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Sonos Subwoofer Not Working (How To Troubleshoot)

Black subwoofer on the floor

Sonos subwoofers can transform your living room into a theater or make you feel like you are in a concert. But sometimes the subwoofer does not work correctly. Why is the Sonos subwoofer not working?

If your Sonos subwoofer is not working, make sure the subwoofer is connected to the correct network. Restart the router or move the router close to the subwoofer. Check the cables to make sure the subwoofer has a secure connection to the correct port.

It is normal to experience issues with any electronic device. The majority of the issues experienced by Sonos subwoofers are easy to fix. This article will help you troubleshoot some of those issues.

Network Loop

Sonos speakers have the ability to connect to each other through their own wireless signal. While this is a great feature, connecting multiple speakers can create a problem.

When the main speaker is connected to the router via an Ethernet cable, the remaining speakers can connect wirelessly to the first speaker. The problem comes into play when more than one speaker is connected to the router but also connected wirelessly to the other Sonos speakers.

The speakers are receiving signals from multiple connections. This confuses the speakers. You could compare the confusion to how you feel when three or four people are talking at once. You don’t know who to listen to.

The best way to solve the problem is to ensure each speaker is receiving one signal from one source. There are two ways to accomplish this.

The first way is by using an Ethernet cable to connect one speaker to the router. From that speaker, turn on the Wi-Fi so the other speakers only connect to it.

The second way is when you have multiple speakers with a hard-wired connection to your router. In this instance, you will turn on the Wi-Fi on one speaker only. The other speakers will have Wi-Fi turned out so that they will then connect wirelessly to that one speaker.

Power Outage

When the router loses power, some wireless devices will attempt to search for another Wi-Fi source. If your router was recently without power, make sure the Sonos subwoofer is connecting to the correct network again.

The subwoofer may need to be reset in order to refresh the connection between the two. Removing the speaker from the network and then reconnecting it will refresh the link.

Moving other electronics away from the Sonos subwoofer will decrease the amount of interference and will strengthen the signal and connection to the subwoofer.

Sonos Subwoofer Not Powering Up Or Turning On

White subwoofer on the floor

You are all set to enjoy music while you clean the house but nothing is coming out of the subwoofer. Why is the Sonos subwoofer not powering up or turning on?

If the Sonos subwoofer is not powering up or turning on, make sure the subwoofer is connected to a working outlet. Plug a small appliance into the same outlet to check the power. Check the subwoofer to make sure the Power switch is turned on. Turn off the Power Save switch.

Sometimes the reason the subwoofer does not power on has nothing to do with the speaker. The control panel could be defective. Restarting the subwoofer will generally clear out any temporary glitches.

Step 1: Inspect the outlet the subwoofer is connected to, confirming it is receiving sufficient power.

Step 2: Make sure the subwoofer’s power switch is on.

Step 3: If the subwoofer continually loses power, turn off the Power Saver switch so the subwoofer will have power at all times.

Step 4: Reset the subwoofer by pressing and holding the ‘Connect’ button until the LED indicator turns white and then red. Once the light turns green, the subwoofer has been reset.

Sonos Subwoofer Not Playing

White subwoofer on the floor

When you are sitting on the couch, ready to watch that new action-packed movie, that is not the time you want to learn that your Sonos subwoofer is not playing. Why is the Sonos subwoofer not playing?

If your Sonos subwoofer is not playing, the subwoofer may not have a stable connection to the network. Press and hold the ‘Play/Pause’ button while you simultaneously plug the speaker back in. Release the button once the LED indicator turns green.

It may seem like a simple thing but it happens. Make sure the subwoofer is correctly connected to its power source.

It is easy for the subwoofer to become unplugged when the speaker has been moved around. You also want to make sure the adapter is plugged in correctly.

The network itself may need to be refreshed. Unplug the router for at least 30 seconds and then plug it back in. Make sure the router and subwoofer are connected to the same network.

Sonos Subwoofer Not Pairing

White subwoofer on the floor

The beauty of a Sonos subwoofer or other speaker is its ability to pair wirelessly to your other electronics. What can you do when your Sonos subwoofer is not pairing?

