@dominiklei Did that Sonos employee explain why the inside driver doesn’t fire when playing a non-Atmos 7.1 test tones audio track? The rear surround channel still plays from the top driver.
Same reason as with Dolby Atmos. It should give a (better with Atmos) 3D sound immersion.
Edit: In my opinion, the movie makers or audio engineer from the movie know what they do and Sonos don't need to "improve" immersion of movies and series.
If a car comes from behind, it shouldn't come from my ceiling 
Are Sonos support in Germany really trying to tell people that their 900 euro pair of rear speakers only work through 50% of the actual drivers and that’s the way it’s meant to be? what next playing all the audio through the top firing speaker only?
Are Sonos support in Germany really trying to tell people that their 900 euro pair of rear speakers only work through 50% of the actual drivers and that’s the way it’s meant to be? what next playing all the audio through the top firing speaker only?
I think they missunderstood and thought he was asking about the common “front driver” “issue”
@dominiklei Did that Sonos employee explain why the inside driver doesn’t fire when playing a non-Atmos 7.1 test tones audio track? The rear surround channel still plays from the top driver.
Same reason as with Dolby Atmos. It should give a 3D sound immersion.
So according to them, the inside driver is never utilized when playing a 7.1 or Dolby Atmos audio track?
Are Sonos support in Germany really trying to tell people that their 900 euro pair of rear speakers only work through 50% of the actual drivers and that’s the way it’s meant to be? what next playing all the audio through the top firing speaker only?
As I understood, he or his theam talked with the main team. But I don't know for sure.
Thats why I asked @Corry P a few post before.
@dominiklei Did that Sonos employee explain why the inside driver doesn’t fire when playing a non-Atmos 7.1 test tones audio track? The rear surround channel still plays from the top driver.
Same reason as with Dolby Atmos. It should give a 3D sound immersion.
So according to them, the inside driver is never utilized when playing a 7.1 or Dolby Atmos audio track?
The inside tweeter doesn't play, yes. The inside midrange driver should work. I don't hear that, if they work, they are so quite, that I can't hear anything from them at my seating position.
Just logged in to mention that I’m experiencing the same issue—Arc Ultra with Era 300. This is unbelievable. It’s like buying a Ferrari and discovering it’s limited to 50 mph driving on 4 cylinders, because some engineers didn’t have time to activate the other four cylinders.
Well I have until mid January to return all this garbage. So I’ll leave some room for Sonos to redeem themselves - if at all - and correct the issue
Are Sonos support in Germany really trying to tell people that their 900 euro pair of rear speakers only work through 50% of the actual drivers and that’s the way it’s meant to be? what next playing all the audio through the top firing speaker only?
I think they missunderstood and thought he was asking about the common “front driver” “issue”
No, he is talking what we are discuss in here.
Thats what he wrote (Translated in ChatGPT)
In summary, the behavior you reported aligns with the design conceived by Sonos, where the outer array of the Era 300 is louder than the inner array due to the positioning of the speakers. To ensure that both arrays are perceived as equally loud at the listening position, the inner array has a direct path to the listener, while the outer array's sound is indirect and reflected.
Additionally, the surround audio channels are mixed with the height audio in the upward-facing array. This enhances the sense of immersion in surround content and contributes to the creation of a comprehensive sound bubble, even with 5.1/7.1 content that doesn't include discrete height audio channels.
However, what he discribes is not what I'm hearing. So I don't know who gave him this information. He just delivered it to me.
Just logged in to mention that I’m experiencing the same issue—Arc Ultra with Era 300. This is unbelievable. It’s like buying a Ferrari and discovering it’s limited to 50 mph driving on 4 cylinders, because some engineers didn’t have time to activate the other four cylinders.
Well I have until mid January to return all this garbage. So I’ll leave some room for Sonos to redeem themselves - if at all - and correct the issue
haha I guess it will take mid year, IF they are fixing it at all. I'm really pissed.
Loved my Sonos stuff and it is the best multiroom for me, but with that they f***** it up even more after the App launch. I personally never had a problem with the App tho, but most people had.
Moderator Note: Modified in accordance with the Community Code of Conduct
Just logged in to mention that I’m experiencing the same issue—Arc Ultra with Era 300. This is unbelievable. It’s like buying a Ferrari and discovering it’s limited to 50 mph driving on 4 cylinders, because some engineers didn’t have time to activate the other four cylinders.
Well I have until mid January to return all this garbage. So I’ll leave some room for Sonos to redeem themselves - if at all - and correct the issue
haha I guess it will take mid year, IF they are fixing it at all. I'm really pissed.
Loved my Sonos stuff and it is the best multiroom for me, but with that they f***** it up even more after the App launch. I personally never had a problem with the App tho, but most people had.
Moderator Note: Modified in accordance with the Community Code of Conduct
Yup exactly. Personally, the Bravia quad or just get the damn dragon at this point seem like way better options.
Hell, klipsch flexus 300 is supposed to release soon with DIRAC calibration.
good options out there compared to Sonos.
Are Sonos support in Germany really trying to tell people that their 900 euro pair of rear speakers only work through 50% of the actual drivers and that’s the way it’s meant to be? what next playing all the audio through the top firing speaker only?
I think they missunderstood and thought he was asking about the common “front driver” “issue”
No, he is talking what we are discuss in here.
