Skip to main content

Hello, can I ask for any answers to be given in idiot speak please, thanks. 

For the last decade I’ve been using a play 5 1st gen speaker connected by a cable from line in to a DAC box, with an optical cable from the DAC to the TV on all tv’s we used in the lounge. 

The play 5 has now been swapped out with an Era 100 using the same connection method as before. 

I used an apple adapter into the speaker without success and am now awaiting the delivery of the Sonos adapter.

I’m hoping this will work.  Any advice would welcome, like do I still need to use the DAC box or is there any other equipment I may need? 

Thanks for reading J

Hi.  To play through a Sonos speaker line-in you need a signal of the right type (i.e. analog not digital) and the right connection, which was a 3.5mm jack on your Play:5 and is a USB(C) on your Era100.  The DAC converts the digital output from the TV to the analog required.  It presumably has an output for a 3.5mm jack, so it you add the Sonos adapter to whatever you had before, this should work.

But this does beg the question: if you are replacing your speaker anyway, and TV is an important use of your Sonos system, why not buy a speaker that is designed and meant to be used as a TV speaker, not one that isn’t?

Hi John, I’m feeling quite reassured by your reply. Thanks for that.

The reason why when changing the speaker over we chose an Era 100 was basically cost.  As we can only position our tv on the (not particularly well insulated) party wall, we tend to keep the volume to a minimum on the neighbours wall, using other speakers positioned around the lounge, so the cost of a dedicated TV bar seemed a bit of a waste in every sense of the word. It’s a shame, but hey, that’s life and they are great neighbours. 

Thanks again John.

J  

It sounds like you are great neighbours too!

I hope you enjoy the Era100. It's an excellent speaker.

If your TV has a Bluetooth output option you may be able to use that (although line-in is very likely to be more robust).

It sounds like you are great neighbours too!

I hope you enjoy the Era100. It's an excellent speaker.

If your TV has a Bluetooth output option you may be able to use that (although line-in is very likely to be more robust).

Oh yeah, did I mention he plays the drums 😉 in his garage, where I would like them to stay 😂

Hi.  To play through a Sonos speaker line-in you need a signal of the right type (i.e. analog not digital) and the right connection, which was a 3.5mm jack on your Play:5 and is a USB(C) on your Era100.  The DAC converts the digital output from the TV to the analog required.  It presumably has an output for a 3.5mm jack, so it you add the Sonos adapter to whatever you had before, this should work.

But this does beg the question: if you are replacing your speaker anyway, and TV is an important use of your Sonos system, why not buy a speaker that is designed and meant to be used as a TV speaker, not one that isn’t?

Adapter delivered and attached to my Era 100 and now all up and running just fine! Thank you again for your help & advice John.

Good to know it works as expected.  Thanks for posting back.

Reply


Terms & ConditionsCookie settings