Is the mic problem in Arc still not fixed?

So, it seems it’s not the couple of threads I linked, there are many like them here and in Reddit site. 

After a lot of reading it seems it is a known hardware issue, but I cannot determine if the problem was solved and Sonos replaced a lot of bars, or Sonos replace a lot of bars but never solved it. 

If the first case is true, they send me an old Arc or a refurbished one, because I bought it directly to Sonos just some weeks before Arc Ultra was introduced. Then, it would be a kind of scam, and I really don’t want to think it.

The second alternative is also unbelievable, because it means that Sonos spend hundreds of thousands dollars replacing Arcs with a not solved issue.

The current answer I get yesterday from support is that it’s a known issue, which happens mainly when two surrounds speakers are added 😶, but sometimes it happens also if you add a Sub 😶… And they gave me two solutions:

• Disable the touch controls (all of them). So, I lose the useful feature of control the music directly on the bar. I can’t accept that.
• Ungroup the rear Eras 300, and install SVC in one of them. Then group them again (TruePlay again, etc.). I suppose I can live with that, but it means accepting that I have a disabled Arc (which wasn’t cheap!) and it is what it is…

I’m really shocked and very disappointed. Somebody have any advice?

​@Triticale,
Firstly did you try either of the solutions mentioned to see if that does, or does not, work for you - it’s no good if the mentioned fixes do not work at all, as it might be an entirely different issue that’s causing the problem, like electromagnetic interference from something nearby etc. if you purchased the Arc a while ago, it’s unusual the issue has only recently reared its head now, as in most past reported cases IIRC, users noticed the issue occurring within a few days of setting up their soundbars - so not something that occurred weeks, or months, later. If not happy though, and the issue isn’t resolved to your own satisfaction, then the only people that could fix this is perhaps Sonos - I would suggest in that case, you go onto report back to them. I can’t see anyone here in the Sonos community being able to resolve the matter for you. 

Maybe Sonos will consider replacing it with a refurb product and you can then see how that goes. Personally speaking, as another Sonos user here however, I would choose to go with the option of installing SVC on a surround etc.

Thanks for your interest ​@Ken_Griffiths, the problem appeared as soon as I started to use SVC. I never needed the mic before! 

I’ve tried the disabling of the touch controls and it seems to work, but it is not acceptable for me to lose them because there is a hw or sw problem not solved by the manufacturer. Of course, I would try the second solution, which for me is also a pity, but I can live with.

I’m asking here because I’ve seen dozens of people with the same problem two years ago but I can’t find a real solution, just call support, what I did. 

Sorry if I bother someone complaining, but I cannot understand a premium brand with this kind of issues and solutions. I’ve invested a lot of money and I think it’s normal trying to get all the potential from what I bought.

No I agree and it’s right to complain - in my own case I have a few ‘non-Sonos’ products that I’ve had to adjust in the past to get things working as I want them to…I have a similar HT setup with 300’s and two Sub gen3’s and have SVC just installed on my left-hand surround instead and that’s been fine here FWIW. 

Finally, I've found the time to check the second solution and the first I’ve discovered is that I didn’t need so many time, I mean, it’s no needed to ungroup the rear speakers to add the SVC. So, I saved valuable minutes not repeating the TruePlay, for example. Sonos tech guy mustn’t have the most updated information. The path: Settings>Room>SVC (full scroll down)>Add the speaker (I also removed the Arc)

It seems to work properly. Now, I’ve to accept that I bought in may 2024 an Arc manufactured in January with the same hardware issue that people was complaining since the beginning of 2023 or earlier. And, despite I bought a not cheap product and it’s still covered by warranty, I’ve to accept it as it is. Also, I still have the doubt if all these customers who got a replacement for their Arcs, solved the problem, or they’re suffering the issue yet and they’ve accepted it. 

See I would have perhaps at least tried a factory reset/reinstall of the HT setup, without losing the Sonos ‘Household’, just to see if it resolved the matter, but that would take 15-20 minutes to do with a retune and I guess there are no guarantees that it might work, but nothing ventured… etc.

On the otherhand I guess some would say if it now works, then it’s easier to maybe leave sleeping dogs lie.