klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Jan 17, 2017 16:38:48 GMT -5
I've had a lot of people ask, via PM, about my 8 zone Sonos system. I've provided each with answers, but I thought - why not make the info public? Many don't seem to understand what Sonos can do and are thinking of it in a very limited way. I think I've about exhausted the number of ways it can be used, so I figured sharing how I use it might open others eyes to what they can do. Honestly, before I tried it, I had no idea of all the options for use and it took a while over time to really "get it".
So, here goes...if others have other uses of Sonos, please share...love to learn! And, by the way, I am in no way affiliated with Sonos - I just really like their products and use them daily.
As stated, I have an 8 zone system that uses 2 Sonos Connects, 5 Sonos Connect Amps, and a Play 5.
The Connects can either output analog via RCA or digital via optical or coax, and there is no built-in amp. Each of my Connects are connected to an outboard DAC from a digital out on the Connect. Then, the DAC output goes to a preamp/amp. The Connect is great for people who want to feed a nice DAC to a nice amp and have a wonderful, easy to use streaming system for their high end music system.
The Connect Amps have internal amps. Thy do not have digital out because their only output is an amplified signal from speaker binding posts. These are great in rooms where you don't need really loud volumes and the internal DAC is OK for your needs (see more where mine are used as examples).
The Play 5 is in my office but I can unplug it and take it anywhere within wireless range of my house - like my garage. Very handy. My wife can even take it outside while she's doing planters each spring.
1 of my Connect Amps serves 3 rooms. I have the amp output split via a speaker switch, from which speaker lines run inside the house walls to either in-wall speakers or banana plug wall jacks in my Master Bedroom, Master Bath, and Hot Tub room. Each room has a volume control on the wall, so I can separately adjust volume in each room with the Sonos controlling the master volume for the 3.
Net, you can use some type of switching system to direct a single Sonos' output to different place. If it's a Connect Amp, no added amp needed. If it's a Connect, an outboard amp is needed.
However, a big benefit of Sonos is lost when you do a split signal approach to feed various rooms. Sonos has the ability to have independent zones which can be grouped. We have a fairly large/sprawling house (4500 ft2 over 3 stories with a deck off the 2nd story, a pool/deck off the first). The Sonos units deliver sound independently all over the house (with the exception of the 3 rooms mentioned which are hard-wired from 1 Sonos unit). Four of us live in my house - and we're often in different locations with different musical tastes.
At any given moment, we may have me, my wife, our 2 kids, or their friends or ours present. The independence of zones allows:
- me to be in the mancave listening to what I want
- my wife can be in the kitchen listening to something different.
- Someone can be in the hot tub room, the loft, the great room, the upper deck, the pool, or our Master Suite and each person can hear what they want independent of the others.
The number of times this scenario happens actually surprises me...but everyone gets to hear what they want when they want.
And, we can group zones with a touch of a button on the app. If we group zones, the grouped zones are playing the same music - yet the volume can be independently controlled within the sub-zones of the group. We often do this between the deck and pool. For example, we might crank it up more at the pool because people are getting rowdy there, but have the same music playing less loud at the upper deck above the pool because often folks are sitting around chatting while we grill there.
Any music available to 1 Sonos unit is available to all at the same time - but can be played fully independently (for example, 2 people might be listening to the exact same song, but one person may be just starting it while another is halfway through it or both are at the same point but different volumes). Only have 1 copy of a CD in the house and various folks want to hear it in different places? No problem...rip it to a NAS and let Sonos play it whenever/wherever you want.
Control happens easily via any smartphone or tablet or PC. And, when I say easy...my kids have been able to use it since they were 10 with almost no training. More impressive...my wife figured it out instantly..she is horrible with e-systems and it was easy for her. We have a mix of Windows 10 PC's, Android Phones/Tablets, and an I-phone and the app works great on each.
