**Big WOW Factor** The Gold Standard with a Few Handcuffs

TheWhiteWater: 

 I did try Apple Music for Dolby Atmos (Spacial Audio), but after several tracks had been played the system would go silent yet appear to still be playing.  After the buffer emptied it no longer showed it was playing.  So I started using Amazon Music Unlimited to play Dolby Atmos.  I have not yet had the same issue with Atmos streaming when using Amazon.  The Atmos selection is better on Apple, but playback is not reliable.

 Another problem when using Sonos to stream Atmos is that it is not perfectly “gapless”.  There is not a true gap    ( muted portion ) between tracks that are meant to be seamless.  Instead if the transition is higher in amplitude there is a “bump” at the transition.  This “ bump” is not detectable if the transition occurs during a quiet portion of the music, but if there is a detectable rhythm ( beat ) to the music the “bump” will throw the music out of rhythm.

appreciate the technical history, Buzz. However, my point is less about the network and more about a wider trend of corporate control that is becoming increasingly hostile to the customer.

We are seeing it everywhere: you buy a car, but you can’t use the heated seats unless you pay a monthly subscription. In the same way, the Sonos app often feels like it is prioritising its own ecosystem and premium partnerships over the user’s freedom to simply play their own music. This 'culture of greed' in the tech world is exhausting for the consumer. When I buy premium hardware, I expect the freedom to use it without being steered into specific subscriptions or complex workarounds.

That said, I love the hardware itself. For the first time in my life, I am experiencing movies and music at a truly professional level. I am currently sharing my journey based on the Arc Ultra and Era 300s, which are technological marvels. I haven't yet had the chance to see how the system evolves with the power of the Five speakers or the new Sub 4, but I intend to continue providing this level of honest, deep-dive feedback as I expand. If Sonos is truly looking for authentic, 'real-world' testers to help refine their future releases and bridge the gap between their tech and the user's freedom, I am happy to keep sharing the results of my testing here.

I recognise the trend you are mentioning. Sonos at least has not “enshittified” the option to use your own library - though you could say they haven’t expanded it either (65k limit still in place).

To me your critique still seems very vague. It feels like you mention things and then leave us hanging. Could you expand on your earlier remarks on usability of the app and where you find “the Sonos app (…) feels like it is prioritising its own ecosystem and premium partnerships over the user’s freedom to simply play their own music”? Because, to be honest, apart from the inability to remove Sonos Radio from the list of music services on my system, I don’t see it.

I appreciate your reply, but your argument effectively suggests that we should simply learn to live with limitations and become submissive to a 'control freak' ecosystem. While some are happy to adapt, I believe we should be vocal about the limited freedom we have left as consumers.

My critique is far from vague. For example, I receive audio files through WhatsApp or use alternative platforms to enjoy content without being bombarded by ads. A truly 'premium' and 'open' system should allow me to cast that audio instantly and easily. Instead, Sonos creates an alliance that practically requires a user to have premium subscriptions to third-party apps just to enjoy their hardware to its full potential. To me, that is both illogical and irrational.

The fact that adding my own local files is such a 'long-winded' process … made even more painful now that my external drive has crashed during the attempt … proves that the system is not designed for user independence. It is designed to steer you toward a subscription-based model.

I love the hardware, and I am finally beginning to enjoy music and movies at a level I never thought possible. But that doesn’t mean I have to ignore the 'culture of greed' that prioritises corporate partnerships over human freedom and welfare. I’ve shared my experience with the Arc Ultra and Era 300s so far, and I hope to continue this honest testing with more advanced units like the Five or Sub 4 in the future. It is precisely because the hardware is so good that the software shouldn't be holding it back.

I don’t quite understand this. To play from some third party apps requires some work to integrate the two systems. Should this be provided purely through good will, with Sonos swallowing the cost? Having a two-tier approach gives users the choice. isn’t this a good thing?

Adding a music library shouldn’t be a long-winded process - it sure wasn’t when I set mine up. Maybe your failing drive added to your difficulties? I certainly don’t see a correlation between “I found it difficult” and “you should be using a subscription service”. 
I use my music library, I use Amazon Music, I use Spotify, and I listen to radio stations from several different music-streaming services. Nowhere was I forced or even heavily encouraged to subscribe to be able to use this - obviously I subscribe to Amazon, but that’s not a factor of using Sonos speakers. 

