Sonos Playbar Installation guide

FAQ Sheet
How much weight can Playbase support?
Playbase can support TVs that weigh up to 77 lb (34.9 kg).
Does Playbase pair with other Sonos speakers for surround sound?
Yes. While Playbase is a great soundbase on its own, it also wirelessly pairs with our Sub for
added bass and a pair of Sonos speakers for full surround sound. A setup with left and right rears
and a Sub gives you true 5.1 surround sound.
What audio content can I play on Playbase?
Playbase plays back all of your TV audio, once setup with the Sonos app is complete. You can
stream audio from TV, movies, video on demand, music, radio, video games, audiobooks and
podcasts.
What audio codecs and formats will Playbase support?
Playbase plays audio from PCM stereo and Dolby Digital sources.
Setting up the Sonos Playbar or Playbase
If you're setting up a Sonos Beam, you can find instructions in our article here: Setting Up Sonos Beam
Before your Sonos Playbar or Playbase can play audio from your TV or music services, it must
be setup using the Sonos app on your tablet or mobile device. If the Playbar or Playbase is not set
up through the Sonos app, you will not receive audio. Instructions for setting up the Playbar or
Playbase are below.

1. Download the Sonos controller on the device you will use to setup and control Sonos.
2. Place the Playbar or Playbase in the appropriate location and apply power.
3. Connect the supplied optical audio cable from the digital audio out (optical) of your TV to the
audio input of the Playbar or Playbase. Be careful not to twist or bend the cable.
If the Playbar or Playbase is the first Sonos component you are setting up, follow the
instructions below:
1. Open up the Sonos controller app on your device of choice.
2. Select “Set up a new Sonos system”.
3. Follow the in-app instructions to complete the setup. The Sonos app will walk you through
configuring your remote to work with the Playbar or Playbase, as well as adding any surround
speakers you may have.
The setup is now complete, you are ready to listen to your Playbar or Playbase.
If you are adding a Playbar or Playbase to an existing Sonos system, follow the instructions
below:
1. From your Sonos controller, select “Add a Player or Sub”.
oOn iOS or Android: From the More tab, select Settings > Add a Player or Sub
2. Follow the in-app instructions to complete the setup. The Sonos app will walk you through
configuring your remote to work with the Playbar or Playbase, as well as adding any surround
speakers you may have.
The setup is now complete, you are ready to listen to your Playbar or Playbase.
No sound from the Sonos Playbar, Playbase,
or Beam
If you’ve reached this article because you’re not getting any audio out of your Playbar, Playbase,
or Beam, please check the following quick steps before proceeding with the rest of the article:
Ensure the Sonos home theater speaker has already been setup. It will not produce sound until
you’ve gone through the setup process using the Sonos app.
Check our TV compatibility list to see if your TV has any known issues with the Sonos home
theater speaker.

Make sure you’ve set your TV to output sound through its optical port instead of the internal
speakers. You can typically find this in the audio settings menu of the TV, typically listed as
“External Speakers.”
Check that the dust cap has been removed from the optical cable and that the cable is
producing a red light from the end that plugs into the Sonos home theater speaker. Try another
optical cable if you do not see a red light.
Once you’ve checked the steps listed above, continue reading below for some other
troubleshooting steps to try. Don't forget, you can always reach out to Customer Care at any
point if you want some additional help.
No audio when watching Blu-ray discs
DTS is a surround audio format commonly found on Blu-ray discs that is not supported by Sonos
home theater speakers. With the below settings, the following devices are able to transcode DTS
to Dolby Digital or stereo, which the Playbar and Playbase have full support for.
Configuring your Xbox One
1. Access “Settings” by navigating left on the Home screen to open the guide.
2. Select “All settings.”
3. Select “Display & Sound” and “Audio output.”
4. Set “HDMI audio” to “Bitstream out.”
5. Set the “Bitstream format” to “Dolby Digital.”
Configuring your PlayStation 4
1. Access “Settings” by scrolling to the top right with your PS4 remote.
2. Select “Sound and Screen.”
3. Select “Audio Output Settings.”
4. Select “Primary Output Port.”
5. Select “HDMI Out.”
6. Set the “Audio Format (Priority)” to “Bitstream (Dolby).”

