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Jeffrey_35
Headliner III
May 12, 2020 1:32 PM UTC
Question

Arc & Amp with Existing Rear, Sub Speaker Setup

I am wondering if I can purchase an Arc and then an Amp for my existing non-Sonos rear ceiling speakers and Sub. Would I still be able to get Dolby Atmos or what would be possible. Given I am also looking for a new 65” tv that is eARC compatible. So confusing. I wish Sonos would have a simple chart that maps possibilities.

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11 replies

May 12, 2020 1:37 PM UTC

That would be fine. The Amp with third party speakers is a standard surround option with all Sonos HT products.

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jgatie
May 12, 2020 1:39 PM UTC

I am wondering if I can purchase an Arc and then an Amp for my existing non-Sonos rear ceiling speakers and Sub. Would I still be able to get Dolby Atmos or what would be possible. Given I am also looking for a new 65” tv that is eARC compatible. So confusing. I wish Sonos would have a simple chart that maps possibilities.

 

The Amp can power rear surround speakers with the Arc as fronts, however the subwoofer output on the Amp is disabled when used as surrounds.  

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Jeffrey_35
Headliner III
May 12, 2020 1:48 PM UTC

The Amp can power rear surround speakers with the Arc as fronts, however the subwoofer output on the Amp is disabled when used as surrounds.  

 

So, then I would have to purchase a Sub as well and could only use my rear ceilings?

Or, am I better off with just two Amps, one to power my current front non-Sonos speakers/sub and one for the rear. With that configuration I am unable to get anything more than Surround, correct? No Dolby anything regardless of the tv that I go with?

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“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”
jgatie
May 12, 2020 1:53 PM UTC

 

So, then I would have to purchase a Sub as well and could only use my rear ceilings?

Or, am I better off with just two Amps, one to power my current front non-Sonos speakers/sub and one for the rear. With that configuration I am unable to get anything more than Surround, correct? No Dolby anything regardless of the tv that I go with?

 

Dolby Digital is surround, and you would get standard Dolby Digital 5.1 (no Atmos) with that setup. It would be 5.1 through 4.1 with a phantom center. 

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AjTrek1
May 12, 2020 2:17 PM UTC

To enjoy your new TV investment with eARC I’d purchase the Sonos Arc, Sub and Amp to power your in-ceiling speakers as surrounds.  However, I’d wait until the Arc is officially shipped B4 purchasing the Sub and Amp in order to take full advantage of the Sonos 45 day return policy; if purchasing direct.

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Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.
May 12, 2020 3:17 PM UTC

I am wondering if I can purchase an Arc and then an Amp for my existing non-Sonos rear ceiling speakers and Sub. 

To clarify my earlier response, I took the 'non-Sonos' to apply only to the surrounds, and the Sub to be a Sonos Sub (because capitalised and no 'woofer'). @jgatie  is of course correct that a non-Sonos subwoofer cannot be used with an Amp powering Sonos surround speakers. 

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Contributor I
Jun 13, 2020 7:29 AM UTC

Is there anyway of toggling the amp between surround speakers for arc and then ( using same speakers to another virus room for playing music - im preferring my Hugh end ceiling speakers for when I play music only. I can move the sub easier enough from room to room but it gets me to reset the Sonos Alp each time try to move it to a new room not to mentioning having to tune the surround every time I add it back to the arc as surrounds...alternately can u mute the arc speaker itself and have only music through surrounds …

 

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106rallye
Jun 13, 2020 10:12 AM UTC

There’s no easy switch within Sonos for devices from surround to separate or stereo operation. For this a new set up is required. 

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Contributor I
Jun 13, 2020 10:52 AM UTC

Understood doesn’t make sense though - one hopes it’s fixed in future - simply need to be able to save surround settings and move Sonos amp to another room.  Sonos is better than this

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106rallye
Jun 13, 2020 12:07 PM UTC

With exceptionof the aptly named Move, Sonos speakers are not meant to be moved.

For Sonos multiroom audio means a speaker in every room.

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