Skip to main content
Answered

Sonos Arc with 3rd party subwoofer

  • June 19, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 1750 views

Looking to purchase an Arc but have a good 3rd party subwoofer with my existing system. Rather than buying a Sonos Sub, wondering if I can purchase a Sonos Connect:Amp and connect the subwoofer to that and create a grouped system?

Best answer by ratty

It wouldn’t work well. For TV sound there is a timing offset between grouped players and the Arc (or any other Sonos home theatre player). 

On screen the gun would fire, the crack would come from the Arc, then a split second later the boom would emerge from the sub.

Also, keeping the volume levels in step would be awkward. A TV remote would only affect the Arc. You would have to keep a Sonos controller app to hand.

Further, the Arc wouldn’t apply a crossover to direct the lower frequencies to your sub. It would still try and reproduce the full range itself, including the LFE/.1 channel.

Not a good idea at all. 

This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

2 replies

ratty
  • Answer
  • June 19, 2020

It wouldn’t work well. For TV sound there is a timing offset between grouped players and the Arc (or any other Sonos home theatre player). 

On screen the gun would fire, the crack would come from the Arc, then a split second later the boom would emerge from the sub.

Also, keeping the volume levels in step would be awkward. A TV remote would only affect the Arc. You would have to keep a Sonos controller app to hand.

Further, the Arc wouldn’t apply a crossover to direct the lower frequencies to your sub. It would still try and reproduce the full range itself, including the LFE/.1 channel.

Not a good idea at all. 


  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • June 19, 2020

Thanks and duly noted!