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Discuss Ray, Beam, Arc, Arc Ultra, Playbar, Playbase, and the entire Sonos home theater experience. Should you get a Sub Mini or a Sub? Maybe two Subs? Which Sonos work with your TV? Talk about your Sonos Home Theater experience here.

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Understanding Surround Sound and Sonos

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Ryan S
Ryan S
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Home Theater and Television Recommendation Megathread

Moderator note:  This article was updated in December 2024. Looking for information on Sonos home theater setups? Find answers about surroun...
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Stubbsy747Contributor II
posted in Home theater
How to fix Apple 4K TV remote not controlling Sonos soundbar

This topic is older and might not have the most up to date information. Please click here to see a list of more topics around the same subject. This issue has been driving me INSANE for weeks and finally I found the answer on YouTube: Simply hold the input and volume down button on your Apple TV 4K remote for about 5 seconds and 🪄🧙‍♂️ …issue fixed!!!! Your Apple Remote will now control your Sonos sound bar volume again. 

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Blue WindyAvid Contributor III
posted in Home theater
Adjust the volume of the soundbar's "side-firing" speakers.

I ran Advanced Tuning on my Sonos Beam Gen 2 + Sonos Era 100 setup today. It changes the EQ quite dramatically. It is a very noticeable change and the sound becomes more balanced and better.The problem is that there is no change in the volume of the side firing speakers at all. When playing 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos test tones, the side channel is simulated through the sound output from the side firing of the soundbar and rear speakers, but the sound output from the side firing speakers is so small that it actually feels like 5.1.4.In order to feel like 7.1.4, the volume balance of the side firing speakers and the rear speakers should be adjusted by TruePlay, but the current TruePlay technology does NOT change the volume of the side firing speakers.Ideally, TruePlay would measure the distance between the soundbar and the rear speakers, and the farther away they are, the stronger the output of the side firing speakers should be, and the closer they are, the weaker the output of the side firing

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Blue WindyAvid Contributor III
posted in Home theater
[Info] LFE originating from overhead is not transmitted to the woofers built into the Beam or Rear speakers.

I actually posted a post about this before. And from a conversation I had with Sonos support they say this is normal. Um... I thought this was a bug but they said this is normal.Of course, this can be considered normal in terms of marketing strategies. This is because it will encourage people to purchase separate subs. If LFE from surround sound and overhead channels is managed through a woofer built into the soundbar, it is good for consumers but not for sellers because it creates tremendous progress in the Bass experience.When Sonos Beam Gen 2 is used alone, the LFE signals generated from the surround and overhead channels are not processed by the woofer embedded in the beam. Only the LFE generated from the L,C,R channels is processed by the woofer embedded in the bar. Therefore, when LFE occurs on the surround and overhead channels, an empty can is heard rather than a grand bass.On the other hand, when the rear speakers are used together, such as Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Sonos Era 100,

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PetertsuiContributor I
asked in Home theater
sonos Arc and Port

Hi everyone,I have a setting problem of Arc and Port.  My Port is now connecting to my Hi Fi system for streaming music which works fine.  The problem is I cannot add Arc into the same Sonos app.  The App can’t find a new component while I try to adding into the existing system. The Arc is mainly for TV watching.  Anyone can advise if it is possible to put both devices into the app so that I can control through the app.  Many Thanks.

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MMNZSContributor I
asked in Home theater
Theatre and Sound Room

I am an electrician. I have a customer that would like to set up a 30 x 16' room as both his ultimate TV theatre and music listening room. The walls are drywalled so moving speaker wire around is not an option but could be used around the TV (if needed). I have been asked to add receptacles around the room where speakers are needed at the speaker height. Can you suggest the best setup and heights for speakers in this situation. I've suggested the Arc mounted under the TV, a Sub 4 on floor under the TV and two Era 300 for rear. He is suggesting we also need two front L and R speakers as well. Any help with a proven setup would be appreciated.

