Home theater

I am a Sonos Dealer and Pro AV installer - We have been running into many installations that call for a Sonos Amp powering wired speakers in a Family room Setting. Normally we run an HDMI from the TV ARC Channel to the Sonos AMP HDMI input. Works perfectly and an easy Customer experience using their Providers remote. We have had issues dealing with installations that only have a CAT 5-6 cable running from the TV to an equipment closet where the Sonos AMP will be located. We have tried many HDMI Baluns to get the ARC channel to the AMP with limited success. I have finally found a Balun that passes ARC perfectly and reliably. We used the Vanco EVEXARC unit. This is an FYI since I had trouble finding a product that worked properly. If you are a Dealer and your supplier carries Vanco it is pretty affordable for a specialty Balun. I am sure there may be other Baluns that work but I have stopped looking. Happy Installing !!

Hi Everyone, I just received my Sonos ARC soundbar and subwoofer.  I installed the system last night and configured my TV, streaming services, and NAS based music library.  Each of these input types have different volume profiles.  Streaming services (amazon, spotify, pandora) all output volume consistent to what I am used to with my Play 5 (Gen 1 - not installed in this house).  The MP3 music library is lower in volume and the TV is even lower in volume.   I would think that I would not have to have the TV at 75% volume to get room-level listening.  Same thing with the MP3 library- 80% starts to get the volume a bit loud.  If I switch over to the streaming services, at 80%, the volume is very loud. I am not seeing anything in the support forum related to the ARC (some playbar optical info notes this).  My TV is hooked up via HDMI Arc and the ARC communication is set to PCM (bitstream is the other option).   Any advice is greatly appreciated.  Thanks.  

For privacy concerns, How do i turn of the microphones on my system? I have 4 Sonos One and one Sonos Beam and Sonos AMP. Cant find the feature in the app.

I’ve been tasked with installing a Sonos Home Theater setup in a room with three glass walls. The client has a projector mounted on the back wall (the solid wall) and a drop down projection screen on the center glass wall. I’ve been asked to design a system that will minimally impact the views when the screen is not in use. On top of those challenges, there is not an easy way to snake cable from the back of the room to the front, which is why I’m hoping a wireless Sonos system might be a good fit.    What I’d like to do is the following:   -Sonos AMP in the back of the room receives audio from an AppleTV (either HDMI or optical)  -AMP powers two passive rear surround speakers -Two ONEs on floor stands in the front of the room for front L&R (and phantom center?) wirelessly receiving audio from the AMP -A SUB wirelessly receiving audio from the amp     Would this work? It seems SHT isn’t designed for projection setups where the video source is in the rear of the room instead

Hi I’ve an old tv so have to use the optical adapter to connect my beam. The issue is the beam and the tv plays sound. So it’s creating an echo. How do I turn off the sound on my tv 

Hi Just unsure on audio settings on my ps4, I will have a sonos ARC soon and unsure what I should be setting in the ps4 audio settings I have LG CX.   Should I leave it on linear PCM or bitstream dolby?   Thanks

I am streaming both Netflix and Disney+ via the android app available with the Sony TV and output the audio via the Arc. The system recognise Dolby Atmos contents from Netflix and working fine but not with Disney+ where it is only output as 5.1 What is the issue? How can I setup or make Disney+ stream atmos as well. Btw I’m in Australia. Thanks.

Hey all,  So maybe this is a stupid question but I'm new to Soundbars. The arc has 11 drivers, but when listening to music I always only her the center ones and the ones on the sides.  I basically never hear the front facing ones left and right from the center ones. (Even with movies) With Atmos content I at least also hear the upward facing drivers at specific scenes (I assume they are not supposed to always play) So of course I can only hear it with my ear right next to the drivers, but I was just curious and I can never seem to hear sound from the Left and right front facing ones, only the center ones.  What's up with that, is this normal or is my unit damaged? Thanks in advance!

I’m trying to understand a bit more of how the Trueplay works, and how to get the best out of it, especially in a Sonos home theatre or multi speaker setup with Sub. When scanning a room, do I scan just the areas my ‘ears’ will be , and focus where my ears will be most of the time, ie around the sofa? I’m assume Trueplay does not need to ‘hear’ sounds where my ears won’t be, eg in the corner of a room, above a table, etc. Also, will Trueplay be improved using an external Microphone? I’m sure an external microphone would be better quality than the small built in microphone in an iPhone, but would it improve the Trueplay process?  

Hello I am trying to get a Diagram or Instructions for the best way to Use my ARC with my setup. I have the LG OledB8 and I know HDMI2 Has The return Chan. I Currently have my Fire TV Cube in one HDMI port and my Tivo 4k Bolt in Another. I watch Mostly all movies via Kodi on my Cube. What is the Optimum Config? for everything to use the ARC for Audio and at a Minimum to Play the best I can using the Fire Cube. I understand from what I have read I might not get Dolby Atomos due to the software in my B8. I hope they fix that.   Thanks  

Opinions sought. I am going to upgrade from my Beam to an Arc. I am concerned that using the Arc in current position of the Beam will essentially undermine getting the best from the Arc. (I am unlikely to change the current layout in the near future) Currently the Beam is mounted under my TV on the wall. The TV is a little deeper along with the  wall mount (than usual) and the screen face is about 12 cm out from wall. The Beam sits about 18 cm below the TV. To complicate things further, above the TV/Beam location is a recessed ceiling light (see attached image). So you have the ceiling, but also an oblong “well” 45 cm’s deep starting 70 cm from the vertical wall (window is 1m wide x 1.5m long). The ceiling would be 1.7m from the top of the Arc if it is located where the Beam currently is.   If I place the Arc here with these non ideal room elements, am i basically hobbling the arc’s acoustics (& dolby atmos). Or am I over-worrying?  Thanks   David

I plan on mounting my TV and placing the Arc on my entertainment center, which is 53 centimeters. I know Sonos has stated a minimum distance 10 centimeters but is there a maximum distance the arc can be placed under the television set?  How high can my TV be mounted without distorting the audio from the arc? 

