Make the most of your Sonos speakers
Estimated Reading Time: 12 Min
Sonos is offensive and dodges the ever-growing wave of smart speakers competing in our living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens. However, Sonos is still a leader in home audio, offering the best sound speakers in the game and an incredible multi-speaker setup. And there are many nooks and cracks to explore.
Below we’ve put together some great Sonos tips and tricks (and secrets) for mastering Sonos speakers, from the Sonos Era 100 smart speaker to the Sonos Move 2 and all the Sonos speakers in between.
Learning these will become an unstoppable force of multi-room powers. If you download new Sonos app updates and need additional tips, there are individual features that specially target the new app and its quirks.
Trueplay takes time
Apple’s IOS users have an unfair advantage over those who worship at the altar on Android. Sonos’ Trueplay feature is only available on Apple Cohort, allowing users to calibrate their speakers into the room, but the new Sonos Era 100 and Sonos Era 300 come in slimmer versions of Trueplay for Android users.
Trueplay uses your iPhone or iPad microphone to test how sound bounces off walls, furniture and other objects, fine-tune the sound production of your speakers to deliver the best performance depending on where it is. Sonos suggests to do this during setup and thoroughly recommends.
Read these: How to Use Sonos with Alexa | How to use Sonos with Google Assistant
If you didn’t set this first, go to the Sonos app and Setting Cog In the top right corner, select the speaker you want to tune. Tap Trueplay from the list of options for that speaker. Each speaker must be done individually.
The good news is that some of the new Sonos speakers, such as the ERA 100, bring additional benefits to Tech with quick tunes, giving Android users the option to tune using the built-in microphone of the speaker instead of having to borrow an iOS device. It’s not as advanced as using a microphone on an iOS device, but it’s a bit helpful if you can’t access your iOS device.
Cut all wires (if you can’t, get a boost)
Previously, it was essential to connect the Sonos Bridge to a router that connected the rest of the speaker wirelessly. But these days, everything can be connected directly to Wi-Fi, and you don’t have to tangle yourself with the cable.
That being said, if your home is more modest than most, or if you have poor wi-fi, you may find that the signal is lost. In that case, we recommend picking up Sonos Boost, which connects directly to the Router and creates a dedicated network for Sonos speakers.
Sonos essentially needs to boost newer versions of bridges and keep that connection running smoothly. If your budget isn’t growing to boost, you can use Ethernet to connect your Sonos speakers to your router to improve your system.
That said, Sonos is far from the Sonosnet setup. New speakers such as the Sonos Era 100 and ERA 300 will not participate in the Sonosnet network. This is because Sonos is looking at the latest Wi-Fi solutions at home, such as fixing previously existing bandwidth issues, such as mesh systems.
iPhone users, Airplay is your friend
In 2019, Apple launched AirPlay 2. In other words, iOS users have an easy way to stream music and group Sonos speakers. If you are an Apple Music subscriber, this means you can ask Siri to play the songs on the Sonos system.
Read this: The best Airplay2 speakers
The Sonos app is better than before (despite the May 2024 redesign), but Team Ambient iPhone owners rarely open it these days.
AirPlay is very easy to use and allows you to choose the speaker you want to play. It also means you can stream from your chosen music service.
Essentially, all Sonos speakers around 2019 have built-in airplay skills including AMP, ARC, ARC SL, Beam (both Gens), ERA 100, ERA 300, 5, MOVE (both Gens), 1 SL, Play: 5 (2nd-gen), Playbase, Port, Ray, Roam, Roam Sla, Ikea symfonisk.
Do you have any support for Airplay 2? Return another speaker to pork
However, even if you own a longer Sonos speaker, you can still use the AirPlay 2 as long as you have at least one supported model.
To do this, simply group the old speakers with the AirPlay-friendly model, essentially strolling around the pig from the airplay connection. Tap the speaker icon on your Mini Now Plays card at the bottom of the Sonos app and select the speaker you want to group. They are grouped when checked in yellow. When the grouping is finished, press “Apply”.
Create groupings of sets in advance
One of the best new features of the Sonos S2 system is the ability to add speakers to the set group in advance, which appears as an option when you select where to play music.
For example, you could have a group called “Kitchendiner” where all kitchen and dining room speakers are grouped together, or a group called “dinner party” if you need music in both the dining room and living room. To do this, tap the Settings cog in the top right corner of the app, then tap Manage next to the system. From here, you will need to select “Groups” from the menu and “Create Groups” to select a set group in advance.
Or stream from Spotify or Tidal
AirPlay 2 allows you to stream from the iOS Control Panel, but you can also stream from other third-party apps. Both Spotify and Tidal offer this feature.
It’s a hit on the Spotify app Available devices A button in the currently played section to select the Sonos speaker. In Tidal, tap cast Use the button to select the room you want to play.
Connect your existing HI-FI system
If you already own an HI-FI system and don’t want to stop using it for Sonos, the good news is that you can make it part of the Sonos family.
However, to do so you will need to purchase a Sonos port and link it to an existing stereo or receiver.
Adjust Eq
Trueplay is a great way to adjust the Sonos system to the room, but it also allows you to further adjust the EQ balance of individual speakers.
Tap Settings The cog in the top right corner selects the speaker for which you want to fine-tune your audio settings.
Tap Eq (under sound), Next, slide the base and treble bar to your liking.
