When you setup the Ultra, did you do Advanced Tuning? If so, try retuning using only Quick Tuning.
Many users have found that Advanced tuning the Ultra, lowers the volume for Subs and surrounds.
I'm in the same situation and I haven't done any trueplay tuning
Same problem (Ultra + Era 100 surrounds). Thought I was one of the very few who are disappointed and must be crazy. Even thought there might be a defect in mine.
Tried encreasing the volume of the surround speakers, but the rear speakers just don't get the right signal. Performed TruePlay several times, does not help. The Sonos app says it is playing Dolby Atmos, so the source should be good.
It's a joke a 1400 Euro setup does not even let you manually tweak the settings for the soundscape. A diagnostic test sound to check if all drivers are working is also missing in Sonos app.
Same problem (Ultra + Era 100 surrounds). Thought I was one of the very few who are disappointed and must be crazy. Even thought there might be a defect in mine.
Tried encreasing the volume of the surround speakers, but the rear speakers just don't get the right signal. Performed TruePlay several times, does not help. The Sonos app says it is playing Dolby Atmos, so the source should be good.
It's a joke a 1400 Euro setup does not even let you manually tweak the settings for the soundscape. A diagnostic test sound to check if all drivers are working is also missing in Sonos app.
When you setup the Ultra, did you do Advanced Tuning? If so, try retuning using only Quick Tuning.
Many users have found that Advanced tuning the Ultra, lowers the volume for Subs and surrounds.
I have the same problem with the Arc Ultra + Sub Mini + 2 One's
I have the same problem with the Sonos Arc Ultra and Era 100 Rears. But that's not all. I have played test sounds (Dolby Atmos and 5.1). Sounds that are only intended for the rear speakers are played twice, at the rear AND front at the same time. And to make matters worse, the sound at the front is louder than from the rear, so that you can no longer hear the rears properly. Something seems to be completely wrong. With my previous Beam Gen 2, the surround experience was perfect. There was no sound coming from the wrong speaker.
Of course, I tried to calibrate my system with Trueplay. Extended Trueplay, standard Trueplay, Trueplay off. Always the same problem with quiet rear speakers and incorrectly played channels to the front.
I have the same problem with the Sonos Arc Ultra and Era 100 Rears. But that's not all. I have played test sounds (Dolby Atmos and 5.1). Sounds that are only intended for the rear speakers are played twice, at the rear AND front at the same time. And to make matters worse, the sound at the front is louder than from the rear, so that you can no longer hear the rears properly. Something seems to be completely wrong. With my previous Beam Gen 2, the surround experience was perfect. There was no sound coming from the wrong speaker.
Of course, I tried to calibrate my system with Trueplay. Extended Trueplay, standard Trueplay, Trueplay off. Always the same problem with quiet rear speakers and incorrectly played channels to the front.
What’s the source of the test files? Note that if you are playing the files from standard (free) YouTube, all files are in PCM stereo, not 5.1 or Atmos, even if they are labeled that way.
If the test files are being played from another source and you are playing them through the TV, you may not have your surrounds configured correctly. Are they actually configured as surrounds, or are you grouping them. Grouped speakers would give the results you are seeing, whereas a surround configuration would play in discrete channels.
I have the same problem. Sonos arc ultra, sub 3, sonos one as surround. Surround sound is so weak, i can even notice it. TV sound in surround speakers is set to max. The difference is minimal. Do you have any idea how to improve it?
I have the same problem. Sonos arc ultra, sub 3, sonos one as surround. Surround sound is so weak, i can even notice it. TV sound in surround speakers is set to max. The difference is minimal. Do you have any idea how to improve it?
It all depends on the source and your expectations. Surround content is never going to give you a repeat of the fronts. It’s going to be atmospherics and directional queues. Unless the source is an action film with bullets whizzing past or things flying around or overhead, you probably aren’t going to hear much.
That said, you need to be sure you are playing actual surround content. Check your now playing screen. In the icon that shows the source, it should say “Dolby Atmos” or “DD 5.1”. If it doesn’t, either your source isn’t surround, or you need to change the settings on your TV and/or source device.
Note that YouTube content is always in 2.0 stereo, unless you are paying for a premium subscription.
What’s the source of the test files? Note that if you are playing the files from standard (free) YouTube, all files are in PCM stereo, not 5.1 or Atmos, even if they are labeled that way.
If the test files are being played from another source and you are playing them through the TV, you may not have your surrounds configured correctly. Are they actually configured as surrounds, or are you grouping them. Grouped speakers would give the results you are seeing, whereas a surround configuration would play in discrete channels.
I have the Arc Ultra since day one and tried already mostly everything, except resetting the speakers. I tested alteady multiple sources: test files from USB-Stick which is connected to the TV, movies from Apple TV 4K, an Apple TV sound test App… Always the same problem. I already tried all the TV sound settings: Auto, Pass Through… It doesn’t fix my problem.
Of course the rears are configured as surrounds and are not grouped as speakers.
In the Sonos App I always see the correct sound format like Dolby Atmos, 5.1… And again: I had before a Beam Gen 2 with Era 100 surrounds. This system didn’t have this problems.I just replaced the soundbar. I first experimented with the settings when I had this problems. And I’m looking daily for new App updates and firmware updates. Everything is up-to-date.
The only temporary solution that improves my rearspeaker problem a bit is to change the surround audio to +6 (or more).
I've tested with 5.1 sound test files (checking the 5.1 sound in the Sonos app).
Always the surrounds sounds can be heard from the Arc Ultra at the same time that from the Ones. The Ones also has lower volume than the Ultra.