I have 20 days left to return my Arc and continue to hear harshness in the treble, lack of midrange, and the unpleasant subtleties when listening to music over movies.  With all of the comments, posts, and quotes from the community … there are issues with Arc, hardware and/or software related, with or without the Sub, software update 12.1 and/or Trueplay with or without an older iPhone.  Houston we have a problem. I’m interested hearing from Arc owners who are enjoying their purchase.  Owners who have either owned a Playbar or Playbase in the past.  Maybe I’m crazy or I truly have a defective unit that needs replacement.  I’m looking for a sign of hope that will keep me from flat out returning my Arc thus severing the head of my Sonos ecosystem. For owners happy with their Arc … where you at??    

Hi! I have the Playbar and it works great, since the Arc came out I’ve been thinking on making the upgrade. My concern is that my tv is mounted on a custom designed shelve, and the Playbar is under it I another enclosed shelve, with a “roof”. And the way Atmos work it may not in this configuration? I’m attaching a photo so you can see what I mean. Thanks!    

I have just purchased new Sonos arc soundbar. The dialogue appears a little harsh at times. Is this normal?    

I’m not sure why is says on the website up to 49 inches for TV for the Beam?

Hi All First post here. I have a new Sony Bravia and just purchased a Beam for a bit extra depth which it very good at. However there is a small but noticeable Sync issue between Lip Movement and Sound output. Im using the ARC port on the Sony, Sound output is Dolby 5.1. I have found the Sync option in the Sonos App (which was on 0) however moving it upwards makes the effect significantly worse. I've turned off the Sony “ClearAudio+” Option which i think has helped a little. I cant find any other option to set \ Modify. I am using the supplied HDMI cable would a better cable help..? The Sonos App needs a Negative setting for Sync which it currently dosnt have this would sort it out. There seem to be an awfull lot of complaints and posts about this issue are Sonos listening to us all is anything being done... ?? Thoughts Paul

Beam setup for volume control by bell Fibe remote worked fine, now doesn’t. Remote setup says a remote is already configured. If I try to set up a different remote the beam can’t detect the button push. Help?

I’m interested in buying an Arc but have a bit of an odd shaped room.  Starring at the tv, it has the following characteristics:  To the left, a wall  To the right, a 1.5ft lip beyond which is our open-to-above staircase  Behind the couch (facing the tv) is 50% half-wall with a pillar, and the balance is open to the kitchen  Ceiling- normal 9ft ceilings This is obviously not ideal for virtual surround- but would it eliminate all surround and Atmos functionality?  Also, sound traveling in the direction of the staircase tends to amplify and become louder upstairs (see point 2)- would the side firing speakers contribute to this a great deal?  or would Sonos true play sense the lack of wall here (and behind the couch) and adjust accordingly?  Would it still be worth purchasing?   Thanks, Zab  

I got my Arc yesterday. Connected via HDMI ARC and no passthrough at all from LG C6 TV of anything other than DD5.1. Not entirely unexpected but really disappointing nonetheless. I have to say though even 5.1 sounds fantastic compared to my old Playbase. I tried the secondary HDMI Audio only out from my Oppo player and get no audio from this (nixing at least one cunning plan). As others have said the Arc needs the handshaking that HDMI ARC does and not just a HDMI out. I have lots of HiRes sources capable of putting out Dolby Atmos but the Arc will only take a signal via my TV which is the bottleneck. I am not replacing the TV anytime soon so I have to hope the LPCM update might give me access to some of what the Arc can really do. Till then - it’s giving me some of the best 5.1 I’ve heard in a long time...

Is it worth replacing my playbase for the arc??? All my sound goes though 2 optical leeds ( xbox 1 & sky q box)  Cheers 👍👍

I have been unable to get my Tivo Bolt remote to control my Sonos Arc volume/mute functions.  I have unsuccessfully tried solutions for the Playbar.  Any help would be welcomed.  Thank you.

Hi, I have purchased at SONOS ARC to compliment my LG OLED55CX to make the most of its Dolby Atmos ability. Unfortunately the ARC will obscure the bottom (2” approx) of the TV screen. I am after recommendations for a desktop stand (VESA 300 x 200) I can purchase to overcome this problem. Hopefully someone in the community can help. Thanks in advance.

Can Sonos please consider introducing an option to switch off CEC? I prefer to control the volume via simple IR (infrared) rather then using CEC which does not alway work well between different brands. E.g. using the mute button sometimes result in showing the mute logo on the tv screen even when mute is off and sound is playing.   

I've recently purchased a SONOS Beam and I'd like to add a couple of SONOS Ones to the mix for surround sound for watching movies and playing games etc. I'd ideally like to place the speakers in the top corners of my room (see circles marked in pic)  Anyone have any thoughts?  I obviously want a good sound but I'm unsure as to whether placing the speakers here will have any negative impact.  Audiophiles assemble!