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Discuss Ray, Beam, Arc, Arc Ultra, Playbar, Playbase, and the entire Sonos home theater experience. Should you get a Sub Mini or a Sub? Maybe two Subs? Which Sonos work with your TV? Talk about your Sonos Home Theater experience here.

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Understanding Surround Sound and Sonos

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Ryan S
Ryan S
started this topic

Home Theater and Television Recommendation Megathread

Moderator note:  This article was updated in December 2024. Looking for information on Sonos home theater setups? Find answers about surroun...
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6742 Topics
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mikegtContributor II
asked in Home theater
Newbie Arc questions - test/setup videos and pairing with Ones?

HI, I’d appreciate a little advice/guidance with my newly installed Arc…  Is there a ‘test’ video or similar that can be streamed to verify the setup, let you change the ‘height’ and asses the differences, etc?  I intend to pair it with two Sonos One SLs - I appreciate that I wont get the same sound quality as using Era 100s but is this still a valid pairing?Thanks in advanceCheers! mike

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Ken_Griffiths
1 year ago
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zmann7Contributor I
asked in Home theater
What is the proper way of connecting to the TV using Amp (2 ceiling speakers) + Arc.

As the title states, I have a new Samsung TV that is currently connected to the AMP via a HDMI cable.  The AMP has 2 ceiling speakers connected via Speaker wire. The Arc is wirelessly connected to the Amp.  There is a slight audio delay, so I ended up turning down the AMP (Ceiling speakers) and mainly used the Arc.There is a SVS Sub that is directly connected to the AMP as well. Should I connect the ARC directly to the TV?  Then somehow integrate the AMP as surrounds? Thanks 

357015
Stanley_4
1 year ago
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JigContributor I
posted in Home theater
Soundbar with bluetooth output?

Hi, I'm looking for a soundbar that will allow me to listen to it via bluetooth headphones, does such a thing exist? (I don't want to play music through the soundbar,  I want to listen to the TV via bluetooth headphones)) 

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ratty
1 year ago
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AndresWContributor I
asked in Home theater
Sonos soundbars - can we expect to have soon a device with 4k passthrough?

hi all!First of all, I’m new to the Sonos community. Love the Sonos Ones I have in some rooms, great sound and (user) experience overall.Its a bit of a pitty to understand that the soundbars are not offering so far video passthrough, which is required to extend the compatibility to budget “friendlier” 4K projectors.Is there any hope to see a soundbar adding a video passthrough? (its a shame to read suggestions to buy a splitter no matter which brand - it just adds another device and more cabling which is not nice).Overall - there is a huge community of “home cinema enthusiast” that is left behind with this. thks in advance,Andres.

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1 year ago
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brantleyattawayContributor I
asked in Home theater
home surround

I have a Sub Gen 2. I want to purchase the arc and era 300s. Will this be compatible and a 7.1 experience?

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B
1 year ago
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Frank DContributor I
posted in Home theater
Future Sonos System Expandability

Would it make sense to have the Sonos app and necessary hardware licensed for TVs?  I am not talking about entry level TVs but higher mid to high end product lines for the manufacturers.  I envision a Sonos system where the consumer doesn’t want a soundbar or surround system but does wan’t to have better sound from their display source.  Maybe keep the Sonos OneSL as an entry level speaker.  I could see someone wanting to here the content from what is on the TV out doors where they have a Sonos amp with Sonance or other speaker set up and not have the sound playing through the soundbar in a room without any listeners.  I know the port does this job, but I am looking at way to minimize the hardware foot print in the home.  

