Sonos Connect - Adding a delay

[Autopilot]

I have various Sonos devices around the house and they all play in perfect harmony. When I Include the zone controlled by a Sonos connect, it all goes a little wrong due to this zone being out of sync what with the delay the amp introduces.

If I run the Amp in 'direct' mode, although marginal, it still has a fairly obvious delay and ultimately means this zone is only any good if it isn't being grouped up with any other zone.

Has anybody found a way to get a Sonos Connect controlled zone to blend in with other devices?

The amp I have is pretty good (Yamaha AV3030) yet I haven't found a way to use this zone with the Play 5 in the next room going.

Thanks.

[TimWren]

I spent a good while looking into this issue when I was going to purchase one but it seems like the only way to resolve was to set amp to straight through/stereo mode and apparently this didn't work for all amps (as in your case). The delay being added by all the audio processing that amps do. The Sonos forums have a few threads on the subject with people requesting that Sonos add a delay function to other speakers to compensate. Doesn't sound like they will be doing that though!

[Marvindodgers]

When you say there is a delay between the Connect/amp output and your other Sonos devices are you talking seconds (like the delay heard if listening to the same radio station on FM or DAB?) or are you talking a fraction of a second delay? I have to be honest, I have the same set up as you and I am totally unaware of any delay between Sonos Connect/Hifi amp output and my other Sonos devices around the house.

[Autopilot]

Marvindodgers said:

When you say there is a delay between the Connect/amp output and your other Sonos devices are you talking seconds (like the delay heard if listening to the same radio station on FM or DAB?) or are you talking a fraction of a second delay? I have to be honest, I have the same set up as you and I am totally unaware of any delay between Sonos Connect/Hifi amp output and my other Sonos devices around the house.

The delay is only a fraction of a second but it sounds bad enough for me to not group the living room (Sonos Connect) with any other zone. I'm not an audiophile snob or anything, it genuinely does sound that bad. With the 'direct' mode on, the delay is improved but still not good enough.

[Autopilot]

TimWren said:

I spent a good while looking into this issue when I was going to purchase one but it seems like the only way to resolve was to set amp to straight through/stereo mode and apparently this didn't work for all amps (as in your case). The delay being added by all the audio processing that amps do. The Sonos forums have a few threads on the subject with people requesting that Sonos add a delay function to other speakers to compensate. Doesn't sound like they will be doing that though!

It's a shame they don't do this. While the delay is small, it sounds bad enough for me never to use the Living room (Sonos Connect) and kitchen (2 x Play 1's as a stereo pair) in the same group. The only real benefit I have with the Connect is that I like the app and when used as a zone on its own, it's pretty damned good! I can however get music from my NAS straight to my amp and the app is ok, so had I known when grouped it would sound this bad, I'd never have bought it.

[Nick Grant]

I have a similar set up and no problem with delay though my amp.

[Autopilot]

What amp do you have?

I did read on the Sonos forums that same manufacturer amp are hit and miss in that some have the delay and others don't. I could understand if they were vastly different, but seems that models with similar components offer different results.

[Nick Grant]

It's a Sony Home Cinema Receiver, probably about 5 years old, used in two channel mode for the Sonos.

[rhubarbbear]

Just stumbled across this thread, just check the software settings on the amp to make sure there isn't a software delay to allow the sound to remain in synch with the pictures which need more processing time (and therefore the audio can need delaying to compensate). I know in theory the "direct" routing should bypass this, but it isn't always the case.