If your Sonos subwoofer is not pairing, make sure the Wi-Fi setting is turned on the subwoofer. Connect the subwoofer to the router using an Ethernet cable. Make sure the power cable is connected to a working power source and is connected to the correct port on the external device.

It can be frustrating when the subwoofer will not pair with your other electronic devices. Here is how you can resolve the issue whether you have a Sonos Beam, Ray, or Arc speaker.

^This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 06/21/2022

Sonos Beam

Disconnect the router and Sonos Beam speaker from their power sources. Let them rest without power for at least 2 minutes. After two minutes, plug the router and speaker back in.

Sonos Ray

If the Sonos Ray speaker will not pair with your TV, it could be competing with the TV’s internal speakers. Go into your TV settings and turn off the speakers.

Next, you will need to select the audio output for each speaker. The best output for high-quality sound is Dolby Digital.

Some TVs have a PCM option – do not select this setting. This option only allows the Sonos Ray speaker to receive audio, not transmit it.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on June 21, 2022.

Sonos Arc

Disconnect the Sonos Arc and the TV from their power source. Let each reset without power for at least 2 minutes. After two minutes, plug each one back in

Sonos Subwoofer Not Found/Showing Up

Black subwoofer on the floor

You finally have your Sonos subwoofer and you can’t wait to get your home theater all set up. Everything is connected but your Sonos subwoofer is not found/showing up. Why is the subwoofer not found/showing up?

If your Sonos subwoofer is not found/showing up, disconnect the subwoofer power cable. Wait 10 seconds and then plug the subwoofer back in. Once the white status light blinks, the subwoofer has reconnected to the power source. Open the Sonos app to see if the subwoofer is now discoverable.

The majority of the time, when the subwoofer is not discoverable or will not connect, you will receive an error message. Follow the in-app steps to reconnect your subwoofer. You can also go to Settings and select ‘Unable to find Your Sonos System’ for more instructions.

Sonos Subwoofer Not Loud

White subwoofer on the floor

The Sonos subwoofer is working but you can barely hear what is coming out. Why is the Sonos subwoofer not loud?

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on June 21, 2022.

If the Sonos subwoofer is not loud, restart your router to freshen and strengthen your network connection. Disconnect the subwoofer from other speakers and then reconnect. Go to ‘Settings’ > ‘System’ > locate the sub/room > ‘Hidden options’ > Sub Audio.

You can also take advantage of the equalizer settings within the Sonos app to manually adjust the volume settings. When you are in the Sonos app, find the room/subwoofer name and press EQ. Adjust the settings to your preference.

^This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 06/21/2022

Sonos Beam

Open the Sonos app and go to ‘Settings’ and go to ‘Room Settings’. Select the room the Sonos Beam is located and navigate to ‘Volume Limit’. The volume limit should be off.

Sonos Ray

Open the Sonos app and go to Room Settings for your Sonos Ray speaker. Increase the volume level for the Ray surround speaker. Set the speaker to Full mode so the Ray speaker becomes the main speaker when used.

Sonos Arc

If the audio issues are only when using the TV, go into your TV settings and select Audio Output and then Digital Audio Out Volume. Increase the audio output volume.

Sonos Subwoofer No Sound

Black subwoofer on the floor

The Sonos is lit up. It’s receiving power, but there is no sound. Why does the Sonos subwoofer have no sound?

If the Sonos subwoofer has no sound, make sure the subwoofer is active in Speaker Pattern settings. Go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Speaker’ > ‘Speaker SP’. The speaker pattern should end with either a 1 or 2. If the pattern ends with a 0, the subwoofer will not work.

Sonos speakers are not like traditional speakers. Not all speakers are created equal. If the subwoofer is not producing any sound, you would be using a passive speaker instead of an Active one.

What To Consider So Your Sonos Subwoofer Continues To Work

White subwoofer on the floor

You want your Sonos subwoofer to last as long as possible. One of the best ways to do this is to take care of the subwoofer. Not to be overlooked is the maintenance of the subwoofer.

To ensure your Sonos subwoofer continues to work, consider good maintenance of high importance. Use a microfiber cloth to remove dust. A soft-bristled vacuum brush can be used to remove dust from the fabric grille of the Playbar and Beam. Do not use alcohol-based cleaners on the speakers.

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on June 21, 2022.

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