I have a 2021 iMac M1 with 16gb of memory running Sonoma 14.2.1 OS.
My Roon System consists of two Play 5 Gen2 paired for Stereo along with the Roon Sub
Networking Gear & Setup Details
I have Verizon Home Internet WiFi
Connected Audio Devices
I have no other connected audio devices
Number of Tracks in Library
I have 48,000 tracks
Description of Issue
In the past 10-14 days I am intermittently losing the right channel when using Roon both Streaming and Airplay. Roon is my primary playback took. However I have both iTunes (Apple Music) the Sonos app available as playback software also. and the problem is not seen when using those two resources.
My playback is from my personal files. I do have streaming access via Qobuz but have not yet checked for this issue on streaming. When I first start an album the right channel is simply not there, not playing. After a minute or to the right channel will intermittently play for a few seconds and drop out again. After some time the channel with begin to play properly and has remained playing for the rest of the album but the issue returns when playing something differently.
I first thought of a possible issue with my WiFi network but everything seems to be okay there. When this has occurred on a couple of occasions I have stopped play on Roon, opened iTunes and/or Sonos and begun play and there is not issue with the Right channel.
I deleted and reinstalled the latest Roon OS version. The only other thing I just though of is about the same time I enabled EQ on Roon but I have not checked yet if disabling this feature but why would it effect only one channel if it was the cause?
Has anyone else experienced an intermittent loss of a channel? What was your resolution? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Can you try to output to your Mac’s System Output zone (internal speakers) and check to see if you get this behavior there or if it is only limited on the Play 5s? How do you have the Play 5s paired, through the Sonos app? Is there any change if you have them as individual zones in the Sonos app, but pair them in the Roon app?
If I play the music on my iMac speakers or if I play the Sonos as a Stereo Pair + Sub through Apple Music app (iTunes) or the Sonos app both speakers and the Sub play fine. It is only through the Roon app that I am losing the Right channel and just discover that I am losing the Sub also. I recently engaged Muse and thought that might be the issue but after disengaging Muse the issue remains with the Roon app. Man I hope there is some help from Roon to resolve this. When using Roon the Right Channel and Sub will fade in and out. Again any of the output does not experience this issue. I have looked closely at my WiFi to see if any fault could be found there but it appears to be functioning normally for all other things and the Sonos app indicates it has an “Excellent” connection
A couple of things. First I didn’t know I could pair them through Roon. I really want to use Roon as my playback tool. Can you point me to how I can pair them within Roon along with my sub.
Secondly, I am now questioning if this is a Roon issue. Suddenly today though not as consistently, both iTunes and the Roon app lost the Right channel during playback. I am going to be doing some testing on my home Wifi and on the Roon Play5 speaker used for the right channel to see if my troubles reside there or via a combinations of things. I used Roon speakers like this for 7 years without issue and Roon since November 2019 as my main playback resource again virtually without issue.
I tried turning everything off in Muse but the problem persisted. As I just stated in another post I think this might be something outside of Roon now and I am investigating if it could be my WiFi or the particular Sonos speaker
Do you have at least one of your Sonos Fives connected via ethernet or all ok WiFi?
I’d strongly recommend connecting one of the Fives to your router with an ethernet cable as you are using a sub also.
Try only pairing the Fives and see how that goes. Pair in the Sonos app, not Roon.
I’d also check to ensure your Sonos devices are up to date within the Sonos app.
I have come to believe, realize the issue was my Verizon home internet. I hadn’t thought about it until a friend suggested I do some speed tests on my internet speeds. I tried both a 3rd party app and Verizon’s own app in their Support area. I tested speeds originally when I first switched to Verizon from Cox Communications in November 2022 and the speeds were excellent and generally stable until about a month ago. Now I am getting speeds only 10% to 20% of when I first tested them. In talking with Verizon online and visiting a company store I am learning that they may simply have run out of capacity in my area. There are no slots available. I updated my plan hoping to see faster speeds and they are providing me a free wifi extender. However if things don’t improve dramatically, I’m gone to another network provider…
I wanted to check in with you here, has there been any change in behavior since your last post? Did upgrading your speed trigger any change in behavior?