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Airgetlam
1 year ago
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PilerouxContributor I
asked in Home theater
Sonos Arc + LG TV won’t let me use my headphones or tv speaker anymore

Context: Sonos Arc+sub+2xEra300 connected to a LG OLED C2. I want to keep my system compatible with Dolby Atmos as I paid big$ for it.Two simple use cases give no good result:It’s late, i want to use my Bluetooth headphones on my TV so that I don’t wake up everyone while playing my favorite PlayStation 5 game. We have a party, the kid wants to play Mario Kart on the TV. She wants the TV to play the audio from the game through the TV speakers while we still play our playlist during the party on the pleasantly loud Sonos Arc+sub+2xEra300And I don’t want to physically unplug the Sonos Arc each time I am in those two situation, as the cables are hidden in the wall.I sincerely believe I am not asking for something way out of the ordinary.But in both cases, the audio output of the TV switches back automatically to the Sonos Arc which is incredibly frustrating.Looking for a satisfactory workaround from the community. Plugging a “CEC Less” give no good result at this time (no more audio). I wo

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1 year ago
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MouettesAvid Contributor I
asked in Home theater
using an hdmi splitter

Hi. Just linked my new Beam to existing sub and play:1s and get great sound from the TV via the Sonos surround sound set up. I also want to link my blu ray player and freesat top box to my Tv and listen to them via my Sonos speakers but only have 1 hdmi cable into the Tv so thought I could use an hdmi splitter to switch between sources. Am I correct and if so what features of a splitter do I need to look for. Thanks

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1 year ago
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JohnLunaGGContributor I
asked in Home theater
LG C2 and Sonos Beam 2 doesnt play dolby atmos even when setting on earc and pass through

I’ve been trying to set my lg c2 and my Sonos beam 2 to get Dolby atmos but all I had was Dolby Multichannel PCM 2.0.I realize that some have problems with it but they solve it by changing by changing the options below. Note: I’m using Apple Music (Dolby atmos works fine when using through the Sonos app but isn’t on LG anyone else have the same problem?  

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1 year ago
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kirasallypipContributor I
posted in Home theater
Sonos Arc lip sync issues.

Hi I’ve got the new Sonos arc and it’s connected to my Samsung Q90R tv via the arc HDMI, my TV viewing is with Sky Q 2tb box. I’m getting lip sync issues being slightly out, I have adjusted the audio settings to zero on my sky box TV and Sonos app but still no joy. I had the playbar before with no problems any help pleased.  

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1 year ago
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ToweringSpeakerContributor I
posted in Home theater
ERA 300 Rear Surround Placement (Couch against Wall)

Hey all, Right now I have a beam gen 2, sub gen 3 and two Sonos ones in the home theater setup. I've got to balance my desires for good audio with my wife's desire for room aesthetics, so stands and wall mounts are not an option. Our couch is against the wall and that isn't something that can change.I'm considering getting new Era 300s to replace my Sonos One surrounds. Because our couch is pushed right up against the wall, so currently I have the surrounds sitting on matching shelves that are on either side of the couch, pointing at the listener on the couch. I've used airplay to try make up for the fact the speakers are not behind the listener.On top of the shelves for the 300s is where I would put them. There would be the clearance above the speaker required with a straight line to the ceiling, and they would be clear on either side of pointing straight away from the wallIf I got era 300s, which way would be best to position them? If I point them at the listener, the side firing dri

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1 year ago
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DSparContributor I
asked in Home theater
bizarre sound cutout on Arc SL

We have had an Arc SL for several months. Once it got warmer, and our central AC unit started kicking on, we noticed that the sound would cut out any time the AC came on. Facts from testing: source doesn’t matter; TV, appleTV, AirPlay from phones, even if that’s all off and Sonos Radio is playing. If the AC kicks on, the if the TV is on we see the volume drop to 0. Wait 10-15 seconds, and we can turn it back up. If airplay, the audio stops and it looks like it’s disconnected from the source. If Sonos radio, the song just stops and volume has dropped.    We thought it might be a signal from the central AC (ie wireless signal/interference from the thermostat), but we had the whole unit and thermostat replaced 3 days ago (yay for AC breaking in the middle of the summer) and it’s still happening, even with the new old-school wired thermostat.    I’ve connected the Sonos power to an external battery, and it happens with that, too (ie isn’t subject to power surge from the AC). thoughts?

