Launch the Sonos app from your Desktop or the Start menu Click the mute button to turn mute on. It’s to the left of the volume slider in the upper left corner of the application window.
While this article is still a great description of how to wire your Sonos network using BOOST devices, we have since replaced the BOOST devices in our home. Now we have an advanced network configuration that takes advantage of Sonos Beams, as described here.
Even if you have a multi-access point Wave 2 Wireless AC WiFi network, I recommend connecting your Sonos speakers as follows:
- Ethernet1, else
- SonosNet 2.0 wireless network (“Boost” mode), else
- your existing WiFi network (“Standard” mode).
This will reduce the likelihood of audio drop outs and network loops, particularly as you connect more Sonos speakers and/or run them in pairs. Relatively few homes have Ethernet wired throughout. The more Sonos speakers you have in your home, the less likely that you have an Ethernet drop in exactly the same location as where you wish to place your Sonos speaker. Therefore, most–if not all–of your Sonos speakers will use some form of WiFi connectivity: SonosNet or your private home WiFi network.
BOOST mode uses SonosNet 2.0, a proprietary wireless mesh WiFI network operating in the 2.4Ghz band.2 It includes MIMO and utilizes 20Mhz wide channels. SonosNet is optimized end-to-end for audio delivery to Sonos devices.3 If you use SonosNet (BOOST mode) exclusively, both your music and Sonos speaker control will be multicast to each room (for stereo pairs, the left speaker unicasts to the right speaker). This permits you to stream multiple lossless audio streams throughout your home.
If you use Standard mode, then only the Sonos control information will be multicast. Audio will be unicast to each speaker, which isn’t scalable if you have many Sonos speakers.
If at least one Sonos One speaker can connect via Ethernet to your router, then you do not need to buy a separate hardware device like the Sonos BOOST to run SonosNet. Just plug in at least one speaker via Ethernet to your home network and reboot all your Sonos speakers. You can confirm that your devices are running on SonosNet by going to About My Sonos System in the desktop app. For each Sonos speaker, it should say WM:0.4
SonosNet uses Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), a network protocol that builds a logical loop-free topology. STP permits only one active path on the network between two devices. If you connect your Sonos speakers to your Ethernet or WiFi network and your networking gear support STP, then I recommend enabling that feature. I provide more details about how I implemented this across a Ubiquiti Unifi aggregator and secondary switches here.
The Sonos BOOST hardware device is a dedicated access point, running SonosNET. Like an Ethernet-connected Sonos speaker running in BOOST mode, it creates a wireless offload network for your Sonos speakers. Using a BOOST device frees you from placing a Sonos speaker near an Ethernet connection.
Contrasting the BOOST device with a Sonos speaker running in BOOST mode, the BOOST device:
- contains 3 wireless antennae for 360 degrees of coverage and significantly more range
- has “enterprise grade wireless performance”, and
- has “advanced wireless interference rejection”
The BOOST device does not have any smart or managed switching capabilities. So, you may still need to pair a BOOST device with a separate managed Ethernet switch if you have a significant amount of non-Sonos multicast traffic in your home.
Initially, I had only two Sonos One smart speakers, each in different rooms. I used Standard mode, connecting them to my Wireless AC WiFi home network. As I added more Sonos speakers, I encountered occasional audio drop outs, particularly noticeable with paired speakers and particularly with lossless audio. Typically, dropouts and buffering are a function of how much data you are streaming on your wireless network. Running more concurrent audio streams or running higher bandwidth streams like lossless audio places a greater burden on your wireless network. This is particularly true in Standard mode because it unicasts audio.
One of my Sonos One speakers was close enough to one of my WiFi access points’ Ethernet port that I could plug it in via Ethernet. This offloaded all my Sonos audio traffic to the separate SonosNet WiFi network. However, my Ethernet-connected Sonos One was at the far end of the house. This meant that audio traveling from there to the other end of the house had to travel a number of hops across other Sonos speakers. Here is what my network looked like using only an Ethernet-connected Sonos speaker.
Colored cells (green, yellow or red) represent an active wireless connection. Grey cells means that SonosNet isn’t sending data wireless between the two units. The colors in the left column represent the ambient noise conditions: ANI levels correspond to the cell color codes. 0–3 is green; 4–5 is yellow; 6–7 are orange; 8–9 are red. The colors in the cells represent wireless tunnel strength. The inbound and outbound numbers go up to 64. Lower numbers are worse.
Now, I have purchased three Sonos BOOST hardware devices to feed my sixteen Sonos One smart speakers and a Connect:AMP. I attached each Sonos BOOST device via a managed Ethernet switch to our router. I ensured that the Sonos BOOST devices are configured for an empty 2.4Ghz channel to minimize RF interference.
Comparing the before (Ethernet connected Sonos One speaker in BOOST mode on one side of the house) versus the after (centrally located BOOST device), the improvements are relatively modest in terms of the number of yellow cells.
But, adding a second Ethernet-connected BOOST device makes a significant difference in the number of green cells.
