Are you pissed off that your Sonos audio system have their quantity lowered (virtually muted) whenever you ask Alexa a command by means of your Amazon Echo audio system?
Nicely then we have now excellent news. Sonos lastly fastened the problem some time again… though there’s a little bit of faffing to get all of it working easily. However do not fret – we’re right here to inform you precisely what to do to cease your Sonos’ audio system going quiet whenever you’re speaking to Alexa.
The characteristic – technical time period: ‘ducking’ (AKA ‘whole-home ducking’ or ‘world ducking’) – impacts non-Alexa Sonos audio system, such because the Play:1, Play:3 and Play:5, and it makes no distinction the place your Sonos audio system are positioned in your own home.
Information: Familiarize yourself with Sonos S2
For instance, when you ask Alexa what the climate forecast is within the kitchen, your Sonos audio system in the lounge, eating room, toilet, workplace, or anyplace else, all have their volumes lowered – if they’re taking part in music – whereas Amazon’s digital assistant solutions the question.
However you’ll be able to repair the Sonos muting concern – though you may have to leap into the Alexa app to take action…
You’ll be able to affiliate Echo gadgets with Sonos audio system by means of the Alexa app – and create teams the place the Sonos audio system are the default music playback for a command heard by your Echo gadgets.
Now, you’d have thought that having your Echos and Sonos audio system grouped in the identical room – and in a devoted group – could be sufficient to have seen an finish to ducking in different rooms. However you’ll have thought flawed.
You want all of your Echo gadgets or Sonos audio system connected to a bunch. Confused? Us too, to be trustworthy – however this is what you must perceive.
As quickly as you group a Sonos speaker with an Echo gadget – for instance the kitchen Play:1 with the kitchen Echo Dot – then Alexa on that Dot will know solely to duck the sound on that particular speaker. All different Sonos audio system will stay on the quantity they’re at the moment taking part in at.
Nonetheless, you may nonetheless get ducking on all audio system when a command is made to a non-grouped Echo gadget. That is clearly an issue in case you have Echo gadgets in rooms the place there aren’t additionally Sonos audio system.
The simple repair right here is to create a bunch of all Echo gadgets that are not already grouped – name it ‘Different Echos’ or one thing alongside these strains. Alternatively, arrange a bunch for every room you could have a Sonos speaker with no Alexa gadget current, or create a bunch for all of your Sonos audio system you do not essentially need related to an Echo.
When you’re unsure how you can create these teams, don’t fret, we have got you coated… try our Sonos / Echo grouping information.
Exceptions to Alexa ducking
Ducking impacts non-Alexa audio system when the command is made to an Echo gadget comparable to a Dot, Spot or Present. Nonetheless, Alexa is baked into Sonos now and, when you’re chatting with a Sonos One, Transfer, Beam or Arc with the digital assistant on board, solely that particular speaker shall be ducked.
Additionally, in case you are watching TV and your audio is coming by means of a Playbar, Arc, Playbase or Beam you then will not be affected by ducking.
