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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W

Woglinde

Enthusiast I

Hello for myself I have Ultra and Ikea Symfonisk speakers and I posted a while back with the same issues with volume coming from the front.

Just to summerize/confirm.

Key issue is that surround sound is coming from the Ultra when it shouldnt (Or maybe only when its in standalone mode), but also there is no option to adjust the rear volume that does not increase the surround volume coming from the Ultra as the same time.

So as you try to increase the rears, the Ultra for surround sound gets louder as well.

And This issue doesnt appear for ARC? (Its not like this for me with the Sonos AMP)

Dolby 5.1 surround - Suround sound is louder from the Ultra than rear speakers.
Dolby 7.1 surround - Suround sound is normal?????
Dolby Atmos - Suround sound is normal??

I dont entirely remember that I can could tell from the Sonos app its 5.1 or 7.1…. how are people figuring it out it only doesnt work for 5.1? How could I test this myself to confirm?

Is it because it “works” when its Atmos?

I’m thinking now the best way is to try to ask some reviewers or news sites to try to reproduce the issue.

D

DaytonJohn

Lyricist III

The Sonos App tells you what the source audio is when you open the “Room” you are listening to / watching.

M

MiamiC70

Trending Lyricist I

The Sonos App tells you what the source audio is when you open the “Room” you are listening to / watching.

But you can’t tell the Ultra to properly offload rear L & R audio to physical surrounds so it is instead replicating audio front L & R to rear L & R speakers or trying to “simulate” rear channels when there are in fact physical rear speakers to send that sound to.

W

Woglinde

Enthusiast I

I guess i never had any 7.1 sources.
It was either Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 or Atmos….

So are you saying 7.1 DD plus and Atmos are okay for you?
I dont know if i have the same issue but I felt Atmos was also impacted (so nothing works for me)

M

MiamiC70

Trending Lyricist I

I guess i never had any 7.1 sources.
It was either Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 or Atmos….

So are you saying 7.1 DD plus and Atmos are okay for you?
I dont know if i have the same issue but I felt Atmos was also impacted (so nothing works for me)
I have tried various formats and they are all impacted. Some just sound better than others. The key issue is HOW the ARC Ultra is deciding how to distribute the audio. It’s trying to simulate rear audio inspite of having actual physical speakers that it can and should be prioritizing audio to.

W

Woglinde

Enthusiast I

I guess i never had any 7.1 sources.
It was either Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 or Atmos….

So are you saying 7.1 DD plus and Atmos are okay for you?
I dont know if i have the same issue but I felt Atmos was also impacted (so nothing works for me)
I have tried various formats and they are all impacted. Some just sound better than others. The key issue is HOW the ARC Ultra is deciding how to distribute the audio. It’s trying to simulate rear audio inspite of having actual physical speakers that it can and should be prioritizing audio to.

I totally agree, and turning off trueplay (and NOT adjusting the suround actually is “better” ……. well less worse because I recall in previous posts, adjusting suround volume on the Sonos app increases both the Rear surround AND the Ultra internal surround speaker……...

J

Jdskidawg

Contributor I

Hi All

Please be assured that the relevant teams are listening, and that a response - and actions - will be coming. I just can’t estimate as to when, precisely.

Could you please get us an update on this?

Corry P

Sonos Staff

Hi @Jdskidawg

I am working on doing so.

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein

Z

Zorro88

Enthusiast II

I‘m done with Sonos. I have been a very loyal Sonos customer for years, but I can‘t wait any much longer to fix this rear channel issue. I thought for a few days about an upgrade to the Era 300 rears, but they are too big for my apartment. Instead I have ordered a Sony Theatre Quad. I will sell my Sonos Arc Ultra in the next days. I‘m looking forward to enjoy rear channel sound again very soon. It‘s very sad that it had to end like this with Sonos…

D

DaytonJohn

Lyricist III

Hi @Jdskidawg

I am working on doing so.

I can’t help but think that over a month since your last update (which only indicated you were working toward an update) that a little more detail would be helpful then, “I am working on doing so”. Even if you cannot predict when a meaningful update might be forthcoming you could explain what hurdles you are having to jump. There must be some defined process with quantifiable steps and elapsed time-monitoring that at least allows Sonos to manage mitigation/resolution. Please think of your personal perception of a supplier who merely says, “I’m working on it” when an update is being requested.

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Arc Ultra and Era 100’s

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