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4.1 Sonos with rear hardwired ceiling speakers

  • September 3, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 49 views
S

First before we start, buying another amp is not in question.

Current Setup:

  • 1x Amp
  • 1x 3rd party Sub, FYI it does work in 4.1
  • 2x 3rd party ceiling,
  • 2x era 100.

Problem is the front and back audio need to be swapped I can not find it in the mobile app. Anyone know how to get this working correctly. 

 

Best answer by jgatie

Does “front and back need to be swapped” mean you wish to set up TV/Home Theater sound using the Era 100’s as fronts and the Amp+3rd party speakers+3rd party sub as rears? If so, that is not possible.  Era 100’s lack an HDMI-ARC connection needed for the main connection to the TV and can only be used as surrounds.  Also, in order to use a 3rd party sub in a Home Theater configuration, the Amp connected to the 3rd party sub can only be used for front speakers.

3 replies

jgatie
  • jgatie
  • 28214 replies
  • Answer
  • September 3, 2025

Does “front and back need to be swapped” mean you wish to set up TV/Home Theater sound using the Era 100’s as fronts and the Amp+3rd party speakers+3rd party sub as rears? If so, that is not possible.  Era 100’s lack an HDMI-ARC connection needed for the main connection to the TV and can only be used as surrounds.  Also, in order to use a 3rd party sub in a Home Theater configuration, the Amp connected to the 3rd party sub can only be used for front speakers.

S
  • Shumway
  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • 3 replies
  • September 3, 2025

​@jgatie Thanks for the reply, 28k replies do they pay you for this service. :). 

Does it need to be swapped? I don't know maybe it is a blessing in disguise not everyone has ceiling speakers above their sofa... just make it stereo with a sub to fill in the lows. It could work for 1 or 2 people but a room of people might not work. 

BTW. 4.1 is working. The Amp is handling the ARC handshake. I’m sure Sonos might be limiting this option because of fear of latency… perhaps to many variables with satellite speakers handing TV dialog.

Wanted to see if anyone knew anything in this forum, thx.

AjTrek1
  • AjTrek1
  • 7384 replies
  • September 3, 2025

​@Shumway …

Here are some options:

Purchase one of the below and connect to your TV:

  • Arc Ultra
  • Beam 2
  • Ray (would require HDMI to Optical converter)

Next select one of the configurations below:

  • Bond the Amp to one of the above speakers and use the in-ceiling speakers as surrounds *
  • Bond the Era 100’s to one of the above speakers and use them as surrounds **

 

 * Leave the Era 100’s as they are. You will not be able to use the 3rd party sub

 ** Leave the Amp, In-ceiling speakers and 3rd party sub as they are and use for music only. 

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