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MUFC_DOWNUNDER
Trending Lyricist I
May 26, 2020
Question

Sonos Amp + third party passives

  • May 26, 2020
  • 17 replies
  • 835 views

Hello, 

Sonos rookie here.

In my new house installation I’m getting a Sonos Amp with a pair of passive third party ceiling speakers rated for 120W which are planned to be fitted in the back corners of the TV room about 2 feet from the corner. So will use the HDMI ARC for the TV obviously and will also have a Sonos wireless sub.

However my question is if I was go get a pair of Sonos ones and place them either side of the TV, would the resulting sound at least give “some” resemblance to a 5.1 setup inspite of the fact that that the rears are in the ceiling and the centre is simulated from the Amp?

I’m not an audiophile by any means but am just after a sound setup better than just the TV....

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    MUFC_DOWNUNDERAuthor
    Trending Lyricist I
    May 26, 2020

    Ok that’s good advice, last question:

    What if instead of placing the passive ceilings in the rear I place them near the front of the TV (my house it’s still under construction), and then get a pair of Ones on stands in the back corners and keep the Amp outputting stereo?

    Is that a practical solution instead of the Arc even if it’s not a “true surround” setup?

      John B
      May 26, 2020

      It's possible but I don't think I would recommend it. It would be OK for music, but imagine yourself watching the action or dialogue, but the sound is coming from way up above. I think it would be weird.

      Tbh I am not a fan of ceiling speakers at the best of times, although they are visually very discreet, but for front speakers in a HT, ...nah.

        MUFC_DOWNUNDERAuthor
        Trending Lyricist I
        May 26, 2020

        Like I said it’s not a full on HT, just a TV room with what I hope would be a better sound setup for things like gaming and sports...

        John B
        May 26, 2020

        Even so, I would not personally want my main TV audio from ceiling speakers. But it's your choice in the end.

        The Arc alone may give you all you want, but putting in ceiling speakers while you are building would do no harm

        Where would the Amp to drive them be located, if and when you installed it?

          MUFC_DOWNUNDERAuthor
          Trending Lyricist I
          May 26, 2020

          Probably inside the TV cabinet becuase I’ve got 3x HDMI ports in the wall which run cabling behind the wall and out again to sit behind the mounted TV at 5ft above ground, so no visible wires.

          I had to go ceiling becuase space is a limiting factor, room is 12ft long and 15ft wide....

           

           

          melvimbe
          melvimbe
          May 26, 2020

          If your going to use an amp for the front speakers, I would use in wall or bookshelf speakers over ceiling speakers.  It’s going to sound much better, and I’ve tried it both ways.  ceiling might be ok for sports, but will be rather bad for gaming where direction of the audio is rather important.  

           

          Is there a reason you don’t want to go with a soundbar like the Arc?  I get the space is limited, but a soundbars where made to for rooms with limited space.

          Danny
            MUFC_DOWNUNDERAuthor
            Trending Lyricist I
            May 26, 2020

            If your going to use an amp for the front speakers, I would use in wall or bookshelf speakers over ceiling speakers.  It’s going to sound much better, and I’ve tried it both ways.  ceiling might be ok for sports, but will be rather bad for gaming where direction of the audio is rather important.  

             

            Is there a reason you don’t want to go with a soundbar like the Arc?  I get the space is limited, but a soundbars where made to for rooms with limited space.

            2 reasons:

            1 - I’m after a clean look with little exposed wires and hardware 

            2 - It’s a hard argument with the mrs to make any further holes in the wall 😂

            The room will be multi-use so TV and music so any other suggestions will be welcomed....

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