I haven't done trueplay.
I haven't changed the surround volume.
With the original Arc I didn't have this problem, so I think it must be a bug.
I tried again a test especially for Dolby Atmos content. Dolby Atmos is working perfectly fine with the correct volume of the rears, but the 5.1 sound is coming still from the wrong speakers (front and rear together). And rears still pretty quiet.
Edit: I listend 99% to 5.1 content that‘s why I didn‘t realize at first that this issue didn‘t exist with Atmos.
I tried again a test especially for Dolby Atmos content. Dolby Atmos is working perfectly fine with the correct volume of the rears, but the 5.1 sound is coming still from the wrong speakers (front and rear together). And rears still pretty quiet.
Edit: I listend 99% to 5.1 content that‘s why I didn‘t realize at first that this issue didn‘t exist with Atmos.
Oh interesting! I had the same problem. I returned my Ultra so I can’t retest this now, but I only did the audio channel test using 5.1, didn’t occur to me that this could be isolated to the interpretation of 5.1 sources.
I also didn’t notice that the sounds in the rear were quieter, only that the surround channels were overwhelming the front ones and causing an echo effect.
I loved the setup with stereo and look forward to rebuying it once this is fixed, just didn’t want to risk being stuck with a setup that is in some ways worse for months. But like you said, most of the content I listen to is 5.1, so it is essential for it to be at the very least as stable as using the regular Arc.
What’s the source of the test files? Note that if you are playing the files from standard (free) YouTube, all files are in PCM stereo, not 5.1 or Atmos, even if they are labeled that way.
For everyone who doesn‘t believe me: I have tryed again a new test with the following official test files from Dolby: Dolby Digital Plus Testfiles
Here I used the first Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 channel test, and the second test file with the Dolby Atmos 5.1 channel test. With the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 test the rear channels are coming from the wrong speakers, with Dolby Atmos again everything is fine. I copyed the files on a USB-Stick. For testing I connected the stick directly to my TV.
Ultra + Era 100 surrounds have the same issue. I assumed I must be insane and that I was one of the few people who were disappointed. even considered the possibility that I had a flaw.
The back speakers simply don't receive the proper signal, even after trying to turn up the surround speakers' level. Several TruePlay performances are ineffective. The source should be reliable because the Sonos app indicates that Dolby Atmos is being played.
It's absurd that you can't even manually adjust the soundscape parameters on a 1400 Euro setup. The Sonos app also lacks a diagnostic test sound to verify that all drivers are operational.
Ultra + Era 100 surrounds have the same issue. I assumed I must be insane and that I was one of the few people who were disappointed. even considered the possibility that I had a flaw.
The back speakers simply don't receive the proper signal, even after trying to turn up the surround speakers' level. Several TruePlay performances are ineffective. The source should be reliable because the Sonos app indicates that Dolby Atmos is being played.
It's absurd that you can't even manually adjust the soundscape parameters on a 1400 Euro setup. The Sonos app also lacks a diagnostic test sound to verify that all drivers are operational.
Looks like my post inspired you xD
I’m also having this issue. Just upgraded from the Arc to the Arc Ultra. Have a Sub Gen 3 and 2 rear ERA 100s. I’ve tried multiple movies and Dolby Demos. I barely am getting anything from the rears and I currently set the Surround TV level to 10.
On the test videos, when it gets to rear right and rear left I hear the sound from the Arc Ultra much louder than the Eras behind me.
I have not run TruePlay as I’ve been told its bugged on the Ultra right now.
Same issue for me. Upgraded from the Arc to the Arc Ultra. Have 2 Rear ERA 100’s and a Sub Gen 3. I’ve tried multiple movies and multiple Dolby Tests. When it gets to the rear left and right speakers the sound is crazy loud from the Arc Ultra and barely noticeable from the ERAS.
I’ve tried upping the rear sound TV sound to +9 and this didn’t help at all. I have also not run TruePlay as I’ve read this is bugged.
I'm having the same issue you are having with the Era 100s but in my case with the Ones. So it must be a general problem of the Arc Ultra.
I have the same problem. Using just Arc Ultra + Era 100 as surrounds. The era's are very very quiet, doesn't seem to be working as intended.
Same issues here. Only using basic Trueplay. Does Sonos have a response?
Same exact issue $1400.00 and only get any noticeable sound from the Arc Ultra. Era 100’s are just bricks on sticks.
Hello, I just sign up to say finally I have confirmation that I’m not the only person with this problem.
I dont know why we trust Sonos to release something good during all this App revamp chaos.
Volume of surround sound content is always loud/coming out from the ARC Ultra.
When you up the suround sound volume, the ARC ultra gets louder when playing rear suround content also…….
For 5.1 content or Atmos.
Honestly if we could just adjust each “speakers” volume individually (ie side suround front/suround rear) could be addressed super fast.
Update (original post author)
After removing the Era 100 surrounds, re-adding them to the Ultra, and running Trueplay (Quick Tuning), the rear surround performance was not initially improved.
I attempted these steps multiple times, rebooted my wireless network, restarted my streaming box (Apple TV 4K) and power cycled my TV several times as well, and after one of these troubleshooting cycles, the rear surround performance with the Arc Ultra seem have improved considerably. I cannot pinpoint which of these action or actions resolved the issue, but it’s not until now that I feel like the system is operating as it should.
it was not exactly a plug-and-play experience, and its not until now that I can begin forming a true assessment or comparison to the original Arc.
Same Problem here…So far I have not been able to solve the problem either. It makes no sense to me that the rear sound from the Arc Ultra is louder than from the two Era 100.... Very annoying.
