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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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Tips & Tricks

Understanding Surround Sound and Sonos

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Ryan S
Ryan S
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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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6839 Topics
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FriskeAvid Contributor I
asked in Home theater
Surround Sound LG 75UT8000

Our fire station just got an LG 75UT8000.  We have been doing surround sound through a Samsung tv prior. As of right now I can get surround through the LG when playing through the built in apps. But I only get PCM when playing through the HDMI output which plays from an Apple TV 4K. There were no issues through Apple TV on Samsung TV. I haven't changed settings on Apple TV. I've tried auto & pass through options on LG TV and still get PCM through the Apple TV. Currently connected optical output audio through a Sonos Playbar.  Thanks for any insight 

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michaelwekuContributor II
asked in Home theater
Home Theater Era 300 Placement

Hi,Would placing the era 300 upside down around 50cm from ceiling affect sound quality that much?Perceptually how would it differ from placing them at ear level?Thanks

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Sotiris C.
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LovSContributor I
asked in Home theater
Arc ultra india release?

When will  the Arc Ultra available in India ?

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MiniEmma
MiniEmmaContributor I
posted in Home theater
Samsung One SolarCell Remote with Sonos Playbar but via ARC Audio Extractor/Converter

Hi allThis is similar to a lot of posts on here but with an added extra in the form of Optical - HDMI converter.We just bought a Samsung S95D TV and all was well.  Once I discovered the Universal Remote settings on the TV and just clicked Yes to the Power Off question I even had the One SolarCell remote working the volume on my beloved Sonos Playbar that was connected to the One Connect box via Optical cable.BUT we noticed terrible lip sync issues when watching on our Sky Q box but the delay was the wrong way around for any of the delay settings to work. All delay settings just made it worse.  Googling seems to show this is a known issue.SO we bought an Optical/HDMI converter, plugged the optical from the Playbar into it and then it into HDMI 3 eARC and the lipsync is much better but I can no longer find a way to make the ONE SolarCell remote to work the volume.I've tried all sorts of configurations in the Universal Remote settings but I am unsure whether to choose Optical or HDMI 3? I

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MiniEmma
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AdeTheuxContributor I
asked in Home theater
"No signal" LG + Arc + Apple TV + TV box

I’ve read dozens of threads about the “no signal” problem when the Arc is connected via eArc but still have an issue that appeared recently.No config change, but I did receive a new TV box from my provider. Since, then, when turning on the TV, I get a “no signal” message on the LG TV.Apple TV works fine constantly. Switching the input back to TV gives “no signal” again.I performed the TV setup after unplugging everything and letting the TV etc unplugged for about 10 mins.I performed a factory reset on the Apple TV, Arc, LG TV, and received a new TV box from my provider as they thought it was the culprit.If I plug the TV box directly in the TV HDMI port (not via eArc), it all works fine.But via eARC, the Apple TV will always work and the TV box will pretty much always show “no signal”, black screen and of course no sound.If I un/replug the HDMI of the TV box, sometimes, the Arc LED turns green, sound starts playing and the image appears again. Sometimes the sound will start playing but

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kallenContributor I
asked in Home theater
Using existing, non-Sonos surround speakers with an Arc Ultra

I am upgrading my home theater with an Arc Ultra and would like to use my existing, wired surround speakers and Velodyne sub-woofer. Is that possible; if so, how?

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TheChemist
TheChemistTrending Lyricist I
posted in Home theater
Sonos ARC with Apple TV 4K gen3 and LG OLED evo C4

If you activate the eARC option on LG OLED evo C4 (2024 model) the native DD+ 5.1 audio is sent from the Apple TV 4K gen3 streaming Apps to the Sonos ARC soundbar in Multichannel PCM 5.1 format with loss or little presence of surround effects and poorly reproduced central voice, while if you deactivate the eARC option on the TV (therefore keeping the less performing ARC transmission) the audio reproduced by Sonos ARC is the native DD+ 5.1 with the surround and central voice effects present and well reproduced...using the smart TV apps downloaded from the LG store the audio in eARC passes to the Sonos ARC soundbar correctly and is faithfully reproduced in DD+ 5.1...is there anything that can be done to avoid disabling eARC, which results in the failure to play Dolby Atmos streams ???...

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tiagoProducer I
posted in Home theater
Feature Request: “Play from All Speakers” Option for TV Playback

Hello Sonos Community and Team,I’ve been a dedicated Sonos user for over 10 years and truly appreciate the innovation and quality your products deliver. I currently have a Sonos Home Theater setup that includes:Sonos Arc Ultra 2 Era 300 speakers 2 Sonos SubsWhen streaming music, Sonos allows you to choose the “Play from All Speakers” option, ensuring the audio is evenly distributed throughout the home. However, when TV is the audio source, the system automatically selects a 5.1 surround sound configuration without offering any choice for how stereo sound is handled. Unlike music playback, there’s no option to override this setting to play the audio on all speakers.Why This is Important:Stereo Content Dominance: Most videos on platforms like YouTube are in stereo. The current 5.1 emulation for TV playback often fails to activate the rear speakers properly, leaving them silent. Impact on Larger Rooms: In bigger spaces, this uneven audio distribution means that the sound isn’t filling the

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pag262007Contributor I
asked in Home theater
Sonos ARC, Bass, 2 ERA 100s w/ Apple TV and youtube tv live

I have a set up with Sonos Arc, Bass, and 2 ERA 100s and they don’t sound really good with youtube tv live via Apple TV. I have tried everything I believe. Everything comes out of the Sonos ARC and hardly out of the ERA 100s.  They were expensive and I would like it to work properly….I used the music app through sonos and music came out great!!

