Using Beam as center channel with Connect supplying left and right channels

Hi, gfardon. Technically, this is possible. However, grouping for the purpose of television audio can present some issues. This is due to the fact that the audio from the television is uncompressed. This will be more sensitive to dropouts due to higher susceptibility to interference. However, you are always welcome to buy it, try it out, and return it if not deemed fit for your needs. Buy directly from us and be sure to review the returns period. This varies depending on where you are, if you're in the States you will have 45 days to try it out.

Hi Edward,

could you please describe the setup and the settings in detail? I'd like to setup a 5.0 system with two Play:1 as Rear speakers, two Play:3 as Front speakers and the Beam as the Center Speaker...

Thanks a lot!
Michael

Hi Edward,

could you please describe the setup and the settings in detail? I'd like to setup a 5.0 system with two Play:1 as Rear speakers, two Play:3 as Front speakers and the Beam as the Center Speaker...

Thanks a lot!
MichaelSorry, but this just isn't possible. The Beam provides the front three channels and cannot act purely as a centre. You could get sound out of the setup you describe, but the sound would not sync and it would not remotely resemble 5.0 surround sound.

If sonos would develop a dedicated center channel/5.1 processor unit that would allow for the use of playX for main and rear speakers, I would buy it in a heartbeat. Even at the price point of the current playbar, this would be a much better sounding option.

Understood. You've posted this in multiple threads, I think we all get it...and we all agree. In fact I would be willing to bet that it's been a request since the PLAYBAR was first announced.

Yes but Sonos seems to think the community would rather have cheaper entry level options (Beam, and playbase) but...they promote that they are a "high end" audio solution in the wireless category. So why not focus on the high end options a little more? Or developing something that they don't already sell in 2 or 3 similar form factors. It is a bit frustrating when I see that they have a big announcement coming up and then they roll out some crap that I dont have any use for, that is meant to attract the budget minded "new" sonos customer. I've been a Sonos customer for over 9 years...the last 3 or 4 have been a bit of a let down. I would love to see them develop something that appeals to the existing customer base that already have significant investments in their solution. AKA a nice all weather outdoor speaker. A good center speaker/5.1 processor. A tad larger sub, or the capability to sync 2 subs to the same theater system. Point is, the iphone was a pretty nice device until Apple decided they needed to build a cheap colored version of it for the average consumer. It's been down hill from there. I would say a majority of the Sonos customers are not "average" electronics consumers by any means.

I hear where you're coming from, but I've never perceived marketing that they were a "high end" audio solution, much less focused on the Home Theater. All the marketing I've seen is more about "whole home music". But then again, I've not been paying much attention to marketing claims, so I may have missed them.

As I said before, there are many of us who have agreed over the years with your request.

I just don't expect any company that I don't run to do all the things that match my exact needs. I do expect them to do things that they think will make them the maximum amount of money by selling to the masses, like most public companies, and I recognize that I am not one of those who fit perfectly in that category. That's what companies do.

yeah true...all my lifelong hopes and dreams are crushed now. 😞

Think how cool a "Beam Center" Sonos box would be! Just the center channel sound there and the rest on SonosNet.

Make it identical to the current Beam (to save tooling and production costs) except leave out the right and left channel amps and speakers. Allow the original left and right channels to go out to Bonded Sonos speakers while keeping the Sub and rear channels exactly as they are now.

It would likely sell well, as well as selling a number of Play units for the right and left channel positions.

Don't give up on your (our) hopes and dreams. I still expect that eventually (!) Sonos will implement this, but they haven't yet, and I'm not expecting it for a couple more years at best.