Please note: Some newer Blu-ray players are often able to transcode DTS to Dolby Digital or
stereo as well. Consult the Blu-ray player product manual for specific instructions and settings.
No audio when watching Netflix or Vudu
Some Netflix and Vudu content is streamed in Dolby Digital Plus, which is not supported by
Sonos home theater speakers. To resolve this, open the audio settings for Netflix or Vudu, and
change the audio format to Stereo instead of Dolby Digital Plus.
Audio playback stops or skips
If your Sonos system experiences audio interruptions such as stops or skips, we recommend
following the steps below. Determine whether the audio interruptions occur when you attempt to
play from a music service, your music library or line-in, and click on the music source below:
Audio stops playing or skips from an online music service
Audio stops playing or skips from Music Library or tracks from a mobile device
Audio stops playing or skips when streaming from Line-In
Audio stops playing or skips when watching TV

Streaming from an online music service or radio station
Please attempt the following troubleshooting steps in order. If you're streaming lossless audio,
please see our note below.
1. Check if an outage has been reported for the music service you’re using
Confirmed music service outages will be posted at the top of sonos.com/support. It’s possible
that the service is experiencing an outage that has not yet been reported. If you don’t see an
alert, continue with the steps below.
2. Attempt playing music from another online music service
Attempt to play tracks from a different music service on your system, such as Radio by TuneIn,
and see if the audio interruptions continue. If the second music service plays without any
abnormal skipping or stopping, contact Customer Care to report a potential outage for the
service that is experiencing audio interruptions.
3. Check your Internet connection speed
If your Internet connection slows significantly, the speed at which Sonos is able to stream from
an online music service may be reduced, resulting in audio skipping or other interruptions. Try
loading webpages and videos, preferably from a wired computer or laptop that is connected to
the same network as Sonos, to make sure your Internet connection is working properly. If you
notice unusually slow Internet speeds, please contact your Internet Service Provider for
assistance.
4. Take steps to reduce wireless interference
Your Sonos products may be having difficulty communicating wirelessly with one another or
your router, which can oftentimes be alleviated by changing the wireless channel your Sonos
system is operating on. Wireless environments have the potential to become congested with
many devices using the same air space, and changing the wireless channel can clear up these
issues. Read more about how to change the wireless channel and other steps for reducing
wireless interference in our article: Changing the wireless channel.
5. Contact us for further help
If you continue to experience issues after following the above steps, refer to the Contact
Customer Care section at the bottom of the this article.
Streaming tracks that are stored in your music library or on a mobile device
Please attempt the following troubleshooting steps in order. If you're streaming lossless audio,
please see our note below.

1. Ensure the computer, phone, tablet or Network-attached storage (NAS) device that contains
the tracks is powered on and connected to your WiFi network
The device that contains the tracks may not have a strong enough connection to your home’s
WiFi, or be completely out of range of your WiFi network (e.g., tracks in the queue will not play
if the files are stored on a phone which is no longer within range of the WiFi network Sonos is
connected to). Ensure the device is powered on and, if possible, move it closer to your home’s
wireless router to strengthen the wireless connection.
If moving the device closer to your router eliminated the audio interruptions, your WiFi
connection is not strong enough to reach the location where the device was originally sitting.
However, you may be able to improve the performance of your WiFi network by changing the
wireless channel on your home’s router. In some cases, this may increase the range of your
home’s WiFi. More information on this can be found in the section below.
2. Take steps to reduce wireless interference
Your Sonos products may be having difficulty communicating wirelessly with one another or
your router, which can oftentimes be alleviated by changing the wireless channel your Sonos
system is operating on. Wireless environments can get congested with many devices all using
the same air space and changing the wireless channel can clear up these issues. Read more
about how to change the wireless channel and take other tips for reducing wireless interference
in the following article: Changing the wireless channel.
3. Contact us for further help
If you continue to experience issues after following the above steps, refer to the Contact
Customer Care section at the bottom of the this article.
We are currently investigating issues with audio playback from an iPhone or iPad to Sonos
when using the “From this iPhone or iPad” music source.
If you use other apps that use the iOS device audio, such as making a phone call, YouTube,
social media apps, or use Bluetooth headphones while playing from “This iPhone or iPad,” you
may experience audio interruptions on Sonos until you completely close or quit those apps.
Until this issue is resolved, we also recommend disabling Bluetooth for the best experience.
Additionally, if there are any AirPlay devices on your network, such as an Apple TV or Airport
Express, audio from “This iPhone or iPad” may stop abruptly until AirPlay is disabled on those
devices.
We recognize this isn't an ideal solution for those who use AirPlay regularly at home, but if you
prefer to continue playing to Sonos from “This iPhone or iPad” without interruption, refer to
the device manufacturer’s instructions for disabling AirPlay. Once AirPlay is disabled, close
and re-open the Sonos app and start playback again.