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Corry P
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EricUAvid Contributor I
asked in Home theater
Why doesn't Sonos allow an Arc to be used as a Center Channel only along with two AMPs and a powered sub?

I have some nice Front L/R speakers along with some in-ceiling rear speakers.I went and purchased a Sonos Arc along with the two Sonos Amps and was surprised to find out that the Arc could not be setup as a Center Channel only.  Seems to me that Sonos missed an opportunity to sell me some more gear.  I returned the ARC and will setup the fronts to produce a “faux” center speaker.

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James4818Contributor I
asked in Home theater
HDMI

Does anyone know if using an HDMI cable labeled "High Speed" or "Ultra High Speed" is a better option to use with the Sonos Arc Ultra rather than the one included?

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Stanley_4
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JonnyinQldContributor I
asked in Home theater
Playbar

I have a playbar with optical out only port only. How do I connect this to an old projector that only has HDMI ports?The HDMI switchers I see don’t seem to have optical ports?  

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TudorTrending Lyricist II
asked in Home theater
Sound format not showing on app or in settings

I have Sonos Arc, Sonos Amp connected to two rear ceiling speakers and a Sonus Sub.   I have a one year old Samsung QE55S95C.   When I had my previous TV I had an Apple 4K box.  When this transmitted Atmos, I could see this on the app.    Now I have a new TV with eARC and Apple built in, I do not see the audio format on the app.   I am unsure if this is related to the new TV or the changes within the app. I have connected eArc from the TV to the Arc.When watching TV the app does not show the format of the sound as it used to do.  So when watching something that I know is in Atmos, the app simply says source HDMI.   If I go into settings to see each component on my Android phone, there is no line for “Audio In”When I go to settings on my iPad I get each component serial number, Sonos OS, Version, Hardware version, IP address and a line for Audio in.    However for no component is anything listed in “Audio in”I have spoken to tech support and they have confirmed that they can see that I

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delmasromContributor I
asked in Home theater
better surround

Hi.I have a beam gen 1+2 one gen 1=sub gen 2.It will be a diference if ai put the one s as rear speakers and add 2 sonos one in front,or is it better to buy 2 sonos play 3 to put them as front speakers.thanks 

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Stanley_4
buzz
buzz
posted in Home theater
CNN Soundbar review

CNN recently reviewed three soundbars. Overall they were favorable with the ARC ULTRA, but I have a few nits to pick.First, the review states that Android devices support Trueplay. This is incorrect. Full Trueplay supports iPad/iPhone, not Android, however, ARC ULTRA supports the Quick Tune option that does not require a phone/pad.Also, there is a picture showing the test setup. I cannot recommend setting up a system as shown in the picture. First, there are objects near each end of the ARC ULTRA. Since both ends of ARC ULTRA emit sound, the nearby sound reflections will compromise the L/R “image” presented up front. In general you should not have any objects nearby. For this reason I cannot recommend placing  soundbars in a  confining bookcase. I also feel that a soundbar will sound better if it is brought forward to the front edge of a shelf.Second, there are WiFi devices very close to ARC ULTRA. The risk of WiFi interference is very high when a router is located nearby. Plus, there

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Jamie A
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vdhendebartContributor II
asked in Home theater
Extra speakers for hifi and TV

At the moment i have a beam and sub, both gen 1, for watching TV.For listening to music i would like to add some extra speakers, for example 2 era100/300>Is it possible to setup the extra speakers so they work with playing music and watching tv, and not only when playing music?For music i would like the extra Era 100/300 with the sub.For TV i would like the above and the beam.Is that possible? 

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henebeTrending Lyricist I
asked in Home theater
Sonos Arc Ultra and Samsung TV - Dolby Atmos sound cutting out

Hello,I had the same issue with my Sonos Arc. I thought it would be resolved with a new and pristine Sonos Arc Ultra. When gaming or watching uncompressed Dolby Atmos content, the sound cuts out for a split second every 20 minutes, almost on the minute. I have tried different HDMI 2.1 cables. Ultra High Speed cables. The sound is beautiful and flawless for 20 minutes at a time. So that’s about 3 moments of irritation every hour when gaming or watching movies.  Since the same issue has been here for 4 years, I’m starting to think it’s a Samsung issue. Is Sonos in contact with Samsung to resolve the issue together? I have tried about everything there is to try for the past 4 years. But I am open to suggestions.

