Sonos AMP, ARC and 7.2 setup

No, Arc does not support 7.2. Arc would handle the front and AMP would handle the rears. You could connect two pairs of speakers to AMP, however, when playing TV audio AMP will deliver only the surround information. You could configure AMP to deliver stereo audio when listening to music. You’ll need an external means to independently adjust the volume for the two pairs of speakers attached to AMP. Overall, I don’t think that you would enjoy operating this configuration.

TV’s only have an HDMI-ARC connection and this will be connected to Arc. The other input devices will be connected to the TV’s regular inputs.

I can use a 7.2 Pioneer receiver and a port. In that case, can i use a Receiver HDMI Arc out and Sonos Arc to a HDMI switch and HDMI switch to TV. I would want my receiver to use Arc functionality as well as I would be connectig non-sonos speakers to receiver in this configuration

No. Sonos HT systems replace receivers, they don't work with them. The Port only does stereo. Sonos doesn't do 7.2.

You can either choose a standard Sonos HT setup of Arc for front, Sonos Sub and Amp + passives or Sonos amplified speakers for the rears, or not have Sonos HT at all. There is no hybrid solution. 

buying $650 amp to drive the wired speakers in patio seems insane. I thought a port connected to a pioneer or onkyo 7.2 receiver would get me the stereo in patio and front and rear speakers in the living room connected to 5.1 channels on the receiver give me surround. 

Hi again.  You cannot manufacture 7.2 from a stereo input. (Although what you seem to be asking for is a 5.1 surround and a stereo output from a stereo input.)

The Port is designed to feed a HiFi Amp to play stereo music.  It is not intended for use in AV applications or for surround sound.  

I can only repeat what i said before.  You either have a proper Sonos HT setup using products that Sonos has designed for this purpose or a ‘traditional’ wired set up with no Sonos.  

Thanks John

While Port is only for stereo, consider the below alternate configuration. 

Arc as front, 1 pair of wired speakers to pioneer sonos ready 7.2 receiver via port as rear. Patio speakers connected to 2nd powered zone via port for stereo 

Above will allow me to get away with port,arc and a 7.2 receiver. 

The Port cannot be used for rear speakers. The Port has no role to play in a Sonos HT setup. It cannot be made to carry just the rear channels and would not sync.

My advice?  Buy an Arc and two Sonos One SLs for the rear surrounds.  Get another pair of One SLs for the patio.  Sell the receivers.

Or forget Sonos.

Edit: OK - if you have a receiver and speakers you could use a Port purely for stereo music on the patio instead of the second pair of One Sls.

Thanks for your patience. One more I thought was Arc for front. Amp driving the rear speakers in the living room and patio speakers. I already have volume control for patio speakers on the wall. If i incorporate a speaker switch before the amp, i can turn off rear speakers if i need to. 

I dont need to re-invest in a 7.2 receiver for the above set up. Just AMP, ARC and a switch

Thanks

Raj

A switch for the rear speakers is OK, but you will not be able to mute Arc independently of the switched OFF rears.

If you rarely use the Patio, you could un-bond AMP and use it independently from Arc, however, this will become a chore over time.

Hi @matrix170181 

Sonos does not do 7.2 surround. The Arc will downmix a 7.1 signal to 5.0.2  or add the sub for 5.1.2 which is:

• Arc
• Sub
• Two surrounds (Play 1 x 2 or Play 3 x 2 or Play 5 x 2 or Five x 2 or Sonos Amp 3rd party speaker x 2 or any combination of Sonos One or Sonos One SL x 2) *

Regarding the 4 speakers in living room and 2 speakers on patio….

• You can only run 4 speakers off a Sonos Amp. Therefore you would need two Amps to power all 6 speakers (i.e. one for the living room x 4 and one for the patio x 2).
• You can run 6 speakers off of one Amp using Sonos Architectural Speakers by Sonance. See them here. So in theory although the 3 pairs of speaker would play the same music you could employ a switch for living room and a switch for patio to control the volume separately.

If you were to use Sonos Architectural Speakers by Sonance you’d have to decide what to do with any speakers you’ve previously purchased for the living room and patio.

 * The Sonos One SL x 2 is the best choice over the Sonos One x 2 when used as surrounds with the Arc or Beam as the voice assistant is muted in the Sonos One. So save your money.

Cheers!