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FedeBenjiContributor I
asked in Home theater
Small depression on center grille of Sonos Arc Ultra – is this normal?

Hi everyone,I recently bought a Sonos Arc Ultra and noticed a small depression in the top center of the speaker grille, approximately where the led is located. It’s not visible in photos and can only be felt when I run my finger across it. Is this part of the design, or could it be a defect? I haven’t noticed any issues with sound quality, but I just want to be sure. Has anyone else experienced something similar? Thanks in advance! 

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ArekNContributor I
posted in Home theater
Sonos Arc & DJ’s consol

Hello All, I’d like to connect a DJ’s consol to my Sonos Arc.From consol I only have a chinch cables, how can I connect it?

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jgatie
melvimbe
melvimbe
posted in Home theater
Feature Suggestions : Setup

I upgraded my Arc to an Arc Ultra over the weekend and I have a couple thoughts on how this process could possibly be improved. 1 - Allow quick setup for soundbar replacement  - I would guess that it’s fairly common for a consumer to upgrade their soundbar while keeping the same sub and surround speakers.  In this scenario, it would much appreciated if you could simply run a copy wizard to bring over all the setting from the previous theatre room (room name, TV setup, voice assistant, etc) as well as automatically recreate the dedicated connection to sub(s)  and surround speakers.  Since the room audio dynamics isn’t changing either, bring over the trueplay settings too.  That’s assuming that trueplay, doesn’t depend on speakers involved but on room acoustics alone (or the room accoustics aspect could be saved separately so that you don’t have to wave your phone around again, the calculations are just redone).To clarify, I have no idea how often setups are soundbar replacement only, an

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MiamiC70Trending Lyricist I
posted in Home theater
dual sub mini’s with ARC Ultra

Why, oh why does Sonos artificially limit use of two sub minis with ARC Ultra? Don’t bother with corporate line because I KNOW it works using 3rd party apps. 

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Julian KupkaContributor I
asked in Home theater
Only two of the four side-firing speakers of Era 300 are playing when used as surrounds with Beam (Gen 2)

I have Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and two Sonos Era 300s as surrounds. I know that front-firing speakers are disabled when Era 300s are used as surrounds. However, in my case, only the outwards facing side speakers are playing. There is no sound coming from the inwards facing side speakers. I tried to remove and add surrounds in the app multiple times and it made no difference.When tried Dolby Atmos sound test (available in Dolby Atmos from Apple Music or Tidal), both left and right surround and left and right surround channels were played played by the same side-firing speakers of Era 300s.Do you have it the same?--Sorry, I meant both left and right surround and left and right REAR surround channels were played by the same side-firing speakers of Era 300s. Moderator Edit: Combined thread and reply.

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AndyMittelmanContributor I
posted in Home theater
Accessory for Arc Ultra soundbar

I am looking to buy the Arc Ultra Soundbar and the Arc Ultra Wall Mount Accessory. Does anyone have experience purchasing a recessed wire hider (to snake the wires into the wall). For example, I’m looking for something like this, but that will fit with the Arc Ultra Soundbar. Thanks!! https://www.amazon.com/Echogear-Soundbar-Safely-Cables-Behind/dp/B07H9DDP1X/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3G2FR10D4T8R6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6J46AJuvnCYq3ghoiQqz37nPiX1nIUkEIDxEeXC7afOpM-F2JDXQFqwuMKEvT4TpULf3yCxQC0iNefCDqG7p_mGQAjudXt73iNwdzC8Sts5rFTcsfxvqHMtvbDruonHU9xBDi686C7VziE4I72IqKM6ZaEdyl94a6pZvc4WpYXoXNADEbocIV9IbJdGzCjRKcbYKRbggxoiakUHBIrAjjTwRnJeFjuVmz6abRRdcP5o.i-T64rbpYXivsNPirs5O2y58rUIjpxedlnXwiHAUzGc&dib_tag=se&keywords=tv+and+soundbar+cable+concealer&qid=1743075310&sprefix=tv+and+soundbar%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

