Sonos tips and tricks: Get the most out of your multi-room speaker system ,Connect
Sonos has one of the strongest multi-room offerings out
there. Its speaker line-up is not only plentiful, with several
combinations possible, but the platform that controls everything is one
of the best out there, if not the best.
If you've opted for Sonos over its competitors, of which there are several, then you've come to the right place. This feature is all about making sure you get the most out of your Sonos system.
Some
of these tips and tricks you might already know, but there are bound to
be a few that you don't and anything that allows you to listen to your
favourite music more easily is a bonus in our book.
Sonos installation tips and tricks
Add another speaker or SUB to your Sonos system
Bought
a new speaker or the Sonos SUB and want to add it to your existing
system? This is easy. Tap the three dots in the bottom right corner of
the app > Settings > Add a Player or SUB and follow the
instructions.
Add a BOOST to your Sonos System
If
your Wi-Fi network isn't the strongest and has a couple of weak spots,
you may have bought yourself a BOOST to help get a signal in a
particular room. To add a BOOST, head to the three dots in the
bottom right corner > Settings > Add a BOOST.
Get the best out of your Sonos speakers
Sonos
offers a feature called Trueplay that will tune your speakers according
to their surroundings, even if that's in a cupboard. To make sure you
get the best sound out of each speaker in your Sonos system, head to the
three dots in the bottom right > Settings > Room Settings >
Select Room > Trueplay. Make sure you tune all the speakers in your
system and retune them if you move them.
All
about that bass, that bass, no treble? No problem, you can adjust the
EQ settings for each Sonos speaker you have set up. To do this, head to
the three dots in the bottom right > Settings > Room Settings.
From
here, you'll need to select the room that has the speaker or speakers
in that you want to adjust, then tap on EQ and slide the bars to suit
your preferences.
Change a room name
Changed
your office to a bedroom, or moved your Play:1 into the bathroom?
That's fine as changing room names in Sonos is simple. Click on the
three dots in the bottom right > Settings > Room Settings >
Select Room > Room Name.
Create a stereo pair
You
can combine two of the same Sonos speaker together in the same room, in
order to create left and right speakers of a stereo pair. Whether
that's two Sonos One, Play:1, Play:3 or Play:5, the stereo pair setting is accessed through Room Settings.
Click
on the three dots in the bottom right > Settings > Room Settings
> Select Room > Create Stereo Pair > Follow the instructions.
Make use of your existing Hi-Fi system
Investing
in Sonos doesn't mean your existing Hi-Fi system has to become
redundant. The Sonos Connect has analogue, optical and coaxial digital
audio outputs, as well as a line-in, allowing you to connect any device
you want, from a turntable to a DAC.
There is also the Connect:Amp
available in the Sonos range that features an RCA line-in and a
subwoofer line-out, providing a streaming upgrade for your favourite
stand-alone speakers.
Play vinyl on your Sonos system
Got a favourite record you want to play on your Sonos system? No problem.
Connect
your turntable's audio output to the Play:5's line-in port, or the
audio-in jacks on a Sonos Connect or Connect:Amp > Go to Browse >
Line-In > Select your source.
You'll
need your Sonos Account information if you want to control your Sonos
system with your voice (more on that further down). It's also useful to
know where to find it in case you ever need it.
Tap the three dots in the bottom right of the app > Settings > My Sonos Account.
Make sure your Sonos system is always running the latest software
Sonos delivers regular software updates, some of which are small, others of which are more significant, like Spotify Connect compatibility and the ability to control your Sonos speakers with your voice using Amazon's Alexa.
Running the latest software means you'll get the best experience from
your Sonos speakers so it's a good idea to set your system up to
automatically check for updates.
Click on the three dots in the bottom right > Settings > Advanced Settings > Toggle on Auto Check for Updates.
Override audio compression settings
Sonos
presets the best audio compression for player Line-In and Sonos DOCK
but it can be overridden to be uncompressed or compressed. To do this,
head to the three dots in the bottom right > Settings > Advanced
Settings > Audio Compression > Select desired setting.
