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Least costly ad-hoc solution to add AirPlay 2 grouping with older systems that are all on SonosNet ?

  • September 18, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 89 views
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Hello, the house has the Sonos Bridge for SonosNet with tons of Play:1 and Play:5 speakers along with Connect:AMP in SonosNet, which none of these devices are AirPlay 2 compatible.  Ok.

Besides using the Sonos S1 app directly for Apple Music, i would like to see if i can use the Apple’s native Apple Music to stream music to the Play:1, Play:5 and speakers connected to Connect:AMP.  

I’m looking for cost effective solution to create a “group” with AirPlay 2 compatible Sonos speaker with certain Play:1 speakers (as a starter) at a specific room, basement study room, so i can play from Apple Music app to this group.  Of course, i may need to adjust my groups depending on where i want to play music from Apple Music app to different parts of the house.  Total hack solution.

Looks like the Roam 2 (cheapest that supports AirPlay 2) cannot connect to SonosNet.

Can someone suggest “cheapest” way to create group using Sonos speaker (just one) with AirPlay 2 support, with existing (older non-AirPlay 2 capable) speakers in the SonosNet?

Or, am i just better off using the S1 app to access the Apple Music contents?

 

Thanks.

Best answer by nik9669a

I believe a One is what you seek - Airplay compatible and works on S1. 

5 replies

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  • nik9669a
  • Senior Virtuoso
  • Answer
  • September 18, 2025

I believe a One is what you seek - Airplay compatible and works on S1. 

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  • ssp42432
  • Author
  • Contributor II
  • September 18, 2025

I believe a One is what you seek - Airplay compatible and works on S1. 

Thanks.

If i already have the PLAY:1 speakers in a stereo pair, can that pair be added to a room group with the One speaker to have the PLAY:1 speakers also play music from the AirPlay 2?

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  • nik9669a
  • Senior Virtuoso
  • September 18, 2025

I believe a One is what you seek - Airplay compatible and works on S1. 

Thanks.

If i already have the PLAY:1 speakers in a stereo pair, can that pair be added to a room group with the One speaker to have the PLAY:1 speakers also play music from the AirPlay 2?



Yes. 

 

Your first post says “I’m looking for cost effective solution to create a “group” with AirPlay 2 compatible Sonos speaker with certain Play:1 speakers” so you already understand about Sonos’ “group” feature. 
 

Add the new One to your system, as a new “room”. Call it anything you want. Airplay your music to it. Then group whichever of your existing rooms you want to share the music. 

Airgetlam
  • Airgetlam
  • September 18, 2025

Or, just use S1 to access Apple Music, no extra cost, and it should be the same sound. Slightly different UI, but you can usually become accustomed to it. 

Bruce
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  • ssp42432
  • Author
  • Contributor II
  • September 18, 2025

Thanks for all the feedback’s.

Just now tried the S1 to play contents from Apple Music.  UI is obviously different, but i can see all the music recently played and added, and playback sounds good for lossless (non-highres) sources.  I’ll play with this setup some more.

Backup is to go add One Gen 1 (used).

Searching online is also coming up with another hacky option, which is to use my AirPort Express (gen 1) which would cause the signal to go through DAC at my AirPort Express base station and then ADC again at Play:5, and sync to Play:1 speakers.  Would rather keep the signal all digital until hits the Sonos speakers (or amps).

 

 

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