Thats what he wrote (Translated in ChatGPT)
In summary, the behavior you reported aligns with the design conceived by Sonos, where the outer array of the Era 300 is louder than the inner array due to the positioning of the speakers. To ensure that both arrays are perceived as equally loud at the listening position, the inner array has a direct path to the listener, while the outer array's sound is indirect and reflected.
Additionally, the surround audio channels are mixed with the height audio in the upward-facing array. This enhances the sense of immersion in surround content and contributes to the creation of a comprehensive sound bubble, even with 5.1/7.1 content that doesn't include discrete height audio channels.
This explanation would be accurate if the inside array was actually playing audio. It doesn’t sound like it is currently.
Does your inner speaker make any sound at all? Or is it 100% disabled always?
Like im watching regular TV now, 5.1 pcm and the music is definatelly using the inner speaker
Does your inner speaker make any sound at all? Or is it 100% disabled always?
Like im watching regular TV now, 5.1 pcm and the music is definatelly using the inner speaker
It is always disabled. With stereo (upmix), music and 5.1 only the outside driver is playing and thats how it should be. The inside driver was originally only activ while playing 7.1 or Atmos.
Does your inner speaker make any sound at all? Or is it 100% disabled always?
Like im watching regular TV now, 5.1 pcm and the music is definatelly using the inner speaker
It is always disabled. With stereo (upmix), music and 5.1 only the outside driver is playing and thats how it should be. The inside driver was originally only activ while playing 7.1 or Atmos.
Uuh ok. It is definately playing right now
Does your inner speaker make any sound at all? Or is it 100% disabled always?
Like im watching regular TV now, 5.1 pcm and the music is definatelly using the inner speaker
It is always disabled. With stereo (upmix), music and 5.1 only the outside driver is playing and thats how it should be. The inside driver was originally only activ while playing 7.1 or Atmos.
Uuh ok. It is definately playing right now
Either way - it’s not working for atmos which is what 99% of consumers buy the arc home theater setup for.
Maybe my ears are just bad. When i Play the "natures fury" atmos cinematic intro at least some sound is coming from side. But not the "test file"
Maybe my ears are just bad. When i Play the "natures fury" atmos cinematic intro at least some sound is coming from side. But not the "test file"
I watched a quiet place 2, and the bar scene where John krasinski and his daughter are running from the monster.
you’re supposed to hear the monster from the rear speakers when they run through kitchen, and you hear it right behind them. It shoots from the top channel and not the rears.
Maybe my ears are just bad. When i Play the "natures fury" atmos cinematic intro at least some sound is coming from side. But not the "test file"
Apparently it could be. Thats what they wrote to me in the mail. As I understood the midrange driver on the inside is playing (but really quietly) and instead of the inside tweeter, the upfiring tweeter is playing for the rear channel signal. I'll test that this weekend, but I didn't hear anything from my inside driver.
However, it is still very wrong. Tweeter reflect the sound better from walls since its higher frequencies. The wavelength is shorter and more direct. Thats the reason why Sonos swapt the midrange driver to tweeter with the Arc Ultra in comperison to the original Arc.
If, for example, a car is coming from behind in the movie or series, it sounds like its coming from above.
Edit: The lower the pitch of the sound, the less you can locate where its coming from.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but given Atmos is a positional codec, as opposed to a channel specific codec, aren’t the drivers that are firing given a specific tone dependent on the acoustics of the room and not actually driver specific?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but given Atmos is a positional codec, as opposed to a channel specific codec, aren’t the drivers that are firing given a specific tone dependent on the acoustics of the room and not actually driver specific?
You are correct that Dolby Atmos audio isn’t channel specific, but when playing a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 test tones video, the “position” of the rear surround tone should be played out of the inside firing drivers of the Era 300. At least that’s what it used to do.
This lack of rear surround audio from the inside drivers also occurs when playing a non-Atmos 7.1 test tones video where the audio IS channel specific.
https://www.reddit.com/r/sonos/comments/1261mva/eras_300_arc_714_dolby_truehd_test_file_analysis/
Isnt this guy talking about the same thing? 2 years ago?
edit: i udnerstand his main issue is center channel, but what he describes?
If I’m playing something is 5.1 DD+ or PCM 5.1 will only the outer driver of the Era 300’s be active? am I understanding this correctly? so technically the rear channel audio would be done by just 1 side of a 4 position firing speaker?
If I’m playing something is 5.1 DD+ or PCM 5.1 will only the outer driver of the Era 300’s be active? am I understanding this correctly? so technically the rear channel audio would be done by just 1 side of a 4 position firing speaker?
People said so, Im sure I get sound from inner channel on 5.1 though
If I’m playing something is 5.1 DD+ or PCM 5.1 will only the outer driver of the Era 300’s be active? am I understanding this correctly? so technically the rear channel audio would be done by just 1 side of a 4 position firing speaker?
People said so, Im sure I get sound from inner channel on 5.1 though
Yes I don’t know I’m sure I’m getting audio from more than just the rear drivers….
Technically its like this:
in 5.1 you got only side channels which are playing by the outer driver and tweeter.
in 7.1 you got a side and rear channel. the outer and inner driver and tweeter should be playing.
in Dolby Atmos it is like in 7.1 with the addition of the height tweeter which of course playing height objects.
The Era 300 having 6 drivers each. 2 on every side (driver and tweeter) one tweeter above and one tweeter at the front which is disabled in surround and this is correct.
