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Arc - Is This Even Possible?

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I wish we could have the option of either adding front 300s or at the very least, being able to control the front side speaker volumes to help create a wider front sound field. Question is, is this even possible with firmware or software updates or would this require a whole new Arc, which would be ok too.

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melvimbeAnswer

Like the others said, I don’t know if the hardware in the Arc can handle it, but the better question is will they? I have to think the answer is no.

The Arc would become a very expensive center channel
You now have 4 front up firing speakers (assuming you use Era 300s)
Some customers may be confused and believe you need two additional front speakers, not an option, or just that the Arc doesn’t sound good enough on it’s own.
It’s adding 2 new devices to the home theatre setup, which Sonos has to ensure is stable and reliable in a typical home environment.
That would be additional trueplay tuning
The 2 above factors means a lot of extra development work, which may or may not result in more speaker sales.
The ultimate home theatre setup for Sonos would now cost over $4000

If Sonos were ever to do this, I would guess that they develop a separate center channel speaker that just handles sending audio to the right speakers and center channel audio only. Or, Sonos comes out with an Era 500 where a pair can handle left, right, upfiring, and a simulated center channel speaker. Or maybe you have 3 Era 500s upfront for the audio. I just don’t see them using a soundbar in this manner.

Danny

ratty

No. Like most soundbars Arc contains Front Left, Centre and Right channels.

106rallye

The Arc is a soundbar, not a center speaker.

D

DerekCharlesAuthor

Avid Contributor III

The Arc is a soundbar, not a center speaker.

I realize that, but why not make it expandable and give us the choice? That said, is it even possible?

jgatie

I realize that, but why not make it expandable and give us the choice? That said, is it even possible?

No soundbar in existence can be used as a center speaker. I’m sure there’s a good reason for that. Who knows? Maybe Sonos will be the first. But I wouldn’t count on it, given the history.

D

DerekCharlesAuthor

Avid Contributor III

This is the vid I watched and it really got me wondering if it was even possible with the existing hardware?

ratty

That guy grouped an Era300 pair with the Arc. Music would be in sync. TV audio through the Era pair would lag, and echo, because the system has to add a buffering delay to avoid dropouts on the grouped room(s).

It’s possible to fiddle in the Arc’s settings to add delay to it, which might make the offset less obvious, but that would be at the expense of TV lip-sync.

jgatie

This is the vid I watched and it really got me wondering if it was even possible with the existing hardware?

Quite frankly, that guy is an idiot. #1, there will be a delay, or a lip sync error, as @ratty says. #2, the R/L/C channels will be duplicated by the grouped left and right, causing the soundstage to be a dispersed, muddied mess.

D

DerekCharlesAuthor

Avid Contributor III

This is the vid I watched and it really got me wondering if it was even possible with the existing hardware?

Quite frankly, that guy is an idiot. #1, there will be a delay, or a lip sync error, as @ratty says. #2, the R/L/C channels will be duplicated by the grouped left and right, causing the soundstage to be a dispersed, muddied mess.

Not at all saying that’s the way to do it and in fact he’s saying same. I’m asking would it be possible for Sonos to give us the choice to do it the right way via a software or firmware upgrade?

jgatie

Not at all saying that’s the way to do it and in fact he’s saying same. I’m asking would it be possible for Sonos to give us the choice to do it the right way via a software or firmware upgrade?

Never say never, but it is a request going back to the original Playbar, and it has never come to fruition. It’s also a feature never before seen in any soundbar ever made.

melvimbeAnswer

Like the others said, I don’t know if the hardware in the Arc can handle it, but the better question is will they? I have to think the answer is no.

The Arc would become a very expensive center channel
You now have 4 front up firing speakers (assuming you use Era 300s)
Some customers may be confused and believe you need two additional front speakers, not an option, or just that the Arc doesn’t sound good enough on it’s own.
It’s adding 2 new devices to the home theatre setup, which Sonos has to ensure is stable and reliable in a typical home environment.
That would be additional trueplay tuning
The 2 above factors means a lot of extra development work, which may or may not result in more speaker sales.
The ultimate home theatre setup for Sonos would now cost over $4000

If Sonos were ever to do this, I would guess that they develop a separate center channel speaker that just handles sending audio to the right speakers and center channel audio only. Or, Sonos comes out with an Era 500 where a pair can handle left, right, upfiring, and a simulated center channel speaker. Or maybe you have 3 Era 500s upfront for the audio. I just don’t see them using a soundbar in this manner.

Danny

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