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Contributor I
July 25, 2022

S2 Update 14.12 Sub Issues

Hello,

With the recent 14.12 S2 Update there is a bug in the sub settings when using Trueplay, and I've pinpointed the problem.  I wanted to pass along this information to the company to ensure that the specifics of the issue are known.

It’s likely that most people may not notice this, or bother asking Sonos about it, but this is a real difference between 14.12 and the previous versions.

  • My current setup has an Arc, Sub(Gen1), and 2 Play1's.  
    • Using a white noise generator to review these differences.  
    • I'm controlling the sub settings on my iPad Pro while recording on my iPhone 12 Pro Max.  
    • I've run Trueplay twice since the update, and get the same results both times.  
      • Both Trueplay runs were with my iPhone as my iPad Pro does not have support yet.
  • Once updated to 14.12, you are prompted to re-run Trueplay.  But Trueplay has a bug in this new update.
  • I tested the frequencies with Trueplay On and then Off without changing the volume on the App.  
    • The only setting modified is the "Sub Audio" setting that ranges from -15 to +15
  • These differences are absolutely unique to the 14.12 update
    • I did not take pics, but have done similar tests before and the sub settings always increase/decrease all of the frequencies below the crossover
    • In previous versions, 40hz was always the highest db of any frequency when bossting the sub volume.

Trueplay On with Bass and Treble set to 0:  

  • Sub = 0: 
    • There is about a 4-5db reduction in the 30-60hz range and a boost in the 60-80hz range compared to Trueplay off
    •  

  • Sub = +15: 
    • Here is where you see the issue.  Sub 50hz doesn't change much at all even boosting the sub setting to the max  
    • There is a huge boost in the 60-80hz range where it is now the dominate frequency range of the sub
    •  

Trueplay Off with Bass, and Treble set to 0:  

  • Sub = 0
    • You can already see a difference in that the <50hz frequencies are higher and it's a pretty flat wave.

    •  
  • Sub = +15
    • Notice that now the dominate frequency range is the 35-50hz.  
    • The 60-80hz is still boosted, but it does not ever overtake the lower frequencies
    •  

  • Lastly, here is a grouped view showing these pictures side by side so you can really see the difference.
    • It also includes going -15 on the sub
    •  

  • Could it be a High Pass Filter setting that is getting triggered when you run TruePlay?
  • If you do not like the way your system sounds after 14.12, turn off Trueplay.
    • It will not be as good as what you are used to as Trueplay will adjust more to your room and leave less peaks/valleys throughout the spectrum.
    • But it will still be more like what you are used to hearing.

I can provide more information if needed, but hopefully this helps pinpoint the issue for everyone.  

 

Thank you for your time,

Robert

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84 replies

Lyricist III
July 27, 2022

To whoever is searching the web, wanting to buy the Sonos entertainment system (Arc + Sub + Sonos One x 2)

If you are torn between getting a machine that just works (as advertised on reviews about sonos etc), vs anything else. Go for anything else at this point.

My sonos equipment was great before update 12.6 and i was so happy, inviting friends over to hear my new system. This was until May (update 12.6) where it just feels like they are doing live testing on the production environment. I’ve been pairing/unpairing my speakers to solve issues and i’ve been trueplaying almost everyday (after each new unpair) and now they broke the true play on update 12.14. I have the system for less than 10 months and it has worked as it should for 6 of them. I can’t even fix the sound experience this time...

This is ridiculous.

They are breaking the production system without providing a fallback (rolling back to a previous version should be a priority at this point, when you have broken our systems for 4 months already) and on version 12.6 they were denying any issue whatsoever! Now we need to explain again why our Subs are performing like they are below sea level. The issue with update 12.6 was solved around early July(maybe end of june?) and now in July the system is experiencing issues again because of the updates.

At the very least, people should disable auto-updating their systems, until sonos has any credibility with their updates after this fiasco.

 

 

Enthusiast II
July 27, 2022

To whoever is searching the web, wanting to buy the Sonos entertainment system (Arc + Sub + Sonos One x 2)

If you are torn between getting a machine that just works (as advertised on reviews about sonos etc), vs anything else. Go for anything else at this point.

