SONOS S38 Microphone Free Speaker User Guide

: June 6, 2024
: Sonos

SONOS S38 Microphone Free Speaker

OVERVIEW

THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION THAT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, information retrieval systems, or computer network without the written permission of Sonos, Inc. Sonos and all other Sonos product names and slogans are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sonos, Inc. Sonos Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. Sonos products may be protected by one or more patents. Our patent-to-product information can be found here: sonos.com/legal/patents AirPlay®, Apple Music™, FairPlay®, iPad®, iPhone®, iPod®, Tunes®, and OS X®, are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Works with Apple Airplay.
“Made for iPod”, “Made for iPhone”, and “Made for iPad” mean that an electronic accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iPod, iPhone, or iPad, respectively, and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards. Apple is not responsible for the operation of this device or its compliance with safety and regulatory standards. Please note that the use of this accessory with iPod, iPhone, or iPad may affect wireless performance. Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. Android™ is a trademark of Google, Inc. Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. Dolby, Dolby Atmos and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Amazon, Kindle, Kindle Fire, Echo, Alexa, and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Google and Google Home Mini are trademarks of Google LLC. Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. The terms HDMI and HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface, and the HDMI logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC in the United States and other countries. Sonos uses MSNTP software, which was developed by N.M. Maclaren at the University of Cambridge. © Copyright, N.M. Maclaren, 1996, 1997, 2000; © Copyright, University of Cambridge, 1996, 1997, 2000.
All other products and services mentioned may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

Getting started

Here’s what you’ll need:

WiFi—have your network name and password ready.
Mobile device—connected to the same WiFi. You’ll use this for setup.
Sonos S2 app—you’ll use it to set up and control your Sonos system—choose what to play, where to play it, and how loud. Install the app on the mobile device you’re using for setup. (If you’re upgrading from the Sonos S1 app, you can remove S1 from your device after you upgrade.)
A Sonos account—If you don’t have an account, you’ll create one during setup. Learn more about Sonos accounts.

Note: Get more information about the latest Sonos system requirements.

New to Sonos?

Download the app from the app store on your mobile device. Open the app and we’ll guide you through setup. Once your Sonos system is set up, you can use your computer to control the music, too. Get the app for your PC or Mac at www.sonos.com/support. Get more information about the latest system requirements and compatible audio formats.

Setup options

Setting up Sonos on your home WiFi is the answer for most homes. If your WiFi is slow, doesn’t reach all the rooms where you want to use Sonos, or is already in high demand you can connect a Sonos product to your router with an Ethernet cable to create a separate wireless network just for your Sonos system.
Note: Your Sonos products and the mobile device with the Sonos app need to be on the same WiFi network. You can switch between wired and wireless setup if something changes in your home. Learn more about setting up your Sonos products.

Already have Sonos?

You can easily add a new Sonos product anytime—just plug it in, open the Sonos app on your mobile device, and tap > System > Add Product.

Add a different Sonos system

Sonos allows quick and easy access to any Sonos system. When you add another Sonos system in the app, it will automatically connect as you move from one place to another so you can enjoy Sonos at home, at a friend’s, or at your vacation house without missing a beat. Learn more about connecting to an existing Sonos system in a different location.
Learn more about setting up a new Sonos system in a new location.

The speaker for stereo pairing and home theater surrounds. SONOS-S38
-Microphone-Free-Speaker-fig1

Compact design fits just about any space.
Touch controls let you adjust volume, play and pause, or skip through songs.
Pair with a Sonos One or another S38 for left-right stereo sound, or use a pair as rear surrounds for your home theater.
Works with either Sonos S2 or Sonos S1.
See Getting started when you’re ready to add a Sonos S38 to your system.

Controls and lights

Volume control| • Touch and hold to quickly change the volume:

• Volume up (right); Volume down (left).

---|---
Play/Pause| • Press once to play or pause music.

• Press and hold to add the music that’s playing in another room.

Next/Previous| • Swipe right across the touch controls to skip to the next song.

• Swipe left to go to the previous song.