Sonos makes available a wide variety of source material. I can pull in any internet radio (all my local stations and every one anywhere...listened to egyptian radio and turkish and LA and NYC and ATL....it is ALL there...am and fm). Who needs a tuner? And, Sonos connects to the "usuals" like Pandora/siruius xm/and any big name music provider you can think of - including Tidal, my own collection off my NAS, from any audio source I put a "line in" to the sonos unit (so, for example, if I am in the pool, I can have the Sonos play sound from my TV because I have a line out from my tv to a line in on a Sonos), and it has an option "from this mobile device"...never used that one. But, I assume that any music I can play on the tablet I am typing on can get to the sonos.
Both the Sonos Connect and Connect Amp have a "line in". So, if you have various non-internet sources you want to feed, you can. For example, I have a CD player inputting to 1 of them, a TV to another, and a BluRay to another. Once the signal is into the Sonos network, whatever is playing on them is available to any Sonos zone in the house. So, if a big football game is playing, I can be watching it in my Mancave but have the sound all over the house so if I leave the TV for a little bit to do something, no matter where I am in the house - I can hear the same audio the TV is playing. Of course, Sonos cannot control anything but volume or those line inputs (so, you can't use it to change the TV channel), but having them available is great in some situations.
There is only 1 thing I don't like and that is that it is redbook CD quality limited. That said, I have no true hi-res, so it is only a theoretical issue. I am experimenting with MQA via Tidal, but if that takes off - I have my critical listening zone set up with a HTPC, so I can play Tidal Masters off that - and that's about the only place in the house where I'd care about higher res.
Of course, it is pricey ($349 for a Connect, $499 for Connect Amp)...but the ease of use, great easy-to-use interface, amazing household integration, and wide variety of source material makes it a great solution for me.
As I mentioned, when I first got it, I was thinking very narrow about it. I wanted to be able to play a CD or an internet radio station all over my house. I had not planned to rip my CD's and rely on those and other internet sources like Tidal to play tunes. I was talking to someone at Sonos about a feature I wanted to better meet my needs (I can't even recall what it was...more RCA inputs, I think, to connect more non-internet sources), and they guy very politely said "you don't want to do that...you don't need that..." I disagreed, and he said "once you experience streaming with Sonos, you will see you don't really want what you are asking about" I swore he was wrong...but it was me who was wrong.
I hope this helps people considering Sonos understand what you can do with it.
Mark
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Post by knecht on Jan 17, 2017 16:56:05 GMT -5
Nice write up and setup. I have a similar Sonos setup, 3 - Connect Amps and 2 - Connects. I moved away from using Zones on my processors in favor of Sonos as it's so much easier for the whole family to enjoy.
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Post by Porscheguy on Jan 17, 2017 19:36:55 GMT -5
I have a lot of Sonos and I like it, but I have an issue with bandwidth. I have 8 zones and if try to play more than 3-4 zones using lossless audio music I burned in to Sonos from a CD, I get dropouts or it won't play at all with repeated messages that there is insufficient bandwidth to process all the data. I have spent hours on the phone with the Sonos support team but can't seem to fix it. Streaming/radio services are just fine as well as iTunes downloads or files not as large. It's wholly dependent on the file size.
Boo..
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Post by petew on Jan 17, 2017 20:15:03 GMT -5
Another happy Sonos user here. I've got five zones now and one of them is "split" between my shop and outdoor speakers. Rarely have a need to use shop and outdoor at the same time so it's not an issue. I've had Sonos since 2005. My original hardware still works great (hear that Apple?). The wireless controller from 2005 still works. That was before iPhone existed, right?
The system seems expensive, but the "value added" for twelve years of enjoyment with ZERO hassle is priceless. It always works, always sounds good, and never is a pain in the @$$.
Highly recommended.
