Contributor I

Question

Sonos ARC- still muddy Bass

36 replies
5590 views

Hi,

I just heard a very bass-heavy song and unfortunately I heard a problem, with very deep bass it sounds like the drivers are at their limit and it sounds like an unclean muddy vibration... No matter if with trueplay or without , trueplay made it even worse ... With the subwoofer you don't notice this problem.

With the stereo distribution, one does not always have the impression that something comes from the left or right and with Atmos from the top only minimally.

The voices sound rather thin and artificial and the adaptation to a 5.1.2 system with the Sub and 2 Play 5 does not work properly either, because the speakers sound very different in tone and you think that it is a completely different system from a different manufacturer is.

I have a sub, the Arc in front of the TV on the furniture and 2 Play 5 in the back ... Everything at 0 EQ and still the Play 5 sound much warmer and more powerful than the Arc.

The bass reproduction is not the problem with the Sub, rather the coordination of the Arc with the Play 5.

With the Arc alone, the bass distorts at a volume of 50% and the bass to 0.

The best way to notice that distort on Spotify with the song hypnotized by Oliver Kolletzki as well as the bad tuning, also in Atmos films via Netflix where cars drive ... They sound much more real and pleasant on the Play 5 than on the Arc.

Trueplay was measured with the iPad Air 2, but the bass problem also exists without, just a little less.

I'm going to make a diagnosis after work tonight.

I have the feeling that the soundbar is not yet fully developed and has come onto the market too early.

Does anyone else have such problems?

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Paul A

Retired Sonos Staff

Hi @bjl.

Thanks for the immediate feedback.

Here is the main thread about this topic and based on the feedback I got from the higher tiers. Sonos Arc Muddy/Bottoming out Bass, this topic on page 38 have a response from one of our Sonos product manager. Please feel free to read through the topic and commend if you deemed necessary to reach out.

I hope i was able to give you the requested assistance.

Please let me know if you still have further questions or concerns.

Thanks

Help others find useful content by clicking the like button and selecting the best answer to your question

A

antm22

Enthusiast I

@Paul A

Paul… I realize you’re just the messenger here so this frustration isn't all directed your way. However, your updates are appreciated they are frankly, and respectfully, not really informative. This has been ongoing for a month. Sonos released an update which was supposed to fix the bass issue and did not. Now it’s still under investigation. In the midst of that, as a result of some likely difficult corporate decisions, the one person working with the community (Ryan S) was let go. You repeatedly telling us that Sonos is aware and investigating isn’t helping. We really need Sonos to confirm the Arc hardware is not defective. Customers should be told whether or not they need to return their $800 soundbar before the return window closes OR there should be some guarantee that the return window will be extended until 45-days after a definitive solution is available. This will allow customers to experience the Arc, working as intended, for 45 days. As the return window closes for many initial buyers everyone can’t be expected to keep a clearly defective product until Sonos figures out what the issue is. Furthermore, if the issue ends up being hardware, customers don’t deserve to have their equipment swapped out with something that’s “certified like-new” or have a software fix tune the defective hardware such that it performs in a way that masks the issue. Customers need some assurance those things won’t happen. People have been patient but the whole “we’re investigating” talk track is getting old.

M

mumufcbAuthor

Contributor I

@Paul A

Paul… I realize you’re just the messenger here so this frustration isn't all directed your way. However, your updates are appreciated they are frankly, and respectfully, not really informative. This has been ongoing for a month. Sonos released an update which was supposed to fix the bass issue and did not. Now it’s still under investigation. In the midst of that, as a result of some likely difficult corporate decisions, the one person working with the community (Ryan S) was let go. You repeatedly telling us that Sonos is aware and investigating isn’t helping. We really need Sonos to confirm the Arc hardware is not defective. Customers should be told whether or not they need to return their $800 soundbar before the return window closes OR there should be some guarantee that the return window will be extended until 45-days after a definitive solution is available. This will allow customers to experience the Arc, working as intended, for 45 days. As the return window closes for many initial buyers everyone can’t be expected to keep a clearly defective product until Sonos figures out what the issue is. Furthermore, if the issue ends up being hardware, customers don’t deserve to have their equipment swapped out with something that’s “certified like-new” or have a software fix tune the defective hardware such that it performs in a way that masks the issue. Customers need some assurance those things won’t happen. People have been patient but the whole “we’re investigating” talk track is getting old.

I agree, it's getting annoying and it was not a cheap product... There has to be some clearance soon if the problem can be fixed by update (and when) or if we have to return the arc.

M

mumufcbAuthor

Contributor I

It also seems like nothing happens with the Arc if you turn the loudness in the EQ on or of, it sounds pretty much the same...

G

Greg Span

Lyricist I

I love the sound of the arc but I definitely hear the bass issues everyone is talking about. My deadline to send back is tomorrow. Hoping they find an issue soon. At some point I plan on getting a sub but regardless the arc should work without it.

D

Danio1137

This review may have already been posted here but one more but honest. I'm surprised by the early reviews that did not notice anything, probably paid by sonos and I will always be critical in the future. Check out this video. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4VZxAC4BdTE&feature=youtu.be

D

Danio1137

I love the sound of the arc but I definitely hear the bass issues everyone is talking about. My deadline to send back is tomorrow. Hoping they find an issue soon. At some point I plan on getting a sub but regardless the arc should work without it.

Did you send it back?

G

Greg Span

Lyricist I

I kept it. I’ve only heard it a few times and it was mainly when listening to bass heavy music. I do plan on getting the sub eventually and am hoping either this or a software update fix the muddy bass.

H

Hackys

Lyricist I

Hello,
I would like to ask if the announced update has already taken place, and the problem has been solved. Today I replaced the current SONOS BEAM with a new SONOS ARC, and I felt a significant shift down in sound quality As for the sound, I didn't expect that. Because the opposite should have happened. I updated to the current firmware version. SONOS ONE SL surround speakers are connected to SONOS ARC

D

Danio1137

Hi everybody.

with the problems with Arc, does it help with buying a Sonos sub, is the problem blown away then?

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