First things first. This is not a rant. This is an expalation of a problem, which reduces the experience in 3D audio a lot. For background: I'm a sound engineer and music producer and I don't wanna sound arrogant, but I know what I'm talking about. (I'm a really nice and funny guy :D)
So lets get to the problem then :D
NO I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE FRONT FACING DRIVER
for better understanding watch this VIDEO
This bug appeared the moment I switched the Arc with the Arc Ultra. Before I made the switch I was on the 16.1 app and firmware. So I don't know if the Ultra causes the problem or the app/firmware. Before the switch everything was running as it should.
So, since there is not much of a topic around this, I'm curious if I am still one of a few who have this bug or one of a few who noticed it.
I made this post in Reddit, but not everyone is on Reddit and the more people know, the faster Sonos can work on it. Reddit discussion
I didn't saw any review which mentioned it.
As you can see in the video, the rear driver is completly silenent when the Era 300's are paired with the Arc Ultra. Also Truplay isn't "sweeping" the driver either. (Timestamp 0:44)
So the mesurement isn't right.
First I thought it could be a feature instead of a bug, but it doens't fit the Dolby Atmos recommendations like this. You won't get sound from "behind" your seating position.
And I remember Sonos self promoted it how it should work, where the rear driver is playing.
DOLBY ATMOS LAYOUT
Sound from side driver/channel should boucing off your side walls, rear driver/channel bouncing off the back wall of your seating position and height channel obviosly bouncing off your ceiling. Thats why you should position them facing forward. At the moment you don't get the immersion that sound is coming from behind you, since the driver is silent.
I tested every setting, played the Dolby Atmos testfile (MKV KTrueHD Atmos] and MP4 PEAC3 + joc Atmos]) from different sources (TV Plex app, Nvidia Shield, from a USB through TV) Same result everytime.
If someone could test this behavior and can confirm this, it would be very nice. Sonos can't fix something they don't know and if most people doens't recognize doens't mean something isn't wrong.
Currently I'm running app version 80.12.04 (Android) and 80.12.03 (iPhone) and firmware version 81.1-58210.
If you don't have this problem, what version are you running?
And last but not least: IF this ever getting fixed, the experience with Arc Ultra and Era 300 will be much better! I love my Sonos products soundwise and Arc Ultra is sounding really good, but it could be much better.
Have a nice day
A speaker for $350 with only 20% of the drivers working is just ridiculous. Especially the wait(not even for a fix), but just for a response! This is not normal.
The fact that only Corry can reply and his response needed to be approved is really telling in itself. I wonder if they fired the PR and customer service teams in the latest round.
I have no complaints about Corry. He did a great job! This is not his responsibility! If it werenв't for him, Sonos wouldn't have had any idea about what was happening!
Me either. It sounds like his hands are tied and from his last reply he was getting a bit pissed that we would even ask for an update after another two weeks of silence.
I have no complaints about Corry. He did a great job! This is not his responsibility! If it werenв't for him, Sonos wouldn't have had any idea about what was happening!
While true, it’s really hard to say if this will even reach the right people (let alone just make it through this approval process to get corrys message read) and a correction will take place.
its pushing a month and a half now.
At this point i honestly feel like i wasted my money going with sonos. The only piece which i feel is great is the sub4, arc ultra is pretty good and era 300s are absolute trash right now. I only use them for movies, have a separate hi-fi for Music so i cannot comment on that.
really disappointed by how this was handled
At this point i honestly feel like i wasted my money going with sonos. The only piece which i feel is great is the sub4, arc ultra is pretty good and era 300s are absolute trash right now. I only use them for movies, have a separate hi-fi for Music so i cannot comment on that.
really disappointed by how this was handled
the upside is when you sell your gear you’ll nearly get all of your money back.
im still debating as we speak. I may go with Bravia quad as a new subwoofer is supposed to release this year. At least I know all the drivers work accordingly on the quads lmao.
At this point i honestly feel like i wasted my money going with sonos. The only piece which i feel is great is the sub4, arc ultra is pretty good and era 300s are absolute trash right now. I only use them for movies, have a separate hi-fi for Music so i cannot comment on that.
really disappointed by how this was handled
the upside is when you sell your gear you’ll nearly get all of your money back.
im still debating as we speak. I may go with Bravia quad as a new subwoofer is supposed to release this year. At least I know all the drivers work accordingly on the quads lmao.
that’s why i kept all the boxes, if they don’t fix the mess they Made i’ll also look into orge options. Bravia quad is already much better as a home theather, just not a fan of the looks
At this point i honestly feel like i wasted my money going with sonos. The only piece which i feel is great is the sub4, arc ultra is pretty good and era 300s are absolute trash right now. I only use them for movies, have a separate hi-fi for Music so i cannot comment on that.
really disappointed by how this was handled
the upside is when you sell your gear you’ll nearly get all of your money back.
im still debating as we speak. I may go with Bravia quad as a new subwoofer is supposed to release this year. At least I know all the drivers work accordingly on the quads lmao.
that’s why i kept all the boxes, if they don’t fix the mess they Made i’ll also look into orge options. Bravia quad is already much better as a home theather, just not a fan of the looks
I share these sentiments entirely. The boxes were destined for the loft, but I’m keeping them handy. This situation is heading downhill fast.