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Post by knecht on Jan 17, 2017 20:22:11 GMT -5
I have a lot of Sonos and I like it, but I have an issue with bandwidth. I have 8 zones and if try to play more than 3-4 zones using lossless audio music I burned in to Sonos from a CD, I get dropouts or it won't play at all with repeated messages that there is insufficient bandwidth to process all the data. I have spent hours on the phone with the Sonos support team but can't seem to fix it. Streaming/radio services are just fine as well as iTunes downloads or files not as large. It's wholly dependent on the file size. Boo.. Are you using WiFi or are they wired? |
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Post by creimes on Jan 18, 2017 1:24:43 GMT -5
Nice write up Mark, your making me feel little over here with my 820sqft house and only one Sonos Play 1 haha, mine usually stays in the kitchen and sometimes makes it into the bathroom for rockin out in the shower haha. I need to look into the use of it of my digital collection, not sure though as I keep all my loseless audio on my Mac Mini`s external hard drive and they are all ALAC or AIFF files, seems I have to do some research as I really only have used Tidal to my Play 1.
Chad
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Jan 18, 2017 5:49:31 GMT -5
I have a lot of Sonos and I like it, but I have an issue with bandwidth. I have 8 zones and if try to play more than 3-4 zones using lossless audio music I burned in to Sonos from a CD, I get dropouts or it won't play at all with repeated messages that there is insufficient bandwidth to process all the data. I have spent hours on the phone with the Sonos support team but can't seem to fix it. Streaming/radio services are just fine as well as iTunes downloads or files not as large. It's wholly dependent on the file size. Boo.. I have only had dropouts when I had network issues due to a dying router. Once I replaced the router, all was fine. Mark |
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Jan 18, 2017 10:33:27 GMT -5
Sonos relies on your network to distribute audio..... and not all networks are created equal (and none of them have unlimited bandwidth).
Here are a few general networking tips - which absolutely apply here.
1) WiFi has limited bandwidth, and you rarely get anywhere near what your router quotes in the sales literature. Your speed will get slower very quickly as you get further from the router, especially if there are walls between you and it, and ESPECIALLY if there's a lot of metal in your house. (With many situations, you'll be down to half speed ten or fifteen feet from the router; yes, THAT bad.) Some routers are a lot better than others, and those fancy ones with multiple antennas are usually better. read the reviews. Luckily audio doesn't require much bandwidth, but a heavily overloaded router will still cause dropouts.
2) WiFi is VERY prone to blockage. Even a piece of metal the size of a bookend can block the signal, so sometimes moving your device even a few inches will make a big difference. In general, laptop computers have pretty robust antennas, but WiFi cards added to desktop computers are often very sensitive to location.
3) WIRED networks are much more reliable, much faster, and avoid most of the problems associated with WiFi. They also don't slow down much with distance.
4) If you have bandwidth issues with a network, you may need to look into how your routers and switches are connected together. This is especially true if you use the same network for video and audio, or for large downloads. This is a slight oversimplification, but it's usually better if all of your audio devices are connected to a single, reasonably powerful, switch or router, and don't share it with other stuff - especially video. So, if all your network cables go back to a utility closet, connect all your audio devices back to a single central switch, then connect that switch to your Internet router with a single cable. This is MUCH better than connecting everything directly back to your cable modem router.(The idea is to give your audio devices a single fast path to the Internet, and NOT have other Internet traffic going through your audio switch.)
5) Many small routers get "clogged up" with continued use. (Routing tables get full, DHCP lists get full, buffers become fragmented, etc.) Therefore, with many routers, and especially cable modems, occasionally rebooting them can fix all sorts of performance issues. (With most of them that means unplugging them, letting them sit for sixty seconds, then plugging them back in.) I would suggest rebooting your cable modem if you notice slowdowns or dropouts; otherwise, you might consider doing so once a month or so, just in case.)
Incidentally, if you're wiring a house from the ground up, you're much better off providing WIRED network connections - and using what are known as "home runs". This means that you have a "utility closet", and each network outlet has its own wire that goes straight back to it. You then put your switch or switches in the utility closet, plug in the cables leading to the network outlets you use, and have the option of rearranging them or adding switches later. Network cable is very cheap, so it's trivial to do this when you're building the house, and a lot more trouble later. Note that your "utility closet" doesn't have to be a major project; it can be a single shelf in the laundry room or broom closet with your cable modem and a $20 switch sitting on it. Patch bays are cool, but sort of expensive; just having a dozen wires hanging there with connectors on them, so you can plug in the ones you need, works just fine. (And LABEL the wires!)
