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Hi all - looking for some suggestions on the right Sonos equipment/placement. First time posting to Community. Any help is appreciated.

For our basement multi-purpose room, you can see the room is split with half of it being a TV/entertainment room and the other half being a kids playroom.

Over December holidays I got the Beam (Gen 2) and sub mini which is creating amazing sound. I didn’t want to get the Arc Ultra for the size, and the fact the kids play there and I didn’t want to risk damaging such an expensive item that was also 2-3x the size of the Beam (Gen 2).

However, I have no rear sound currently and was looking for feedback on a few options.

Option1: get the Amp to power the existing ceiling Polk audio speakers for left/right channel. 

  • question - unfortunately the way the speakers are wired, the ceiling speakers wire is on the other side of the room. there is no way to have the TV output go to the amp. is that an issue?
  • plus - get rear sound that’s Sonos enabled but is left/right channel
  • minus - no dolby atmos
  • minus - the amp is not useful for any other use around the house

Option 2: get 2x Era 300s and mount them on the wall tilted down. 

  • plus -  get rear sound AND dolby atmos
  • minus - aesthetically having wall mounted speakers ruins the look in the room
  • question? - there is NO space BEHIND the sofa - the wall is right there. Given the Era 300 wall mount is 3” from the wall + the 7.5” = 10.5” which risks the “rear” speakers are actually a bit forward of the viewer’s ears by 1-2” (since sofa is flush against the wall

Option 3:​​​​​​ get 1x Era 300 and place it next to the Beam (Gen 2)

  • question - would I even get Dolby Atmos with just 1 Era 300? 
  • plus - can use the Era 300 elsewhere in the house/multiple purposes

Exchanging the Beam (Gen 2) for the Arc Ultra is not an option. 

 

 

 

The Amp will connect to the Beam wirelessly, you can put it near the speakers.

You must use either zero or two surrounds.

Putting a speaker near the Beam will sound worse than not having one at all.

Thanks Stanley!

Helpful re Amp and needing 0/2. 
Am also now reading amp would help w Atmos but not clear from their site. 

Amp only has two channels so it just plays what the Beam sends it.

Thank you sir! I purchased the Amp to test out and connect - it works well and sounds amazing. I also think given the existing ceiling speakers - it makes sense to leverage those vs forcing bulky Eras. 

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