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arc ultra and sub4 - low volume when playing music through sonos app

  • February 6, 2025
  • 6 replies
  • 461 views
S

Hi recently purchased the above, although the sound through the HDMI is very good and full, I have found the quality of sound is lacking when playing music through the Sonos app.

In order or get a decent amount of sound, the vol needs to be at around 80 (my play 5 second gen) would not need this amount of vol.

The sound is also very thin sounding with little midstage

I have  spoken to tech support online, who are unable to find any issues, just tell me to fiddle about with the EQ and suggest I telephone their support.

Anyone else come across this issue and if so what was the resolution? 
 

thanks 

R
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6 replies

Stanley_4
  • Stanley_4
  • Lead Maestro
  • February 6, 2025

If this is happening while playing an Atmos track pick the same track from another album where it is only offered in stereo and see if that changes how it sounds.

I’ve hit some really bad sounding Atmos tracks recently.

Airgetlam
S
  • Stressedal
  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • February 6, 2025

It’s not. 

D
  • D4nyg
  • Contributor I
  • April 15, 2025

I’ve just replaced my beam with the arc and have found the same thing happening. HDMI sound from tv is solid. Music via Spotify via the Sonos app is nowhere near as good. Did you get this sorted?

 

thanks

R
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  • Rawjanus
  • Collaborator I
  • April 17, 2025

This could sound like the “Center channel is too high”-issue. You can read about it here. 

Basically, the Arc Ultra has a bug where the left and right speaker in the Arc is around 7 db too low compared to the center. Remember that every 6 db is a doubling of volume level. 

When you play music through the app, the center is not playing (unless you listen to atmos-music), why might be the reason everything is too low. 

You can hear it clearly on this youtube video (make sure youtube is in 5.1 mode): 

If you feel this might be the reason, you should contact Sonos and push for a fix. Right now they don’t seem very keen on fixing it. 

D
  • D4nyg
  • Contributor I
  • April 18, 2025

Thanks for this. 
 

I will have a look. 

Airgetlam
D
  • D4nyg
  • Contributor I
  • April 20, 2025

Waiting to compare to a new one my friend is getting. See if that one has the same issue. 
 

If I cast from Spotify directly to my sky q box the sound is on point. Anything going through the arc via HDMI is sounding great. As soon as I airplay via the Sonos app or any other method the sound is noticeably poorer. Convinced something is wrong. 
 

 

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