Fix 'Song Not Encoded Properly' Error Sonos PLAY:3

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

One error you can run into with your Sonos system is "Song Not Encoded Properly".

While this tends to be a problem with the media itself, there are a few things you can check to get your music playing again quickly.

2. Supported Audio Formats

Sometimes, problems playing files can come from a file encoded in a way the Sonos speaker system does not understand.

Supported Media Formats

Local Media Library

File FormatMaximum BitrateMaximum Audio Sample RateWMA - Windows Media Audio355kbps48000 Hz, 16 bitMP3 - MPEG Audio Layer III320kbpsAAC - Advanced Audio CodingOGG - Ogg VorbisFLAC - Free Lossless Audio Codec1411kbpsALAC - Apple Lossless Audio CodecAIFF - Audio Interchange File FormatWAV - Waveform Audio File Format

Streaming Media

There are some special considerations when you're streaming audio to your speaker.

• iOS
• Only supports DRM-Free AAC, and MP3 formats for streaming
• AAC files can only be as high as 44100 Hz, not 48000 Hz
• Android
• Does not support streaming WMA, AIFF, or ALAC
• Internet Radio
• Only supports MP3, AAC, and WMA formats

3. Streaming Music Source

The Sonos sound system plays audio from a multitude of sources. They are grouped in the following kinds:

• Radio stations and on demand music or podcasts from online music services
• Audio files from computers, mobile devices or other networked storage

4. Check Music Service

If you're having trouble listening to a music service there are a couple things for you to try:

• Check if an outage has been reported for the music service you're using.
  To check for outages, visit:
  https://status.sonos.com/
• Attempt playing music from another online music service and compare how the music services are performing.

5. Try Again Later When Services Are Online

Try again later when the services are back up.

6. What's next?

7. Check Other Devices

Check if other devices on the same network are having the same connectivity issue. This applies to situations when:

• You are unable to connect to a Wi-Fi network:
• Try connecting to the same Wi-Fi network with other devices.
• You have no internet access or you have slow or intermittent connectivity:
• Try loading webpages, watching online videos, listening to online music or playing an online game with other devices connected to the same network, preferably through an Ethernet connection.

8. Reboot Router

To reboot a router simply unplug the power cord, make sure that all the lights went off, keep it powered off for 30 seconds then plug the power cord back in.

9. What's next?

10. Reboot Speaker

1. Unplug the power cable from your Sonos device and wait 30 seconds.
   

1. Plug the power cable back into your Sonos device. Allow up to two minutes for it to boot up and connect to the network.
   

1. Once connected to the network, the light on the top of your Sonos device should light up a solid white color.
   

11. Reboot Router

To reboot a router simply unplug the power cord, make sure that all the lights went off, keep it powered off for 30 seconds then plug the power cord back in.

12. Range Check

The device needs to be within a reasonable range of the router in order to connect and have the best connection speeds.

• In general, in most homes, you can be up to 30 feet from your router for a decent connection.
• From 30' to 50' away, the speeds will be slower, and may drop occasionally, but it should be usable.
• Greater than 50' away, and the signal will most likely be too weak to overcome interference. The speeds will be slow, and the connection may be sporadic.

The above numbers are approximates only. Optimal range may vary based on router make and model.

13. Reduce Wireless Interference

Wireless signal interference can cause performance issues such as slow or intermittent connections and even complete disconnects. This interference involves the presence of:

• Electromagnetic fields created by other electronic devices such as: Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capable devices, cordless phones, baby monitors, remote controlled toys, microwave ovens, seasonal lighting, garage door openers.
• Structural materials in walls, floors, furnishings or other large objects.

To reduce wireless signal interference, look for any of the above devices, turn them off temporarily and check if the issue persists. If it does, then:

• Consider moving the affected device or any of the other devices further from the affected device.
• Alternately, if possible, you can select different wireless channels in the devices' configuration. Consult the devices' manufacturers documentation for details on how to make those changes.

The potential of structural materials to absorb wireless signal and cause signal loss or undesired behavior is as follows:

Interference PotentialType of MaterialLowSynthetic material, wood, glassMediumBrick, marble, waterHighConcrete, plasterVery HighMetal

14. What's next?

15. Check Source Device

Ensure the computer, phone, tablet or network attached storage (NAS) device that contains the music tracks is powered on and connected to your Wi-Fi network.

16. Power cycle

If you haven't already, please try power cycling the device you're working with. To do so, simply turn it off, wait 30 seconds and turn it back on again.

17. Reboot Router

To reboot a router simply unplug the power cord, make sure that all the lights went off, keep it powered off for 30 seconds then plug the power cord back in.

18. Range Check

The device needs to be within a reasonable range of the router in order to connect and have the best connection speeds.

• In general, in most homes, you can be up to 30 feet from your router for a decent connection.
• From 30' to 50' away, the speeds will be slower, and may drop occasionally, but it should be usable.
• Greater than 50' away, and the signal will most likely be too weak to overcome interference. The speeds will be slow, and the connection may be sporadic.

The above numbers are approximates only. Optimal range may vary based on router make and model.

19. Reduce Wireless Interference

Wireless signal interference can cause performance issues such as slow or intermittent connections and even complete disconnects. This interference involves the presence of:

• Electromagnetic fields created by other electronic devices such as: Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capable devices, cordless phones, baby monitors, remote controlled toys, microwave ovens, seasonal lighting, garage door openers.
• Structural materials in walls, floors, furnishings or other large objects.

To reduce wireless signal interference, look for any of the above devices, turn them off temporarily and check if the issue persists. If it does, then:

• Consider moving the affected device or any of the other devices further from the affected device.
• Alternately, if possible, you can select different wireless channels in the devices' configuration. Consult the devices' manufacturers documentation for details on how to make those changes.

The potential of structural materials to absorb wireless signal and cause signal loss or undesired behavior is as follows:

Interference PotentialType of MaterialLowSynthetic material, wood, glassMediumBrick, marble, waterHighConcrete, plasterVery HighMetal

20. What's next?