Reset Controller
If
you want to disassociate a smartphone or tablet from one Sonos setup
and reconnect it to a separate Sonos system, you can use the reset
controller option. Tap on the three dots in the bottom right of the app
> Settings > Advanced Settings > Reset Controller > Reset.
Turn off your usage data
Sonos
collects information on how you use your Sonos system. It doesn't give
it to third parties but if you'd still rather keep your usage data
private, you can turn it off. Click on the three dots in the
bottom right of the app > Settings > Advanced Settings > Usage
Data > Toggle off.
Turn the LED light off
If
you have a Sonos speaker on your bedside table or in your bedroom and
you've chosen to play music to send you to sleep, you might not want the
LED light on.
To turn it off, click on the three dots in the
bottom right of the app > Settings > Room Settings > Select the
room you want your speaker light off > Toggle off Speaker
Status Light.
Turn off touch controls
If
you have a Sonos speaker with touch controls, such as the Playbase,
second-generation Play:5 or the Sonos One, you can turn off its touch
controls. Click on the three dots in the bottom right of the app >
Settings > Room Settings > Select the room with the speaker you
want to turn the touch controls off for > Toggle off Speaker Touch
Controls.
Double tap to skip
The
play/pause button on your Sonos speaker doesn't just play and pause
songs. Double tap it and you'll be able to skip to the next track,
without opening the app.
If you have the second-generation Sonos Play:5, Playbase or Sonos One, a swipe left will play the previous track, while a swipe right will skip forward to the next one.
Mute a single speaker
A
long press of the play/pause button will mute the speaker you are
pressing it on so you can take a phone call in your office, but still
have the music playing in your living room, for example.
Disable the swipe functionality on the Play:5, Playbase or Sonos One
For
those of you with the second-generation Play:5, Playbase or Sonos One
and kids or cats who like to touch it or climb on the controls, you can
disable the swipe functionality.
To do this, hold down the pair
button for 10 seconds when the speaker is fully booted to disable the
swipe interface. You'll then press it once to leave it in that state.
Skip tracks on your smartwatch or lock screen
An
update to the Sonos software in 2016 meant you can skip tracks, as well
as pause and play directly from your lock screen, and wrist if you have
a smartwatch connected to your smartphone.
It is available on both Android Wear and Apple Watch smartwatches, using your phone's lock screen controls to present you with the functionality on your wrist.
Use 3D Touch to play last song or radio station
For those with an iPhone 6S or newer, the Sonos app works with 3D Touch, Apple's version of a touch sensitive display that presents different features to you based on the force with which you press.
A
long hard press on the Sonos app icon will allow you to pause or play
the most recent track you were listening to without opening the app
first. You'll also be able to launch Favourites or Search.
Sonos features tips and tricks
Control Sonos through Spotify
In
the past, Sonos speakers had to be controlled via the Sonos app and
that was that, but a software update introduced the ability to control
your speakers directly through Spotify, if you have a Premium
subscription.
Follow the instructions in our separate feature to get this all set up. Once sorted, you'll see your Sonos speakers listed in the Devices Available tab of Spotify.
Another
more recent software update introduced the ability to control your Sonos
system using your voice, if you have an Amazon Echo, Echo Dot or
another Alexa-enabled device.
Again, follow the more in-depth instructions in our separate feature and you'll be able to ask Alexa to start playing music on your Sonos speakers or follow the quick instructions below.
Set
up your Amazon Alexa device > Enter your Sonos account information
> Open the Alexa app > Tap Skills > Select Sonos skill >
Enable.
If you don't have an Alexa device, you could also look into the new Sonos One speaker, which has Alexa built-in for instant voice control, as well as voice control of existing Sonos speakers.
Sonos now allows
you to set parental controls in order to restrict explicit content. It's
currently only available for Apple Music but no doubt this will expand
to other services eventually.
Tap the three dots in the bottom
right of the app > Settings > Parental Controls > Explicit
Content Filtering > Type in you Sonos Account password to turn on or
off.
Add a playlist to My Sonos
My Sonos
is great for those playlists you love listening to all the time. Adding
your favourites to My Sonos makes them much more accessible, requiring
just a quick tap in the bottom right of the app. Once added, there is no
need to search for them or open your chosen music streaming service to
find them. It works for playlists, songs, radio stations, bands and
artists.
