Enthusiast I

Is the Sonos Arc fit for purpose

24 replies
916 views

Ok, im close to giving up and returning the arc and sub. I have tweaked with the settings for weeks but can't get the balance right.

We cannot watch a Netflix program or a movie without having to constantly adjust the sound up and down. The dialogue is absolutely terrible, either too low or too tinnie. Also when they speak a lot of the times the speech goes up and down in volume even though its a normal monotone sentence.

Whereas action noises and music is way too overpowering, hence the turning up and down throughout a movie or program. Speech enhancement I find is very poor too.

I am using this with a new Sony Bravia OLED TV with earc on auto. Not sure if there are another settings on the TV audio output I need to change or if anyone can recommend any settings on the arc and sub for the right balance.

At the moment its an expensive set up that is just not fit for purpose.

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GaryGorillaAuthor

Enthusiast I

Definitely not just my ears, it's everyone in the family, they are extreme differences between dialogue and action. As mentioned volume needs constantly adjusting, in particular throughout a movie.

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GuitarSuperstar

Lead Maestro

Definitely not just my ears, it's everyone in the family, they are extreme differences between dialogue and action. As mentioned volume needs constantly adjusting, in particular throughout a movie.

What is your specific TV model? Is everything you are watching from your TV’s native apps or are you using any external media devices?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi

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GaryGorillaAuthor

Enthusiast I

@GuitarSuperstar out of interest what are your settings on the arc and sub if you don't mind me asking?

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GuitarSuperstar

Lead Maestro

@GuitarSuperstar out of interest what are your settings on the arc and sub if you don't mind me asking?

With everyday TV viewing:

Bass: 0

Treble: -2

Loudness: On

Night Sound: On

When I watch a movie:

Bass: +5

Treble: +3

Loudness: On

Night Sound: On (I only leave it on because I have young children sleeping upstairs)

I hardly ever use speech enhancement.

Sub level is always at 0.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi

T

Tylertron21

I have a feeling the Sonos is creating a “phantom center”, meaning the Sony is outputting in 2 channel stereo. Look into the Sonos app to see what signal the app is reporting in while playing back audio (not paused). System - About system.

Then, what devices are you streaming from? The built in Sony apps? Might sound odd, but check if there is a Android TV update for the Bravia. Then manually check the play store for streaming app updates.

Play around the Bravia’s audio outputs, try changing from auto, you can always change back to auto. I haven’t looked into the threads but many Sonos users here have had issues with Sony Tvs. If all else fails look into those threads.

Dialog clarity in all sources of content is probably the weakest link for the Sonos arc outside of music listening. I have the full 5.2.2 set up and I run into some scenes where dialog isn’t the best.

One last question, where is the arc mounted? Wall, TV stand? Ear level? What's the distance from your main listening position and the ARc?

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GaryGorillaAuthor

Enthusiast I

I have a feeling the Sonos is creating a “phantom center”, meaning the Sony is outputting in 2 channel stereo. Look into the Sonos app to see what signal the app is reporting in while playing back audio (not paused). System - About system.

Then, what devices are you streaming from? The built in Sony apps? Might sound odd, but check if there is a Android TV update for the Bravia. Then manually check the play store for streaming app updates.

Play around the Bravia’s audio outputs, try changing from auto, you can always change back to auto. I haven’t looked into the threads but many Sonos users here have had issues with Sony Tvs. If all else fails look into those threads.

Dialog clarity in all sources of content is probably the weakest link for the Sonos arc outside of music listening. I have the full 5.2.2 set up and I run into some scenes where dialog isn’t the best.

One last question, where is the arc mounted? Wall, TV stand? Ear level? What's the distance from your main listening position and the ARc?

Thank you for your response. I have checked and there are no updates on the TV or the apps. The system says Dolby 5.1 for what i was just watching as a test.

I have tried auto1, 2 and pcm.

The TV is on a stand, raised above the arc. I would say that the arc is certainly below ear level.

Distance from arc to sofa I would guess is approx 3ft to 4ft.

All the apps I am using are on the, I.e. not roku.

There is a dolby dynamic and he-aac option for standard or compressed, not sure what that means?

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GaryGorillaAuthor

Enthusiast I

Please can you confirm for the sonos arc what the following settings should be on for the Sony bravia oled TV with sonos arc and sub:

Volume offset

Dolby dynamic range (standard or compressed)

HE-AAC Dynamic Range (standard or compressed)

HE-AAC audio level, if choose compressed

A/V Sync Auto/on/off

Earc mode auto/off

Digital audio help auto 1/auto2/pcm

Dolby digital plus output (dolby digital plus or dolby digital)

Pass through mode Auto/off

G

GaryGorillaAuthor

Enthusiast I

I have a feeling the Sonos is creating a “phantom center”, meaning the Sony is outputting in 2 channel stereo. Look into the Sonos app to see what signal the app is reporting in while playing back audio (not paused). System - About system.

Then, what devices are you streaming from? The built in Sony apps? Might sound odd, but check if there is a Android TV update for the Bravia. Then manually check the play store for streaming app updates.

Play around the Bravia’s audio outputs, try changing from auto, you can always change back to auto. I haven’t looked into the threads but many Sonos users here have had issues with Sony Tvs. If all else fails look into those threads.

Dialog clarity in all sources of content is probably the weakest link for the Sonos arc outside of music listening. I have the full 5.2.2 set up and I run into some scenes where dialog isn’t the best.

One last question, where is the arc mounted? Wall, TV stand? Ear level? What's the distance from your main listening position and the ARc?

Interestingly normal TV is PCM stero 2 so changed that to auto 1 which sorted it

G

GuitarSuperstar

Lead Maestro

Please can you confirm for the sonos arc what the following settings should be on for the Sony bravia oled TV with sonos arc and sub:

Volume offset

Dolby dynamic range (standard or compressed)

HE-AAC Dynamic Range (standard or compressed)

HE-AAC audio level, if choose compressed

A/V Sync Auto/on/off

Earc mode auto/off

Digital audio help auto 1/auto2/pcm

Dolby digital plus output (dolby digital plus or dolby digital)

Pass through mode Auto/off

Have you tried setting Dolby Dynamic Range and HE-AAC Dynamic Range to compressed yet?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi

G

GaryGorillaAuthor

Enthusiast I

Please can you confirm for the sonos arc what the following settings should be on for the Sony bravia oled TV with sonos arc and sub:

Volume offset

Dolby dynamic range (standard or compressed)

HE-AAC Dynamic Range (standard or compressed)

HE-AAC audio level, if choose compressed

A/V Sync Auto/on/off

Earc mode auto/off

Digital audio help auto 1/auto2/pcm

Dolby digital plus output (dolby digital plus or dolby digital)

Pass through mode Auto/off

Have you tried setting Dolby Dynamic Range and HE-AAC Dynamic Range to compressed yet?

Yes, but I don't know if I picked that and changed something else. There is a Sony community on their website but not had any replies.

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