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Post by LuisV on Jan 18, 2017 12:23:14 GMT -5
That's exactly why I went with a non-traditional home network setup and don't recommend wireless up / down links between access points. Similar to separate components for audio / HT, my home network consists of separate components from Ubiquiti Networks. A secure gateway (USG) acts as the router / firewall, separate managed switches and wireless access points that are hardwired. I'm a FIOS Internet / TV customer, so my FIOS router (disabled wireless) is connected after the USG as it simply needs internet connectivity for the TV guide to function. I considered the newer mesh home routers, but I rather have my APs connected via ethernet than via a wireless backhaul.
I also have 5 Sonos devices, sound bar, connect, two Play:3 and one Play:5; however, I have a Sonos Boost, got it for free a few years back, and that is connected to my network via ethernet. From what I recall, the Boost establishes / extends the Sonos mesh network and thus far has worked for me. I don't have any of my Sonos devices connected to my wireless network nor did I setup wireless within the Sonos controller.
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Jan 18, 2017 12:39:38 GMT -5
Excellent. (I find so many people who have totally unreasonable expectations of WiFi.) That's exactly why I went with a non-traditional home network setup and don't recommend wireless up / down links between access points. Similar to separate components for audio / HT, my home network consists of separate components from Ubiquiti Networks. A secure gateway (USG) acts as the router / firewall, separate managed switches and wireless access points that are hardwired. I'm a FIOS Internet / TV customer, so my FIOS router (disabled wireless) is connected after the USG as it simply needs internet connectivity for the TV guide to function. I considered the newer mesh home routers, but I rather have my APs connected via ethernet than via a wireless backhaul. I also have 5 Sonos devices, sound bar, connect, two Play:3 and one Play:5; however, I have a Sonos Boost, got it for free a few years back, and that is connected to my network via ethernet. From what I recall, the Boost establishes / extends the Sonos mesh network and thus far has worked for me. I don't have any of my Sonos devices connected to my wireless network nor did I setup wireless within the Sonos controller. |
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Post by Bonzo on Jan 18, 2017 13:06:41 GMT -5
Wow, this thread is so pertinent to what I plan to do at my house this year. Great info! I will probably make my own thread asking more particular questions, but your posts have added a ton of info for me all in one fail swoop. Thanks klinemj and KeithL for posting! |
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Post by LuisV on Jan 18, 2017 14:12:05 GMT -5
Excellent. (I find so many people who have totally unreasonable expectations of WiFi.) That's exactly why I went with a non-traditional home network setup and don't recommend wireless up / down links between access points. Similar to separate components for audio / HT, my home network consists of separate components from Ubiquiti Networks. A secure gateway (USG) acts as the router / firewall, separate managed switches and wireless access points that are hardwired. I'm a FIOS Internet / TV customer, so my FIOS router (disabled wireless) is connected after the USG as it simply needs internet connectivity for the TV guide to function. I considered the newer mesh home routers, but I rather have my APs connected via ethernet than via a wireless backhaul. I also have 5 Sonos devices, sound bar, connect, two Play:3 and one Play:5; however, I have a Sonos Boost, got it for free a few years back, and that is connected to my network via ethernet. From what I recall, the Boost establishes / extends the Sonos mesh network and thus far has worked for me. I don't have any of my Sonos devices connected to my wireless network nor did I setup wireless within the Sonos controller. Thanks @keithl! It took a while as I had to make a few small holes to route cable, but I wired each room that needed a drop with cat 6 and terminated them in my network closet to a GB backbone. After I was done, I wish I ran multiple cables to my HT room, but a small Ubiquiti 8 port switch took care of the extra connections I needed. I only use wireless for laptops, phones and home automation devices with everything else being wired. My APs and 8 Port switches leverage PoE so an ethernet cable provides both power and connectivity, therefore their placement doesn't require an outlet nearby. The APs are mounted on the ceiling... about the size of a smoke detector. I'm not sure why, but for some reason it seems that most folks don't consider alternatives for their home networks and or favor wireless over wired connections. I understand it's quicker / easier to connect via wireless, but the drawbacks, troubleshooting, etc. on that sometimes flaky connection basically closes the time gap in running an ethernet cable. At least that's my opinion / experience. |
