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Sonos doesn’t make pc audio system. And regardless of how intently a few of its audio system look the half (particularly the Play:1, One, One SL and new Period 100), that is not how they had been supposed for use. That stated, if you happen to’re useless set on utilizing Sonos audio system as your pc’s default audio system, it’s doable — and it is particularly simple if in case you have a Mac.
It wasn’t at all times very simple to show your Sonos audio system into your Mac audio system, however that modified in 2021 when Apple rolled out its Huge Sur 11.3 macOS replace. This lets you higher use any speaker that helps AirPlay 2 as your Mac’s default audio system. It is not an ideal resolution — and we’ll get into that shortly — nevertheless it’s simpler and higher than it was in previous years.
Briefly: The method of utilizing one or two Sonos audio system (the latter for a stereo pair) as your Mac’s default audio system is similar to how you’d use one or two HomePods as your Mac’s default audio system. You want stereo pair the 2 audio system — have to be the identical mannequin of speaker, so two Ones or two Play:1s — throughout the Sonos app, and then you definately stream audio to them out of your Mac through AirPlay.
How you can Stereo Pair Your Sonos Audio system
You’ll be able to solely stereo pair two of the identical mannequin of Sonos audio system. This implies you want two Play:1s, two Ones, two Period 100s or two Fives, for instance. You can not create a stereo pair with completely different mannequin Sonos audio system, like a One and an Period 100. SL and non-SL types of a speaker depend as the identical speaker, for pairing functions. You can create a stereo pair with a One and a One SL, or a Roam and a Roam SL.
Earlier than making a stereo pair, each Sonos audio system have to powered on, arrange and related to your house’s Wi-Fi. From there you’ll be able to stereo pair them throughout the Sonos app. This is how:
- Open the Sonos app.
- Faucet the Settings tab (situated within the bottom-right nook).
- Choose one of many Sonos audio system you need to create a stereo pair.
- Choose “Set Up Stereo Pair” and observe the in-app directions.
For more information on making a stereo pair, try Sonos’s help web page.
How you can Use Sonos Audio system As Mac Audio system through AirPlay 2
After your two Sonos audio system are stereo paired, it is fairly simple to set them up in order that they’re your default Mac audio system. There are two methods of doing this:
Choice #1:
- Choose the sound icon situated in your Mac’s menu bar.
- Scroll down and choose your stereo-paired Sonos audio system.
In case your sound icon is not situated in your Mac’s menu bar, you are going to need it to be — as a result of the AirPlay connection goes to continuously be severed in case your Mac falls asleep or if you happen to do not play audio for a time frame. To make your sound icon seems in your Mac’s menu bar, go to System Preferences > Sound > and choose the underside choice that claims “Present Sound in menu bar” > and choose “at all times” within the drop-down menu.
Choice #2:
- Open System Preferences in your Mac.
- Choose “Sound” on the facet panel.
- Beneath “Output & Enter”, just be sure you have Output chosen.
- Choose your stereo-paired Sonos audio system.
The Drawback with AirPlay 2
The primary purpose why utilizing AirPlay to show your Sonos audio system into Mac audio system is not an awesome choice is the connection will continually get disrupted.
Each time your Mac falls asleep or will get turned off, the AirPlay connection will get severed. Additionally, if you happen to’re utilizing one in every of Sonos’s good audio system (just like the One), the connection will break each time you ask one thing through “Hey Alexa” or “Hey Sonos.”
Reestablishing the AirPlay connection is fast and straightforward — you simply observe the above steps to make them your Mac’s default audio system once more. Nonetheless, you will doubtless discover the method of getting to reconnect them again and again fairly annoying after awhile.
How you can Use Sonos Audio system As Pc Audio system through Line-In
In case you have a PC — or a Mac and you do not need to use AirPlay — an alternative choice is utilizing a line-in (or aux) connection. For this, it is advisable have a Sonos speaker (or ideally two of them for a stereo pair) that helps a line-in connection; there are solely three Sonos audio system that help a line-in connection: Period 100, Period 300 and the 5 (in addition to the discontinued Play:5).
To do that, you will additionally want a dongle and sure an adapter.
• In case you have a 5 or Play:5, each of which have a line-in aux port on their again, you will simply want a 3.5mm to three.5mm aux cable like this.
• In case you have an Period 100 or Period 300, which have a USB-C line-in port on their again, you will want a 3.5mm to three.5mm aux cable in addition to Sonos’s particular Line-In Adapter.
From right here, you simply have to hardwire one in every of your Sonos audio system to your pc through its aux port. In case you have two of the identical audio system — like two Period 100s — you will need to first create a stereo pair (see steps above) after which hardwired a kind of audio system into your pc; they’ll keep stereo paired if you designate one as your pc’s default speaker.
- Join the Sonos speaker to your pc through a 3.5mm to three.5mm dongle. (The Period 100 and Period 300 additionally require you to have Sonos’s adapter.)
- Choose the Sonos speaker as your pc’s default speaker (open the Settings app in your pc > choose System Preferences > Sound > Output > choose the Sonos speaker).
You are not accomplished but! There are two extra settings you are going to need to modify for the very best line-in expertise whereas utilizing your Sonos audio system as pc audio system.
How you can Flip On Autoplay
As soon as you have efficiently set your Sonos audio system as your default pc audio system, you will need to flip Autoplay “on” within the Settings menu of the Sonos app. This can permit your Sonos system to play routinely when it detects a sound coming from the line-in connection. In case you do not flip this on and also you stream music to your Sonos audio system moderately than simply utilizing them as pc audio system, you will doubtless must undergo the entire means of resetting them up once more as your pc’s default audio system.
- Open the Sonos app in your smartphone.
- Choose Settings (in lower-right nook)
- Choose the speaker with the line-in connection.
- Scroll right down to Line-In, choose “Autoplay” and ensure it is turned on.
How you can Regulate Audio Delay
Final step. When utilizing a line-in connection, Sonos naturally has an audio delay — there might be a one or two second playback delay with the sound. This implies your video and sound doubtless will not be lined up. And also you clearly don’t need that.
The rationale for this audio delay is that the Sonos speaker is performing some digital sign processing (or DSP) to optimize its sound and forestall distortion. Based on Sonos, the audio delay “reduces the possibility of audio points occurring when your Sonos merchandise are taking part in line-in audio in a bunch.” The issue is that this audio delay defeats numerous the aim of utilizing your Sonos audio system as pc audio system. The excellent news is that you may modify it.
- Open the Sonos app > choose Settings > and choose System.
- Choose your speaker with the Line-In connection.
- Scroll down and choose Audio Delay > choose Low (75ms).
On this menu, there are 4 completely different audio delays that you may select from: Max (2,000 ms), Excessive (150 ms), Medium (113 ms) and Low (75 ms). By default, the Line-In connection of your Sonos speaker is about to Max, which is 2,000 milliseconds or two seconds; this enables for essentially the most time for the Sonos product to optimize its sound. The Low setting has an audio delay of 75 milliseconds. It is nonetheless a delay, nevertheless it’s far much less noticeable.