Contributor I

How to use Sonos Beam + Amp with TV

17 replies
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Hi All! So I’ve seen related questions asked a few times but haven’t seen a clear answer for our needs, so thanks for any guidance!

We are trying to set up:

Sonos Amp (w/ 2x Klipsch bookshelf speakers and an SVS sub)
Sonos Beam

To play back our TV audio (which we have connected to an HTPC and a PS4).

Geometrically, I’d like to set up the beam underneath the TV (obviously), and the two bookshelves to the left and right sides of the room, between the three getting good coverage and depth for the whole room (it’s a large open-concept studio).

I’d like to avoid using the bookshelves as ‘rear’ channels, because we use the speakers for music as much as TV and we want the bookshelves to actually lead the audio, with the beam there to help out and fill out the sound.

How do you recommend setting that up from a Sonos perspective? From what I’ve read on these forums, it sounds like the best approach is to make the Amp the ‘master,’ and the Beam a ‘slave’ somehow? Thanks for any advice!

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G

GuitarSuperstar

Lead Maestro

If you want the bookshelves to be the main speakers, connect the TV to the Amp’s HDMI ARC port. Connect the subwoofer to the Amp’s sub output. Then set up the Beam as a separate room. When you want to play the same audio to the bookshelves and Beam, group both rooms together in the Sonos app.

NOTE: You will probably experience a slight audio delay from the Beam when playing TV audio. Streaming music will be in sync though.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi

D

dbellisarioAuthor

Contributor I

If you want the bookshelves to be the main speakers, connect the TV to the Amp’s HDMI ARC port. Connect the subwoofer to the Amp’s sub output. Then set up the Beam as a separate room. When you want to play the same audio to the bookshelves and Beam, group both rooms together in the Sonos app.

NOTE: You will probably experience a slight audio delay from the Beam when playing TV audio. Streaming music will be in sync though.

Thanks Guitar! Is there any way to avoid the delay when playing TV audio? I could imagine that might be a bit disconcerting

J

John B

For your needs, IMO, you should have two Amps. That is the only way you can use a third party subwoofer and synch the sound for TV and music. You would also need another pair of passive speakers.

The Beam cannot be the "slave", it has to be the "master". That won't give you what you want.

An alternative to the second Amp and passive speakers would be two One SLs

G

GuitarSuperstar

Lead Maestro

If you want the bookshelves to be the main speakers, connect the TV to the Amp’s HDMI ARC port. Connect the subwoofer to the Amp’s sub output. Then set up the Beam as a separate room. When you want to play the same audio to the bookshelves and Beam, group both rooms together in the Sonos app.

NOTE: You will probably experience a slight audio delay from the Beam when playing TV audio. Streaming music will be in sync though.

Thanks Guitar! Is there any way to avoid the delay when playing TV audio? I could imagine that might be a bit disconcerting

No, you can’t avoid it. Some users have reported they don’t notice the delay, but I’ve tested it on my own Sonos system and the delay is VERY noticeable.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi

D

dbellisarioAuthor

Contributor I

If you want the bookshelves to be the main speakers, connect the TV to the Amp’s HDMI ARC port. Connect the subwoofer to the Amp’s sub output. Then set up the Beam as a separate room. When you want to play the same audio to the bookshelves and Beam, group both rooms together in the Sonos app.

NOTE: You will probably experience a slight audio delay from the Beam when playing TV audio. Streaming music will be in sync though.

Thanks Guitar! Is there any way to avoid the delay when playing TV audio? I could imagine that might be a bit disconcerting

No, you can’t avoid it. Some users have reported they don’t notice the delay, but I’ve tested it on my own Sonos system and the delay is VERY noticeable.

Bummer - we used to have a Sonos Playbar with a couple Sonos 1’s and that played all three fine together as a single room, is the issue that we’re using the Amp? Or have they changed their setup?

J

John B

The Playbar and two Ones could only work as one room if the Ones were added as surrounds. This is still the case. Absolutely nothing has changed.

J

John B

Please see my earlier post. The Beam is the wrong product for your needs IMO

G

GuitarSuperstar

Lead Maestro

If you want the bookshelves to be the main speakers, connect the TV to the Amp’s HDMI ARC port. Connect the subwoofer to the Amp’s sub output. Then set up the Beam as a separate room. When you want to play the same audio to the bookshelves and Beam, group both rooms together in the Sonos app.

NOTE: You will probably experience a slight audio delay from the Beam when playing TV audio. Streaming music will be in sync though.

Thanks Guitar! Is there any way to avoid the delay when playing TV audio? I could imagine that might be a bit disconcerting

No, you can’t avoid it. Some users have reported they don’t notice the delay, but I’ve tested it on my own Sonos system and the delay is VERY noticeable.

Bummer - we used to have a Sonos Playbar with a couple Sonos 1’s and that played all three fine together as a single room, is the issue that we’re using the Amp? Or have they changed their setup?

As far as I know, the delay has always existed no matter which Sonos device is grouped with the Sonos home theater product when playing TV audio.

Were the Play:1s set up as surrounds with the Playbar or where they just grouped together?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi

D

dbellisarioAuthor

Contributor I

Please see my earlier post. The Beam is the wrong product for your needs IMO

Thanks John! So is the 'issue' (so to speak) with the Amp, the Beam, or the combination of the two? For example, could we have an Amp and a Sonos One as a single room, just not an Amp and a Beam? Thanks!

J

John B

The issue for you is that the Beam must be used for the front channels. That forces you to use the Amp for rear surrounds. That is fine in itself but you said that wasn't what you wanted.

Also, in this configuration you cannot use your non-Sonos subwoofer.

And the Beam is better for TV than music so that doesn’t fit well with your priorities.

You can set up the Amp and two Ones as a single surround sound room. When the Amp is used for the front channels like this you can use your subwoofer. Your bookshelf speakers are in front of you, which is better for music. (You can choose to have the Ones virtually silent or in full volume stereo for music.)

In summary, there is nothing wrong with a Beam + Amp setup in itself. It just doesn't give you what you are looking for IMO.

I hope that is helpful .

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