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vien
Contributor I
December 25, 2013
Answered

Creating 5.1 with non-Sonos Subwoofer

Sub disabled when Setting up SONOS CONNECT:AMP as Surround Rears Why are you disabling the subwoofer out when configuring the Connect Amp to drive non-Sonos rear speakers with a Playbar? I have a my own sub that i want to connect to the Connect Amp so that it can be driven along with the rest of the system. I do not want to buy another Sonos sub. Surely this would just be a software or firmware update that is easily achievable.
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    Chris
    ChrisAnswer
    Lead Maestro
    March 14, 2018
    It's not possible. A 5.1 system has a discrete .1 channel.

    The Connect:Amp is only able to receive a stereo signal (R/L). In this case the R/L is the right and left surround sound. There is no dedicated chanel to send to the Subwoofer.

    The original design of the Connect:Amp was not to be used in the manner of surrounds. Its original hardware takes a stereo signal. Filters it through a crossover - sending higher frequencies to left/right channel speakers and the lower range to the subwoofer output. So the subwoofer output sits between the stereo input and the speaker output (just as a normal sub would). There is no direct channel to the subwoofer just a processing of the stereo signal.

    Therefore, there is no reason to have the subwoofer active. There is no reason to filter out the low end output from the surround sound mix (as the surround sound mix doesn't have the LFE channel or really any low end to speak of).

    It is an internal hardware issue that makes it impossible for the Connect:Amp to pass a discrete LFE channel in the form of the .1 signal from a surround sound setup. It just physically is not built to do that - so no asking for it will solve the issue.

    A new Connect:Amp model designed to pass a discrete signal would be required.

    Hope this makes sense as Sonos has no way to add this ability to the current model.
    Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)
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    66 replies

    jgatie
    jgatie
    December 25, 2013
    Think about it. The Connect:Amp is only a two channel device, so it can only play stereo. Set up as rear channels, the most it can play is the very minimal bass in the two surround channels. In order to play the bass from the '.1' of the 5.1 channels (the '.1' is the dedicated subwoofer channel), the Connect:Amp would need to be a three channel device, or the Playbar would have to magically recombine the bass into the rear two channels, neither of which is possible.
    vienAuthor
    Contributor I
    December 26, 2013
    Without knowing the design of the Connect Amp I am not sure how it can confidently be said that it is impossible for the Playbar to send the rear speaker channel and subwoofer channel to the Connect Amp and have it split the signal (based on frequency) into rears and subwoofer.

    The Connect Amp has three outputs (left speaker, right speaker and subwoofer) so one way or another when it is used as an amplifier to drive two speakers and a subwoofer it is already splitting the two channel signal it receives to provide a low frequency output to the subwoofer.

    As I wrote in my OP I believe that it is possible through either a software update or maybe a firmware update for this to be done. One option would be for the Playbar to send the combined signal (rear speakers and subwoofer) and have the Connect Amp split it. Given that Sonos have already once before modified the Connect Amp to drive the rear speakers in a 5.1 setup, which is not what the Connect Amp was originally designed for, I'd like to think that that my OP is the realms of doable.
    aleks
    Trending Lyricist I
    December 26, 2013
    Sonos customer help states the following regarding using a Connect Amp to drive non-Sonos surround rear speakers: https://sonos.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2248 Sonos technical support advised the following to me in an email: "We do not support third party SUB in a Sonos 5.1 setup - My recommendation is that you actually put this up as a feature request to show our product developers that there are a demand for this. " So it looks like this is possible. It just needs support from end users and Sonos may implement it.
    Todd_30
    Trending Lyricist I
    December 29, 2013
    This was all VERY unclear when I bought my amp and now it's past the 30 day return policy of Amazon. I really want to just return ALL my sonos gear. While it sound great I'm not at all happy with the pain in the ass that it's been to connect into my current speakers and sub only to have it not even work. Screw it.
      aleks
      Trending Lyricist I
      December 29, 2013
      This was all VERY unclear when I bought my amp and now it's past the 30 day return policy of Amazon. I really want to just return ALL my sonos gear. While it sound great I'm not at all happy with the pain in the ass that it's been to connect into my current speakers and sub only to have it not even work. Screw it.
      You can get the rear speakers to work just fine its only the subwoofer that does not currently work. I agree with you that based on all of the Sonos advertising/perception that you'd think it would all be easier to deal with especially when it comes to DTS which unbelievably is still not supported.
      Todd_30
      Trending Lyricist I
      December 29, 2013
      This was all VERY unclear when I bought my amp and now it's past the 30 day return policy of Amazon. I really want to just return ALL my sonos gear. While it sound great I'm not at all happy with the pain in the ass that it's been to connect into my current speakers and sub only to have it not even work. Screw it.
      yep - rears work fine. If I'd known this was all I'd get I'd have bought 2 Play 1s and saved some money. This is ridiculous. If they're not updating this soon it's all going on Craigslist most likely. Onkyo and bluetooth gets me almost back to where I am now and it'll blow my roof off.
      RaymonB
      Lyricist III
      January 28, 2014
      Supported!!
      drvass
      Lyricist III
      February 10, 2014
      asperableedy - please ellaborate on your comment?  are you saying that sub out is now enabled on the connect amp when paired w/ the playbar?  was close to buying playbar and amp to implement like this but came across this thread/issue so will not pull trigger or buy any sonos product until its enabled.  sonos team, please reply something 'official' on this matter. thanks!
      vkewalra
      Lyricist I
      March 17, 2014
      I'm interested in this as well. It's definitely a cheaper and more flexible solution to buy a connect:amp, two speakers and a subwoofer than two play1s and the sonos sub. 
      pete_41
      Enthusiast I
      March 18, 2014
      asperableedy - please ellaborate on your comment?  are you saying that sub out is now enabled on the connect amp when paired w/ the playbar?  was close to buying playbar and amp to implement like this but came across this thread/issue so will not pull trigger or buy any sonos product until its enabled.  sonos team, please reply something 'official' on this matter. thanks!
      Pretty sure you still can't use a 3rd party sub while he connect amp is paired with playbar to act as rears. A buddy of mine has this setup and he couldn't use his sub a week ago. The sonos sub is pretty awesome though, hits so smooth
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