At this point i honestly feel like i wasted my money going with sonos. The only piece which i feel is great is the sub4, arc ultra is pretty good and era 300s are absolute trash right now. I only use them for movies, have a separate hi-fi for Music so i cannot comment on that.
really disappointed by how this was handled
the upside is when you sell your gear you’ll nearly get all of your money back.
im still debating as we speak. I may go with Bravia quad as a new subwoofer is supposed to release this year. At least I know all the drivers work accordingly on the quads lmao.
that’s why i kept all the boxes, if they don’t fix the mess they Made i’ll also look into orge options. Bravia quad is already much better as a home theather, just not a fan of the looks
I share these sentiments entirely. The boxes were destined for the loft, but I’m keeping them handy. This situation is heading downhill fast.
Being its getting much closer to the 60day mark now since Corry’s response about approval - I feel it’s safer to assume this “issue” will not get resolved any time soon (if at all).
The Arc Ultra has been out 4 months and this still hasn’t been corrected…
@MarkJnf this will likely take months to resolve. This is Sonos’ approach to a problem…
1.Release a product with minimum testing
- Ignore the problem when it was noted by users, saying it was by design…
- Continue to advise users it’s by design
- Only take notice when it starts to affect sales and reviews
- Promise that they are looking at the problem
- Continue to promise they are looking at a problem…
- Wait several months…
- Promise a resolution is coming…
- Fix the problem (I have never seen this stage yet…)
@MarkJnf this will likely take months to resolve. This is Sonos’ approach to a problem…
1.Release a product with minimum testing
- Ignore the problem when it was noted by users, saying it was by design…
- Continue to advise users it’s by design
- Only take notice when it starts to affect sales and reviews
- Promise that they are looking at the problem
- Continue to promise they are looking at a problem…
- Wait several months…
- Promise a resolution is coming…
- Fix the problem (I have never seen this stage yet…)
YouTuber’s Never enough tech and Andrew Robinson need to increase the exposure of this issue. No youtuber’s have mentioned this era 300 concern. Nothing from the verge either.
We need a Chris Welch from the Verge to write something about this. Chris.. we’re on page 15 and getting nowhere with this issue. Help us out. I just heard you say on a vergecast that you regularly check in on Sonos and Reddit forums to see how it’s going for fellow users.
@MarkJnf this will likely take months to resolve. This is Sonos’ approach to a problem…
1.Release a product with minimum testing
- Ignore the problem when it was noted by users, saying it was by design…
- Continue to advise users it’s by design
- Only take notice when it starts to affect sales and reviews
- Promise that they are looking at the problem
- Continue to promise they are looking at a problem…
- Wait several months…
- Promise a resolution is coming…
- Fix the problem (I have never seen this stage yet…)
#9 Made me giggle hahahah
We need a Chris Welch from the Verge to write something about this. Chris.. we’re on page 15 and getting nowhere with this issue. Help us out. I just heard you say on a vergecast that you regularly check in on Sonos and Reddit forums to see how it’s going for fellow users.
Why, though? Sonos produces the Era 300’s for different uses and has decided in all their wisdom that turning off some speakers in some set ups sounds best. Apart from the fact that they could have been more open about this, why do you not trust them this is indeed the best option? Good sound is more than having a lot af speakers.
We need a Chris Welch from the Verge to write something about this. Chris.. we’re on page 15 and getting nowhere with this issue. Help us out. I just heard you say on a vergecast that you regularly check in on Sonos and Reddit forums to see how it’s going for fellow users.
Why, though? Sonos produces the Era 300’s for different uses and has decided in all their wisdom that turning off some speakers in some set ups sounds best. Apart from the fact that they could have been more open about this, why do you not trust them this is indeed the best option? Good sound is more than having a lot af speakers.
because they used to sound MUCH better than they do now, is this a sufficient answer?