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Jan 18, 2017 16:07:40 GMT -5
Some routers are a lot better than others, and those fancy ones with multiple antennas are usually better. read the reviews. Luckily audio doesn't require much bandwidth, but a heavily overloaded router will still cause dropouts. ... Incidentally, if you're wiring a house from the ground up, you're much better off providing WIRED network connections - and using what are known as "home runs". This means that you have a "utility closet", and each network outlet has its own wire that goes straight back to it. You then put your switch or switches in the utility closet, plug in the cables leading to the network outlets you use, and have the option of rearranging them or adding switches later. Network cable is very cheap, so it's trivial to do this when you're building the house, and a lot more trouble later. Note that your "utility closet" doesn't have to be a major project; it can be a single shelf in the laundry room or broom closet with your cable modem and a $20 switch sitting on it. Patch bays are cool, but sort of expensive; just having a dozen wires hanging there with connectors on them, so you can plug in the ones you need, works just fine. (And LABEL the wires!) I have one of those "fancy ones with multiple antennas" I can speak to the fact that it is awesome...an ASUS I got from recommendations here and a bit of study on my own. My old NetGear router, in addition to having some type of intermittent issue on 2 of the hard wired ports, didn't broadcast very far and if I was at the end of my lower deck trying to control my Sonos (which is ~70' from where the router is and is down 1 story) - my cell phone couldn't use my house's wireless. And, that's how I was controlling Sonos. Since getting the ASUS, no issues at all and I can go another 75' off the far end of my deck into my yard and still get reception. And, I second the thought on wiring...I did that when I built my house, so I hard wire everything I can...which means, I have 3 PC's, a BluRay, the XMC-1, a Smart TV, and 3 of my Sonos units all hardwired. That keeps the wireless freed up for everything else that hits it (including 2 more BluRays, 1 more TV, my work laptop, 4 tablets, 4 Smart Phones, and more...). My "utility closet" is in my home's mechanical room. There's a tiny shelf and the incoming signal starts there and then goes out to various locations and my wireless router that's centrally located within the house for best coverage. If I were to build again, I'd run even more cable as I built. Mark |
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Post by Porscheguy on Jan 18, 2017 18:03:02 GMT -5
Thanks for this. Sonos claims my router is not as important. I said I'd replace it and they said it would make little difference. The Sonos signal is being carried by the Boost. That's what they say anyway... Sonos relies on your network to distribute audio..... and not all networks are created equal (and none of them have unlimited bandwidth). Here are a few general networking tips - which absolutely apply here. 1) WiFi has limited bandwidth, and you rarely get anywhere near what your router quotes in the sales literature. Your speed will get slower very quickly as you get further from the router, especially if there are walls between you and it, and ESPECIALLY if there's a lot of metal in your house. (With many situations, you'll be down to half speed ten or fifteen feet from the router; yes, THAT bad.) Some routers are a lot better than others, and those fancy ones with multiple antennas are usually better. read the reviews. Luckily audio doesn't require much bandwidth, but a heavily overloaded router will still cause dropouts. 2) WiFi is VERY prone to blockage. Even a piece of metal the size of a bookend can block the signal, so sometimes moving your device even a few inches will make a big difference. In general, laptop computers have pretty robust antennas, but WiFi cards added to desktop computers are often very sensitive to location. 3) WIRED networks are much more reliable, much faster, and avoid most of the problems associated with WiFi. They also don't slow down much with distance. 