Question

Sonos ARC- still muddy Bass

M
Userlevel 1

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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36 replies

Zeek78
Userlevel 3
Badge +3

It’s hard to get because it is popular and sold out everywhere. 
 

Some people seem to be having persistent problems most seem to not be. 

I hope you are right. Now I just read about the "Metallic Sound problem”. Beginning to wonder if I just should cancel my order, and wait and see if Sonos are able to fix this issues. I already have a playbar. The Arc was meant to be an upgrade, but not so sure anymore.

R
Userlevel 1
Badge +1

It’s hard to get because it is popular and sold out everywhere. 
 

Some people seem to be having persistent problems most seem to not be. 

Zeek78
Userlevel 3
Badge +3

Is this why it is almost impossible to get hold of the Sonos Arc in Norway? I ordered it in the beginning of June, and still haven't got it. The store is telling me there is a delay, and every time the new delivery date is approaching, ther is a new delivery delay. 

D

App and fw update out!

D

All quiet…

 

Then I have ordered a base, I really hope the noises disappear with the base taking over that assignment.  if the problem remains, I send back the base, arc and I throw a play1 on the garbage.  

The professional way from Sonos should now be to give a little feedback in all forums, otherwise they can shut this down, it is pointless to keep whining here if they do not even pay attention to it.

D


 

Are there any figures on how many have problems, sent back or received new ones?  How big is the problem and how many may have been sold?  if anyone knows :-)

 

thanks 

D

Hi everybody.

 

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

H

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

G

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. 

D

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?

D

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

G

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. 

M
Userlevel 1

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...

M
Userlevel 1

@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.

A

@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.

Paul A
Userlevel 6
Badge +17

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

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B
Userlevel 2
Badge +2

Thank you for the updates @Paul A . I think we all appreciate your updates.  But at this point, I think it would be helpful for someone a bit higher up at Sonos to:

  • State whether or not you have reproduced the reported issues in-house.
  • Assure customers that all return windows and warranties will be extended until you have fixed the issue or acknowledged that you cannot fix the issue.

Thanks again for your help.

 

Paul A
Userlevel 6
Badge +17

Hi @mumufcb.

Thanks for your feedback.

As of this moment, no information has been cascaded yet from our engineering team since this is still under investigation. Once issue has been determined and a fix has been released, that would be the only way on how can we tell if this is a hardware or software issue.

Please let me know if you still have further questions or concerns. I am always here to help out.

Thanks,

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M
Userlevel 1

Hi @dmlear57.

Welcome to the Sonos community and thanks for reaching out

We have already been made aware of this ongoing issue with the Sonos Arc having a muddy sound with the bass sound. 

Our engineers are working hard to get this fixed as soon as they can. 

We will keep you up to date once this is fixed.

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

Thanks,

Thanks for answering, can you tell us if it is a software or hardware problem?

Paul A
Userlevel 6
Badge +17

Hi @dmlear57.

Welcome to the Sonos community and thanks for reaching out

We have already been made aware of this ongoing issue with the Sonos Arc having a muddy sound with the bass sound. 

Our engineers are working hard to get this fixed as soon as they can. 

We will keep you up to date once this is fixed.

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

Thanks,

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D
Userlevel 1
Badge

Just setup my ARC and started watching TV. The first thing my wife said was “What is the funny sound”. It sounds like its something wrong in the base. I don’t have a sub so I assume its the same problem. Hopefully there will be a softyware fix otherwise its going back. Way too much money not to sound right.

Paul A
Userlevel 6
Badge +17

Hi @pyro225.

Yes and thank you for your patience. Our engineers are working hard to get this fixed as soon as they can. 

We will keep you up to date once this is fixed.

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

Thanks,

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P
Userlevel 4
Badge +4

Hi @pyro225.

Thanks for the immediate response.

I would like to share that a topic or a thread is closed if Sonos mods were able to see that there were already more than 1 topic of the same issue from the same member posted on a specific medium like for this instance the Sonos community. However this does not mean that the issue is closed without addressing it. It was possibly closed to avoid possible spam. However, Let me assure you that this topic is not closed unless the issue has been resolved and a message will be posted once issue have been resolved.

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

Thanks,

Thanks Paul - as I think you are aware we are just watching the clock on returns windows 

Paul A
Userlevel 6
Badge +17

Hi @pyro225.

Thanks for the immediate response.

I would like to share that a topic or a thread is closed if Sonos mods were able to see that there were already more than 1 topic of the same issue from the same member posted on a specific medium like for this instance the Sonos community. However this does not mean that the issue is closed without addressing it. It was possibly closed to avoid possible spam. However, Let me assure you that this topic is not closed unless the issue has been resolved and a message will be posted once issue have been resolved.

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

Thanks,

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A
Userlevel 3
Badge

…..the side facing woofers should be used primarily for bass support during stereo music playback.

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