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bychin
Contributor I
May 15, 2025
Answered

How to place the rear speakers to create best surround effect?

Hi, I have Arc Ultra in my living room with Sony TV. I am considering to add rear speakers to improve the surround sound effect, ERA 300 is not on my list as the size is big. Hence, I will go for two units of ERA 100. If I just put the ERA 100 on same level as Arc Ultra, the effect wouldn’t be obvious? I will add in sub mini as well in the future. 

 

Really need advices from experienced person or expertise. 

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nik9669aAnswer
Senior Virtuoso
May 15, 2025

Hi, I have Arc Ultra in my living room with Sony TV. I am considering to add rear speakers to improve the surround sound effect, ERA 300 is not on my list as the size is big. Hence, I will go for two units of ERA 100. If I just put the ERA 100 on same level as Arc Ultra, the effect wouldn’t be obvious? I will add in sub mini as well in the future. 

 

Really need advices from experienced person or expertise. 


From the support pages:

 

General Guidelines

  • Ensure both speakers are in the same orientation: vertical or horizontal.
  • Place your surround speakers behind and to the left and right of your usual listening position.

 

Generally, about ear height is considered to be best. 
 

You would probably be better to opt for the larger Sub than the Mini version. 

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2 replies

nik9669aAnswer
Senior Virtuoso
May 15, 2025

Hi, I have Arc Ultra in my living room with Sony TV. I am considering to add rear speakers to improve the surround sound effect, ERA 300 is not on my list as the size is big. Hence, I will go for two units of ERA 100. If I just put the ERA 100 on same level as Arc Ultra, the effect wouldn’t be obvious? I will add in sub mini as well in the future. 

 

Really need advices from experienced person or expertise. 


From the support pages:

 

General Guidelines

  • Ensure both speakers are in the same orientation: vertical or horizontal.
  • Place your surround speakers behind and to the left and right of your usual listening position.

 

Generally, about ear height is considered to be best. 
 

You would probably be better to opt for the larger Sub than the Mini version. 

Rhonny
Prodigy III
May 15, 2025

​@bychin 

The advice given by ​@nik9669a is correct. Behind and to the left and right of the listening position, at ear height. Slightly turned inward can sometimes help too.
 

The Era100s will be more than sufficient for surround. They don’t have the upfiring speakers that the Era300s have to enhance Dolby Atmos height but they still work very well with Dolby Atmos to create an excellent surround. 
 

I have two Symfonisk IKEA Sonos lamps as my surrounds with my Arc (and Sub) which are pretty much the equivalent of the Sonos Ones, and the Atmos surround is exceptional. To ​@nik9669a’s point, if you have an Arc Ultra, you’d ideally need a Sub gen 4 to complete the line up, not a Sub Mini,

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