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Contributor I
October 29, 2024
Answered

Arc Ultra + Sub Gen 3 : Sub less powerful than before !?

Hi,

I just replaced my Beam (Gen 2) by a Sonos Arc Ultra, in my home theatre system.

But now, the Sub Gen 3 seems to be a lot less powerful.

Before, with the Beam, when I pushed the Sub level adjustment to +2 or +3, i was able to balst the entire room… Now, even if I choose +8 on the Sub level adjustment, I feel it but very light. I can’t have the same “bass blast effect”.

Obviously, I completely reinstalled the system in the App and reseted each element of my home theatre system when I installed the Arc Ultra (included x2 Era 100 at the back).

Does anyone knows why this is happening (maybe someone at Sonos)...?

Thanks a lot.

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Corry P
Corry PAnswer
Sonos Staff
January 6, 2025

Hi ​@Matclane et al

We now consider this issue to have been resolved. Please ensure your Sonos system is up-to-date, and if you still experience this issue, please get in touch with our technical support team to report as much.

I hope this helps.

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

63 replies

Headliner II
November 14, 2024

Anyone tested trueplay with the new app update, looks like it’s fixed this issue going by the what’s new in app update and reports from other people.

MatclaneAuthor
Contributor I
November 23, 2024

Anyone tested trueplay with the new app update, looks like it’s fixed this issue going by the what’s new in app update and reports from other people.

I don't dare to update the app for now, I see a lot of negative comments...

Stanley_4
Grand Maestro
November 23, 2024

If you are on the previous app then not updating is a good idea.

If you are on the new app updating is almost always good.

Airgetlam
November 23, 2024

If you’re using the Arc Ultra, per the title of this thread, then yes, you should update. 

Bruce
MatclaneAuthor
Contributor I
November 23, 2024

In fact im up to date.

Lyricist I
November 26, 2024

This is hugely frustrating, especially after dealing with a poor app experience for months. 
 

Upgraded an Arc to an Ultra and bought two additional 3rd-gen subs. No bass. The subs are alive (vibrate slightly to the touch) but volume is imperceptibly low. Turning the sub audio on and off in settings makes no difference. 
 

Overall sound quality is not as good as the Playbar + 2x gen2 subs we have in the other living room. 
 

Feeling really […] about my $2000+ upgrade right now, Sonos. 
 

Contributor I
November 26, 2024

Same issue here.

 

I got an Arc + 2x Era 300 + Sub Gen 3 setup and upgraded it with Arc Ultra to get an even worse performance on bass.

I was hoping to finally get metter mid-low bass frequencies in music play - which is totally missing for Arc.

 

But I was disappointed. Sonos is dropiing unfinished crap on the market and we shall now wait until our return periods are over so that they don’t have to fix it anymore wand we are stuck with out crap…

Sorry. Thats how it feels to me.

 

Arc is technically capable to deliver better sound quality on music but it does not and it gives me nearly no control.

And if I tune Bass by cranking it up, to get better music experience, I have an issue when watching TV because bass is too high then.

Such a stupid setup...

Lyricist II
December 12, 2024

Glad I came across this thread. I just reached out to support regarding this exact issue and referenced this thread. Just going to copy/paste the email I sent below as it succinctly summarizes my situation as a Sonos user with multiple home theater configurations:

 

“Hi there. I would like to confirm that I have in fact received all my items. However, I think I am in need of additional assistance. I have a couple other Sonos home theater setups in my house, including one in the living room very similar to the one I just purchased, only it is an Arc (original) + 2 Sub Gen 3 + 2 Sonos Five for surrounds, compared to the Arc Ultra + 2 Sub Gen 4 + 2 Era 300 I just bought. I also have a Beam Gen 2 + Sub Gen 3 + Sonos Ones for surrounds in the master bedroom. I have gotten everything setup in the upstairs office with my new purchase, and I must say, compared to my other two setups, I am thoroughly underwhelmed. I have been spending the better part of the last two days trying to re-tune and play with settings and positioning and various source content, and no matter what I do, the whole system sounds anemic compared to my other two. I've moved subs around the room in various placements, tried with the tune and without etc. and it just lacks an "oomph" to it that the other two have. Even more puzzlingly, this is the smallest of the three rooms, so I would expect this new setup to be even more impactful. Just now I was testing it out with a bass heavy track on Apple Music and then compared it to the room with only one Sub Gen 3 and the Beam and it blows this newer more expensive setup away. I have found this thread on the Sonos forums that seems to describe accurately what I am experiencing.

 

Arc Ultra + Sub Gen 3 : Sub less powerful than before !? | Sonos Community

 

Is it the Ultra that is the source of this issue? If so I'm kind of regretting spending more for it when the proven Arc has been on sale for even cheaper. Please help. I am a Sonos evangelist and someone with a very expensive traditional home theater setup which sounds amazing, but given the cost and complexity, I always tell people I'd always spring for a Sonos setup instead of doing it all over again with a traditional AV Receiver setup. I genuinely love my other Sonos products, but so far this new setup has got me feeling down about my new purchase.  Even in bombastic scenes of various movies/games where my other setups are rattling the walls, I have to literally put my hand onto the inner portion of the subs to verify that they are even playing is how weak they sound.”

 

One other important note I forgot to mention in the email but I feel is important, is that on the other systems, my wife and I seldom go over 30-35 as it is getting too loud. I feel like with the newer setup I’m pushing closer to 50+ before it starts to sound remotely similar, although the low end still lacks that movie theater rumble my other setups produce. All setups are on recent LG OLED panels with eARC, all using Apple TV 4K for main TV viewing. 

 

Was playing Space Marine 2 on PS5 Pro on the living room setup, and just walking around in the hangar, the power armor’s heavy thuds can be felt. Played it upstairs on an identical TV, also on a PS5 Pro, and the low end just doesn’t sound nearly as good. I was honestly expecting this setup to be overkill for the office size considering how incredible a similar setup sounds in a much larger area with tall, vaulted ceilings. 

 

App, software, system are all up-to-date.

Contributor I
December 12, 2024

I sold my ultra. I don’t agree being a lab rat over and over again whiel sonos is making money in a premum price segment selling a system that actually is not working correctly together with their own components.

Don’t get me wrong. I stilly love my system but the upgrade experience to ultra is very disappointing.

Lyricist II
December 17, 2024

Update from me and my situation:

I ended up returning the Arc Ultra back to Sonos and bought a regular Arc while they are still on sale at Best Buy.

There is something going on with the Arc Ultra with sound quality, loudness and an overall lack of bass and surrounds in my system. It’s like the Arc Ultra is trying to handle frequencies the dual subs should be taking care of and the surround sound on the Era 300s doesn’t sound right. There are several issues with this soundbar and I’m not planning on being a troubleshooter/QA tester after Sonos gets back from holiday and my return period has expired.

First time I’ve returned a product back to Sonos, hopefully it goes smoothly and quickly; I’ve read a number of customer service nightmares on this forum.

My advice for any other prospective Ultra buyers? Wait until next holiday season, and hopefully by then whatever issues that are plaguing this thing are ironed out. As someone with multiple Sonos surround systems, the Ultra was a downgrade. Save yourself $300 and get an Arc while they are on sale.