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Jake_11
Trending Lyricist I
October 22, 2019
Answered

What are people using for USB C charger for Sonos Move?

I asked this question over in the sonos reddit forum and others are having same issues so thought I would bring over here.

What are people using for their usb charger for the Sonos move? I attempted to use my MacBook pros charger but it didn’t work. I have the 60watt brick but from what I read it should be able to still work.

So then I read it might be the cord as they have chips in them and knowing Apple they locked their cord down. So I bought an anker power line 3.1 usb c cable and tried it with the MacBook brick again and it still didn’t work.

So before I keep buying and returning curious if anyone has had success with certain chargers with the move. Thanks!

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Airgetlam
AirgetlamAnswer
October 24, 2019

OK, I was too lazy to include it in my last post, but then I went and found it in the introduction post, straight from Sonos,  here:

https://en.community.sonos.com/announcements-228985/introducing-sonos-move-brilliant-sound-anywhere-6829500

Specifically this:

Power and battery:
Move’s battery will last for up to 10 hours of uninterrupted playback. If left off the charging base and unused, Move will automatically go into suspend mode to reserve battery for up to 5 days. The battery is rechargeable with an included indoor charging base or with any USB-C charger with the following output levels: 12V/3A, 15V/3A, or 20V/2.25A. After about three years, or 900 charges, Move’s battery can easily be replaced so you can keep listening for years to come.

Bruce

143 replies

Lyricist III
January 16, 2022

The mystery continues.  I unplugged my Move and played it for a while to discharge it to about 75%.  Then, I plugged it into the MacBook power supply, the same one that worked earlier today.  Only this time, the Move did not charge.  It continued to discharge.  Then, I plugged the Move into my OWC Thunderbolt dock and, as before, it started charging. I only let it charge for a few seconds, then unplugged it and plugged in the MacBook charger.  This time, the Move responded to the MacBook charger and began charging.  So it appears that the Move needs some other charger to change something in order to allow the MacBook charger to work.  What’s going on here?  Is there something about the way the Move negotiates the Power Delivery protocol that’s unusual? What is it about being exposed to charger B that allows it to suddenly work with charger A, that it wouldn’t work with otherwise?  This doesn’t seem to be the way a reliable high-end product should work.

Ken_Griffiths
January 16, 2022

The mystery continues.  I unplugged my Move and played it for a while to discharge it to about 75%.  Then, I plugged it into the MacBook power supply, the same one that worked earlier today.  Only this time, the Move did not charge.  It continued to discharge.  Then, I plugged the Move into my OWC Thunderbolt dock and, as before, it started charging. I only let it charge for a few seconds, then unplugged it and plugged in the MacBook charger.  This time, the Move responded to the MacBook charger and began charging.  So it appears that the Move needs some other charger to change something in order to allow the MacBook charger to work.  What’s going on here?  Is there something about the way the Move negotiates the Power Delivery protocol that’s unusual? What is it about being exposed to charger B that allows it to suddenly work with charger A, that it wouldn’t work with otherwise?  This doesn’t seem to be the way a reliable high-end product should work.

Most probably some kind of compatibility issue perhaps? Such things can occasionally happen between devices from different manufacturers, as I’m sure we all may realise.

Just one of those unfortunate anomalies, I guess. It’s not like Sonos, or the charger manufacturer, have ever tested their compatibility and each claimed it’s an officially supported product.

I would perhaps still choose to go with one of the other chargers mentioned in the thread that users suggest will work with the Move, without issue.

Contributor I
January 23, 2022

Did anybody try this charger. Based on specs it should work. I have ordered it and it should be here in a week. 

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-45-w-8-ft-usb-c-wall-charger-black/6410663.p?skuId=6410663

Contributor I
July 11, 2022

I am not able to charge with the Apple 85W MacBook Pro charger either.  I believe there is something particular about the Apple Charger SONOS Move.  It is really stupid though, because I can use the same Apple Charger to charger any USB-C PC laptop (Dell, Lenovo, HP), Android phones, OTHER portable speakers, portable batteries, iPads (ones with USB-C).   It’s hard to imagine nobody in SONOS testing team has access to an Apple charger (can’t they just walk a Move speaker over to marketing?). 

 

The following chargers have worked well for me, and I use all of these with my Move on a regular basis:

 

DELL 65W USB-C Charger (US AC Adapter). This came with a recent Dell Latitude laptop

Lenovo 65W USB-C Charger (US AC Adapter). This came with a 2019 Yogi 9i 14”

(Both of the above charger ship with a variety of models for DELL or Lenovo)

Lenovo 65W USB-C DC Travel Adapter (which buy the way is the best high-power automotive charger I have ever used). (Lenovo Part Number: 40AK0065WW).  If you have a variety of USB-C things and spend time in cars, get this.

Baseus 65W GaN3 USB C AC Charger with USB-C, USB-A and two AC outlets (Amazon ASIN: B09HBJ1Z96)  This charger works with my MacBook, Yoga, iPad and Android phone (not all the same time).  It will reliably charge and run the SONOS MOVE.

Lyricist I
August 23, 2022

Unable to charge with MacBook charger 61W. That is unacceptable.

Airgetlam
August 24, 2022

I’d agree, it does seem out of the realm of possibility. Have you tried to call Sonos Support directly to discuss it?

Bruce
Ken_Griffiths
August 24, 2022

Unable to charge with MacBook charger 61W. That is unacceptable.

I would check that the charger supports USB ‘Power Delivery’ (Power Direct) v2 or v3 and has the following 45w power-output at either 20v x 2.25A -or- 15v x 3A. There are some lesser 36w PD chargers that may work too at 12v x 3A, but will be slower (obviously).

Ken_Griffiths
August 24, 2022

@YtJ 
This power adapter/charger (link below) certainly works, as I used to have this one for my Sonos Move when out and about ‘glamping’, at least that’s until my Son ‘borrowed’ it.🤷‍♂️
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08CVFMGL1

It should charge two Moves at the same time, but I never did try it with two, but it can charge an iPhone XR or an iPad Pro at the same time as charging a Move, which I found useful.

Other products that are similar, and maybe cheaper etc; are also available on Amazon and elsewhere online, but look for those that are certified and support PD and output the 45w as mentioned earlier.

Lyricist I
March 10, 2023

I purchased the Sonos c cable from Sonos directly, it works on my roam and no matter what USB adapter I use it will not power my Move. I have also tried other cables and USB outlets and the Move will not charge using C port. the move is brand new too. I am at my wits end trying to get it to do this basic thing and have read so many posts here that my head is spinning but still no luck.  Why can Sonos not just supply a suitable cable for this device and why is it different from their other portable units?

Airgetlam
March 10, 2023

It’s not a cable issue, it’s what the cable is plugged in to. Well, I suppose it’s possible to have a faulty cable, but what we’re all referring to in this thread is the power of the device plugged in to the wall that the USB C cable is plugged in to. 
 

If you think you may have a faulty USB C cable, feel free to try another one from somewhere else. While the chances are slim that the cable is faulty, they are by no means zero. 

Bruce