Multi Channel Stereo

If I understand your setup correctly, and how you’re currently doing things, you have the Play:1’s permanently set up as surrounds? But you’ll unplug Left surround and take it onto the patio? There you plug it in, but still configured as a surround speaker?

If that’s what you’re doing, you’ll only be getting the left side of a stereo signal on the patio. Anything directed to the right speaker is playing on “Right Play 1” speaker located elsewhere. 

Hello nik9669a,

Thank you for stoping by. Yes you are understanding my current setup correctly.

If Sonos had a mode to output music, the same way on each speaker, my goal would be met. In other words, a non surround mode, where each speaker is an individual speaker, I’d be set.

My Denon Deck calls that Multi Channel Stereo. Where the output is the same for every speakers except the Sub. The type of setup you want when piping sound across an entire house. There is no left right, front back etc. They all act as an equal output. 

Now I think I may be able to achieve the same result using the Sonos App, by creating a new room with each speakers but the minute I include the Arc PlayBar, everything falls under a Surround like dynamic, led by the Arc PlayBar as the Front Main vocal for example.

So my question is, is their a world where I can output the exact same sound on each speaker separately? As if each speaker is a standalone, but grouped as one kit… Say the “House” Room. 

-J

The only way of playing both channels to each of the Play:1’s is to “remove surrounds” from your Arc, and set them as two rooms, and then group them to share the same audio source. Then you’ll need to rebind them as surrounds when you want 5.1 home theatre again. 
There’s no easier way of doing this. Many have asked. 

Ok, this seems to be where I landed as well.

I’m surprised its not in there by default given the wireless nature of the system. I feel the first thing any user would do is move the speakers around to spread the music across the house, but are stuck under this left ambient, or vocals only output… 

I wish the App had a flick switch called “Multi Stereo” or what ever. Seems easy enough to code… 

Not sure I understand what’s the hold up. Thanks for your input.

-J

I don’t think multi channel stereo means same L+R sound on all speakers. It means L channel is outputted on all left speakers (front, back, rear …) and R channel is outputted on all right speakers (front, back, rear …). Maybe only the center speaker gets both L+R.

Hello Erikkk,

Thank you for stopping by and surfacing the nuances.

Then I suppose my goal would be; how do I output L+R on all speakers?

Would that referred as Mono? 
 

-J

The Play:1 on its own, set as a Room, is mono. When it’s Left Surround it plays only the left channel of a stereo source when playing music. 
 

To have a system including easy-move-about speakers, leave the 5.1 home theatre system in situ and add a Roam2 or Move2 which are designed to be portable devices. 

I completely understand your need, but I’m skeptical Sonos would implement it since they sell a “Move” speaker, plus you can find exactly the same feature request like 6 years ago …

Have you tried switching your surrounds to Full mode instead of Ambient?

I do that for family gatherings where we want background music.

I do think a "Party Mode" where everything switched to mono would be handy.