 

I’ve stayed out of this conversation since my first response. However, like others I don’t understand how Sonos is responsible for one having to pay for upgrades in codecs by the likes of Amazon, Apple or Spotify. Sonos at least not at the moment doesn’t seem interested in being a curator of music in the same category as those services I just mentioned. Sonos does make it so that one can choose to subscribe to a service if they desire and integrate with the App.

Setting up a share on Sonos does require a bit of tech savvy. However one needs to know how to do the same on a computer.

As far as your drive failing…how is that a fault of Sonos?

In this community people are always asking for more than what the current offerings or capabilities that Sonos can provide. Some have been implemented and some I suspect are being considered and others will never see the light of day. The bottom-line is no company can be all things to satisfy everyone.

BTW… the Sonos Five is not an advanced unit versus the Era Series. The Sub 4 is just another logical upgrade to the Sub series. The Sub Mini was the last new/advanced introduction in the sub lineup.

I understand that integration has costs, but my point is that the two tier approach often feels more like a pay to play barrier. For instance, you cannot simply play YouTube audio through Sonos unless you have a premium subscription, even though it is a standard function on almost any other wireless speaker. For users who prefer alternative apps to avoid aggressive advertising, Sonos does not even recognize them. This is why I have largely given up on playing music from my phone and have reverted to using my Nvidia Shield Pro for video and music files. It is simply more reliable.

Regarding the music library, the process is far from user friendly for those of us with modern, multi device setups. My music is not on one single machine. I have a work laptop, a business machine, and various drives. The fact that my 3TB drive ended up crashing during the fiddling required to link it to Plex just highlights the lack of simplicity. It shouldn't feel like a challenge to simply link a drive to a premium audio system.

I love the sound of this hardware, and with my Arc Ultra, dual Era 300s, and Sub Gen 3, I am finally enjoying music and movies at a level I never thought possible. But that doesn’t mean I have to ignore the culture of greed that prioritises corporate partnerships over human freedom and welfare. It is precisely because the hardware is so good that the software shouldn't be holding it back.

I have a question for those of you who have made the leap to a dual sub setup. I am currently running a single Sub Gen 3 with my Arc Ultra and Era 300s. I am curious if the Sub 4 actually offers a noticeably better sound experience compared to the Gen 3?

If you have combined a Gen 3 with a Sub 4, or moved from a single to a dual setup, could you please elaborate on the difference it made? I am particularly interested in whether it truly improves the low end detail for music or if it is mainly about the physical impact during movies. Since I only have the one sub at the moment, I would value your real world feedback on whether the investment is actually transformative for a 9.1.4 system.

I think you are missing my point about the difference between a codec and a forced subscription. For example, YouTube Music and its sister apps use the same basic audio codecs for both free and premium tiers. However, Sonos has designed the integration so that it only functions if you have a YouTube Premium account. This isn't a limitation of the audio technology itself, it is a choice to gate the hardware behind a specific third party subscription. Unless I am doing something terribly wrong, Sonos does not allow the use of alternative apps that would provide a similar experience without the "culture of greed" that accompanies these premium alliances.

Regarding the tech savvy requirements, my frustration is that it shouldn't be a challenge for the end user. I use a variety of devices including a work laptop and a business machine, so my music library isn't always accessible from one place. My 3TB drive was working perfectly with my TV before I started fiddling with the network settings and Plex to satisfy the Sonos requirements. I am not blaming Sonos for the hardware failure, but the complexity of the setup certainly didn't help.

That being said, I am still very impressed by the hardware. I am even tempted to try a Sonos Five for my bedroom, as I live in a detached property and don't have to worry about the neighbors. I am curious if it would integrate easily with my Samsung tablet or if I should look for an alternative for that room. Given how much I am enjoying the Arc Ultra set for movies and music, I suspect the Five might offer an amazing experience for a dedicated music space, despite my grievances with the software.

The use of single or dual subs depends on several factors. Some of which are:

• Room Size
• Placement in the open or behind or under a sofa
• Primary use such as movies or music
• EQ adjustment
• Your ear

I use dual subs primarily for movies the extra low end for music for me is not needed. Therefore I have a stereo pair of Fives with a single sub for music in the same room as my HT.

Difference between Sub 3 and 4 IMO does not warrant an upgrade. Although some will claim there is a difference. Here again it depends upon your ear and if the china cups rattle more 😂