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Stanley_4
1 year ago
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hmidontgetitContributor I
asked in Home theater
Blueray player that will allow me to play bluerays with my playbase

Hi all,I am running a playbase with 2 1s as surround with a mid-tier 4 year old Samsung tv. I’d love to be able to watch bluerays and dvds on my setup, but in the past it has seemed to be impossible to do.Does anyone know of a blueray player that would allow me to do this? Ideally I’d be able to watch with DTS or DD, but really anything that would give me DD or something resembling surround sound when I do it would do.Thanks

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1 year ago
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Jim davies walesContributor I
asked in Home theater
beam gen 1

I have a broken beam gen1 Sonos have agreed to replace.  Will they replace with a gen 2?

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J
1 year ago
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NicocoContributor I
posted in Home theater
connection ARC et videoprojecteur

Bonjour - le sujet a deja été adressé mais j’aimerai avoir votre avis sur la connectivité entre la barre de son ARC et un video projecteur en provenant de Chine (Fengmi 2C) disposant des prises suivantes : 3 prises HDMI dont 1 ARC (et non eARC) configurables en 1.4 ou 2.0, 1 prise USB 3.0, 1 entrée réseau, 2 prises audio (IN et OUT) et une Spdif. ca devrait fonctionner? merci par avance pour vos retours- nicolas

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1 year ago
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Minetot619Contributor II
asked in Home theater
Sonos beam 2 games sound bad xbox series x.

I have an LG C1 with an Earc port. I have all setting set up how google searches say.Game sounds are not playing properly apart from in dolby digital.Example the witcher 3 i have 100s of hours on multiple platforms played i know how the game is ment to sound. With the beam 2 using 5.1 uncompressed all the ambient sounds are very hard to hear this is the same in atmos to.I even sent the beam 2 in for replacement. They sent me a new 1 same problem.Please understand I am not talking about sound quality the beam sounds great using lg tv apps but games other than in dolby digital sound dead.Atmospheric sounds like weather effects rain etc and the wind the hussle and bussle are almost inaudible.Tried Cyberpunk 2077 night city in any setting other than DD sounds empty you can hear cars driving and honking and music not much else even on a crowded street.Hogwarts legacy the great hall filled with students you can hardly hear it unless its on DD but the problem with DD is its compressed and not

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1 year ago
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bmowery1013Contributor II
posted in Home theater
Blu-ray player downscaling?

Hey everyone,I just upgraded my blu-ray player to the Panasonic UB-420 with the twin HDMI ports.  I had the 150 and was able to get Dolby Atmos, but for some reason I can’t get it now and it seems the sound is being downscaled.  I have an LG UN9000 tv, and no settings on that have changed, and the Beam (gen 2) is connected to the eArc with the pass-through setting on the tv.  Does anyone know the settings i need from the blu-ray player and which port the audio HDMI cable should be in to get Dolby Atmos/Digital and multichannel PCM sound like I had with the previous player?  Any assistance appreciated. Thanks, 

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1 year ago
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DiBiPittsburghContributor I
posted in Home theater
Sunbrite TV to Sonos Amp Cuts Out

Installed a new Sonos Amp (sitting indoors) wired to celling Sonos speakers over enclosed patio.  The Sonos is connected with an HDMI cable from an outdoor Sunbrite TV arc port.  The sound cuts out randomly for about 30 seconds while the video continues to play then the sound resumes.  The video sources have been Verizon FIOS One box, an Apple TV latest gen and a Nintendo Switch.  I replaced the HDMI cable from the TV to the Sonos and still having the same issue.  I also replaced the HDMI cable from the source boxes to the TV.  I’ve tried various sound settings between the source and TV.Note that music streaming never cuts out.I have Verizon Gig internet speed.Suggestions?

