Skip to content

Operating Multiroom

Use the sonoro audio App to create and manage Multiroom groups. First prepare the LAN connections and mobile device authorisation.

Create a group

  1. Switch on the music systems. Turn on the desired source device and at least one other music system. The app's device overview is sorted alphabetically.
  2. Open group selection. In the device overview, tap the Speaker group icon. The available music systems appear.
  3. Select the master first. Tap the circle next to the device whose source the group should play. This first selected device automatically becomes the master.
  4. Select other participants. Select the music systems that should play the same source. Selected devices are marked with a tick.
  5. Confirm the group. Tap Create group. The participants play the master's current source together.
sonoroDevice overview
AMPLIFIER LIVING ROOMConnected via LAN
AMPLIFIER KITCHENConnected via LAN
Open speaker groupSpeaker group
1 · Switch on the devices and tap the group icon.
sonoroMultiroom
AMPLIFIER LIVING ROOMMASTER · Source device✓
AMPLIFIER KITCHENGroup device✓
Create group
2 · Select the master first, select other devices and confirm.

Schematic app illustrations with example device names.

Available music systems

Switch on the desired music systems before selection. They must be connected via LAN and authorised for the mobile device being used. Systems using only Wi-Fi do not appear in the Multiroom selection.

A musical note icon identifies a music system already playing music or another source. The order of selection still determines which device is the master.

Create another group

Several groups, each with its own master, can exist simultaneously for different content.

  1. In the device overview, tap the speaker group icon in the black circle.
  2. First select the source device for the new group, then the other participants.
  3. Confirm with Create group.

Music systems already belonging to a group may also appear in the selection. Each music system can belong to only one group at a time.

Move an existing master to another group

If you add the master of an existing group to another group, its previous group is dissolved completely. Other group devices can be added individually to the new group as needed.

Change or dissolve a group

Show participants

In the device overview, tap the arrow to the left of the group to show or hide participants. When expanded, you can adjust individual systems' volumes and open individual devices, for example to change sound settings.

sonoroDevice overview
AMPLIFIER LIVING ROOM +1

Master's source

⌄ Show devicesEdit group
AMPLIFIER LIVING ROOMMaster · Source device
AMPLIFIER KITCHENGroup device
Group view: Show participants using the arrow; edit the selection using the group icon.
sonoroEdit group
AMPLIFIER LIVING ROOMMASTER · Source device✓
AMPLIFIER KITCHENGroup device
Edit group
Editing: Remove a participant's tick or select additional devices.

Schematic group view and device selection editing.

Add or remove devices

  1. Switch on any music system you want to add.
  2. Tap the speaker icon of the existing group.
  3. Tick the devices to add. Untick the devices that should no longer participate.
  4. Confirm the changed selection with Edit group.

The remaining participants continue playing the master's source.

Dissolve a group

  1. Open editing using the group's speaker icon.
  2. Deselect the other participants so the master remains as a standalone music system.
  3. Confirm the change. The previous group is dissolved.

Switching off does not dissolve a group

A group remains until you change its membership or dissolve it. Switching the master back on or changing its source affects playback on the associated group devices.

Playback and volume

Play, pause and skip tracks apply to the entire group. These commands can be given via the sonoro audio App or directly on a music system. The audio source comes from the master.

Adjust individual rooms

Each music system retains its own volume setting. Expand the group in the device overview and adjust the desired participant's volume.

Adjust group volume

The shared volume control changes all participants' volumes simultaneously. The range is 0% to 100%.

Adjustment is relative to individual device settings and takes different room volumes into account. Near maximum or minimum volume, participants' levels may gradually converge: when increasing volume, quieter devices are raised more; when decreasing it, louder devices are lowered more.

Play AirPlay audio

  1. In AirPlay playback, select the sonoro music system that should provide the source for your group.
  2. Select this device first as the master when creating the group.
  3. Add the desired group devices connected via LAN and confirm the group.

The master's AirPlay signal is shared with participants via sonoro Multiroom®. Changing the master's volume through AirPlay affects all devices in the group.

The LAN requirements for sonoro Multiroom® still apply when using AirPlay as a source. A Wi-Fi-only connection does not replace the required LAN connection of Multiroom participants.

Switch a group on and off

The sonoro audio App and compatible smart home systems let you switch grouped devices on and off together.

Situation Group behaviour
A group device is switched off manually. The other participants stay active. When switched back on, the device resumes the current content if it still belongs to the group and the master is playing a source.
The master is switched off. Playback stops on every device in the group.
The master is switched back on. Playback of the content selected on the master resumes. The other participants must be switched on.
No content is playing. By default, group devices enter standby automatically after 15 minutes.

You can adjust the automatic standby delay for each music system under Settings → Display & Power management. The exact menu name may vary by device.

Information on device displays

The display depends on the source provided by the master.

Sources with metadata: For DAB, Internet Radio, streaming services, USB and NAS files, and AirPlay, group devices generally show the same cover and available playback information as the master. This can include track, artist, album, playback status and timeline.

Analogue and digital inputs and CD: Group devices show an Audio over IP cover. This indicates that another music system provides the source.

The top of the display shows the current source and, on group devices, the master's name in brackets.

MasterInternet Radio♫Station / TrackArtist / Album
Group deviceInternet Radio (Living room)♫Station / TrackArtist / Album
Example with metadata: Group devices show the master's information.
MasterAUX In 1AUX
In 1AUX InMaster's source
Group deviceAUX In (Living room)Audio
over IPAUX InMaster's source
Example of a connected source: An Audio over IP cover appears on the group device.

Schematic display illustrations. The information available and its presentation depend on the source.

If the group does not work as expected

  • A device is missing from selection: Check power, LAN connection and authorisation. See the checklist under Connection problems.
  • The group is silent after switching off the master: Switch the master back on and check that its source is playing and the other participants are switched on.
  • A previous group has disappeared: Check whether its master was assigned to another group. This dissolves the original group.
  • Control is unavailable after a factory reset: Reauthorise the mobile device on the reset music system.