Mute the Sonos speaker
Each Sonos speaker has a play/pause button, but did you know that you can press it for a long time to mute the speaker?
Now you do that. Note that if you are playing music through multiple speakers, you will only mute what you press.
Create a stereo or surround sound setup
If you have the same pair of Sonos speakers, you can create a stereo setup that divides the audio into left and right channels.
In most cases, the obvious option is to choose a ‘cheap’ Sonos speaker, such as the ERA 100s, Symfonisk bookshelves, but essentially you can pair any speaker to suit your task.
Play: 3, Play: 5, and you need to make sure that 5 speakers can sit vertically or horizontally and that they are oriented in the same direction.
Next, go to the Sonos app and Setting Cog In the top right corner. Select and select one of the speakers you want to pair with Set up a stereo pair.
Do you need a full surround sound setup? To do this, you will need to connect Abeam, Arc, Arc Ultra, Ray, Playbar, or Playbase to the Sonos Bookshelf speaker.
It can also be used when using AMP/ports to power two non-sono speakers. I’m heading to setting As mentioned above, however this time you will need to choose a room with speakers. Set up surround.
Uses the sleep function
When you are in public, you know the feeling, hear someone else’s phone ring, recognize it as the sound of your morning alarm, and suddenly get hit with the shock of anger? Yes, we too. So why not try something new? Sonos has a cool alarm function.
In the Sonos app, head to Setting Cog Tap ‘management‘Next to the system. Scroll down alarmhit Add an alarm. You can choose the morning song, the room you want to play, the volume, the snooze period, and the ones that are frequent. When the alarm is turned off, a notification will appear on your phone and can be used to turn it off.
…and the alarm
In addition to the alarm function, there is a sleep timer that automatically turns off music after a specified time. Perfect if you like to fall asleep listening to music and podcasts. To enable this, tap the 3 dot sections from I’m playing now Screen and tap Sleep timer.
Stop Alexa or Google Assistant listening
Many new Sonos speakers Alexa or Google Assistant can live on board for music and smart home control. It’s convenient, but you may not want to ask your Amazon assistant for instructions.
For an easy way to mute the selected voice assistant, tap the microphone icon on the speaker itself. If the light is on, Alexa or your assistant is listening. If it’s off, it won’t be able to hear you. Tap again to put your ears back in.
Get clearer audio with Arc Ultra
This is for the Sonos Arc Ultra, the company’s flagship soundbar. Another feature has some specific hints, but one of the best features is to adjust the level of audio extensions for clearer audio. You will need to go to the Arc Ultra system settings, but once you get there you can choose between Low, Medium and High. If you’re stuck there is another feature for changing the audio improvement level.
Previously, if you had an echo spot in your bedroom with a Sonos Era 100, for example, and want to listen to music, you have to say something like that. “Alexa, play the spin doctor in the bedroom.”
You can now throw away that extra bit and simply say, “Alexa plays the Spin Doctor” Output will be delivered directly from the Sonos speaker. To do this, simply group the Sonos speakers into the echo device in the Alexa app and set it as the preferred device.
Sonos Radio is not intended to replace anything like Tunein, it streamlines the radioculation process and opens up new listening opportunities.
In addition to over 60,000 radio stations where the new platform can be viewed, there are preset stations such as R&B Collective, Blues Masters, and Rock Road Trip, and Sonos’ answer to Apple’s Beats Radio: Sonos Sound System.
Use Alexa/Ga and Siri together
Siri can be used with Sonos with Siri, but like HomePod, the assistant is very confined to Apple’s services. So, if you have an Apple Music Subscriber, an Apple Podcast user, or have the right iTunes catalog, Siri can control these playbacks. Otherwise you will need to use Alexa or Google Assistant.
That said, did you know that these two assistants can work together? Once you start playing music on Alexa, you can use Siri to pause/play, skip tracks and rewind, whether you’re playing on Spotify, Tidal, or another third-party service.
This works when you’re talking to Siri on your HomePod. With HomePod you can connect to other Sonos speakers via AirPlay 2. Ah, this is the opposite too. If you have a home pod connected to a group and want to ask Alexa on Sonos One to skip the track, you can also do it on HomePod.
I hope everyone gets along well
The vinyl is back – and Sonos users don’t need to be excluded. The Move 2, ERA 300, 5, and Play: 5 all have line-in so you can connect turntable audio directly like that.
If you are connecting to other Sonos speakers, you will need to connect the turntable to a Sonos port or amplifier.
If you have the Amazon Music Unlimited plan, you can listen to both 24-bit Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos Music tracks. Amazon actually creates some handy playlists and get started.
Ultra HD One features 27 songs including Radiohead, Beck, Little Simz and more. Dolby Atmos Playlist also features 17 tracks from artists such as Dua Lipa, The Beatles and Taylor Swift.
You can also play Apple Music Spatial Audio through the Sonos Era 300, Sonos Arc, and Arc Ultra.
Create an upgrade jump
Not a hint, but a warning. All of these tips above are based on the Sonos S2 app and system.
You may have already upgraded your Sonos system, but if you don’t, you should be aware that you will need to make a big decision.
In May 2020, Sonos stopped updating “Legacy Products.” This list includes the original Zone Player, Connect, and Connect: AMP, The First Generation Play: 5, The CR200, and Sonos Bridge.
Therefore, users must choose S1 (old) and S2 (new) systems.