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ABallContributor I
posted in Home theater
HT 5gh band change

Hi, could support please tell me the channel numbers the Arc uses to talk to the surrounds? It's playing havoc with wireless devices killing speed and causing disconnection. If the Arc has been designed to use a specific range of channels I can create a new 5ghz network with a fixed channel outside of the HT range the Arc uses. I read some old posts where people have fixed the Arc to 52 but I can't find a way into the system to change it, just it's 2.4 for router connection. I have transferred my system to a friend so I need a permanent fix. Ethernet is not an option if that's one solution. Thanks.

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supernovaTrending Lyricist I
asked in Home theater
Sonos Beam 2 Centre Channel over Airplay

I have recently purchased a Sonos Beam 2 to use wirelessly from my projector, the projector is connected to an Apple TV - strangely, when I stream a Dolby 5.1 test stream via airplay from the Apple TV direct to the Sonos Beam 2 I can clearly hear that the Centre Channel is working when the Centre Channel speaker test is delivered.How can this the case? I thought Airplay to the Sonos Beam 2 only supports Stereo - yet I can clearly hear that the centre speaker is activated in the Soundbar during the Centre Channel test?Is this emulated somehow? I really don’t understand yet I am pleasantly surprised.   

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Mjc1503Contributor I
asked in Home theater
Sonos Arc Ultra and Sound Issues with Sky Q

I have just purchased the Sonos Arc Ultra (one week ago) and I am having issues with the sound not playing on some sky channels and fine on other channels. When I use it direct with the Tv’s Apps it seems to be working fine with Amazon and Disney etc but when playing it back from the SKY Q will not play properly  I can see there are lots of other people with the same kind of issues  Any advice would be appreciated 

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StupedsonusContributor I
asked in Home theater
Apple TV remote no longer controlling volume on Sonos Playbar

I have an Apple TV 4k, a Vizio M55 and a Sonos Playbar. The TV is connected to the Playbar via optical cable. Apple TV is connected to the Vizio via HDMI. I used to be able to control the volume via my Apple TV of the Playbar. Now it doesn’t work and I feel lost. I had to reconnect the Sonos as a new system as ai changed the wifi. the app says apple tv remote should not be used during set up of the playbar.

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Lomeli_11Contributor II
asked in Home theater
Connecting sonos amp to a frame tv that already had a samsung sound bar and wireless sub?

I recently jumped the gun and installed four sonance in ceiling speakers with a Sonos amp controlling them. I already have a Samsung soundbar for the tv with a wireless subwoofer from Samsung. Now stuck trying to figure out if possible to have all speakers work at the same time for the tv? Would love to have the four ceiling speakers and sound bar work at the same time but concerned I can’t link all together. Help please

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Blue WindyAvid Contributor III
asked in Home theater
Is it possible to set up a home theater using just a pair of Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Sonos Era 100 pair without a Sub?

https://www.sonos.com/en-us/blog/5-1-vs-7-1-surround-soundThe article above says that pairing Sonos Beam 2 + Era 100 + Sub allows for 7.1.4 expansion. My question is, is the Sub absolutely necessary? Is it possible to configure it as 7.0.4 without the Sub?

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CPash84Avid Contributor I
posted in Home theater
Feature Request: Sonos TV Hub

With recent news of the "Pinewood" Streaming Box being scrapped, I have been considering what functionality of that product I was looking forward to.  The video streaming services were almost irrelevant for me. What I was looking forward to was the box providing a gateway to wireless connectivity to Sonos Speakers for TV Audio, with HDMI Switch.  My request is that Sonos focus on that. Forget the video streaming services. And focus on a hub that connects to TV via hdmi and provides functionality to wireless connect to Sonos Speakers, with multiple HMDI connections to run Games Console, 4K Blu- Ray etc through the audio.   In my mind it seems like something so simple that would open a new world for Sonons Home Theatre.  Please Sonos, I would love a Sonos TV Hub. 

