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Contributor I
June 18, 2021

Dialogue on Sonos Arc

I purchased the Bose 700 and Bass Module 700.  After reading all the reviews and comparing Bose and Sonos on paper and watching videos… I made the decision to take it back and get the Sonos Arc and Gen 3 Sub.  Not sure if I made the right decision.  It’s possible I don’t have the settings set correctly?  The dialogue on several shows and movies is hard to hear as it is drowned out by background and action noises.. I tuned it with my iPhone and it’s better but not by much at all.  The night mode and voice enhancement are terrible together so not going to be using those.  Voice enhancement along doesn’t make a huge difference at all.  In regards to the dialogue the Bose 700 is WAY better, in my opinion.  Unless there’s a setting that I’m just missing??  I understand every room and listening experience is going to be different for every user but, is there a “general setting” I can start off with to help with dialogue??  I know with the Bose 700 I could turn the center speaker up and down for better dialogue but not seeing that feature on the Sonos app.  I’m debating taking this back and getting the Bose 700 again.  Will it ever be possible that Sonos will add this feature that their Bose competitor already offers?  Love the Sonos with the volume up but, it’s useless at lower volume.  My wife will be requesting I take it back and get the Bose 700 if this can’t be fixed or if there’s not a plan in place by Sonos to fix this issue.  She loves the Boss 700 features.  Sonos is seriously lacking in this area.  Any advice?

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19 replies

Lead Maestro
June 18, 2021

Sonos hasn’t announced any plans to add center channel audio level control, but this doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen. So Night Sound, Speech Enhancement, Trueplay tuning, and adjusting the EQ settings are pretty much your only options.

I would suggest borrowing a different model iPhone or iPad from a friend or relative and redoing Trueplay tuning. Some users have had some success using other iOS devices that gave them better results.

How are you watching movies and shows? From streaming services? What audio is the Arc playing? Stereo or Dolby Digital/Dolby Atmos?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
Bax35Author
Contributor I
June 18, 2021

I tuned it with an iPhone 12 Pro.  It tuned it nicely but the dialogue just isn’t where I’d like it to be. That’s just a personal preference I wish Sonos would allow me to control like Bose does. In regards to your questions… I use Apple TV 4K. The latest model. I have it connected directly to my Samsung ES8000 tv using hdmi arc. TV is an older model but it does have arc. I watch Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, YouTube TV, Amazon. I haven’t really witnessed atmos as of yet but I may not have watched something that supports it yet either. My main concern right now is dialogue and wishing there was a way to control the center speaker. If I can’t control that then I feel it’s a bust and back to Bose I go. Don’t want to as the Sonos at louder volume rocks! But happy wife happy life.

Bax35Author
Contributor I
June 18, 2021

How do I know if it’s in stereo mode or Dolby Digital/Dolby Atmos?

Lead Maestro
June 18, 2021

On the Now Playing screen in the Sonos app, it will display what audio is currently playing:


The reason why I ask is because you may get improved dialog if you are listening to multi-channel audio rather than stereo.

In the Apple TV audio format settings, be sure to set Change Format to On and choose Dolby Digital 5.1.

FYI… your TV is not capable of passing through Dolby Atmos audio. It may not even pass through 5.1 audio.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
Bax35Author
Contributor I
June 18, 2021

I made the changes for audio on my Apple TV but I’m still playing in Stereo. I’m playing Avengers End Game and I know that is in Dolby Atmos on Disney+. Per Sonos, if the tv has hdmi arc then I can get Atmos and 5.1 but, you’re saying I can’t?

Bax35Author
Contributor I
June 18, 2021

 

Lead Maestro
June 18, 2021

If your TV has HDMI ARC it may be able to pass through Dolby Atmos. But because your TV is older (2012), I guarantee that it can’t. Also, in order to get Dolby Atmos audio from an Apple TV 4K, you need a TV equipped with HDMI eARC or get an HDFury Arcana eARC adapter. I use the Arcana because my TV is from 2013 and can only pass through stereo audio. Your TV is even older than mine, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it was also limited to passing through stereo audio only.

What are your TV’s audio settings set to?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
Bax35Author
Contributor I
June 18, 2021

Well, that’s a bummer.  I’ve been looking to upgrade my tv to OLED but not for another year or so.  Is this HDFury Arcana or anything like it at BestBuy? 

The speaker settings on my tv are set to External Speakers.  The audio format is set to PCM.  There is an option for Dolby Digital but it’s grayed out and I can’t select it.  I don’t know why.

Lead Maestro
June 18, 2021

The HDFury Arcana is the only eARC adapter that I am aware of, and you can only purchase it directly from their website or on eBay from a third-party seller. HDFury ships quickly from Taiwan and they have fantastic customer service.
https://hdfury.com/product/4k-arcana-18gbps/

If you can figure out how to change the audio format from PCM to Dolby Digital, that might help.

Have you tried testing Netflix or VUDU from your TV’s native apps to see if they can play in Dolby Digital audio?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
Bax35Author
Contributor I
June 18, 2021

Yes, I have to no avail.  It keeps reading PCM Stereo.  I haven’t a clue how to change the audio format from PCM to Dolby Digital.  I’ve tried everything that I can think of and it’s continuously grayed out.  I would think that if it’s on there then there is a way to select it.  The Sonos Arc does come with an hdmi/optical converter.  Can I get Dolby Atmos / Digital this way?