Two TV's outdoors, same output, speakers and maybe Sonos?

Yes, you can adjust the balance in the Sonos app.

In this case dual mono mode might be a good option.

I’ve used Alexa extensively, Google home, only a little.  You can change the volume pretty easily, but you can’t change the balance, as far as I’m aware.  Worth noting though that your current source is a TV, then the TV remote can adjust volume too.

Here’s a good article regarding Alexa groups, which will make Sonos/Alexa more seamless.  For a couple years, I’ve had echo dots in my backyard to control the Sonos amps.  They work well, but are not built for outdoors and will get replaced occasionally.  I’m currently trying out a TV with Alexa built in, which has worked really well for music requests.

@melvimbe using the HDMI ARC that means that if the TV is off, no audio comes out of the Sonos Amp, even if the Input on the Matrix is streaming.  What I wonder is, is it a per-TV setting that if I wanted to have the Sonos Amp output (Speakers) be the only sound I hear, even though you raise the volume on the TV, the TV speakers itself don’t output sound?  What if you used the Sonos Amp app and raised volume there, does it pass it back to the TV and the volume on that raises so both are in sync with level 0-100 kind of thing?  If I ever desired to have sound/music outside but not have my TV’s on, can I do that by just streaming say Spotify from my phone to the Sonos Amp?

When you connect a TV to  speakers via  HDMI-ARC or optical, the vast majority of TVs will automatically turn off the internal TV speakers.  Following that, with an HDMI-ARC connection, the TV and the Amp will communicate volume levels back and forth (via CEC), so that you can control volume via the TV remote, the Sonos app, or other means, and the volume level will be known by both TV and Amp.

As far as what audio plays, you can select the source of audio you want playing on the amp from the Sonos app.  So you can select Spotify streaming, TV, the line in source on the amp, etc.  So the TV does not need to be on to play audio.  You can even have the TV on, but have the amp play Spotify, for example.  For conveince though, you can set the Amp to automatically start playing TV audio when it sense audio coming from the TV.  And of course, you can ‘group’ one amp with other amps and speakers (‘Rooms’ in Sonos terms) to play audio in sync across different rooms.

everything you said was what i expected.  I figure a brand new Samsung high end thing will do all the things it’s supposed to per specs out there, maybe some weird chinese no name brand may not.

this last part has me thinking though “And of course, you can ‘group’ one amp with other amps and speakers (‘Rooms’ in Sonos terms) to play audio in sync across different rooms.”.   I figured the only way I could have two Sonos amp’s place in sync would be to use the Matrix and output1 output2 to both Sonos and tell the matrix to use that.  That’s cool.  I could for example use Spotify in the app and say both Amp’s play audio in sync.  Wild.. Thank you for that and all your help.

Just to make your head spin a bit: There is a latency between Line-In and output from any SONOS players. If you Group players playing Line-In, all players in the Group will be time aligned, but there is a 75ms latency from Line-In. This is not an issue unless something else is playing the analog signal directly. Certainly it doesn’t matter that a CD recorded decades ago is delayed another 75ms, however if you have the analog signal playing directly through a conventional audio system and via a SONOS Line-In, the Line-In will be late -- if both audio streams can be heard simultaneously. It’s’ probably not an issue for distant rooms.

With respect to input to ARC’s (or any other soundbar) HDMI port or AMP’s HDMI port, the latency is about 30ms. This lower latency is better for lip sync. This does create an issue if you attempt to Group audio from the ARC HDMI input with other SONOS players because the other players will be at 75ms while ARC/AMP is at 30ms. You can ease the situation somewhat by adjusting ARC’s lip sync delay -- at the expense of some lip sync.

With your proposed HDMI split/switch scheme there will not be any significant timing differences between soundbars playing the same video source.

