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Majo133
Majo133
Renowned Enthusiast I
March 30, 2023

FEATURE REQUEST: Add option to enable "Center speakers" for the ERA's 300, if they are added as surrounds

  • March 30, 2023
  • 133 replies
  • 14725 views

After suggestion by @Corry P in the  Sonos Era 300 wall mount positioning post, where we discussed the issue of ERA’s 300 “center speaker” not playing at all, while added as surrounds.

I asked this:

@Corry P

 

I don’t want to “reach”, but couldn’t there be a toggle to enable the “center driver” for example only for music?

Something like the Surround Audio — Music Playback feature.

So at least in music scenarios, ERAs are not “crippled” in surround setup. Because in “stereo” standalone mode without ARC, they sound much better in my opinion.

 

Corry P replied:

Hi @Majo133 

Perhaps - I recommend you start a new topic making this point and it will be marked as a feature request. Thanks!

 

I am therefore creating this post marked as “Feature request” and i am requesting feature described below.

 

Feature to be added:

“Allow user to manually enable center speakers of the ERA’s 300, if they are added as surrounds to the ARC/BEAM + SUB setup.”

This could be added for example only for music playback, to the section “Sound” --- “Surround Audio” --- “Music Playback” as an option, so user can choose, if he wants all ERA’s 300 speakers to be enabled or not.

Even better if it would function for the rest of the content as Movies/Games, but that might be a stretch and maybe not as easy to implement.

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    133 replies

    Show previous replies
    Guitarguy730
    Lyricist I
    April 5, 2023

    I would love this feature. Whether automatically enabled (driver active when playing music with “full” selected) or available as an option (toggle in the app), I think this feature will make all Era 300 users feel further vindicated in their purchase of such a versatile speaker. 

      Sagara
      Lyricist I
      April 5, 2023

      Personally for me it's a miss and on day one I was confused if I have two defective units, as there was lack or hard to find communication on this matter. Everyone has different rooms, ears and preferences, so I would be very happy if I the user who spends the money could decide myself to turn on/off the center speakers. Why even advertise or showcase the center tweeter if its disabled by default if you pair them as surround!? Anyways, you got my vote and hopefully this matter will not take month to roll out as I’ve seen many others returning the Era 300s or waiting with their purchase until this is fixed.
      Sonos, please listen to the people! 

        dstevens
        dstevens
        Contributor I
        April 5, 2023

        Not only the front driver, but also right side of the right surround speaker and left side of the left surround speaker drivers when playing music.  When using Apple TV 4K to play atmos music, all five drivers are firing.  But not when using the sonos app.  Only the outermost drivers are firing.

          weimin108
          Lyricist III
          April 5, 2023

          +1

          Please implement this +speaker level adjustments as thus far, the ERA 300’s are not as good as the Sonos One’s for gaming.

            Joshiame
            Lyricist I
            April 5, 2023

            Honestly, I am stunned as to how a company like Sonos could not think about it when they are promoting the era 300 as surround speakers. I replaced my one SL pair with era 300 and if this issue is not fixed before the return window expires, they are certainly going back. I feel Sonos is beginning to feel that users are getting locked with their ecosystem and will not leave. Fix this Sonos. If you are even listening.

              rondadams
              Lyricist II
              April 5, 2023

              Not only the front driver, but also right side of the right surround speaker and left side of the left surround speaker drivers when playing music.  When using Apple TV 4K to play atmos music, all five drivers are firing.  But not when using the sonos app.  Only the outermost drivers are firing.

              So we are only getting 4 out of 6 speakers working for music when they are used as surrounds. Is that correct?

                learnmedia
                Lyricist II
                April 5, 2023

                Due to the absence of this feature, I returned my Era 300s. I look forward to owning a pair in the future when the added functionality is implemented. 

                  dstevens
                  dstevens
                  Contributor I
                  April 5, 2023

                  Not only the front driver, but also right side of the right surround speaker and left side of the left surround speaker drivers when playing music.  When using Apple TV 4K to play atmos music, all five drivers are firing.  But not when using the sonos app.  Only the outermost drivers are firing.

                  So we are only getting 4 out of 6 speakers working for music when they are used as surrounds. Is that correct?

                  Correct.  Only one of the side tweeters are firing in each speaker.  It’s hard to tell if one of the side woofers is firing since it’s not as pronounced as the tweeters.  Again, this only happens when using the Sonos app - and not Apple TV 4K (for music).

                    eatzaylove
                    Collaborator I
                    April 5, 2023

                    Not only the front driver, but also right side of the right surround speaker and left side of the left surround speaker drivers when playing music.  When using Apple TV 4K to play atmos music, all five drivers are firing.  But not when using the sonos app.  Only the outermost drivers are firing.

                    So we are only getting 4 out of 6 speakers working for music when they are used as surrounds. Is that correct?

                    Correct.  Only one of the side tweeters are firing in each speaker.  It’s hard to tell if one of the side woofers is firing since it’s not as pronounced as the tweeters.  Again, this only happens when using the Sonos app - and not Apple TV 4K (for music).

                    Wait are you saying all six speakers work with apple tv?

                    dstevens
                    dstevens
                    Contributor I
                    April 5, 2023

                    Not only the front driver, but also right side of the right surround speaker and left side of the left surround speaker drivers when playing music.  When using Apple TV 4K to play atmos music, all five drivers are firing.  But not when using the sonos app.  Only the outermost drivers are firing.

                    So we are only getting 4 out of 6 speakers working for music when they are used as surrounds. Is that correct?

                    Correct.  Only one of the side tweeters are firing in each speaker.  It’s hard to tell if one of the side woofers is firing since it’s not as pronounced as the tweeters.  Again, this only happens when using the Sonos app - and not Apple TV 4K (for music).

                    Wait are you saying all six speakers work with apple tv?

                    No - all five speakers work with ATV.  Fronts never fire when setup as surrounds.

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