To add a playlist to My Sonos, tap on the respective
playlist > Click the top three dots in the top right > Add to My
Sonos.
Add a song to My Sonos
Just
like adding a playlist, adding a song to My Sonos makes it easier to
find. Find the song you're looking for > Click on the three dots in
the top right > Click on the three dots to the right of the song
title > Add Song to My Sonos.
Edit My Sonos
If you want to edit the order of what appears in the My Sonos tab, this is nice and simple.
Head
to My Sonos > Click Edit in the top right. From here you can long
press to rearrange the order in which things appear such as moving Sonos
Playlists to the top, and tapping on each category will also allow you
to delete things from the respective categories. Be sure to press Done
in the top right when you're finished.
Add a playlist to Sonos Playlists
Sonos
Playlist works in a similar way to My Sonos but it is all about
playlists, making them nice and accessible. To add a playlist to Sonos
Playlists, find the playlist you want to add > Tap on the three dots
in the top right corner > Add to Sonos Playlist.
Create a new Sonos Playlist
The
Sonos Playlist section will not only allow you to add curated
playlists, but also make your own. Click on My Sonos in the bottom left
of the app > Scroll down to Sonos Playlists > Click on See
All > Click on the three dots in the top right > New Playlist >
Name Playlist.
It will then appear in the Sonos Playlist section of the My Sonos tab ready for you to add songs to it.
Add a song to Sonos Playlists
Adding
a song to a Sonos Playlist you've created or a playlist that has been
created by somebody else but added to the Sonos Playlist section is
easy. Find the song > Tap the three dots > Add to Sonos Playlist
> Select the playlist you want to add it to.
Edit Sonos Playlists
You
might have really liked a playlist a few months ago, but now every song
within it drives you nuts. No problem. Tap on the My Sonos tab in the
bottom left of the app > Scroll down to Sonos Playlists > Tap on
the Playlist you want to edit > Click the three dots in the top
right-hand corner > Edit Playlist. From here you can delete songs or
reorder them.
Add songs to Queue
The Queue
is for those days you want a selection of random songs rather than
selecting a specific album or playlist you or someone else has already
built.
Tap on the Search tab at the bottom of the app > Select
Songs in the bar at the top > Type in any song title into the search
bar > Tap the three dots to the right of the song title once you've
found it > Add to End of Queue.
Edit the Queue
If
you want to edit the Queue, or see what songs you've added to the
Queue, you'll need to head to the Rooms tab at the bottom of the app.
From here, expand the now playing section and tap on the two lines next
to the volume slider control. You can then Clear, Edit or Save the
Queue by tapping on the respective option at the bottom of the screen.
Edit
will allow you drag and drop the songs into the order you want, while
Save will enable you to save the Queue as a Playlist and give it a name.
It will appear under Sonos Playlists so you can find it easily next
time you fancy that random mix.
Create a group or ungroup speakers
The
idea of a multi-room system is to allow you to play music in multiple
rooms. To group speakers together or ungroup them, tap on the Rooms tab
at the bottom of the app > Your Sonos speakers will then appear in a
list > Click on Group under whichever speaker you want to group >
Select or deselect various speakers. Those ticked will play the same
music.
Play different music in different rooms
To
play different music on different Sonos speakers, you just need to
select what you want each speaker to play and group the speakers you
want to play the same music together. Once grouped, you can select what
you want each group of speakers, or singular speaker to play.
As
mentioned above, speakers are accessed by tapping the Rooms tab at the
bottom of the app. From here you can group them, or ungroup them.
Add a music service
Sonos
supports over 80 music services, from the usual suspects like Spotify
to the lesser known services. It's worth adding all the services you are
subscribed to if you want the best possible experience.
To add a
music service, head to the three dots in the bottom right of the app
> Click on Add Music Services > Tap on the respective music
service from the list or search using the search icon in the top right
> Add to Sonos > Sign in.
Search for a song/album/artist/station/podcast
Searching
for a song, album, artist, radio station, podcast, composer or even
genre on Sonos is really easy. Using the search function within the
Sonos app will search all the music services you are signed into,
enabling you to play whatever you've found with just a couple more
clicks.