4) If you have bandwidth issues with a network, you may need to look into how your routers and switches are connected together. This is especially true if you use the same network for video and audio, or for large downloads. This is a slight oversimplification, but it's usually better if all of your audio devices are connected to a single, reasonably powerful, switch or router, and don't share it with other stuff - especially video. So, if all your network cables go back to a utility closet, connect all your audio devices back to a single central switch, then connect that switch to your Internet router with a single cable. This is MUCH better than connecting everything directly back to your cable modem router.(The idea is to give your audio devices a single fast path to the Internet, and NOT have other Internet traffic going through your audio switch.) 5) Many small routers get "clogged up" with continued use. (Routing tables get full, DHCP lists get full, buffers become fragmented, etc.) Therefore, with many routers, and especially cable modems, occasionally rebooting them can fix all sorts of performance issues. (With most of them that means unplugging them, letting them sit for sixty seconds, then plugging them back in.) I would suggest rebooting your cable modem if you notice slowdowns or dropouts; otherwise, you might consider doing so once a month or so, just in case.) Incidentally, if you're wiring a house from the ground up, you're much better off providing WIRED network connections - and using what are known as "home runs". This means that you have a "utility closet", and each network outlet has its own wire that goes straight back to it. You then put your switch or switches in the utility closet, plug in the cables leading to the network outlets you use, and have the option of rearranging them or adding switches later. Network cable is very cheap, so it's trivial to do this when you're building the house, and a lot more trouble later. Note that your "utility closet" doesn't have to be a major project; it can be a single shelf in the laundry room or broom closet with your cable modem and a $20 switch sitting on it. Patch bays are cool, but sort of expensive; just having a dozen wires hanging there with connectors on them, so you can plug in the ones you need, works just fine. (And LABEL the wires!) |
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Jan 18, 2017 18:42:05 GMT -5
Thanks for this. Sonos claims my router is not as important. I said I'd replace it and they said it would make little difference. The Sonos signal is being carried by the Boost. That's what they say anyway... They may be right if...and it is a big if...your router is working right. I learned mine was not. It was having intermittent issues that led to lagging response. Not enough to drop the signal totally but cause delays. Eventually, 1 or 2 of the hardwired line outs could not be counted on at all. At that point, I replaced the router and all was good...great, in fact. Mark |
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Post by LuisV on Jan 18, 2017 19:30:16 GMT -5
Thanks for this. Sonos claims my router is not as important. I said I'd replace it and they said it would make little difference. The Sonos signal is being carried by the Boost. That's what they say anyway... They may be right if...and it is a big if...your router is working right. I learned mine was not. It was having intermittent issues that led to lagging response. Not enough to drop the signal totally but cause delays. Eventually, 1 or 2 of the hardwired line outs could not be counted on at all. At that point, I replaced the router and all was good...great, in fact. Mark Did you enter your wireless details into their controller, if not, then the only way they are communicating is with the Sonos mesh network. This is how Sonos explains it, the "Boost is ideal for any home where wireless connectivity is a serious problem. Bypasses your temperamental WiFi to create a separate high-performance wireless network just for Sonos speakers." Aka, Sonosnet, the Sonos mesh network. Here's more info: sonos.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3046/~/choosing-between-a-standard-and-boost-setupYou can test connectivity by turning the wireless portion of your router off, plug one Sonos speaker into an ethernet port and run the controller from a system that is also plugged in via ethernet. Make sure the controller "sees" all of your Sonos speakers and then see how your Sonos speakers react to streaming audio. Any drop outs, enable wireless on the router and enable wireless within the Sonos controller. If you still have issues, disable wireless in the controller and try a Sonos Boost. With the Boost I can place a Play:3 on my patio and stream all day long without issue. Without the Boost, the controller doesn't see that speaker. I never tried wireless as I don't want that traffic on my network. |
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Post by creimes on Jan 18, 2017 20:28:09 GMT -5
