Connect Sub to Multiple Groups?

Can’t agree more!! 

I have the HT setup as well as a BEAM and another pair of Play 1 for music. It’s not about the money for another SUB, but actually my living room is not big enough and has no additional space for it.

+1 :) I think this should be a really common requirement/setup: 

Living room:

• Beam + 2 Ones + sub for TV
• 2 Ones + Sub for music

Our TV setup including the Beam is nicely hidden in a closet when unused. This means that currently, we have to keep the Beam powered at all times and when we’re listening to music, the audio output of the Beam uselessly suffocates in the closet. Also, the current restrictions imply that we have to use the Beam for the voice assistant feature instead of one of the Ones, meaning that we have to scream our voice commands through the closet doors. 

Hello,

For me it is also difficult to understand that SONOS is not willing to implement this function. I currently also use a stereo pair Play5:2 together with a sub as a stereo system in the living room and am considering buying an Arc together with a new TV. It cannot be that this constellation should then only be feasible with two Sub.

For example, if a analogue turntable is connected to the analog input of a Play5:2, the system automatically changes the input to analogue when the turntable is activated.

It would be pretty much the same if the television is switched on while connected to a beam or an Arc. This means that the existing sub should then automatically be assigned to the Beam or to the Arc. If music is switched on again (for example with the stereo pair Play5:2), the sub should then be reassigned to the stereo pair. You rarely get the idea of ​​listening to music and watching TV in the same room at the same time.

In this case, it is not about different rooms, but about a room with two zones.

Before I put two sub in my living room, I buy a soundbar from another manufacturer together with a subwoofer for less money than an Arc without a Sub alone.

@LittleRedCorvette  Sonos doesn’t have a configuration of ‘two zones in the same room’ like you’re suggesting.  They have no way of saying you can share the sub as long as you place the sub in a room with two zones that share the same room.

So if Sonos did these, they would have to create this new type of room.  Taking your point a step further, you could allow a setup so the speakers in this room know that the 5s+sub should play music and the Arc+sub+surrounds should play TV audio...with no possibility of playing both at the same time. I would like that option personally.

But…..that would be a clear sign from Sonos that they do not think their Arc is good enough for music playback.  Not something Sonos wants to say, as they want the message to be that the Arc is great from TV and music.   It could end up turning away customers to other soundbars just as much as it gains in speaker sales.  Plus, customers will surely then insist that the two 5s be used for a wider front left/right on TV audio.  The point is that there are some side effects and unintended consequences if Sonos went in this direction that you might not be considering.

I’m not saying Sonos won’t do it or that I wouldn’t use it myself (I would actually), just not too surprised that it has not happened.

@melvimbe: the arguments are valid, except for the following two:

- A soundbar can never reproduce music as neutral as a balanced and neutral stereo pair (throwing effects around is something different ...)

- It's strange that SONOS offers turntables (of course with analog output, suitable for Play5: 2), but neither Beam nor Arc have an analog input (BTW: SONOS even offers bundles consisting of turntable and Play5:2)

Technically, those aren’t Sonos turntables, they’re made by another company. 

???

While that is perfectly true, that is not an argument. the two things have absolutely nothing to do with each other.

I'll stick with it: the ability to share a Sub for two functions (stereo or soundbar) in one room (including TruePlay) would be an absolutely desirable function. Furthermore: the implementation of this function should be feasible with acceptable effort, because the automatic switching of the source when an analog signal is applied to a Play5:2 works also quite well.

The first part quoted is a truism, but none outside of Sonos development can have a valid opinion as to the second, related to the “acceptable effort” claim.

I don’t think anyone is arguing against that.  What I’m saying is that it stands to reason that Sonos might not want to advertise that their $800 soundbar isn’t good enough for music...and you spend another $500 on a pair of Fives.  It’s about marketing rather than the technical reality.  Those that know and care can get the additional Fives, as you and other’s have done.

I don’t see why that’s strange.  It’s a multiroom audio system where the different devices have different feature sets. The Beam/Arc are also not portable, or have audio outputs.  The Five doesn’t have HDMI-ARC/eARC input and no battery.  Neither can power passive speakers like the Amp. If you want to play your turntable through a Beam or Arc, you can do that just by grouping a Five or Port room with your Beam/Arc room.

Plus one on this. Disappointing this isn’t available. I have an outdoor system that is adequate 90% of the time, I’d like to be able to grab the sub and take it outside when the need arises.