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Answered

Problems with sound sync in latest Sonos Controller

  • May 29, 2026
  • 20 replies
  • 93 views
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I am running the latest Sonos firmware 17.2.3 (build 90077070) with several Sonos One’s and a Sonos Move.  My controller(s) Macbook Pro M5 Max (MacOS Tahoe) and iPhone 17 Pro (iOS 26.5) -- iOS Sonos is also up to date.

After a recent update to Sonos, I have again experienced speaker sound sync issues.   I have not changed anything in my setup or configuration.   I have one Sonos One hard-wired that was intended to overcome prior similar issues.   These speakers are all within less than 25 ft proximity to my Netgear Orbi RBR850.

So my question is has anyone noticed this degradation since recent Sonos controller updates?   I recall this being a long-term Sonos issue.

Best answer by Airgetlam

Haven’t noticed this as an issue across my many grouped rooms, or individual speakers. It sure sounds like potential wifi interference , possibly from outside your home / network. Usually, the first device in the list of ‘grouped’ speakers is the coordinator, and handles the sync for all other speakers. Have you tried starting with the wired speaker first? It could make a difference, or it could not, but worth the test.

Honestly, 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.

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.

20 replies

Airgetlam
  • Airgetlam
  • Answer
  • May 29, 2026

Haven’t noticed this as an issue across my many grouped rooms, or individual speakers. It sure sounds like potential wifi interference , possibly from outside your home / network. Usually, the first device in the list of ‘grouped’ speakers is the coordinator, and handles the sync for all other speakers. Have you tried starting with the wired speaker first? It could make a difference, or it could not, but worth the test.

Honestly, 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.

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
    Stanley_4
    • Stanley_4
    • Grand Maestro
    • May 29, 2026

    I'm not sure your split networking is your best option. Having your Moves on Wi-Fi and your Ones on Ethernet/Sonosnet might be complicating things. Removing the Ethernet and having all on Wi-Fi might be a better choice.

    Try removing the Ethernet and check the signal levels on the Ones, if they are adequate you should be able to stay all Wi-Fi. If there are still issues the previous post is good advice. 

      K
      • kdowling
      • May 29, 2026

      You might also want to check for firmware updates. Firmware 17.2.3 (build 90077070) isn’t even close to the current version.

        Airgetlam
        • Airgetlam
        • May 29, 2026

        Looking at one of my S2 Sonos Ones, it is running firmware 18.4 (build 95.0-77060)…

        Bruce
        K
        • kdowling
        • May 29, 2026

        Yes, that would be the  current version. I think the OP is pre May 2024, unless it’s a typo. I didn’t think a current controller would allow that kind of mismatch.

        Edit: Or not, I don’t know. I don’t see build 90077070 in the release notes. And it’s been 18x for a while.

        Airgetlam
        • Airgetlam
        • May 29, 2026

        Could it be S1? I don’t have an S1 system to compare against. And lord knows I’m not smart enough to look at the download packages ;)

        Bruce
        Stanley_4
        • Stanley_4
        • Grand Maestro
        • May 29, 2026

        A Playbar is in the profile so S1 could be a possibility if the Moves are 1s.

        Probably worth considering a swap to the S2 system if it is on S1 now.

        K
        • kdowling
        • May 29, 2026

        Current S1 is Version 11.16.1 (build 572374170).

          Airgetlam
          • Airgetlam
          • May 29, 2026

          Frankly, I don’t trust the release notes. I ‘know’ that Sonos doesn’t keep that data ‘up to date’ all the time, for their own reasons. I trust what is running on my system, after double checking for updates that I may (unlikely) have missed. 

          Don’t get me started on why Sonos doesn’t keep that reference data up to date. I think I’ve been fighting that since I first started using Sonos. It’s mildly frustration to OCD data folks like me. 

          Bruce
          Stanley_4
          • Stanley_4
          • Grand Maestro
          • May 29, 2026

          I looked but failed to find any S1 release notes or version info. Even tried the search AI assistant. 

            K
            • kdowling
            • May 30, 2026

            I haven’t seen any mention of S1 updates since this news announcement. It mentions that there is an S1 update at the end. Very informative.

            Latest Software Update - Early December '25

            The S1 version info above is from my S1 system.

              AjTrek1
              • AjTrek1
              • May 30, 2026

              The OP’s mention of the version and build is correct for MacOS as shown below for my Mac’s which are M1, M2, M3 and M4. FYI, I performed a fresh download/install to verify. I must assume (based on comments) some of you were thinking of Sonos iOS version and build.  

               

               

              However I’m not experiencing any sync issues with grouped rooms. Therefore, the issues are probably as stated by ​@Airgetlam and/or ​@Stanley_4 .

              The OP should run a diagnostic as suggested and contact Sonos Support.

              Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.
                Airgetlam
                • Airgetlam
                • May 30, 2026

                Ah, that’s not firmware, as the OP stated, that’s either software or controller version. 

                Bruce
                  K
                  • kdowling
                  • May 30, 2026

                  That’s desktop controller version. At least we now know where the version came from. The OP stated it was their firmware version. Which is what we were discussing. Firmware version.

                  Edit: I need to reload/refresh pages before replying!

                    Airgetlam
                    • Airgetlam
                    • May 30, 2026

                    Sorry, ​@kdowling . All I can say is it happens rather frequently to me, too. 

                    Bruce
                      F
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                      • Forrest
                      • Author
                      • Chromatic Producer I
                      • June 3, 2026

                      I'm not sure your split networking is your best option. Having your Moves on Wi-Fi and your Ones on Ethernet/Sonosnet might be complicating things. Removing the Ethernet and having all on Wi-Fi might be a better choice.

                      Try removing the Ethernet and check the signal levels on the Ones, if they are adequate you should be able to stay all Wi-Fi. If there are still issues the previous post is good advice. 



                      Sonos asked me to connect one speaker, because the WiFi configuration was unstable.

                      Stanley_4
                      • Stanley_4
                      • Grand Maestro
                      • June 3, 2026

                      In that case I'd look to improving your Wi-Fi system.

                      A modern, good quality, Wi-Fi system has far more capability than the nearly antique Sonosnet you get when wired.

                        F
                        Forum|alt.badge.img+7
                        • Forrest
                        • Author
                        • Chromatic Producer I
                        • June 3, 2026

                        In that case I'd look to improving your Wi-Fi system.

                        A modern, good quality, Wi-Fi system has far more capability than the nearly antique Sonosnet you get when wired.

                        Well, I have a Netgear Orbi RBR850, which should be plenty advanced enough -- especially the signal.  My speakers are no more than 25 feet from it (most shorter). 

                        Airgetlam
                        • Airgetlam
                        • June 3, 2026

                        Remember, WiFi doesn’t exist in a ‘vacuum’, it is impacted by influences outside your control, especially environmental, like the channel your neighbors use for their network, amongst others. And even factors ‘inside’ your network can be an issue, such as having items ‘too close’ to an emitter, or even things like failing electronics, such as microwaves. The wifi interference FAQ is a good read, as an addition to your call to Sonos. And since much of that data is transient, it doesn’t always show up in a diagnostic. 

                        Bruce
                        Stanley_4
                        • Stanley_4
                        • Grand Maestro
                        • June 3, 2026

                        Not sure why you got that response from support then.

                        The forum search AI assistant has good Orbi info.

                        https://en.community.sonos.com/search?q=Netgear+Orbi+RBR850

                         

                        Maybe run through the support wifi articles? Seems to be broken right now though.

                        https://support.sonos.com/en-us/search?q=Orbi

                         

                         

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