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Hi Everyone,

I just received my Sonos ARC soundbar and subwoofer.  I installed the system last night and configured my TV, streaming services, and NAS based music library.  Each of these input types have different volume profiles.  Streaming services (amazon, spotify, pandora) all output volume consistent to what I am used to with my Play 5 (Gen 1 - not installed in this house).  The MP3 music library is lower in volume and the TV is even lower in volume.  

I would think that I would not have to have the TV at 75% volume to get room-level listening.  Same thing with the MP3 library- 80% starts to get the volume a bit loud.  If I switch over to the streaming services, at 80%, the volume is very loud.

I am not seeing anything in the support forum related to the ARC (some playbar optical info notes this).  My TV is hooked up via HDMI Arc and the ARC communication is set to PCM (bitstream is the other option).  

Any advice is greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

 

I have the same issue. I previously had the beam and I rarely had to turn the volume above 25 percent. Now I find with the arc I have to have the volume at least 50 percent.


Hi @flynnjo and @AndyCHC, sorry for the late response and thank you for reaching out.

This isn’t normal behavior for our home theater speakers.

I would like to take a closer look at the Sonos system, please take a diagnostic while playing the TV.

Here’s how to take a diagnostic: Settings > Help & Tips > Submit Diagnostic in the Sonos mobile app.

I would like to also ask the model of the TV and also make sure the cables are connected properly.

If you have other concerns, feel free to reach out.

 


Thank you, I have submitted diagnostics under ref 90284322. All the cables are connected correctly and my TV is an LG 65 C9.

Thank you


Hi @AndyCHC, thank you for the update.

I checked the diagnostic, it shows that the volume was at 20%.

When you took the diagnostic is this the low volume you hear? 

If so, take another diagnostic while playing any streaming service. 

So we can compare the two diagnostics.

Also, I would like you to take another diagnostic while playing the TV on the “normal” volume. 

If you have other concerns, feel free to reach out.


Hi,

Thanks for coming back to me. Yes my apologies, when I took the first diagnostic this was at a low level. The 2 diagnostics below have been taken at a volume I feel is sufficient for my needs.

Streaming service diagnostic: 346125011

Tv (virgin media) diagnostic: 1854644042

Thanks


Hi @AndyCHC, thank you for the update.

Checked both diagnostics, music playback at 38%, and TV at 45%.

I also see the Music Playback setting for the surround speakers is at full.

If this is the case, the Sonos Ones are going to act like regular speakers playing normally during music playback. adding to the volume.

However, the Full setting doesn’t work with the TV, only Ambient does.

I would like you to set the Music Playback to ambient and check if you have the same volume issue.

Here’s to set the surrounds to ambient: Settings > System > Lounge(Sonos Arc) > Surround Audio > Music Playback.

The Full setting is best used for Music Playback and Ambient is best used for Movies or TV channels that have background noise.

Update us about your findings.

 


Thank you. I have now changed this setting and my diagnostic for this is 1694706849. As far as you can see through my diagnostics, does everything seem fine with my Arc?

Thanks


Hi @AndyCHC, thank you for the update.

The ambient setting is showing in the diagnostic.

The Arc is fine, it receives the TV signal fine and the connections it has; the network and the satellite speakers.

Do you still have the volume issue after changing the setting?

 


Thanks. I still have to have the volume higher then I used to have the beam however the beam is now in another room with 2 symfonisk bookshelf speakers as surrounds and I have to have this louder then before also. I believe it may of been after an update that I noticed I had to have the volume higher. As long as you can see that everything seems fine with the Arc then I am happy. When above 50 percent volumeivolume still gets plenty loud. 

Thank you


Hi @AndyCHC, thank you for the update.

It’s unfortunate to hear that it also happens to the Sonos beam.

I will tag this thread as a feature request to normalize the volume for all sources for visibility.

If you have other concerns, feel free to reach out. The community is here to help.