Question

7.1 surround with Dolby Atmos, Sonos Arc, and Amp

  • 8 July 2020
  • 8 replies
  • 10786 views

Is 7.1 available with Dolby Atmos and Sonos Arc, Amp and set of One’s and sub? Is there a limit of speaker sets in a system?


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8 replies

7.1 is not possible in any configuration.  You can have a max 5.1 with the Beam, or 5.1.2 with the Arc. 

Okay. Thank you.  Is it possible to have the height speakers (reflective sound ) to be played through a Sonos Amp instead of from the Arc?

Okay. Thank you.  Is it possible to have the height speakers (reflective sound ) to be played through a Sonos Amp instead of from the Arc?

 

No, that’s not a supported setup at this time.

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Why does Sonos show 5.1 and 7.1 setups in the documentation for the Architectural series? They even reference the Amp in the instructions… 

https://www.sonos.com/pdfs/productguides/en-us/sonos_in_ceiling_by_sonance.pdf

Is this oversight or an error? Or a hint at what is to come?

The Sonos Amp can drive the Architectural series as rear/surround speakers. The Beam allows you 5.1 (Dolby Digital only, not DTS) using the Amp to drive the surrounds. The Arc allows 7.1(Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus and/or TrueHD, depending on method of connection) using the Amp as the driver for the surrounds. In both cases, other than the Sub, all other speakers are contained in the sound bar. 

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The Sonos Amp can drive the Architectural series as rear/surround speakers. The Beam allows you 5.1 (Dolby Digital only, not DTS) using the Amp to drive the surrounds. The Arc allows 7.1(Atmos via Dolby a digital Plus or TrueHD, depending on method of connection) using the Amp as the driver for the surrounds. In both cases, other than the Sub, all other speakers are contained in the sound bar. 

Hi Bruce, If this is a reply to me, it doesn’t answer my question exactly. Although you are answering in the positive of what the current systems can do and correctly describing the use of the Amp for surrounds, it doesn’t address that the Sonos documentation in the links implyy the Amp could be a part of a traditional 5.1 or 7.1 setup, using it to power separate Front Left, Center and Front Right Channels or in-wall speakers.

That documentation you’re referring to is not Sonos documentation, but instead Sonance documentation. 

Typically, SONOS does not publish a “road map”.

We don’t know if 7.1 will be a future option or not. In any case, AMP is a two channel product. Upgrading from 5.1 to 7.1 would require adding two more amplifier channels or options to incorporate SONOS powered speakers (such as ONE or FIVE) as surrounds and rear surrounds. Potentially this could be done by adding an additional AMP or by introducing a four channel amplifier product.

In theory, it would be possible to introduce products that would drive a 7.0 or 7.1 passive speaker system.