Anyone with Knowledge of Sonos Systems?

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eracode

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#119227 24-May-2013 21:11

Recently our 17-year old stereo died and we decided to replace it with some Sonos gear which I plan to run off my iPad. Bought two Play 3 speakers and a Bridge from JB HiFi today. Setting them up is meant to be a very simple, ten-minute, few buttons-push exercise.

It has proved to be anything but that. I have spent four hours fiddling with this stuff and I can get the Bridge to connect quickly and easily but the speakers just will not connect. I have tried all sorts of things, have googled extensively and had absolutely no joy. Lots of people seem to have had the same issues but I did not find a solution. Very frustrating. I have emailed Sonos support in the US but it's dark over there so will see if I get a reply later.

I was quite excited about getting this gear because it's supposed to be brilliant. I heard the Play 3's in a store and they were great (for a non-audiophile). But this has just become a PITA and I don't really want to take it all back to JB but I may have to do that.

Would welcome any comments or advice.

Thanks

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bmoff

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#825045 24-May-2013 22:23

Sonos support is available in NZ at http://www.playback.co.nz/

I once had occasion to use their telephone support and found them very helpful.

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#825049 24-May-2013 22:38

My setup is different with w7 pc, bridge, Synology NAS connected via gigabit switch and a default Vodafone router. The Sonos 5 is connected wirelessly in another room.

I use the Sonos app on a ipad4, iPhone 3s, HTC One X to drive everything. The spotify intigrationis wonderful.

When I first set things up I connected everything using Ethernet to start with. I had a problem where the Ethernet connection associated with VM running on the W7 machine stopped the initial syncing from happening. Once that was deactivated the components were all found when I pressed the buttons on the bridge and S5. Then updated all the firmware and disconnected the S5. Might had to resync again to get wirelessly to work but all go.

A couple of thoughts..

Do you have a pc or mac anywhere in the system ? Even if you plan to use the iPad remote application..

Are you connected wirelessly to the bridge or via the router ?

This is from memory as I am away from home for the weekend..

A.

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#825057 24-May-2013 22:39

What sort of issues are you having?

Have you tried connecting the play 3s with them sitting in the same room as the bridge?

At least one sonos unit has to be wired to your network and/or router, in your case I would assume that is the bridge.
Once that is configured the other units can connect wirelessly to the bridge.
Have you got the sonos software installed on your pc/mac?
You can do it with the sonos app on your iPad but from memory it's easier with the software.

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eracode

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#825109 25-May-2013 07:08

Many thanks to the three of you who replied. I had tried pretty much all of the things that were suggested. I saw the NZ support number after I had posted above and was going to ring them on Monday.

However I have got it sorted. When trying to set up last night I read somewhere that if you're having problems, try turning off gear that might be interfering with the signal that Sonos uses, eg cordless phones. I had turned our house phone off but that didn't help.

Lying in bed overnight I thought about the Ellies TX/RX AV extender system we use to get Sky from the upstairs TV room to the kitchen downstairs. Once I turned that off, everything went according to plan and it was pretty much as quick and simple as I had originally expected it to be.

Not sure what the audiophiles say but I think Sonos is a great system. I think the sound is good and the app is great for playing straight off the iPad or off my Android phone. I think it's better than the 17-year old Bose Acoustimass system it replaced - and I know audiophiles don't like them. Fairly pricy though.

EDIT: The only thing is I'm not sure what will happen when I turn the Ellies gear back on. The Ellies has dip switches for changing channel and I see the Sonos has a choice of three wireless channels so hopefully they can play nice together.

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danfaulknor

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#825140 25-May-2013 10:08

Highly recommend http://playback.co.nz. Jason is fantastic.

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#825164 25-May-2013 12:24

eracode: Many thanks to the three of you who replied. I had tried pretty much all of the things that were suggested. I saw the NZ support number after I had posted above and was going to ring them on Monday.