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1 year ago
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CathairContributor I
posted in Home theater
Home theater question

My set up as follows:Older TVRoku Ultimate boxBeam gen 2 connected to tv2x SL Gen 2 Speakers set up as stereo pair.2x SL Gen 2 Speakers set up as surround sound.Please note I am a beginner in theater set up...My questions.The surround speakers located behind the couch at head height does not seem as loud as I thought they would be, are there anything else I should do? I increased the volume on the surround but I dont know if this setting will stay that way or will I need to increase the volume every time I watch tv?Regarding the stereo pair, should I have them placed next to the beam? They are currently about 2 feet removed from the beam, left and right. I made a grouping of the stereo pair and the surround. However when I listen to music on my other Sonos speakers, not including the stereo pair and then watch TV, I need to manually include them in the tv sound, am I doing something wrong? Any other tips to make the experience great? I will buy a Sub later when my budget allows it. 

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melvimbe
1 year ago
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rooteeContributor I
posted in Home theater
Night Mode & Speech Enhancement Control via Harmony 700 (or any IR remote)

Is there really no way to toggle the Beam (gen 2) Speech Enhancement & Night Mode via an IR remote? A user needs to have their iPhone nearby to toggle these (really) often toggled settings??  I’m finding this a rather substantial PITA, I might ditch this Sonos product altogether, and go with something more tightly coupled with my TV vendor (Sony).

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R
1 year ago
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Bo33bContributor I
posted in Home theater
Beam Atmos Test?

Best method to test/demo Beam gen2 Atmos - Maybe similar to 5.1 system where various speakers (LF, RF, LR, RR, C, SW) are emphasized? Or some Atmos content with specific known "Height" points etc...Not exactly sure what I expected from Beam/Atmos but somewhat disappointed.... Connected via eARC to latest LG OLED. Sonos App shows "Atmos Content" (Prime, Netflix Premium) connected. TruePlay calibrated. Use area is approx 20 by 14 w/sloping 19->12 foot ceilings, listening 10 foot front-center from Beam.Thanks!

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Ken_Griffiths
1 year ago
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Seven-RedContributor I
asked in Home theater
Increase volume on satellite speakers

I have a Beam Gen2 and 2 One SL speakers setup as a surround. The problem is, I can’t hear the satellite speakers unless I am, literally, 2 inches in front of them, and then barely. I know about “push the button on the One speaker in increase the volume” but that increases the total volume, not just the speaker. I am attached to the TV using the HDMI cable.

5528
106rallye
1 year ago
jonmichael
jonmichaelEnthusiast II
posted in Home theater
Any word leaking about the center speaker in Era 300s?

It has been three months since a feature request - mine and many others - was submitted to “turn on” the center drivers when the 300s are configured as surrounds as well as for Atmos. I would love to have the immersive audio where available and the 5.1 on non-immersive material. But I am not hearing 1) Not possible, or 2)Possible but not happening, or 3) happening ASAP.I feel as though we are being ignored.

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Ken_Griffiths
1 year ago
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JarsmasherContributor I
asked in Home theater
Using AMP for multiple groups/purposes

Ok, so I bought an amp for three of the advertised functions, and I’ve only been able to get one of them setup successfully so far. Using amp to power two Polk outdoor speaker.  Works great, sounds great! Using the amp to power a second sub for my home theater with Arc, Sonos SUB, and Era 300s.  I can’t figure out how to use AMP with multiple setups. Use the line in to play records, etc through the home theater setup.What is possible and what isn’t?  I haven’t been able to get my polk sub to play at all. Even if its just paired with the outdoor speakers.  It get connected, but no sound. All of the features of the amp made it seem like a really good product for me, but not if I can only use one of them.  Thanks in advance for any help.  I’m fairly new to Sonos and I come from a more traditional home theater background.

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buzz
1 year ago
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MissionspartaEnthusiast II
posted in Home theater
15.5, Arc, Sub, 300s Strength

After updating to 15.5, the arc and sub have lost their punch and actually are being overpowered by the rear 300s. Anyone else experiencing this?

1662
J
1 year ago
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