to reduce idle energy consumption:

-- Stand-by or listen-only mode during idle to maintain network connection and wake up when necessary.

-- Programmable timer built into firmware to shut down and power up any player at specific times programmed by users.

-- Mesh network connections must be maintained in wireless network for music distribution from centralised media depositories (NAS or computer).

-- When network module is in operation to maintain wireless network connection for music distribution, all digital amplifiers can be powered down when they are not in use.

To cater to all new/old models of player without resorting to change in hardware, I suppose the least intrusive and cheapest way of implementing the features is to move all networking functionalities from all players to the bridges. Namely all players connect only to bridges but not other players to establish connections within wireless network. Few bridges form a backbone wireless network to route music data and wake-up alerts to the players. These bridges can be powered on all the time but not the players, one of the bridges is connected to router for Internet access through Ethernet link. Obviously bridge consume far less energy than player. Players must be positioned carefully for good sound reproduction but not the bridges, thus ensure better signal transmission and network coverage.

So all hardwares can be maintained as before except firmwares for bridge and player must be updated to support extra power saving features. Bridge should be bundled with every purchase of players as it is no longer optional item. Same as before, few players can share a single bridge.


I must admit I already bought some remout outlets when I ordered my Sonos system. Thus, I was totally aware of the idle power consumption issue and still would prefer to see a solution to it. However, what makes Sonos unique to me is the easiness of control without long startup times, without the need to switch on and off and having to wait for longer time periods, without the need  for a separate remote control....

Hence, I have not yet installed my remote outlets and presumably will never do. I'd prefer to have an "internal" solution to the idle consumption issue which is seamlessly integrated into the system. Any only external workround will make Sonos lose a lot of its attraction, I fear - in that case I'd rather live with the additional energy consumption. 

So Stefan, do you advocate having them off totally or as low a power standby as possible. My experience with off totally, which becomes an inconvenience, is that most people give up on it so leave it on . How many people actually switch off their TV's at the socket, their satellite receivers etc.

@piashaw
This depends on the comfort. For my tv I'm using the Ansmann zero watt outlet with infrared receiver:
http://www.amazon.de/Ansmann-5024073-AES2-IP-Energiesparende-Steckdose/dp/B00386RXS0

This is much more comfortable and looks nicer then a 6-outlet with a glowing switch positioned on the ground.

... 110 million kwh roughly produce 66, 000, 000 kg co2 emmissions. Every single year. Just for having some SONOS devices idle...

So far there are following suggested features to reduce idle energy consumption:

-- Stand-by or listen-only mode during idle to maintain network connection and wake up when necessary.

-- Programmable timer built into firmware to shut down and power up any player at specific times programmed by users.

-- Mesh network connections must be maintained in wireless network for music distribution from centralised media depositories (NAS or computer).

-- When network module is in operation to maintain wireless network connection for music distribution, all digital amplifiers can be powered down when they are not in use.

To cater to all new/old models of player without resorting to change in hardware, I suppose the least intrusive and cheapest way of implementing the features is to move all networking functionalities from all players to the bridges. Namely all players connect only to bridges but not other players to establish connections within wireless network. Few bridges form a backbone wireless network to route music data and wake-up alerts to the players. These bridges can be powered on all the time but not the players, one of the bridges is connected to router for Internet access through Ethernet link. Obviously bridge consume far less energy than player. Players must be positioned carefully for good sound reproduction but not the bridges, thus ensure better signal transmission and network coverage.

So all hardwares can be maintained as before except firmwares for bridge and player must be updated to support extra power saving features. Bridge should be bundled with every purchase of players as it is no longer optional item. Same as before, few players can share a single bridge.


I had thought the timer would be to put it into standby, reduced power for most components and to keep the Wifi in as low a state as possible. Minimal polling back etc, but enough to enable wake on wifi.

I switch off my WiFi in my house at night and sleep noticeably better. With the Sonos, I'm walking around to power things off which is a pain.

Also I switch off my dect so using an AVM dect system wouldn't help me either.

Also why do we need to add extra components, controlled through different systems, when I'm sure a simple Software solution could be found, especially at a time when people are seriously looking at reducing vampire/ standby power to a minimum.

Many systems already reduce WiFi power as well as Dect power automatically. AVM are an example of this.