Note: You can’t skip forward or go back when listening to a radio station.

Status light| Indicates the status. Learn more

Note: If you don’t want anyone (like a child) to control playback or change the volume using the speaker touch controls, you can disable them in the room’s settings.

Connector panel

Join button Press to connect during setup.

Ethernet port Use an Ethernet cable if you want to connect to a router, computer, or network-attached storage (NAS) device (optional).
AC power (mains) Use only the supplied power cord (using a third-party

input power cord will void your warranty).

Note: Insert the power cord firmly until it is flush with the bottom of the speaker.

Select a location You can put your speaker just about anywhere. Here’s a few guidelines:

Sonos S38 sounds great even when placed next to a wall or on a shelf. For best performance, leave at least 1″ (2.5 cm) space around the back of the speaker.
It’s humidity-resistant so you can use it in the bathroom.
It’s not water-resistant so don’t put it near water or leave it in the rain.

Speaker mounts and stands For wall mount kits or stands, tailored to perfectly fit your Sonos products, see Accessories on our website.

Specifications

SONOS-S38-Microphone-Free-Speaker-
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Specifications subject to change without notice.

Important Safety Information

Read these instructions.
Keep these instructions.
Heed all warnings.
Follow all instructions.
Do not use this apparatus near water.
Clean only with dry soft cloth. Household cleaners or solvents can damage the finish on your Sonos components.
Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus that produce heat.
Protect the power cable from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
Refer all servicing to Sonos qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cable or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
The Mains plug should be readily available to disconnect the equipment.
Warning: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.
Do not expose apparatus to dripping or splashing and do not place objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on the apparatus.

Note: Indoor use only, except for the connection to Base stations or Land mobile relay stations for a 5.2 GHz band high-power data communication system.
Caution: Replacement of fuses replaceable only by service personnel (refer to service documentation).
Warning to service personnel:
Caution: Double pole/neutral fusing.
Caution: Fuse may be located in the Neutral conductor due to the non- polarized plug.

Explore our products

Sonos products work together seamlessly. It’s easy to add speakers and expand your system as your home changes.

Speakers for your music The perfect wireless speaker for any room in your home. You can even stereo pair two speakers (same model) in a room—turn each one into separate left and right channels for wider, bigger, and deeper sound.

Move durable smart speaker for indoor and outdoor listening.
One: smart speaker with built-in voice control.
One SL: compact speaker to use as a stereo pair or as surrounds for your home theater.
Five: biggest home speaker with the boldest sound.
S27: portable smart speaker to take on the go.

Speakers for your TV Sonos products for your TV provide full-theater sound and play music too. Enhance your home theater experience by adding a Sub, a pair of surrounds, or both.

Arc: premium smart soundbar for TV, movies, music, gaming, and more. Place on furniture or wall mount.
Beam: smart compact soundbar, perfect for small to medium-sized rooms. Place on furniture or wall mount.
Playbase: widescreen sound and music streaming, created especially for TVs on stands or furniture. Low profile design practically disappears under your TV.
Playbar: powerful soundbar, perfect for use above or below wall-mounted TVs, or lay it flat on a table or console.
Sub: add dramatically deeper bass to any Sonos speaker, for home theater and music.

Stereo upgrades Convert existing speakers, stereos, and home theater into music streaming systems with an amplifier.

Amp: versatile amplifier for powering all your entertainment.
Port: flexible streaming component for your stereo or receiver.

Accessories Find the perfect accessory for your Sonos system on our website.

If your existing WiFi isn’t reliable enough for streaming music, you can purchase a Sonos Boost.
Wall mount kits or stands tailored to perfectly fit your Sonos products.
Turntables to bring vinyl to your Sonos system.
Cables and more.

The Sonos app Download the app on your mobile device. You’ll use it to set up and control your Sonos system. Once your system is set up, you can also download the app on your computer to control the music.

Things you can do:

Discover and play music—explore internet radio, browse and search for music.
Add music and voice services—keep your music together and add voice for touch-free play.
Sonos playlists—save songs to a playlist so you can listen to them anytime.
Play music anywhere—group rooms to send the same music everywhere, or listen to different music in each room.