At three Ethernet-connected BOOST devices, we have reached the point of diminishing returns for our house. Note that all three of my BOOSTs are Ethernet connected. It is also possible to run the satellite BOOSTs wirelessly. However, I found that, when I did so, the other two BOOSTs weren’t used by the Sonos system at all. This is because Sonos tries to minimize the number of wireless hops across devices. With this many Sonos speakers, it makes sense to use Ethernet backhaul and multiple BOOST devices.
Beyond the red/yellow/green color codes, here’s how to decode the data presented in the network matrix:
- Signal strength (field strength) is the measure of the signal between your Sonos components. The higher your score the better.
- Noise floor is defined as the sum of all signals–other than the one being measured–including unwanted atmospheric and incidental (man-made) noise. Man-made noise includes your neighbor’s WiFi networks, Bluetooth devices, microwaves, cordless telephones, baby monitors, and security cameras. In the network matrix, you can view the noise floor for each Sonos speaker. The lower your noise floor (as measured in negative dB), the better. For example, a noise floor of -115 db is better than -85 db.
- OFDM ANI level is a measurement of how well your Sonos components are coping with interference in your wireless environment. The lower your score the better. 0 is best, 9 is worst.
One issue that I struggled with was intermittent dropouts of rooms or paired speakers within rooms. I could play a single Apple Lossless-encoded stream from my Music Library in only 2–3 rooms before I had issues. Party mode always failed. The Sonos Escalations team confirmed that you should be able to play at least three separate lossless streams simultaneously.
Since the issue wasn’t RF-related, we narrowed it down to non-Sonos multicast traffic on my home network. I have a number of Google Cast enabled devices that use multicasting. Sonos heavily relies on multicasting both for group control and audio streaming. The Per-TXQ and Latency fields on this screen are critical: http://boost_IP:1400/status/proc/ath_rincon/fullstatus.5 Any multicast traffic in excess of 143 (Per-TXQ field 0) causes the buffer to be dumped and your Sonos system to behave unexpectedly.
The solution is to place a managed Ethernet switch between the router and your Sonos BOOST device(s). If you cannot run each Boost device to a dedicated port on the managed Ethernet switch, then you are better off running a single Ethernet-connect BOOST for reach (even with more yellow cells) and keeping your Sonos system ‘walled off’ from the rest of your home network. A good “starter” managed switch is the Ubiquiti Networks US-24 24-Port UniFi Managed Gigabit Switch with SFP.6 After installing a managed Ethernet switch, you should configure it as described here.7
Wireless Coverage
- I recommend putting a single Sonos One in as many rooms as you listen to music before spending the same money on Sonos One pairs in fewer rooms. This permits you to use voice control in more rooms. Additionally, this enhances the coverage of your SonosNet mesh network if you are using a BOOST configuration without a dedicated BOOST device.
Avoiding Wireless Interference
- Make sure that you place your Sonos BOOST device at least 2 to 3 feet apart from your wireless router or access point. Do not place your BOOST device on metal.
- Make sure that your Sonos BOOST is operating on a different 2.4Ghz channel than your home network’s access points.
- I recommend manually specifying the channels on both your router and Sonos, rather than using “auto”. Use only channels 1, 6 or 11
- Use a WiFi survey tool like WiFi Explorer.
- For more network configuration tips, I recommend reading my companion article: How To: Optimizing Your Multiple Access Point, Wireless-AC WiFi Network.
Network Management
- To review your SonosNet network status, visit the web site running on one of your Sonos speakers: http://player_IP:1400/support/review
- If you started your Sonos network in Standard Mode, then switched to using Boost Mode, I recommend removing your WiFi network’s credentials from your Sonos system. In the iOS app, you should do a network reset (the button is hidden below the iOS keyboard) under Advanced Settings.
- Sonos Software Release Notes (for the current version)
- Wireless Interference and Sonos (video)
- Sonos BOOST (video)
Updated on February 23rd, 2019
- This may require advanced configuration of STP on your switch/router.↩
- Although the Sonos One speakers have hardware support for 5Ghz, this band isn’t used except for home theater configurations.↩
- It is theoretically possible to run Android devices on your SonosNet WiFi network, I don’t recommend it since the whole point of SonosNet is to provide a dedicated network for just your Sonos speakers↩
- “WM=0” means your system is in a BOOST Setup. “WM=1” means your system is in a Standard Setup. “WM=2” means the device is bonded as a surround speaker or SUB to a PLAYBAR in Standard Setup.↩
- This screen needs to be unlocked by Sonos tech support.↩
- I recommend pairing this with Ubiquiti’s USG security gateway, Cloud Key, and WiFi access points.↩
- My configuration recommendations are specific to Ubiquiti but they are based on both Sonos STP Switch Settings for Cisco and my collaboration with the Sonos Escalations team.↩
- Thanks to everyone who gave feedback there!↩
WiFi speaker vs Bluetooth speaker?
- SYMFONISK speakers need a WiFi connection, whereas ENEBY speakers use Bluetooth to connect to your music device.
- ENEBY speakers are the best choice if you don’t have a WiFi connection at home.