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PerroflautaContributor I
asked in Home theater
No stocks of era 300

Hello, I enter the Sonos page and, although they say that from May 2, when I try to pay with PayPal it tells me that PayPal cannot be used if there is a lack of stock. This seems incongruous. I am quite disappointed because I was determined to take advantage of 30% to renew my playbar and play1 for the Arc ultra system and it was 300, but I find it impossible to buy it. When will there be stocks of era 300 in Spain? Greetings.

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soundlyContributor I
asked in Home theater
Roam 2 pair: slow to catch up when unpausing BT

I use a Roam 2 stereo pair over Bluetooth as bedroom TV speakers. Works fine, *except*: if you pause the TV, then (a little later) unpause, it takes about 5-8 seconds before it plays an audio - before that: silence. It also does this when turning the TV on, but that's less annoying. Is there any way of disabling whatever sleep mode this is?

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CguielContributor I
asked in Home theater
hooking two sonos amps to outdoor tv hdmi arc

I have two sonance architechural outdoor 6.1 sets powered by 2 seperate sonos amps and have now added an outdoor tv. I would like to use both amps for the tv. It has an Arc hdmi out on the tv which I have spit to the two amps but I don't seem to be able to get sound. any ideas. tv is set to arc ou

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CPash84Avid Contributor I
posted in Home theater
Sonos Pinewood Streaming Box

I am thoroughly disappointed to read that Sonos is abandoning the Streaming Box. This device is the gateway to wireless connectivity to Sonos Speakers and Soundars. It's not a direct alternative to Apple TV, Roku etc. Because those devices wouldn't enable wireless connectivity to Sonos Speakers and Soundbars. "Pinewood" is not just a Streaming Box, it's so much more. I have been waiting years for this device to be considered and when it finally is, it's abandoned. I am gutted.  https://www.theverge.com/tech/628297/sonos-pinewood-streaming-box-canceled Sonos, please reconsider. 

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bbeck757Contributor I
asked in Home theater
Arc Placement Advice

I’m moving into a new home in a couple weeks and have some questions about how to place the Arc. For a little background, my setup in my living room will be the Arc, Sub (gen 3), and (2) One SLs for my surround speakers. I’d like to mount the Arc to the brick wall below the TV and above the fireplace/mantle but I don’t think the wall is tall enough to mount the Arc 4” below the TV like the website suggests unless I leave the Arc on the mantle. It’s a decent size TV and it might be close to touching the ceiling.How is the sound quality difference between mounting the Arc on the brick wall vs it just sitting on the mantle? The mantle sticks out probably 8” so I’m concerned with it blocking sound. Anyone have any advice? 

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BrodonkadonkContributor I
posted in Home theater
Upgrading from Ikea bookcase surrounds to Era 300s game console sound issues

I recently upgraded from an Arc with ikea bookcase speakers for surrounds to Era 300 surrounds. Streaming content sounds great which is in typically Dolby Atmos or Dolby Digital 5.1. I tried out using my game console and am finding that the rear channels have a bit of a garbled sound. My console is outputting uncompressed 5.1 sound, and with the ikea speakers the rear channels sounded normal. My console specifically is a docked Steam Deck and I’m unable to output Dolby digital or atmos. Has anyone experienced this before and is there some remedy to fix?

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MSN88Contributor I
asked in Home theater
Different configuration for TV and music?

Hi, I know this question was already asked several years ago, so I thought maybe it’s been updated since.I’ve got an Arc Ultra, Sub 4, and 2 300s, and I’d like to use a different configuration when listening to music then when watching TV. Basically, I’d like turn off the surround sound, when listening to music.Anybody know how to do that easily?Thanks everybody.

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