I hate to do this to all of you, but as I was walking around the yard, explaining to my wife what we’re going to buy, where we’ll mount it all etc. she asked me “Why can’t we just use some powered BT speakers?”.  I thought in my mind:

1. they probably are cheaper $, so probably not as perfect audio sounding, but we are not audiophiles.
2. you don’t get the cool Sonos app integration stuff on your phone
3. i don’t know if you can pair say 2 BT speakers to one TV.
4. maybe they have issues being perfectly in sync with the video?
5. perhaps controlling volume on them could be a PITA, not even sure how that would work.

I am totally fine with dropping the $ on 1-2 AMP’s, this Altelix Weatherproof enclosure, the HDMI matrix, yadda yadda…   But I’d like to be prepared to answer her question without just going “uhhh.. uhhmm.. “ 

Thanks

Full disclosure: I’m not a big BT user, but it has it’s uses.

BT is convenient for sending phone/pad audio to a speaker. This is a point to point application. I know a few people who are using BT equipped hearing aids while watching TV and this also integrates reasonably well with phone conversations, but I’ve had some issues during phone conversations with these people. One person also integrates the BT hearing aids with automobile electronics. Sometimes I observe struggles while the phone and hearing aids negotiate with the alternate environments (home and auto). This suggests to me that there could be some issues if using multiple BT speakers, multiple phone/pads, and multiple TV’s. If something gets out of sorts, the user would need to negotiate with multiple TV’s and multiple speakers -- as individual units, not as a system.

I’m not sure if many TV’s would act as a BT source, or if they would send stereo in this application.

There is another approach to this sort of application that is used by bars and other large venues. Essentially, there is a “box” for each input device and TV. Dozens and dozens of sources and TV’s can be integrated to play any combination of  inputs on any combination of TV’s -- with very low latency. You’d want to tie all of this together with some sort of control system. Overall, this approach is intended to be implemented by professional installers, but there is no reason why a skilled amateur couldn’t set this up. 

As you see, there are various approaches to this project and you’ll receive numerous recommendations with respect to “best” and why the other approaches are “terrible”.

In my opinion an overall consideration should be: can your wife and family operate the system?

this is a very good point.   she hates our Sony receiver in the family room as she has no idea how it works when switching input’s.  I thought it was simple, but she says no.  I have never used Sonos app on iOS, but I expect it to be simple to use for streaming stuff.

I also read that BT 5.0+ allows multiple simultaneous BT speaker devices.  I think there is a plus with Sonos in that I can have the speakers output say Spotify, but have the TV on for say a sports game that few would be watching, so no sound.  With the BT only setup, it’s whatever the TV has on.  Also the BT setup requires the TV to be on, where the Sonos I could leave the TV off and simply set the Input for Sonos to be Spotify and play music only.   I did have the hardscape people put power outlets on each side of our covered structure so technically i can deal with power where I want, but I think speaker wire will be just as easy to simply attach above out of sight.

I showed her how Sonos is saying shipping 11/25 now (could be sooner).  Amazon.com I can have an Amp tomorrow for $899 (some dude marking it up $200), or for $999 best buy has the Sonance outdoor MAG speakers with the Sonos Amp, which I question thinking dang 300 for 2 speakers that everyone says are good, maybe worth it?  problem is I want 2 more and I think those speakers are maybe EOL, as I don’t find them anywhere other than Best Buy with that Amp+speaker combo.  So i’m thinking skip and just wait till 11/25 and find some other 8ohm speaker (4 total) that I can easily source.

Thanks

I think that Sonance speaker/Sonos amp package is pretty much a Best Buy exclusive.  I don’t recall seeing it anywhere else.  I have no doubt that it works, but it’s never mentioned as a supported setup by Sonos.  

As far as family acceptance, I’ve never had any trouble with the kids figuring things out, but voice control seems to be the favorite. To make things even easier, I’ve now got one of those TVs with Alexa built in, that is active without the TV even being on.  So basically, everything just works through the TV now, whether it’s music or watching something on streaming.  Very easy.

I think ‘motivation’ is a large factor. The kids have a goal. Many adults don’t want to be bothered with learning anything.