However I have got it sorted. When trying to set up last night I read somewhere that if you're having problems, try turning off gear that might be interfering with the signal that Sonos uses, eg cordless phones. I had turned our house phone off but that didn't help.

Lying in bed overnight I thought about the Ellies TX/RX AV extender system we use to get Sky from the upstairs TV room to the kitchen downstairs. Once I turned that off, everything went according to plan and it was pretty much as quick and simple as I had originally expected it to be.

Not sure what the audiophiles say but I think Sonos is a great system. I think the sound is good and the app is great for playing straight off the iPad or off my Android phone. I think it's better than the 17-year old Bose Acoustimass system it replaced - and I know audiophiles don't like them. Fairly pricy though.

EDIT: The only thing is I'm not sure what will happen when I turn the Ellies gear back on. The Ellies has dip switches for changing channel and I see the Sonos has a choice of three wireless channels so hopefully they can play nice together.

Ah the same issue we had with your Wi-Fi! So I take it the Sonos must also use the 2400 space :(

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eracode

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#825193 25-May-2013 13:06

coffeebaron:
eracode: Many thanks to the three of you who replied. I had tried pretty much all of the things that were suggested. I saw the NZ support number after I had posted above and was going to ring them on Monday.

However I have got it sorted. When trying to set up last night I read somewhere that if you're having problems, try turning off gear that might be interfering with the signal that Sonos uses, eg cordless phones. I had turned our house phone off but that didn't help.

Lying in bed overnight I thought about the Ellies TX/RX AV extender system we use to get Sky from the upstairs TV room to the kitchen downstairs. Once I turned that off, everything went according to plan and it was pretty much as quick and simple as I had originally expected it to be.

Not sure what the audiophiles say but I think Sonos is a great system. I think the sound is good and the app is great for playing straight off the iPad or off my Android phone. I think it's better than the 17-year old Bose Acoustimass system it replaced - and I know audiophiles don't like them. Fairly pricy though.

EDIT: The only thing is I'm not sure what will happen when I turn the Ellies gear back on. The Ellies has dip switches for changing channel and I see the Sonos has a choice of three wireless channels so hopefully they can play nice together.

Ah the same issue we had with your Wi-Fi! So I take it the Sonos must also use the 2400 space :(

Yep - thanks Fraser. Sorry - I should have PM'ed you again saying I had sorted it. You've got a good memory.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

SonosNZ

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#825205 25-May-2013 13:41

eracode: Many thanks to the three of you who replied. I had tried pretty much all of the things that were suggested. I saw the NZ support number after I had posted above and was going to ring them on Monday.

However I have got it sorted. When trying to set up last night I read somewhere that if you're having problems, try turning off gear that might be interfering with the signal that Sonos uses, eg cordless phones. I had turned our house phone off but that didn't help.

Lying in bed overnight I thought about the Ellies TX/RX AV extender system we use to get Sky from the upstairs TV room to the kitchen downstairs. Once I turned that off, everything went according to plan and it was pretty much as quick and simple as I had originally expected it to be.

Not sure what the audiophiles say but I think Sonos is a great system. I think the sound is good and the app is great for playing straight off the iPad or off my Android phone. I think it's better than the 17-year old Bose Acoustimass system it replaced - and I know audiophiles don't like them. Fairly pricy though.

EDIT: The only thing is I'm not sure what will happen when I turn the Ellies gear back on. The Ellies has dip switches for changing channel and I see the Sonos has a choice of three wireless channels so hopefully they can play nice together.

Thanks danielfaulknor,

Hi eracode,

Indeed the issue will lie with the Ellies due to the WiFi channels being used; I suggest that you try setting SONOS to channel 11, and the Ellies to the lowest channel it can broadcast on. Also check your router and set its WiFi channel as low as possible. (or vice versa SONOS low channels other gear high)
Should you still have issues, using the SONOS Desktop app under HELP you can submit diagnostics - this will give you a diagnostic number - please email that number to us at support @ playback.co.nz. We can then see what is happening with your Wifi and SONOS setup.
Please note - support for diagnostic's is during our normal business hours 9am - 5pm Mon-Fri NZ.