- SYMFONISK speakers are ideal if you want to play the same or different songs in different rooms at the same time.
- ENEBY speakers are a great way to bring your music with you to the beach or to the park.
How to solve common WiFi issues?
- Make sure that your iPhone or iPad is connected to the same WiFi network as the speaker.
- Try re-starting your WiFi router.
- Is your WiFi slow or unreliable or does it not reach all the rooms where you want SYMFONISK?
- Try connecting one of your SYMFONISK speakers to your router with the supplied Ethernet cable.
- The wired SYMFONISK speaker will create its own WiFi network dedicated to your Sonos system.
Still got problems? Contact IKEA.com/support
Sonos is the wireless home sound system that fills as many rooms as you want with great-sounding music, movies and TV. Stream via WiFi. Play whatever you’re craving. And amp up every moment with intense, pulse-pounding sound.
Simply download the Sonos app and follow the instructions. Put your speaker wherever you want. Plug it in. Tap the app. It connects to your WiFi and then you’re ready to play. For everyone in the house and all their devices — smartphones, tablets and computers. Now you’re ready to set up your Sonos and start to stream music. When friends come over they can download the app and play. The Sonos app helps you quickly search through all your services to track down your favourite music, send it to different rooms and adjust the volume or other settings. You don’t even have to be in the same room. And, if your friends have the Sonos app, they can do the same.
Can I connect the SYMFONISK speaker to my Sonos system at home?
Yes, you can connect SYMFONISK to your Sonos system at home, since the table lamp speaker is basically 100% Sonos (same as PLAY 1). The exterior design is IKEA.
What is the difference between Bluetooth and WiFi speakers?
It matters when the phone rings or the person with the music has to leave. With SYMFONISK, the songs stream from your WiFi network (not your phone), so there are none of the dropouts, delays or interruptions that are associated with Bluetooth.
Do I need to have my speaker connected via cable? (Why do I need an Ethernet port on a speaker?)
The Ethernet ports let you connect Sonos directly to your Internet router. If your WiFi network isn’t reliable or doesn’t reach all the areas where you want to use Sonos, you can automatically create a dedicated Sonos wireless network by connecting a Sonos product to your router with an Ethernet cable.
When I leave my house will the music stop playing automatically?
No, it won’t stop playing as the system is not dependent on a single phone or device.
How many phones can I connect to a speaker simultaneously?
A phone is not connected to a single speaker but to the system. So multiple devices can control the system at the same time.
How many speakers can I connect in one system simultaneously?
On a good network, approximately 30 speakers will usually work fine. Your sound is not limited to one room. The real power of a Sonos system kicks in when you add more speakers. Now you’re controlling different music in different rooms. Or grouping all your speakers together to every room at once. Since everything works together wirelessly, it’s easy to fill your whole home with music, room by room.
No, not outside as the speaker needs power. But you can move it around your house as it will automatically reconnect to the system when it gets power.
Does the speaker have IP classification? Is it possible to use it in the bathroom?
No, there is no IP classification. We don’t recommend our speakers for bathroom use.
Can I use the bookshelf speaker as a shelf and how much weight can I put on it?
Can a SYMFONISK speaker connect with a TV/laptop/projector?
SYMFONISK can’t connect directly to a TV as it doesn’t have any outputs. But they can act as rear speakers in a Sonos home theatre system.
How To Change Network Sonos Desktop App Mac Download
Will the music stop if I turn off the device that hosts my Sonos app?
Only if the music that’s playing is stored on the device that you turn off. Smartphones, tablets and computers can all control Sonos using the app. These devices can also store music for Sonos to play. The music will stop if you turn off a device that stores the music that Sonos is playing. However, if you control Sonos from your phone and play music from the Internet or your computer, the music won’t stop when you turn off your phone. It’s just like putting away your TV remote while the TV is on.
Can I use Sonos speaker without an Internet connection or a router?
No. Sonos requires a broadband Internet connection and a router.
How do I play my personal library of music and playlists through Sonos?
On the Sonos app you will see an option in the Main Menu for ‘This Device’. This is where you will find the music files and playlists stored on the mobile device.
No. Whatever albums, playlists or radio stations you’re playing will continue when the app is closed.
Go to the Music Services page on Sonos.com to see which music services are available on Sonos in your area.
Can it be controlled by voice? Or work with other voice control, such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa?
How To Change Network Sonos Desktop App Mac Computer
There is no built-in voice functionality but you can control the Sonos system with Amazon Alexa (when in use with one of Amazon devices like Echo or Dot) and Google Home (using its devices). And, if Sonos enables integration of other services, they will be possible to use.
Change Sonos Wifi Network
Will the app that controls the sound also steer the lights?
For SYMFONISK, the Sonos app will control sound. You can steer the light with the IKEA Home Smart app or manually.
In the near future, the IKEA Home Smart app will enable you to connect specific music to ‘scenes’ (e.g. to set defined lights, blinds and music).
How To Change Network Sonos Desktop App Mac Ios
Have more questions about Sonos Home Sound System?
