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Playbar dropouts with music only

  • December 31, 2025
  • 9 replies
  • 69 views
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I’m experiencing intermittent dropouts with my Playbar (and surrounds) when playing music (from a NAS) or streaming radio. The audio will stop for around 20s then start again. - This can happen between 2-5 times within an hour

It doesn’t happen when watching TV

All of the wifi connections on the apps (Sonos, Deco and support matrix) all show strong/green.

I have a TP deco mesh system and Sonos is wireless.

I don’t experience the issue with other stereo pairs

It is not possible to hard wire the playbar, although I can hard wire a Play 1 (which is next to the main deco box), although I invested in the Deco mesh to solve previous SONOS issues

Any ideas?

Best answer by Airgetlam

It sure seems like simple wifi interference of some type. I’d start with a simple network refresh. Unplug all your Sonos devices from power, then reboot your Deco mesh router and pucks. Wait two minutes, then plug back in your Sonos devices. After another two minutes, open your controller and check for updates, and apply them if necessary. Finally, do your testing. 

As long as that PLAY:1 isn’t in use as a surround speaker, it may not hurt to wire it directly. Generally, ‘right next to‘ is too close to a radio emitting device, normal practice is 3 feet /1 meter, due to the way radio signals can work. 

But, if the above doesn’t ‘fix’ the problem, I would recommend that you submit a system diagnostic within 10 minutes of experiencing this problem, and call Sonos Support to discuss it. Don’t post the resulting diagnostic number here, their lawyers get sensitive about GDPR.

There may be information included in the diagnostic that will help Sonos pinpoint the issue and help you find a solution.

When you speak directly to the Support staff, they have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your network and Sonos system.

 

9 replies

Stanley_4
  • Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • December 31, 2025

You can see wifi interference if Sonos or other Wi-Fi devices are too close together, 3 feet is usually a safe distance.

You can wait for the issue and then send Sonos a diagnostic, within a few minutes, and then call support when it is convenient. They can see internal data we users can't. 

Airgetlam
  • Airgetlam
  • Answer
  • December 31, 2025

It sure seems like simple wifi interference of some type. I’d start with a simple network refresh. Unplug all your Sonos devices from power, then reboot your Deco mesh router and pucks. Wait two minutes, then plug back in your Sonos devices. After another two minutes, open your controller and check for updates, and apply them if necessary. Finally, do your testing. 

As long as that PLAY:1 isn’t in use as a surround speaker, it may not hurt to wire it directly. Generally, ‘right next to‘ is too close to a radio emitting device, normal practice is 3 feet /1 meter, due to the way radio signals can work. 

But, if the above doesn’t ‘fix’ the problem, I would recommend that you submit a system diagnostic within 10 minutes of experiencing this problem, and call Sonos Support to discuss it. Don’t post the resulting diagnostic number here, their lawyers get sensitive about GDPR.

There may be information included in the diagnostic that will help Sonos pinpoint the issue and help you find a solution.

When you speak directly to the Support staff, they have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your network and Sonos system.

 

Bruce
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  • DavidJS
  • Author
  • Avid Contributor I
  • January 2, 2026

thanks

I’ve tried almost all of the usual steps (as you mention), and nothing seems to help

To clarify, the Play 1, I can hard wire is not one of the surround speakers

Can I just check - if I hard wire the play 1, will it be OK to sit right next to the Deco box?

 

In the lounge the only other main devices in the lounge are the TV and the Sky Q box, and I’ve turned the off the wifi on that as I don’t need it - The Sky box is hard wired to a Deco box

Other than that it is only our phones and laptops

I’ll go with the suggestion of submitting a diagnostic next time it happens

Airgetlam
  • Airgetlam
  • January 2, 2026

If you hardwire the one PLAY:1, it will move all, except the Move, over to SonosNet. Which is merely a different version of WiFi, and having the source be right next to the regular WiFi source would still be potentially bad. Radio interference is radio interference, generally speaking. Whether a device is wired or not, if it is electrically powered, it normally should be about three feet / 1 meter from your WiFi box. 

It’s possible that you could mess with frequencies to make it work, I just wouldn’t recommend it. 

Bruce
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  • DavidJS
  • Author
  • Avid Contributor I
  • January 2, 2026

thanks - That was my thought too - I’d tried connecting it hard wired with the old BT discs and it didn’t help, so I figured it was better to stick to wireless and the mesh network

I have moved my the play 1 (in the office) a bit further away from the main Deco box and that does seemed to have helped with the interference (when viewing on the support matrix)

    Airgetlam
    • Airgetlam
    • January 2, 2026

    Don’t focus as much on the network matrix as much as you do on your ears ;)

    Bruce
    buzz
    • buzz
    • January 2, 2026

    Ears will tell you if the problem is improving, however, the matrix can guide you toward a solution.

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      • DavidJS
      • Author
      • Avid Contributor I
      • January 2, 2026

      yep, I usually only use the matrix if there is a problem - I does help to know if one player needs a re-boot

        Stanley_4
        • Stanley_4
        • Grand Maestro
        • January 2, 2026

        The matrix is a really old, and not being updated tool, the Network information section of each Sonos device is usually better if using the recommended wifi connections.

        If running Ethernet it is best to do it to the hub and not to the remote access points.

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