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Sonos Line-In Adapter - Noise

  • January 31, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 60 views
M

I just got a Sonos Line-In Adapter which I want to use to attach between the analog line out of a small radio and a laptop. I then want to pass the signal through the laptop to a bluetooth amp.

I started out first just trying to get the signal to the laptop and selecting the audio capture device with VLC. I had just one option on the drop down list, hw,0,0. 

 I selected that and could hear the signal with earphones and it sounded OK.

I later ran into some issues making the bluetooth connection and it looks to be an issue with a missing dependency. I tried a number of suggestions and uninstalled and reinstalled some drivers, etc. It still doesn’t connect to the amp via bluetooth.

I went back to VLC and the signal from the radio through the Sonos adapter. I noticed two things. First there was lots of static and noise and I could hear the signal, but it was very weak. I also noticed in the drop down box there were two options listed, hw,0,0 and hw1,0. The first one had all the noise and if I selected the second one there was no noise or signal.

 

I think the new option was probably due to the changes I made.

 

I also later noticed that if I listed with earphones plugged into the radio with the line out while the cable, Sonos adapter while it was plugged into the laptop that I would hear a lot of noise. If I unplugged it from the laptop the noise went away.

I’m posting here not for help with the bluetooth side of things, but more to get thoughts on if maybe the inline adapter itself may have an issue. The line out is from a radio with just a very small speaker to begin with. It isn’t from a speaker out of an amp. It seems like just the sort of signal the adapter is meant for, but maybe these things fail sometimes. When I first plugged it in things sounded fine. It was the next day that I noticed the noise. it was connected to both devices the whole time so it was processing the signal for 24 hours or so. But that is hours, not weeks, months or years.

I have an android phone with VLC but that version of VLC doesn’t have the option to select a capture source to test it.

Thought I’d get some input on this end of my issue while I try to sort out the other side of things

Best answer by Schlumpf

​@Muttleytm 

I‘m sorry, but that’s not a very common or supported usecase. The Sonos adapter is made to work with Sonos usb c equipped devices. There’s no guarantee that the adapter will work with other devices at all. 

4 replies

Schlumpf
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  • Schlumpf
  • Virtuoso
  • Answer
  • January 31, 2026

​@Muttleytm 

I‘m sorry, but that’s not a very common or supported usecase. The Sonos adapter is made to work with Sonos usb c equipped devices. There’s no guarantee that the adapter will work with other devices at all. 

Ralf
    M
    • Muttleytm
    • Author
    • Contributor I
    • February 4, 2026

    Well that is the only reply so I suppose that would make it the best answer, however USB C is a standard or set of standards for both signal and charging/power. It is often not followed, but in this case that is not likley an issue. It is a Lenova laptop and Sonos equipment. The places where the standards aren’t used are usually in cheap knockoff things where they put a usb c port or plug on something that doesn’t handle have fast charging or large data transfer abiility.

     

    I suppose it might not be an issue with people with all  Sonos stuff would encounter, but there may be some with some knowledge of how the things work in general.

    N
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    • nik9669a
    • Senior Virtuoso
    • February 4, 2026

    I just got a Sonos Line-In Adapter which I want to use to attach between the analog line out of a small radio and a laptop. I then want to pass the signal through the laptop to a bluetooth amp.

    The line out is from a radio with just a very small speaker to begin with. It isn’t from a speaker out of an amp. It seems like just the sort of signal the adapter is meant for


    Are you sure the connection you’re using is a line-out aux connector, rather than perhaps a headphone connector? 
     

    Are there no input ports on the amp, so you can connect directly, without going through your laptop?

     

    Can you digitally stream the radio station you want direct to your laptop, rather than needing the radio in the first place? 

    Stanley_4
    • Stanley_4
    • Lead Maestro
    • February 4, 2026

    Well that is the only reply so I suppose that would make it the best answer, however USB C is a standard or set of standards for both signal and charging/power. It is often not followed, but in this case that is not likley an issue. It is a Lenova laptop and Sonos equipment. The places where the standards aren’t used are usually in cheap knockoff things where they put a usb c port or plug on something that doesn’t handle have fast charging or large data transfer abiility.

     

    I suppose it might not be an issue with people with all  Sonos stuff would encounter, but there may be some with some knowledge of how the things work in general.

    The plug fits, that meets the USB standard.

    The wires have cmpatible voltages, that meets the standard.

    If you read the standard you will see that there is NO STANDARD for software, going into, internal or coming out.

    If you do not have the proper software on the in and out sides you can't expect it to work. Where would the radio get the necessary, Sonos proprietary, software.

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