Head to either the Browse tab at the bottom of the app to
search through a specific music service you have signed into or open
the Search tab, also at the bottom of the app, and start typing into the
search bar at the top, ensuring you have selected which type of music
you are searching for, such as song or album.
Turn Crossfade on
Want
to make sure your home or office is never silent? You can turn the
Crossfade feature on when listening to an album, enabling one Beyonce
song to blend directly into the next. To do this, tap on the three dots
to the right of song's title > Toggle Crossfade on.
Set an alarm
Want
to wake up to your favourite song, get your Playbar or Playbase to fire
up when a match starts so you don't miss kick off, or play some songs
half way through the day to stimulate your pet? Tap on the three dots in
the bottom right of the app > Alarms > New Alarm > Set the
time, room, music, frequency and volume > Save.
You can choose
how long you want the alarm to play for and send it to other Sonos
speakers in other rooms in Advanced Settings within the Alarm section.
It's also possible to set different alarms for each Sonos speaker in
your home. If you set an alarm through voice command, you'll find this
in the Alexa app rather than the Sonos app.
Set a sleep timer
If
you like falling asleep to music, you can get your Sonos speaker to
play you a lullaby, or your version of a lullaby. Choose the album, song
or station you want to fall asleep to and open the Now Playing screen,
which is the one with the album art and volume control.
Following
this, tap on the three dots > Select Sleep Timer > Choose the
Duration. You get the option of 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1
hour or 2 hours.
Make the most of TuneIn Radio
TuneIn
Radio is free on Sonos, but it isn't just useful for listening to your
favourite radio station. You could use it to replace the TV commentators
with your favourite radio commentary team instead, for example.
Tap
the Browse tab at the bottom of the app > Radio by TuneIn >
Select category or search for the station you want. Don't be afraid to
try new stations, it's free after all.
Catch every comment
If
you've got a Playbar or Playbase, there is a feature called Speech
Enhancement that will boost the sound of voices, ensuring you'll hear
commentators, or actors and actresses in films.
Tap on the three
dots in the bottom right > TV > Tap on the square speech icon and
turn it orange to turn Speech Enhancement on.
Use Night Sound for more considerate late-night viewing
This
is another one for those of you with a PlayBar or Playbase. Turning
Night Sound on will enhance quiet sounds and suppress louder sounds to
make sure you don't have neighbours knocking on your door asking you to
turn the volume down.
Tap on the three dots in the bottom right > TV > Tap on the moon icon and turn it orange to turn Night Sound on.
Hear your favourite TV programme all over your house
Want
to hear the football commentary from the bathroom, or have MTV playing
throughout your house? If you have a Playbar or Playbase, group it with
the other Sonos speakers in your home where you want to hear what's
playing on your TV.
Open the Rooms tab at the bottom of the app
> Tap on Group on the room where your Playbar or Playbase is >
Tick the speakers you want linked up to it.
Bring your own music
Love
your friends but hate their taste in music? No problem, just play your
own good music through their Sonos speakers. You'll need to get onto
their Wi-Fi, but once you're on, open the Sonos app and add the songs
you love to their Queue.
Use Sonos for a bedtime story
We
say bedtime story, but it could be any recorded message from family,
friends or loved ones that you want to fill your home with. Ask the
recorder to send you the MP3 file, sync it with your music library and
you'll be able to play it using the On this iPhone/Device feature.
Find out what you listen to most on your Sonos system
If
you want to know how often you listen to Taylor Swift or Fleetwood Mac,
signing up to Last.fm online is the way to find out. Sign in to Last.fm
within the Sonos app and it will show you your listening habits.
Join the Sonos Beta Program
If
you want to test out the latest features before they are launched
properly, you can sign up to the Beta Program to try out pre-release
software. To join, head to the three dots in the bottom right of the app
> Settings > Advanced Settings > Beta Program > Join Beta
Program.
Bought
a new speaker or the Sonos SUB and want to add it to your existing
system? This is easy. Tap the three dots in the bottom right corner of
the app > Settings > Add a Player or SUB and follow the
instructions.
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