Mobile app controls

SONOS-S38-Microphone-Free-Speaker-
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Note: You can skip through content by tapping or (available only with certain services).

Tap an icon to find and play music. SONOS-S38-Microphone-Free-Speaker-
fig4

My Sonos A space to save and play your favorite music and collections so you always know where to find the music you love.
Browse Browse through music services, your music library, and music on your mobile device. When you find music you like, start playing it in any room.
Rooms See what’s playing in your rooms. Group rooms to play the same music in different rooms or everywhere.
Search your music sources.
Settings Add music and voice services, set alarms, go to Help & Tips, and System Settings.

Queue controls

When you play a song, it’s automatically added to your music queue. You can control how the music plays in the queue.

Shuffle—change the song order.
Repeat—repeat all songs, or tap again to repeat the song that’s playing.
Crossfade – fades out the current song while fading in the next song to create a smooth transition between songs.
Save—save the queue as a Sonos playlist so you can listen to it again later.

When you add songs to the queue while browsing, you can choose:

Play Now
Play Next
Add to End of Queue
Replace Queue

Learn more about using the queue.

Mac/PC controls

SONOS-S38-Microphone-Free-Speaker-
fig5

Play / Pause Toggles between playing and pausing. Sonos speakers are designed to be always on; they use minimal power when there’s no audio playing.
Next / Fast Forward Jumps to the next song. Click and hold to fast forward through the current song.
Previous / Rewind Jumps to the beginning of the current song; click twice to play the previous song. Click and hold to rewind the current song.
Fast Forward 30 seconds Jumps forward 30 seconds (available only with certain services).
Rewind 30 seconds Jumps backward 30 seconds (available only with certain services).
Repeat Repeats songs in the queue. The indicator brightens when the control is activated.
Shuffle Changes the order of the songs in the queue. Turn it off to return the songs to their original playback order. If you turn it on again you get a different mix. The indicator brightens when the control is activated.
Crossfade Fades out the current song while fading in the next song to create a smooth transition between songs. The indicator brightens when the control is activated.

Rooms

Everyone in the house can listen to something different, or you can group Sonos products together to play the same music. If you have a home theater speaker, you can send the TV sound to other rooms, too.

Tap on a mobile device to see what’s playing in each room. To change what’s playing, tap a room, and choose different content from Browse, Search, or My Sonos.

Select to play the same music in more than one room.

If you’re near a speaker, press and hold the button to easily add the music from another room. If different content is playing in different rooms, just press and hold until you hear the sound you want.

Room settings

Trueplay Trueplay analyzes the surroundings in a room and then adjusts each woofer and tweeter to provide you with the best sound for that room. Learn more
EQ settings Sonos products ship with preset equalization settings. You can change the sound settings (bass, treble, balance, or loudness) to suit your personal preferences. Learn more
Room name If you move your speaker to a new room, you can change its name in your room’s settings.
Status light There’s a status light on each product. If the light is distracting, you can turn it off in your room’s settings. If it ever flashes orange, you can get more information about the LED states.
Speaker touch controls You can disable the touch control buttons on your speaker. You may want to do this to prevent a child or curious pet from accidentally adjusting playback or volume. Learn more
Set max volume You can set a maximum volume for each room. Learn more
Turn off WiFi You can turn off your speaker’s WiFi when it’s connected to your network with an Ethernet cable. This reduces power consumption and can improve connectivity for some wired speakers. For products like Amp, Connect, and Connect:Amp, turning off WiFi can reduce the internal temperature when they’re placed in a rack or stacked. Learn more
Line-In You can connect an audio device like a turntable, stereo, or MP3 player to a Play:5, Amp, Connect, or Connect:Amp and stream the audio to Sonos. Learn more

Stereo pairs

Pair two Sonos speakers in the same room for a wider, stereo experience. One speaker serves as the left channel and one serves as the right channel.
Note: The Sonos speakers in a stereo pair must be the same type. Get more information about stereo pairs.

