Contributor I

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First Sonos System

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Hello all!

This is first time posting and first Sonos system. I am in the process of finishing out my basement and creating a theater room. I currently have an ARC, 2 subs, 2 in wall speakers, 2 in ceiling speakers and 2 amps. The plan is mount the ARC under the TV with the 2 in wall speakers on each side of the TV and use the ceilings as rears.

First question - Will the above set up even work?

Second question - Can I add another pair of in ceiling speakers (with another amp I’m guessing) and create a left and right pair for the rears?

Third question - Is there a better way to do this? lol

Thanks!

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AirgetlamAnswer

You can create your own pairs with the Sonos Amp. What you can’t do is break out a Front Channel Center using the Sonos software. As indicated, if you want to use the Amp to drive your own speakers as the “front” of a Home Theater system, you’ll get the generated, not physical, center channel, created by the combination of the signals generated by the right and left.

As previously said, Sonos does not offer a discrete center channel solution, they’re all either generated by combining right and left, or physical, but enclosed in the sound bars offered by Sonos,

I’d tend to agree with Danny here. At this point, you may be better off using the Sonos somewhere else in your home, and go with a wired solution in this particular room.

Bruce

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melvimbe

Everything is brand new in the boxes. I was gifted 85% of the items and purchased a few myself. I don't think I can return the gifted items. I have a few locations already pre-wired and can wire up another location or two if needed. First time using Sonos and kinda surprised I can’t create whatever system I want. I would think with the amps I create my own pairs, etc.

Would a better option be to use Era 300’s as the rears?

There are numerous reasons why Sonos doesn’t allow you to set up any number of speakers in any weird configuration you may dream up, but it basically sums to Sonos wanting to offer a good reliable system for you.

For rear surrounds, anything coming from behind you and head level is going to sound better than ceiling speakers. Those can be in wall speakers (amp), bookshelf speakers, ikea symfonisk speakers, Sonos Ones, Era 100s or Era 300s. Era 300s would be the best option, but I personally and rather happy with using Sonos Ones. That said, I don’t have a dedicated theatre room or optimal position to place Era 300s.

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Danny

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bgbrownAuthor

Contributor I

Has anyone watched this yet?

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melvimbe

I have not watched that particular video, but familiar with Peter Pees videos. He does a good job of evaluating Sonos products and features, and wireless audio systems in general,

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Danny

Airgetlam

I’m not a regular watcher of Mr. Pee’s videos, but have watched many of them in the past, just not this one. Having watched the first 3 or 5 minutes of it, I’d argue with him that using ceiling speakers as rear home theater surrounds is not the ideal setup. But sound is a personal thing, if he likes it, that’s absolutely fine. That kind of placement for surrounds is just not for me.

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Bruce

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bgbrownAuthor

Contributor I

Why does it say this was answered? I’m not done

Instead of the in ceiling speakers as my rears can I use my in wall speakers I was planning on using for the front as in wall rears which can be ear height?

or do I use era 300s for the rears with the subs and Arc and use all these in wall/ceiling speakers for “music”?

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Airgetlam

Sometimes, the forum moderators mark an ‘answer’, or the original poster can. I know I’ve accidentally hit that button before on some of my threads, but the regulars who are replying here won’t look at that.

You could use the in wall speakers as rear surrounds, but then you’d be missing out on any Atmos effects that you could get from the Era 300s.

If it were me, I would still go with an Arc, a Sub, and Era 300s as surrounds. If you get a third generation sub, rather than an older version (effectively the same sound profile) you could then decide to get a second Sub ( either 2nd or 3rd gen).

I would use the in wall speakers, and the in ceiling speakers as music only devices, each connected to their own Amp.

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Bruce

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bgbrownAuthor

Contributor I

Ok thanks. I prefer the discreteness of the in walls but I guess I’ll have to decide. Can I mount the Eras on the ceiling and face them downwards?

I have 2 gen 3 subs already.

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bgbrownAuthor

Contributor I

New day. New question.

Can

I pair one in wall and one in ceiling speaker to create a Right or Left? I would only need 1 Amp right? Which is the Arc’s limit correct?

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Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

The Amp does not have any issues with that.

The sound may be a bit odd though.

I’m not a fan of knocking holes in the room to try out how a setup sounds, changing your mind is usually expensive and often ugly as the patch won’t blend perfectly. In your situation I’d be tempted to get an inexpensive Sonos pair and try placing them as close as possible to where you intend to cut holes. A pair of One SLs, 100s or even a used set of Play 1s is going to be cheaper than a hole patching project.

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