Streaming audio using Line-In
Please attempt the following troubleshooting steps in order:
1. Take steps to reduce wireless interference
Your Sonos products may be having difficulty communicating wirelessly with one another or
your router, which can oftentimes be alleviated by changing the wireless channel your Sonos
system is operating on. Wireless environments can become congested when many devices are
communicating wirelessly within the same air space. Read more about how to change the
wireless channel and take other tips for reducing wireless interference in the following article:
Changing the wireless channel.
2. Change the audio compression setting for Line-In
Changing the audio compression setting to Compressed will be less taxing on the wireless
network and may alleviate the audio stops or skips.
To change the Line-In compression setting, select one of the following options:
oOn iOS or Android: From the More tab, select Settings > Advanced Settings > Audio
Compression.
oPC: Select Manage > Settings > Advanced.
oMac: Select Sonos > Preferences > Advanced.
Contact us for further help
If you continue to experience issues after following the above steps, refer to the Contact
Customer Care section at the bottom of the this article.
Watching TV with Sonos Playbar, Playbase, or Beam
If you are experiencing audio interruptions when watching TV with the Sonos Playbar, Playbase,
or Beam, please try the steps outlined below.
1. Check the audio source
Try playing a different channel or input on your TV and check if the dropouts are eliminated.
2. Bypass your TV
Unplug the optical cable from your TV and plug your Sonos Playbar, Playbase, or Beam directly
into another source that has an optical connection, such as a cable box or Apple TV. If there are
no more dropouts, there may be a problem with the signal the TV is passing.

3. Inspect the optical cable
When your TV is powered on and the optical cable is connected, you should see a red light
coming from the optical cable. Make sure you are checking the end of the optical cable that
would be plugging into your Sonos Playbar, Playbase, or Beam (using the optical adapter).
Make sure the optical cable is properly seated and not severely bent or kinked anywhere. Try a
different optical cable if possible.
4. Reboot the source
This may be a cable box, a Blu-ray player, or a gaming entertainment system. The signal from
these devices can sometimes get corrupted and a reboot can quickly resolve the issue. Unplug
the device from power for 10 seconds and plug it back in.
5. Verizon VMS1100 Set Top Box owners
There is a known issue with the Verizon VMS1100 set top box which causes audio interruptions
when listening to Dolby Digital content.
If you are experiencing audio interruptions when watching TV, this workaround should
resolve the issue.
6. Play a different audio format
Attempt playing another audio format to narrow down the problem. The Playbar, Playbase, and
Beam support Dolby Digital and Stereo/PCM formats. Depending on your TV, you can often
change the audio format in the Audio settings of the TV connected to your Sonos home theater
speaker. Check the user manual of your TV for specific instructions.
7. Check for firmware updates on your TV
Depending on the TV model, this option is often found under Settings > Software Updates.
Check the user manual of your TV for specific instructions.
8. Contact us for further help
If you continue to experience issues after following the above steps, note the make and model
of your TV and refer to the Contact Customer Care section at the bottom of the this article.

A note on lossless audio:
When streaming lossless audio from either a local source or from a music service, you may find
that there's more of a strain on your network since this content is bandwidth-intensive.
If you're streaming this audio to a Sonos group that contains many players, your Sonos system's
capabilities may be more limited than usual. The system might experience audio dropouts or
display error messages in the app.
In cases like this, you can improve performance and reliability by ungrouping some of your
players to make a smaller group, or by wiring some of your Sonos players to the network via
Ethernet. This provides more bandwidth for the Sonos players to use when streaming lossless
content.