Contributor I

Disappointing sound quality

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Hi,

I just purchased a PlayBase, a sub and two Play:1s. The sub hasn't arrived yet. I'm moving from a Sony 5.1 system which always sounded really nice but I wanted the connectivity afforded by the Sonos system. I'd heard a friends set up using the SoundBar though and it was great, hence buying a set myself. I was shocked by the sound quality of my system. It has loud, explosive sibilants and boxy sounding middle. Voices also sound far away, like they're in a large hall. There's no way I'd live with this if this is the final sound output. I'm wondering if the sound quality of each individual unit in a theatre set up will be changed when the sub finally arrives. At the moment, I'm for sending it all back to Curry's. Could any experienced hands put my mind at rest or suggest system adjustments?

Thanks.

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Ken_Griffiths

I think Mike's correct here, the ambient/full toggle, is for music playback only. (See Screenshot)

There is a setting on the 'now playing' screen 'for TV audio only', called Night Mode, I’m just wondering if that is 'on' and might be affecting your Sub output during stereo PCM output.

I’m sure you will have noticed the 'speech enhancement' setting too on the 'now playing' screen.. I find that quite useful for some programmes.

I too would like to see a more advanced EQ, or even a few Music/TV Audio presets to cater for different user needs, whilst still keeping the interface reasonably minimal, or without too much complexity. I don’t see the point in wasting 'developer' costs on controls that are often rarely used by the majority.

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Craig100Author

Contributor I

Speech enhancement is off and night mode is off. I'm finding I have to switch the Surrounds from Ambient to Full every time I want to play music from my private library AND the sub STILL isn't being used for that even. It's as if using the SoundBar as the system controller makes everything behave like it's just a TV. I'd expect the system to revert to a normal hi fi set up where the sub takes everything below a certain frequency. TBH I'm still not 100% happy. Maybe there's a way to group the Play:1s and the Sub together for playing music. This really is too difficult, and I'm an electronics engineer! I just want to play music, watch TV and have nice sound. I don't want to have to spend weeks setting it up. This system may yet end up packed in it's boxes.

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Ken_Griffiths

That’s strange, that the sub is not working even when you are playing music from your own library? I would get your friend over who has the Sonos PlayBar and see what they think about it. It maybe worth getting their second opinion and see what suggestions they may have.

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Craig100Author

Contributor I

So after a day of A/B testing and faffing about with settings the decision is made. They're going back. As it turns out the sub is working on TV music, however, can't get rid of huge resonances (even with the Sub turned down), missing upper bass guitar notes, still uncomfortable sibilants (though not as bad as they were) and a boxy middle. Together with having to reset the system between TV, Music and Films. I'll just have to throw myself on the mercy of Curry's returns dept.

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Ken_Griffiths

You could always maybe look to exchange just the PlayBase with the PlayBar and have the same as your friends setup, which you say sounded great to you. If you have the room to do that of course... maybe that’s one compromise, if your supplier Curry’s prove to be difficult to deal with.

Anyhow all the best. Hope you get the outcome you are seeking.

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