B2 and Sonos Speakers... Newbie Questions

[Duncan Shea-Simonds]

Hello...

I was wanting to play my music (on my B2) in other rooms of the house... Office, bedroom etc...  I was thinking the easiest way to do this would be to use Sonos speakers.

Now I don't have.... or know anything about, Sonos speakers or the Sonos system.

Is it really as simple as buying a Sonos speaker, getting on my home wi-fi and sending my music to it? I assume I could play via the app or web UI?

Would I need any other Sonos hardware? Hub thingy or bridge?

I have seen some legacy Sonos products available quite cheaply second hand. Would there be any "older" Sonos products that I should be aware of that WON'T work with the Brennan?

I'm looking at Gen 1 Sonos Play 1 or a Sonos Zone Player S5

Thank you kindly

Dunc

[Daniel Taylor]

There are two ways you can play B2 music on a Sonos system.  

One way uses the Sonos app for control.  It uses the B2 hard disk as a NAS drive and reads from it.  If you want to use this way, you will need a device on which to run the Sonos app - smart phone, tablet, or computer.  Of course, you'll need the same sort of device to run the B2's WebUI too.

The other way is for the B2 WebUI to control the system by sending music to the Sonos system.

There are pros and cons to either method.  I don't do Sonos, so I will leave it to others to go into more depth, if you want it.

[fred.w....@gmail.com]

Hi Dunc,

I believe ( someone correct me if I am wrong) all Sonos new an old will work. 

To get them to work you have to set them up on your home WiFi using the (a) Sonos App on a PC / tablet / phone. It has to be the same WiFi as the B2 is on.

You can then use them with your B2 as Daniel describes.

Fred

[Duncan Shea-Simonds]

Thanks Daniel

[Duncan Shea-Simonds]

Perfect - thanks Fred

[PMB]

Hi Dunc,

I have an old 'Play 1' which works OK alongside a couple of later 'One SLs'.

You do need a mobile phone and their app to set them up initially.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[Duncan Shea-Simonds]

Great - thanks Paul.

I was even thinking of another option... Since I already have some nice powered desktop speakers (Audioengine A2).....

I wonder if I could use an old Sonos Connect (Gen 1 or 2)... and plug my A2's into that? Then stream to the Connect from the B2... as if it were a Sonos speaker?

Or would I need another "wired" Sonos component on my network for that to work?

I'm not sure?

Dunc

[Daniel Taylor]

Based on my limited knowledge of the Sonos world, I think your idea about the Connect and your A2's should work.  Worth a try.

The A2's are self-powered speakers.  Does the Connect include an amp?  If not, should be good.  If it does have an amp, be careful with the volume levels you feed to the A2 - don't want to blow the speakers.  Start with volumes set very low and then sneak up on things.

[PMB]

Hi Dunc,

If it's the ZP90 then it's designed to be connected to an amplifier or powered speakers.

Set the ZP90 up on your WiFi network - needs the Sonos app - and check if the B2 can see it.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[JFBUK]

Hi Dunc,

I think your Audioengine speakers support Bluetooth so adding a long range Bluetooth transmitter connected to your B2

could give you another option.

John

[Duncan Shea-Simonds]

Thanks Daniel,

The Sonos Connect doesn't have an amp... but has a raft of audio outputs, so should work well with my A2's. I think there is an amplified version of the Connect as well.

On Friday, March 18, 2022 at 10:03:26 AM UTC Daniel Taylor wrote:

[Duncan Shea-Simonds]

Great - Thanks Paul.

Worth a try then I reckon  :)

[Duncan Shea-Simonds]

Thanks John...

I have the older A2's (not the A2+) so no Bluetooth sadly.... 

Though I do have issues with Bluetooth transmission in my house... it's pretty old and the walls are solid and very thick!