I install and repair Internet, TV and voice over both copper and Fiber Optic and us techs go on an insane amount of repairs due to poor speeds over WiFi, we use the Pace 5168n RG for our modem/router and it is mostly installed in the basement where the majority of coax and Ethernet wires are ran for connecting our TV STB's and then they complain that the WiFi is slow on their iPad upstairs across the house haha, but 95% of people don't want to spend they're own money on a better WiFi AP and/or router, you pay for what you get when it comes to WiFi equipment IMO Excellent. (I find so many people who have totally unreasonable expectations of WiFi.) Thanks @keithl! It took a while as I had to make a few small holes to route cable, but I wired each room that needed a drop with cat 6 and terminated them in my network closet to a GB backbone. After I was done, I wish I ran multiple cables to my HT room, but a small Ubiquiti 8 port switch took care of the extra connections I needed. I only use wireless for laptops, phones and home automation devices with everything else being wired. My APs and 8 Port switches leverage PoE so an ethernet cable provides both power and connectivity, therefore their placement doesn't require an outlet nearby. The APs are mounted on the ceiling... about the size of a smoke detector. I'm not sure why, but for some reason it seems that most folks don't consider alternatives for their home networks and or favor wireless over wired connections. I understand it's quicker / easier to connect via wireless, but the drawbacks, troubleshooting, etc. on that sometimes flaky connection basically closes the time gap in running an ethernet cable. At least that's my opinion / experience. |
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Jan 18, 2017 21:00:01 GMT -5
They may be right if...and it is a big if...your router is working right. I learned mine was not. It was having intermittent issues that led to lagging response. Not enough to drop the signal totally but cause delays. Eventually, 1 or 2 of the hardwired line outs could not be counted on at all. At that point, I replaced the router and all was good...great, in fact. Mark Did you enter your wireless details into their controller, if not, then the only way they are communicating is with the Sonos mesh network. This is how Sonos explains it, the "Boost is ideal for any home where wireless connectivity is a serious problem. Bypasses your temperamental WiFi to create a separate high-performance wireless network just for Sonos speakers." Aka, Sonosnet, the Sonos mesh network. Here's more info: sonos.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3046/~/choosing-between-a-standard-and-boost-setupYou can test connectivity by turning the wireless portion of your router off, plug one Sonos speaker into an ethernet port and run the controller from a system that is also plugged in via ethernet. Make sure the controller "sees" all of your Sonos speakers and then see how your Sonos speakers react to streaming audio. Any drop outs, enable wireless on the router and enable wireless within the Sonos controller. If you still have issues, disable wireless in the controller and try a Sonos Boost. With the Boost I can place a Play:3 on my patio and stream all day long without issue. Without the Boost, the controller doesn't see that speaker. I never tried wireless as I don't want that traffic on my network. I never had their controller. I have always used a smartphone or tablet. In my case, I have always had the first unit hardwired. However, it turned out the my router developed and issue after a lightning strike. It took a full reset to make it work again and appeared to be working. But I started having Sonos issues. It turns out that the first hardwired Sonos unit was plugged into a port in my router that was only intermittently working. As soon as I used another hardwired line, all was fine. I stopped using that port until I got a new router. Net, the issue had nothing to do with Sonos. Hence my comment about a big if being "if your router is working right" Mark |
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Post by LuisV on Jan 18, 2017 21:03:24 GMT -5
Gotcha, I must have missed that part about the bad port above.
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Post by ac2011 on Jan 19, 2017 7:56:56 GMT -5
I love my Sonos gear. I have a Playbar + 2 Play 3's + Sonos sub in my main floor great room. This room is open to the kitchen and has the TV where the kids watch their shows, we play Wii and just generally spend most of the "family time".
Have a Play 5 in the den - which is too big for that space; I originally bought it for the great room before upgrading to the Playbar and then adding the other stuff. Have a Play 1 in a spare bedroom upstairs where the wife does crafting/sewing stuff.
I have a Connect hooked to my main HT system in the basement.
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