+4
I read a rumor somewhere that Sonos intends to issue a firmware update for the Arc that would allow for a volume slider in the S2 App to independently control the volume of the height channels (upfiring drivers) on the Arc. Can someone please confirm if they have knowledge of or have heard that is true. Thanks in advance
Best answer by Corry P
View originalThe principle of what is suppose to do must be the same ( and Sonos kit is not cheap , and by the tome you get the full kit as stated not fat off to the NAD + kit)
I am not sure any soundbar will ever be quite as good as dedicated speakers from a high-end amplifier. Soundbars are designed for convenience.
The NAD T787 amplifier alone is 3-4 times the price of the Sonos Arc (which is one of the most expense soundbars on the market).
Thanks for that advice and you have pointed out the true and logical the working factors of Dolby atoms. FYI - My room size is an average size dimensions (L4.5 x W3.5 X H 2.25) a dedicated TV room with a L shape cloth sofa + one side side manufactured wood shelf cabinet. No other clutters , So should enjoy all the should as transmitted. Sonos arc is on true play , TV is a Dolby atoms vision and Dolby atoms sound TV, Sonos arc + 1x latest sub 3, 2x Sonos one rear speakers .
FYI - when comparing with My neighbor with has a the same room and size TV room with similar furniture , however using a Nad T787 av system with 7 speakers , I.e 1x centre speaker, 1x sub , 2x front , 2x front dedicated upward firing speakers placed on top of the 2 front speakers ( both these upward firing speakers are in the same angled as the Sonos upward speakers as on the arc . 2x rear speaks (not upward firing ) hence the system is the same format as my Sonos theatre set up , however the neighbors upward firing speakers the sound out of it is very evident all the time and it’s volume is change to min and max can be heard all the time even when we both compared playing the same Dolby atoms movies . So this is puzzling indicates the arc up-firing does not work to gives the same technically . ( I am comparing like to like technically)
hope this will help the Sonos technical team to improve
Regards
Good point - will test it and revert back
Remember that vertical sound is like the rear speakers on a surround array. Sound designers on films use these channels sparingly and subtly. They don't want it to be obvious or distracting. Atmos is too rare still and a sound designer would never put a key sound effect in a channel that few people would hear. Atmos effects are the gargoyles on the cathedral.
Triple-A video games might ultimately be a better showpeice for Atmos technology because designers can attach a sound effect to an object within the 3D environment and then link the audio to the object's position, relative to your avatar. Allowing for instance a screeching vulture to circle above you on an audio track and fly into the distance when you shoot at it.
In terms of getting the most out of your Sonos Arc- the effect is somewhat dependent on your room.
One of the reasons I couldn't hear the Atmos effect very well is because I have a small living room in a multi-unit building and I have never been able to turn my Arc much above 20% volume. The up-firing speakers don't really come into their own until you get to 35-40%. In my space those soundwaves get overwhelmed by and lost within the other channels' soundwaves pinging around the room.
The new height volume control does seem to enhance the effect for me. Now I can keep my overall volume low whilst delivering more from the up-firing speakers so that they remain discreet sounds.
I also found that turning the loudness feature off improved the effect. The bass can drown out subtlety. (Noting that I also have a Sonos Sub- which again- is probably too much sound for my little urban flat).
Good point - will test it and revert back
For example - Dolby aAtmos movies from Netflix , into arc and my Sonos 2 app status tv (in black and white) movie watching “ Dolby Atmos “ sound.
Most Dolby Atmos movies are not going to have a lot of height channel activity all of the time. You need to find an Atmos film or show that has a specific scene with clearly defined height channel activity to test out the height channel levels to be able to tell the difference. I recommend Roma on Netflix. It has a pretty active Atmos track and utilizes the height channels pretty well.
You could also download this Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 test tones video. Put it on a USB flash drive and play it through your TV by plugging it into the TV’s USB port.
https://www.reddit.com/r/sonos/comments/hc21uu/dolby_atmos_512_test_video_file_download_link/
For example - Dolby aAtmos movies from Netflix , into arc and my Sonos 2 app status tv (in black and white) movie watching “ Dolby Atmos “ sound .
Thanks I found it! Amazing.
The height audio level control is located under the Arc’s audio settings in the Sonos app:
https://support.sonos.com/s/article/5041?language=en_US
Hi
If you did a manual update, that was just the app - you’ll need to do another manual update for the system. Then, you’ll see it next to surround level in the Arc’s settings under System.
Wait! What?
