Contributor I

Question

Arc Ultra + Era 100 Surrounds

302 replies
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Arc Ultra and Era 100’s

Anyone else have this setup and noticing that the Era 100’s as rears are doing less work with the Arc Ultra when compared to the standard Arc? I’m barely noticing any audio coming from the rears even with the surround volume turned up to maximum. I swapped my original Arc back with the Era 100 surrounds and tested the same Atmos movies on the Arc and the Arc Ultra, and there is a significant difference/reduction in the signals being sent to the Era 100’s in the rear channels with the Arc Ultra. Increasing the “TV Level” setting for Surround Audio in the Sonos app increases the front surround volume coming from the Arc Ultra but the signals coming out of the ERA 100 rears are almost non existent.

Is this behavior the result of how the Arc Ultra processes surround channels, and should be considered normal operation?

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kdth_jhspk69

Renowned Enthusiast I

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.

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Zorro88

Enthusiast II

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.

Henrique Gusso

Lyricist III

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.

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Zorro88

Enthusiast II

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.

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nick533

Lyricist I

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.

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Patriekvg

Enthusiast I

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

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Howie411

Avid Contributor III

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.

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Howie411

Avid Contributor III

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.