We need a Chris Welch from the Verge to write something about this. Chris.. we’re on page 15 and getting nowhere with this issue. Help us out. I just heard you say on a vergecast that you regularly check in on Sonos and Reddit forums to see how it’s going for fellow users.
Why, though? Sonos produces the Era 300’s for different uses and has decided in all their wisdom that turning off some speakers in some set ups sounds best. Apart from the fact that they could have been more open about this, why do you not trust them this is indeed the best option? Good sound is more than having a lot af speakers.
because they used to sound MUCH better than they do now, is this a sufficient answer?
I’m curious: is that a measured, empirical “better”, with datum to support the statement, or a subjective view?
We need a Chris Welch from the Verge to write something about this. Chris.. we’re on page 15 and getting nowhere with this issue. Help us out. I just heard you say on a vergecast that you regularly check in on Sonos and Reddit forums to see how it’s going for fellow users.
Why, though? Sonos produces the Era 300’s for different uses and has decided in all their wisdom that turning off some speakers in some set ups sounds best. Apart from the fact that they could have been more open about this, why do you not trust them this is indeed the best option? Good sound is more than having a lot af speakers.
because they used to sound MUCH better than they do now, is this a sufficient answer?
I’m curious: is that a measured, empirical “better”, with datum to support the statement, or a subjective view?
let me answer you with another question: let’s say you’re watching a movie and a a car passes behind the scene. Would you be happy hearing the car noise come from the ceiling?
I’m curious: is that a measured, empirical “better”, with datum to support the statement, or a subjective view?
let me answer you with another question: let’s say you’re watching a movie and a a car passes behind the scene. Would you be happy hearing the car noise come from the ceiling?
This is exactly right. No one is saying that the surround experience is not good, but it’s should be better based on the 300’s capabilities and the experience that Sonos initially sold us. The Atmos sound stage is designed around have a right/left rear channel which the 300’s were built to and can produce. But now the 300’s simulate that channel by using the rear height and right/left side channels together. Therefore, everything behind and above you sounds the same.
let me answer you with another question: let’s say you’re watching a movie and a a car passes behind the scene. Would you be happy hearing the car noise come from the ceiling?
If Sonos says this is how it's meant to be, it doesn't matter about industry standards, absolutely they'd be happy. How dare you question a Sonos implementation…..
Until Sonos change and then they ‘listened’. It doesn't matter if they had stayed that way had such things not been challenged/questioned.
@superlollo But is this really the case? Yes, with test sounds this is what’s happening, but it would be odd if you’d notice this when playing movies and Sonos would still say this leads to a better experience.
“The Era 300 plays rear channel audio through its height array.
This, too, is by design. The Era 300’s DSP (Digital Signal Processing) leverages either the rear height tweeter OR the outward-facing tweeter/woofer to create the intended sound experience. Because of this, when you play the Dolby test track, you might notice that rear height channel as being active during rear-channel playback. This is expected.”
I’m not saying you may not question Sonos’ choices. But why buy an expensive system if you do not like those choices?
@superlollo But is this really the case? Yes, with test sounds this is what’s happening, but it would be odd if you’d notice this when playing movies and Sonos would still say this leads to a better experience.
“The Era 300 plays rear channel audio through its height array.
This, too, is by design. The Era 300’s DSP (Digital Signal Processing) leverages either the rear height tweeter OR the outward-facing tweeter/woofer to create the intended sound experience. Because of this, when you play the Dolby test track, you might notice that rear height channel as being active during rear-channel playback. This is expected.”
I’m not saying you may not question Sonos’ choices. But why buy an expensive system if you do not like those choices?
Sonos can’t even be consistent with their replies on how Era 300s work in surround mode between Reddit and here.
@superlollo But is this really the case? Yes, with test sounds this is what’s happening, but it would be odd if you’d notice this when playing movies and Sonos would still say this leads to a better experience.
“The Era 300 plays rear channel audio through its height array.
This, too, is by design. The Era 300’s DSP (Digital Signal Processing) leverages either the rear height tweeter OR the outward-facing tweeter/woofer to create the intended sound experience. Because of this, when you play the Dolby test track, you might notice that rear height channel as being active during rear-channel playback. This is expected.”
I’m not saying you may not question Sonos’ choices. But why buy an expensive system if you do not like those choices?
That is not how the Era 300’s were advertised when I purchased mine, the rear channel utilised the inner woofer and side utilised the outer woofer only the height utilised the height tweeter, there was official information on there website and videos explaing that is how they worked, since this FAULT occurred Sonos has taken all that information and videos down and have now dug their heels in with this new narrative, I'm sorry but trying to call people out and suggesting they are at fault for buying them is nothing more than gaslighting....