I have my Sonos set to update automatically, the app says my system is up to date. Version 13.1.
There is no height control.
What am I missing?
I read a rumor somewhere that Sonos intends to issue a firmware update for the Arc that would allow for a volume slider in the S2 App to independently control the volume of the height channels (upfiring drivers) on the Arc. Can someone please confirm if they have knowledge of or have heard that is true. Thanks in advance
I did the update to 3.1, see the new selection on S2 for the height volume, but found it does not change or vary the height sound, even though my S2 app does register I am playing a Dolby Atmos Movie. Sonos please make it work.
Wow wow wow. Game changer. Well done.
I’ve settled on +3 for height and -5 for surrounds for now.
+4 on my set made the vertical sounds more pronounced but artificially so in my perception. +3 is more balanced
Ok I got the answer.
according to the official Dolby Atmos installation guide, the Height sound level should be at the same perceived sound pressure level at your seated position as the other channels are.
so that means the Height channel should not be so loud that it overpowers the others.
but it's hard to get the right level you need some specific Atmos content to do this and finding the right sound in a movie is hard.
luckily I came across this, it's a 5.1.2 Atmos system setup test file https://www.heimkino-atmos.de/.cm4all/uproc.php/0/Trailer/Dolby%20Atmos/dolby-test-tones_5_1_2.mp4?_=15dddc34420&cdp=a
you download and play it, it will make individual sounds slowly from each channel - it gives more than enough time to play with the volume sliders and the goal is to achieve the same or similar sound to your ears from each channel.
for me that ended up being +5 on the height channel volume slider, I also did -2 on the surround volume slider because it was louder than the other channels due to being closer to my ears than others
When the volume slider for the height channels are increased to a +10 are they significantly louder than the other drivers in the Arc?
Yes! Up to about +5 the height channels blend in with the other channels, at +7 it becomes noticeable that height is louder than the rest and +10 the height channels overpower the other channels.
My question is what is correct? What does dolby reccomend, should height channels blend in, be louder or be overpowered??
And my ceiling is 9ft
When the volume slider for the height channels are increased to a +10 are they significantly louder than the other drivers in the Arc?
How loud it sounds will be dependent on how tall your ceilings are. For most people, +10 will be too loud and overpower the other drivers of the Arc. But if you have really high ceilings, I could see how a +10 setting would be necessary. I have 8 ft ceilings and I have mine set to +5 or +6.
+4
When the volume slider for the height channels are increased to a +10 are they significantly louder than the other drivers in the Arc?
Glad to see this has been added, would like to see centre channel optimisations like this as well.. Sometimes feel I need to up that now and again as voices can be to quiet, even with speech enhancement on.
Not sure that would have the intended effect as the center channel is not exclusive to voices. You might very well be turning up the volume for sounds that distract from the voice as well.
If Sonos ever decided to add this feature, I can see them only allowing users to increase the center channel level a few notches from 0 to +3 because of how much it could ruin the balance of the soundbar.
Glad to see this has been added, would like to see centre channel optimisations like this as well.. Sometimes feel I need to up that now and again as voices can be to quiet, even with speech enhancement on.
Not sure that would have the intended effect as the center channel is not exclusive to voices. You might very well be turning up the volume for sounds that distract from the voice as well.
Glad to see this has been added, would like to see centre channel optimisations like this as well.. Sometimes feel I need to up that now and again as voices can be to quiet, even with speech enhancement on.
+18
Hi
Does increasing the volume to the height channels apply more wattage to the upfiring drivers?
Yes - Wattage is Voltage multiplied by Current (Amps), and as the voltage goes up (it’s the voltage variance that “draws” the sound waveform), so does the wattage (it’s not quite this simple, but close enough).
And can you only increase the volume of the height channels when listening to Atmos? Do they only play with Atmos?
Also yes - without an Atmos stream playing, there are no vertical channels.
Anybody recommend good test material for tweaking the new setting?
A Dolby Atmos demo disc on Blu-ray is the best way to test, but not many people have access to these discs or use a Blu-ray player.
But you can download this Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 test tones MP4 file and put it on a USB flash drive and play it through your TV:
https://amp.reddit.com/r/sonos/comments/hc21uu/dolby_atmos_512_test_video_file_download_link/
+4
And can you only increase the volume of the height channels when listening to Atmos? Do they only play with Atmos?
+4
Does increasing the volume to the height channels apply more wattage to the upfiring drivers?
Enter your username or e-mail address. We'll send you an e-mail with instructions to reset your password.
