Lost Control of Audio Device - Sonos

Since updating my Mac Mini to OS 15.5 I am having big problems with my Sonos zones. After just a few minutes’ playing I’m getting ‘Lost control of the audio zone’ ‘Can’t find Roon Server’ messages. The only solution is to re-start the server (Mac mini) but this only lasts around 30 minutes. Roon works fine with Airplay Sonos endpoints.

Hello @Jez_Hall ,

Thanks for reaching out with your report. I’ve activated diagnostics mode for your account and I noticed an issue with your Office zone. Is this the only zone that is impacted, while the other zones continue to work as expected? What is your network setup like - please list model/manufacturer and how your Roon Server + all audio devices are connected. Also, please note that if you submit a request via our typeform link, this will allow us to gather much more relevant data quicker:

Hi. Thanks for your post. All my endpoints using Sonos streaming are impacted. Also, my endpoints using Airplay have become very unstable too. On my Roon Remotes, even though the music does not always stop they are constantly ‘looking for Roon Server’ and unable to implement other actions - pause, skip, etc.

Hi @Jez_Hall,

Thanks for the explanation about which audio zones are affected. Could you please follow up on what my colleague @noris asked and share more details about your network setup? Specifically, we’d like to know the make and model of your router, and how your Roon server and the affected zones are connected (whether that’s via Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or any other equipment like switches or mesh nodes).

If anything’s unclear, just let us know and we’ll be happy to walk you through it!

Hi - My router is a BT Smart Hub 2 and my server - a MacMini M1 running OS 15.5 is connected via ethernet.
All Sonos streaming zones are affected and Airplay zones have also become very flaky. More often than not when I open a Roon remote I get the message ‘Looking for server’ sometimes it is (eventually) found other times, not at all. Thanks

Hey @Jez_Hall,

To confirm, your Macmini is connected directly to your router? From a fresh diagnostic report, we’re seeing the disconnects you mention, as well as an overall lack of buffering occurring during playback - see how the track buffer is only at 23% below:

Trace: [Bedroom] [Lossless 4.9x, 16/44 TIDAL FLAC => 16/44] [23% buf] [PLAYING @ 1:30/2:42] Time - Maria Chiara Argirò
Trace: [Bunk Room] [Lossless 4.9x, 16/44 TIDAL FLAC => 16/44] [23% buf] [PLAYING @ 1:35/2:42] Time - Maria Chiara Argirò
Trace: [Bedroom] [Lossless 4.9x, 16/44 TIDAL FLAC => 16/44] [23% buf] [PLAYING @ 1:35/2:42] Time - Maria Chiara Argirò 

Along with failures around your iPad connecting:

Warn: [raat_ll/client] [iPad] failed to connect(0) Connection refused

Are you able to test out a hardwire connection to any of your sonos endpoints? It may also be worth testing out your Mac firewall - if you temporarily disable your mac firewall, do your issues persist?

Another area to investigate - check your router settings and see if you’re able to allocate additional network bandwidth/priority to your Mac running Roon Server.

If after the above, you still continue to have issues - please share a specific track name the next time you experience a loss of control from one of your audio devices.

Thank you! :raising_hands:

Hi - funnily enough I am away from home right now and using a different Roon network. This network appears to be working OK for me, despite the issues you identify.
It’s my home Roon network I am having problems with. I don’t know if you can check diagnostics from Tuesday (when I last used my home Roon) Otherwise I will be using my home Roon again on Saturday.

Hi @Jez_Hall,

Unfortunately, we only have access to the logs from your home server up to Monday. It looks like we’ll need to wait until Saturday to check the next set. Just to confirm that we request logs from the right server Is it MacMini or MacMini-2?

HI. Yes understood, and it’s MacMini 2. Thanks

Hi @Jez_Hall,
Got it, thanks!

Hi I am back with my home set-up and still experiencing issues. Most recently with the zones ‘Office’ and ‘Gym’ where I am getting the ‘Roon lost control of your audio device’ One of the Sonos speakers in ‘Office’ is hard-wired. Also, I have tried disabling the Firewall but the issue persists.
A specific track where problems have arisen - Vincent Komant’ by CMAT, streamed through Tidal.
Thanks

Hey @Jez_Hall,

Thanks for sharing the timestamp! We saw from logs that indeed playback stopped due to losing connection to both your active audio zones:

 Warn: [zone Office + Office Boost] Track Stopped Due to LostEndpoint 

Does the same issue occur when only playing to a single zone? I believe a good next step is still to investigate potential router settings - see if you’re able to allocate additional network bandwidth/priority to your Mac running Roon Server as well as your endpoints.

Do any of your zones pass through additional network gear before connecting to your router?

Hi. Yes the same issue occurs when playing to a single zone - ‘Gym’ for example. Thanks for the suggestion to allocate more bandwidth to the MacMini - although I’m not sure how to do this. Are instructions available anywhere? My MacMini 2 is connected via an Airport Extreme device - all hard-wired.

Hi @Jez_Hall,

You mentioned you’re using a BT Smart Hub 2. Unfortunately, this router doesn’t support Quality of Service (QoS) settings, so it isn’t possible to allocate more bandwidth to specific devices like your Mac Mini.

The only way to gain that level of control would be to use a different router that supports QoS. That said, if your home is using BT’s Digital Voice service, you’ll need to keep the Smart Hub as it’s required for phone functionality.

Let us know how you’d like to proceed, and we’ll help you take the next steps.

Hi - I’m not sure the issue was to do with bandwidth settings as nothing had changed. Strangely my MacMini had an unexpected restart yesterday and ever since then Roon has been operating OK. I also wondered if Tailscale may have been causing an issue and so switched off for the moment. Thanks.

Hello @Jez_Hall ,

Thanks for the update, and glad to hear that everything is working as expected at the moment. Should the issues return, please just let us know and we can take another look, thanks!