Sonos home theater

Sonos products for your TV provide full-theater sound and play music too. Create a home theater system by adding a pair of rear surrounds and a Sub.

Arc: the premium smart soundbar for TV, movies, music, gaming, and more. Place on furniture or wall mount.
Beam: compact soundbar with Amazon Alexa voice control, perfect for small to medium-sized rooms. Place on furniture or wall mount.
Playbase: widescreen sound and music streaming, created especially for TVs on stands or furniture. Low profile design practically disappears under your TV.
Playbar: powerful soundbar, perfect for use above or below wall-mounted TVs, or lay it flat on a table or console.
Amp: versatile amplifier for powering all your entertainment.
Sub: add dramatically deeper bass to any Sonos speaker, for home theater and music.

Surround speakers

It’s easy to turn two Sonos speakers (same model) or two of your favorite non- Sonos speakers (with Amp or Connect:Amp) into separate right and left channels for your home theater. Get more information about surroundings.

Surround settings

When you add your speakers as surrounds, surround sound is optimized for your room. You can adjust these settings:

Surrounds Turn surround sound On or Off.
TV Level Adjust surround volume for TV audio.
Music Level Adjust surround volume for music.
Music Playback Ambient (subtle) or Full (louder, full range). Doesn’t apply to TV audio.
Balance Surround Speakers Manually balance your surround speakers.

Home theater settings

Use the Sonos app to adjust sound settings or change the way your home theater speaker works with your TV.

TV dialog settings If the TV audio is out of sync with the video, you can adjust the audio delay (lip sync) in your room’s settings. Learn more
TV autoplay TV Autoplay—if music or other content is playing when you turn on your TV, the audio automatically switches to TV audio (default). If you don’t want this to happen, turn off TV Autoplay in your room’s settings. Ungroup on Autoplay—if your home theater speaker is grouped with other products when you turn on the TV, it automatically drops from the group (default). If you don’t want this to happen, turn off Ungroup on Autoplay in your room’s settings.
Speech enhancement Makes TV dialog easier to hear. Learn more
Night sound Enhances quiet sounds and reduces the intensity of loud sounds. Turn on to reduce the volume while still experiencing proper balance and range. Learn more
Remote control setup During setup, you’ll program a remote control. You can program a different remote control any time. Learn more

Play music

There are lots of ways to get the music playing on Sonos—choose whichever control works best in the moment.

The Sonos app. The free Sonos app is the easiest way to play anything and everything on Sonos. Simply open the app, tap and choose from the list of music sources.
Voice commands. If you have a voice-enabled Sonos speaker, you can use your voice to play and control the music. Ask Alexa or the Google Assistant to play your favorite radio station or the top hits on Spotify.
Controls on the speaker. If you’re near a speaker, you can use the speaker controls to adjust volume, stop the music, or change the song.
Another streaming app. Control Sonos directly from a different app (like Spotify, Pandora, or Pocket Casts). Just open the app and connect to a Sonos speaker to start the music.
Airplay 2. Use AirPlay 2 to stream music, movies, podcasts, and more directly from your favorite apps to your Sonos speakers. Listen to Apple Music on your Sonos One. Watch a YouTube or Netflix video and enjoy the sound on Sonos.

When you find music you love, add it to My Sonos in the mobile app so it’s easy to play again. You can save, play, and manage your favorite music and playlists all in one place. Learn more.

Music sources

Sonos gives you easy access to all the music you love—play your favorite artist’s newest single from Spotify, your favorite playlist from your Android phone, a local news radio station, and much more.

Radio: select from more than 100,000 free internet radio stations, podcasts, and shows. Learn more
Music services: explore and manage your music services—add your own or try something new. Learn more
Stored on your mobile device: play music you’ve downloaded to your phone or tablet (Android only). Learn more
Stored on your computer: play music stored on your computer or any Network-Attached Storage (NAS) device. Learn more
Imported playlists: Sonos is compatible with iTunes playlists, as well as M3U, WPL and PLS playlist files created with third-party software. Learn more
Other audio devices: play music from a turntable or other external audio device. Learn more