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pontoonContributor I
posted in Home theater
Era 300 inverted placement

Hi, what is the best location for Era 300s in this room? The TV is about centered on the middle of the couch (behind the camera), which is not centered in the room.  The ceiling has beams that are 10” tall.  I was thinking maybe 2 ft down from the ceiling, and above the left and right sides of the couch.  Would that be good? Or what would be better? I have the Sonos wall mounts. 

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AjTrek1
Windybey
WindybeyContributor I
posted in Home theater
Sonos Arc Ultra + DTS-X / DTS-HD MA - Unlock the audio formats!

Hello everyone!Ive recently bought the Arc Ultra, Sub Gen 4 and 2x ERA 300s and love the sound and sleek system design. Its fantastic!However, I was shocked to find that i cannot play my UHD Blu-Rays with DTS-X and DTS-HD MA audio.While i appreciate there are licensing costs associated with the formats, let the CUSTOMERS decide if they want it. Add a $10 or $20 one time fee which customers can pay to “activate” DTS if they want it.This is supposed to be a premium soundbar, but only supports Dolby…. its extremely odd.Would love peoples thoughts and if there is planned DTS integration (beyond DTS 5.1 which is dated!)Many thanksJ

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Monte03Contributor II
asked in Home theater
Sonos Arc Ultra with PS5 and HDMI Arc

Hello,I have bought the new SONOS Arc Ultra with 2 Era 300 and a Sub Mini.Here is my question. Since my TV only supports HDMI Arc, what are the best audio settings to choose on the PS5?As I understood, I should select under “Audio Output” and “HDMI Device Type” “AV Amplifier” and under “Number of channels” “7.1 channels”.What should I choose under "Audio Format "Priority"? Normally I would select Dolby Atmos, but my TV does not support HDMI eArc, so the big question is which format to select:    Linear PCM     Dolby Atmos     Dolby Audio     or DTS?Your help would be much appreciated.Best regards,Marc

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ToomsContributor I
posted in Home theater
no sound from sony Blu Ray

Hi. I am hoping someone can help. I have just upgraded and now I have: Samsung TV S95D - 55”Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4my blu ray player - Sony BDP-S790 I have the arc ultra connected to the e arc hdmi 3 on the TV. I also have Virgin (TiVo) connected to hdmi 1 and Apple TV on hdmi 4. On hdmi 2 I have a hdmi switch that has a Nintendo Switch, PS3 and the Sony blu ray.  everything else seems to be working but I can’t get any sound out from the blu ray at all. it has picture but no sound. Has anyone got any ideas? I have already tried using different ports in the hdmi switch but that doesn’t seem to have made a difference.  I have tried new hdmi cables from Amazon and used them for the blu ray → hdmi switch and hdmi switch → tv.   

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Sandman818Contributor I
posted in Home theater
Setting up a Home Theater with Sonos Arc, Sonos Sub and Sonos ERA 300

As a relative newby to Sonos, I looked to Trueplay to help setup the ideal sound stage adjustments. I enjoyed the Sonos ARC with Sonos Subwoofer as my primary use and added the Sonos ERA 300’s a little later. Sonos tech assistance was very helpful but the result was “underwhelming”. (term used by quite a few Sonos reviewers). The 300’s added little. Yet their design and heft is substantial. Then a review by Murasgul about 10 months ago nailed it: Turn off the Trueplay; go down the rabbit hole.Sonos really does try to provide a simplified process to help set up a surround sound home theater.  Perhaps if your room fits that ideal, it might work. In my case it didn’t. And I suspect many suffer the same poor acoustic response.When at a music concert, ever notice a small section in the audience where their sound engineers are set up? The music group invests in the engineer/sound mixer to maximize the experience for each hall they play in. And of course, recording studios try to maximize sou

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JokiddContributor I
asked in Home theater
sonos arc ultra

Is there a way to turn my surround sound up without turning up the Arc ultra?

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AjTrek1
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GC3Headliner I
posted in Home theater
Updates 12/10/2024 Still No TrueCinema

Another complete round of hardware and software updates today. Including Ace update. At least everything updated on the first pass and EQ settings were not auto-reset, so maybe Sonos deserves a little credit.Unfortunately this update still does not reflect deployment of TrueCinema on the Ace. And I see no changes to the UI on iOS. Maybe there's something for others and Android users.... 

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gavcavContributor I
asked in Home theater
SUB Gen 2 and ONE speakers compatibilty with newer Sonos App

My system comprises a PLAYBAR, SUB Gen 2 and ONE speakers.They were working fine and showing on the SONOS App for quite a few years up until buying a new TV. After disconnecting devices during the TV install, the Sonos App didn’t recognise my devices anymore? Eventually after hours of trying I finally got the PLAYBAR to connect to the app after doing a factory reset but I just cannot connect the SUB Gen 2 and both of the ONE speakers to the App…I’ve been trying for hours and at the point of going to the pub!..can anyone help me out and advise what the problem could be and hopefully a fix? Got to say the app appears slightly different to how I last remember it..I never needed to open it to be honest..and it seems a lot worse than j remember it?..thanks in advance for any help. 

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