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Contributor I
November 7, 2024
Question

Arc Ultra + Era 100 Surrounds

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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302 replies

Lyricist II
October 4, 2025

Hello.

October 4th 2025.

i have beam gen1 and 2 symfonisk book shelf as rear surrounds.

decided to go for the arc ultra.

when i setup i found the rear symfonisk bookshelves aren’t compatible with arc ultra as surrounds.

So i bit the bullet and bought 2 era 100’s.

All the set up went smooth, so era 100’s are now rear surround, did the full trueplay also.

problem.

im amazed how the surround sound is nowhere near as good-distinct as the old beam gen1 and rear surrounds symfonisk bookshelves.

Actually amazed as I was really looking forward to Amos and generally better surround with this brand new and expensive setup.

the arc ultra and both era 100’s went through updates when I first set them up obviously.

 

my tv has arc hdmi for the arc ultra, not e arc hdmi.

but that’s exactly what the beam gen 1 was plugged into .

just disappointed the new era 10@‘s are so weak and not anywhere near as effective as the old ‘ incompatible ‘ symfonisk bookshelves.

 

 

 

 

Lyricist III
October 4, 2025

So sorry you fell for the same hyped advertisement of Sonos as myself. It was the worst €2000 spent in my life and I am 69 yrs old. 
even back 15 yrs ago my surround was so much superior 

what a shame 

Lyricist II
October 9, 2025

I had arc and play ones with sub . This was so good and now replacedx the arc with ultra and surrounds with era100’s and the moves  don’t feel full . I watched the same movies that i would love watching on atmos with the old arc and some of the sounds that would come from the arc and surrounds are not even there anymore . it feels like a massive improvement in speech clarity coming from center speakers , but when iam watching a action scene it feels so bland. 

Lyricist III
October 9, 2025

It’s a shame the Sonos know about this massive issue about the surround and they still keep selling the system. 
i really would have thought they send an upgrade to the system. 
 

SHAME TO SONOS

AjTrek1
October 9, 2025

​@ocramb   ​ ​@johnyfriend  ​@Bruceyboylondon 

Have you guys ran a diagnostic within 10 minutes of the sound degradation? If not you should and make note of the reference ID number ( do not publish it in the community). Call Sonos Tech Support to discuss the data.

BTW.. system and controller updates are now available on a phased rollout. You might also check to see if they are available in your region. If not they should be soon.

Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.
Lyricist II
November 6, 2025

Hello, is the problem solved yet?
I have an ARC ULTRA and I'm thinking of adding two 100's for rear speakers.
Thanks.

Stanley_4
Grand Maestro
November 6, 2025

Mine are working fine and the last activity on this topic is a month old.

Redjenko
Contributor I
November 6, 2025

Kin ell, Sonos Arc and two Era 100’s complete with stands arriving tomorrow. Looking through this thread, I may pretend not to be home. Was really looking forward to setting everything up ….. Has anyone got any positive opinions on this ?? All seems doom and gloom

Stanley_4
Grand Maestro
November 6, 2025

If you go back far enough you can find a host of problems that have been fixed. Seems silly but if you are worried about things that are no longer being reported there are plenty of them.

jgatie
November 6, 2025

Kin ell, Sonos Arc and two Era 100’s complete with stands arriving tomorrow. Looking through this thread, I may pretend not to be home. Was really looking forward to setting everything up ….. Has anyone got any positive opinions on this ?? All seems doom and gloom

 

Reading this forum is like going to the hospital, you look around and everyone seems to be sick.  Also, much of what you see in this thread can be attributed to a misunderstanding of how an Atmos system operates.  People don’t hear every driver firing off at all times and they think they are getting ripped off because “the speakers I paid for aren’t getting used”.  When what is really going on is that particular driver doesn’t get used in that particular room because the room analysis doesn’t require it.