My sonos equipment was great before update 12.6 and i was so happy, inviting friends over to hear my new system. This was until May (update 12.6) where it just feels like they are doing live testing on the production environment. I’ve been pairing/unpairing my speakers to solve issues and i’ve been trueplaying almost everyday (after each new unpair) and now they broke the true play on update 12.14. I have the system for less than 10 months and it has worked as it should for 6 of them. I can’t even fix the sound experience this time...

This is ridiculous.

They are breaking the production system without providing a fallback (rolling back to a previous version should be a priority at this point, when you have broken our systems for 4 months already) and on version 12.6 they were denying any issue whatsoever! Now we need to explain again why our Subs are performing like they are below sea level. The issue with update 12.6 was solved around early July(maybe end of june?) and now in July the system is experiencing issues again because of the updates.

At the very least, people should disable auto-updating their systems, until sonos has any credibility with their updates after this fiasco.

 

 

Honestly at this point I wouldn’t be surprised if someone told me that they do that on purpose.

Virtuoso
July 27, 2022

Sony HT-A9 is on the cards for me, I was really close to buying an Arc but the 14.6 debacle put me on edge and this had just sealed the deal.

Real same as my Playbar 5.1 has been great on S1  but they just can't leave things alone one S2..

Contributor I
July 28, 2022

I had faced low volume issue after 14.12 update. However  I set bass and treble to 4 and sub is 3. Now I am getting good sound.

 

Enthusiast I
July 28, 2022

I have noticed my system no longer sounds the same, more dull. Hard to explain. Is there any way to revert to the previous version?

I asked about this because after 14.12, I’ve got to CRANK the volume and the sound is muddled with no bass. *Unfortunately*, there is no way for Sonos to revert your software version to something stable.

Enthusiast II
July 28, 2022

I simply don't believe it.

I made the mistake of updating and now I also have sound issues:

  1. My two Subs which used to sound cinematic, now sound like they are barely on.
  2. I used to watch Dolby Atmos films at 25-35 and that was loud enough, now I have it around the 60 mark for. the same volume. (And with poorer sound).

After the 14.6 fix, the sound and stability was restored to full glory. 14.12 has reverted and then some. (At least with the 14.6 issue you had good sound before it dropped). 

I am so annoyed at myself that I did not ignore the update messages. It's the kids summer holidays here in the UK, which means it's a perfect time for movies. I now just don't want to watch them and not looking forward to weeks and weeks of no updates to restore.

Yours, in complete disbelief and despair,

Brad

Lyricist III
July 28, 2022

I simply don't believe it.

I made the mistake of updating and now I also have sound issues:

  1. My two Subs which used to sound cinematic, now sound like they are barely on.
  2. I used to watch Dolby Atmos films at 25-35 and that was loud enough, now I have it around the 60 mark for. the same volume. (And with poorer sound).

After the 14.6 fix, the sound and stability was restored to full glory. 14.12 has reverted and then some. (At least with the 14.6 issue you had good sound before it dropped). 

I am so annoyed at myself that I did not ignore the update messages. It's the kids summer holidays here in the UK, which means it's a perfect time for movies. I now just don't want to watch them and not looking forward to weeks and weeks of no updates to restore.

Yours, in complete disbelief and despair,

Brad

I know the kind of work you put here in troubleshooting 14.6, and we appreciate you very much. It grinds my gears when the customers has to pay for the product and do the troubleshooting, and companies keep breaking things happily. For a company that has a handful of products, I am baffled as to why they struggle this much with software QC. Not sure if the pandemic and / or remote work has to do something here.

Virtuoso
July 28, 2022

Sonos has Carte Blanche to ruin your system at the drop of a hat (or seriously restrict it if you refuse an update).

Ken_Griffiths
July 28, 2022

Sonos has Carte Blanche to ruin your system at the drop of a hat (or seriously restrict it if you refuse an update).

I guess the same thing could probably be said of lots of manufactures including, in no particular order… Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, Sony, Samsung, LG, Bose, B&O etc; to name but a few ‘example’ companies… but thank goodness, I don’t suffer with such paranoia about these type of things.

 

Dogdad
Headliner III
July 28, 2022

Sonos has Carte Blanche to ruin your system at the drop of a hat (or seriously restrict it if you refuse an update).

I guess the same thing could probably be said of lots of manufactures including, in no particular order… Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, Sony, Samsung, LG, Bose, B&O etc; to name but a few ‘example’ companies… but thank goodness, I don’t suffer with such paranoia about these type of things.

 

Did the update cause your system issues?