Google Home Audio Group not playing on "Chromecast built-in speaker" device

[Ook]

Hi,

I have an Audio Group containing 2 Google Nest Hub devices and 1 "Chromecast built-in speaker" device, a Sony SRS X-77 speaker. This group used to work fine but I recently noticed the Sony was participating anymore. In the app it's still member of the group, but it doesn't transmit audio while the other 2 do.

When I play something directly to the Sony it works fine. I can also still configure/reach it via the Google Home app, add it to a test group etc, but once I cast to a group from whatever app, it simply doesn't join in.

When audio is played via the group and I click the Media button at the top of the iOS app, I can see the 2 other speakers playing the music but the Sony isn't present. When I hit the "Stop" link, the Sony appears!

I've tried removing/re-adding but didn't work.. Any ideas?

[Shahram]

Hi Ook,

have you found any solution? I have the same problem with my sony srs-x88.

regards

[Ook]

Hi Shahram - glad to see I'm not the only one!

I'm guessing the Google Cast protocol was updated/changed while the Sony implementation didn't. The release notes in my latest Sony firmware (Nov 2021) even say "This firmware update must be performed to keep using the Chromecast built-in music distribution service" but it seems some functionality went missing anyway..

I'll try to contact Sony but I fear they'll tell me to contact Google 🙂

In the meantime, I did notice that the Sony "Music Center" iOS app also doesn't see my SRS-X77 anymore.. When I connect it via Bluetooth, it detects it but as soon as I move out of Bluetooth range, it greys out.. Weird!

Will keep this thread posted on updates (and ofc curious to hear of other workarounds/fixes!)

[Shahram]

Hi Ook,

I've tried something right now. I remove my groups and then create a new group with my Sony Speaker. I've selected the group in Spotify und then I've added my other Google Nest speakers and it worked, but only once. Now when I select the group again, my Sony speaker offers an annoying silence. However in google home app it's like the sony joins in too
In Sony App I can still see my speaker.

Regards

[Mlabrador]

Hi all, 

Thanks for posting in the community and apologize for the late response. Let's get this sorted out. 

Do you have other Nest devices at home? If so, can you try creating another home structure, then move the Nest speaker and Sony speaker to that home structure. Then create a new speaker group and see if that would work? 

Keep me posted. 

Best, 

Nikki 

[Ook]

Thanks for the suggestions @Mlabrador and @Shahram 

Creating the new test Home didn't help but whilst recreating groups I did notice that somehow when I have only 2 devices in a group (the Sony + either my Nest Hub 2 or Google Home Speaker), all works fine! When I create a new group with 3 devices, the Sony doesn't like it anymore, but when removing one member, them group works.

Weird work-around/fix: If I play audio on 2 speakers and then add the 3rd device while audio is playing, the 3rd speaker picks things up and all 3 play again! Even when I now stop casting and reconnect, it works! Will keep an eye on things to see if this is permanent 🤞 
(if no audio is played, adding the 3rd device doesn't work..)

PS: Last week I was again troubleshooting and I noticed; the Sony also has a LAN port; as a test I connected it and then all was fine regardless of group composition.. It works every time without any issues. The workaround/fix is only needed for WiFi. For now, I'm happy things seem to be working!!

[Shahram]

I must confirm what @Ook  says about a group with 3 speakers. Even when all my speakers (Sony Chromecast built in, my Nest Audio Pair and Nest Hub) are playing from Spotify you can just see and adjust the volume of two devices in "Google Home > Media" .
Best Regards

[Ook]

But if you create a group of 2 (Sony + Hub), then cast audio to the group, and while playing add the 3rd device, does it work on all 3?

[Dan_A]

Hi everyone,

Most Google Nest speaker, display, and Chromecast devices should receive an over-the-air update to allow those devices to continue to function in speaker groups. Refer to the Cast firmware versions below for the minimum versions:

• Nest Mini, Nest Audio, Nest Wifi Point > 1.56x
• Chromecast Audio, Chromecast (2018), Chromecast Ultra, Nest Hub (1st gen), Nest Hub (2nd gen), Nest Hub Max, Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Home Max > 1.54x

Speaker groups containing non-Google speakers or Cast-based devices may not work properly in speaker groups if you don’t receive a software update. You may notice that those devices don’t play audio in a speaker group. Third-party Cast devices like soundbars with Chromecast built-in will need to be updated to Cast firmware 1.52.272222 and above.

• Note: Not all device models will receive software updates. As a result, they may no longer work in speaker groups and will need the Device Utility app to complete each setup.

Refer to the Find your device's firmware version help center article for how to find a device’s firmware version using the Google Home app.

Best,

Dan

[Ook]

Thanks for the details @Dan_A - I think this explains what's been happening. The Google devices are both at v1.56.324896 but the Sony SRS-X77 is still at 1.36.145853.. I've tried reaching out to Sony but their customer support is so hidden and tucked away behind country specific pages that I've failed to even get hold of someone. I also fear I already know what they're going to say anyway "Old device, if it worked OK before it's Google's fault, tough luck, we recommend buying our latest model".

You mentioned a Device Utility app.. is this something I could use to resolve this? Or is that a Google-device specific solution?

Quite a bummer to see products like these age that fast tbh - it still works well, I have zero need for extra functions but to see features "break" because of firmware upgrades, always feels a bit disappointing 😒

Glad to have some background and figures on this though! Thanks for the help guys! 👍

[Dan_A]

Hi folks,

It would help a lot if you could contact them about your Sony SRS-X77 firmware update. I hope they can assist you further. Also, I'm glad I was able to shed some light on this and thank you for your understanding.

Regards,

Dan

[Dan_A]

Hey there,

I wanted to follow up and see if you still need help. Please let me know if you are still having any concerns or questions from here, as I would be happy to take a closer look and assist you further.

Thanks,

Dan

[Ook]

Hi @Dan_A ,

Although I don't have a full fix/resolution yet, I do have enough for now to A) Workaround the issue and B) Contact Sony with some relevant info and numbers

I've raised a support case with them and although I don't expect too much from it, I guess it's all I can do atm..

Thanks again for your help and attention - much appreciate this level of support. To be honest, when I started the topic, I didn't have high expectations but very pleasantly surprised to get this level of attention and detail. Gotto love the Google communitiy!

Thanks again to all who have contributed! Best,

Ook

[Dan_A]

Hi Ook,

It was a pleasure helping you out and it warms the heart hearing you say that. If you have any other questions don’t hesitate to give us a shout out. You know where to find us. I'm going to mark this one as resolved and will be closing this thread after 24 hours. Please feel free to open up a new thread if you have other questions or concerns.

Kind regards,

Dan