Thanks;

eracode

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#825234 25-May-2013 15:18

SonosNZ:
eracode: Many thanks to the three of you who replied. I had tried pretty much all of the things that were suggested. I saw the NZ support number after I had posted above and was going to ring them on Monday.

However I have got it sorted. When trying to set up last night I read somewhere that if you're having problems, try turning off gear that might be interfering with the signal that Sonos uses, eg cordless phones. I had turned our house phone off but that didn't help.

Lying in bed overnight I thought about the Ellies TX/RX AV extender system we use to get Sky from the upstairs TV room to the kitchen downstairs. Once I turned that off, everything went according to plan and it was pretty much as quick and simple as I had originally expected it to be.

Not sure what the audiophiles say but I think Sonos is a great system. I think the sound is good and the app is great for playing straight off the iPad or off my Android phone. I think it's better than the 17-year old Bose Acoustimass system it replaced - and I know audiophiles don't like them. Fairly pricy though.

EDIT: The only thing is I'm not sure what will happen when I turn the Ellies gear back on. The Ellies has dip switches for changing channel and I see the Sonos has a choice of three wireless channels so hopefully they can play nice together.

Thanks danielfaulknor,

Hi eracode,

Indeed the issue will lie with the Ellies due to the WiFi channels being used; I suggest that you try setting SONOS to channel 11, and the Ellies to the lowest channel it can broadcast on. Also check your router and set its WiFi channel as low as possible. (or vice versa SONOS low channels other gear high)
Should you still have issues, using the SONOS Desktop app under HELP you can submit diagnostics - this will give you a diagnostic number - please email that number to us at support @ playback.co.nz. We can then see what is happening with your Wifi and SONOS setup.
Please note - support for diagnostic's is during our normal business hours 9am - 5pm Mon-Fri NZ.

Thanks;

Thanks - great to see you seem to be monitoring for mention of Sonos.

... And next week there's a Sonos Sub coming to complement the system plus another Play 3 to fill in one end of a reasonably large room.

EDIT: Aha - I see it was your first post. Perhaps you got a nod somewhere but nothing wrong with that - I appreciate your input.

[Sitting here listening to Pandora - very cool].

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

SonosNZ

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#828158 30-May-2013 09:48

Hi eracode,

Hope all is sorted, it is cool how the SONOS system grows within your home ;) The SUB is phenomenal.

The Music Genome Project from Pandora is fantastic, we love the music journey it takes you on.

Enjoy, and welcome to the family!

eracode

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#828216 30-May-2013 11:25

SonosNZ: Hi eracode,

Hope all is sorted, it is cool how the SONOS system grows within your home ;) The SUB is phenomenal.

The Music Genome Project from Pandora is fantastic, we love the music journey it takes you on.

Enjoy, and welcome to the family!

Yep - thoroughly enjoying the whole thing - brilliant. Sub should be here today or tomorrow (hopefully before the weekend).

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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#828251 30-May-2013 12:53

SonosNZ: Hi eracode,

Hope all is sorted, it is cool how the SONOS system grows within your home ;) The SUB is phenomenal.

The Music Genome Project from Pandora is fantastic, we love the music journey it takes you on.

Enjoy, and welcome to the family!

I agree!
We pretty much only use Pandora on our Sonos system at home, I can't remember the last time I actually played music from my server collection. :)

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

eracode

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#828257 30-May-2013 13:06

CYaBro:
SonosNZ: Hi eracode,

Hope all is sorted, it is cool how the SONOS system grows within your home ;) The SUB is phenomenal.

The Music Genome Project from Pandora is fantastic, we love the music journey it takes you on.

Enjoy, and welcome to the family!

I agree!
We pretty much only use Pandora on our Sonos system at home, I can't remember the last time I actually played music from my server collection. :)

Only discovered Pandora last weekend when we set up the Sonos gear. Now heading in the same direction as you regarding our own music.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.