Contributor I

Answered

Sonos Arc extremely poor dialogue levels VS Music and Action

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Hi - other SONOS ARC owners have posted this issue previously but it did not reach a resolution so I am reposting.

I’ve just purchased a Sonos ARC and I’m having to constantly adjust the volume level up and down to compensate for the extremely low levels for dialogue vs action / music. The dialogue levels are extremely low in any movie compared to action and music.

I am using the ARC with a Samsung 55 inch 2019 model.

I have set night mode and speech enhancement on. Still getting the same issue.

There appears to be no further adjustment / modes in the SONOS app to adjust dialogue to music / action balance other than reducing SubWoofer level.

DEAR SONOS team - surely this is a software setup issue which is resolvable? Please let me know - really don’t want to send it back!!

Quite bummed! Love my Sub, Play 5 Gen 2 and Gen 1 and Play 3.

Thanks in advance for your timely solution to this issue.

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wilc50Answer

Lyricist I

I’ve had my Arc for a few days now and I had the same problem until I turned loudness OFF, turned speech enhancement ON and redid Trueplay. It made a night and day difference. I’m not sure exactly how the Loudness setting works but it only seems to make loud noises louder, which is counterproductive to speech.

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GC3

Headliner I

I'm beginning to think that I am the problem. A lifetime of loud music and noise, so I usually have to crank things up to louder than others in the family. Also likely my ability to differentiate at the margins doesn't work too well. I am sure everyone else has perfect hearing.

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Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

I'm beginning to think that I am the problem. A lifetime of loud music and noise, so I usually have to crank things up to louder than others in the family. Also likely my ability to differentiate at the margins doesn't work too well. I am sure everyone else has perfect hearing.

My ears are horrible, severe hearing loss.

With or without my hearing aids I have issues with the low voice volume on my Arc center channel.

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K

Kumar

Any Sonos Bar set up is a compromise for convenience over a AVR based HT wired speaker set up with a dedicated centre channel/speaker and this is one of the prices paid for the compromise.

One workable solution is to use subtitles for dialogue. It does not take long to get used to it.

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Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

Subtitles aren’t a good option if you don’t constantly look at the TV. A lot of my watching time I am not looking at the screen as I’m also doing something else. You can also get some spousal grumpiness when they cover up parts of the screen they want to see.

I passed on the Sonos Amp for the single reason that it had no dedicated center channel.

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James_84

Avid Contributor I

I’ve just installed the Arc with a sub and I was just saying how much better it is than the Playbar, which I used to really struggle with in respect of hearing the dialogue.

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marinheira

Avid Contributor I

I’ve just installed the Arc with a sub and I was just saying how much better it is than the Playbar, which I used to really struggle with in respect of hearing the dialogue.

Are you now happy with the dialogues?

What did you change when you reinstalled the Arc with the Sub?

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cklim55

Enthusiast I

I am having dialogue issues as well but I wonder if it’s due to using the Apple TV 4K. My arc was working fine for sounds and dialogue when I was using Firestick 4K. My current set up is Sony a90j oled with eArc hdmi connection to arc with Sonos sub and two play 1’s. When I leave the Appletv audio set to auto/Dolby atmos the Sonos system showed multichannel PCM 5.1 but the sound especially dialogue was very low. I had to increase volume from 40 to 50-60. When I changed the Apple TV audio to Dolby digital 5.1 the sound and dialogue was back to being good and I was back to setting volume to 40. I hate to change the Appletv audio settings based on Dolby atmos vs Dolby digital for different movies. I didn’t have these sound issues with the Firestick. It didn’t send out any multichannel PCM signal. Is everyone else having these sound issues with other streaming devices? I am considering returning the Appletv and buying a new Firestick Any response would be appreciated

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Oggvorbis

Lyricist I

Yes same problem spent alot of money and surrounds and bass are awesome but dialogue from the Arc is horrible keeps changing from channel to channel and movies especially Netflix can't hear unless volume is way up high then the effects blow your head off

Regretful purchase and will be recommending another brand to all my friends and clients as Sonos don't care about there members

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JonCannon

Contributor I

Feel i need chip in here as well since this looks to be the same problem i experience.
I bought my system one week ago and i have tried all the sonos app setings back and forth and i feel the speech aint getting much better.
How come the reviews all hype the new beam gen 2 for having better speech representation etc. When i feel its really poor. Makes me question these so called “hi-fi” nerd channels..
Sure its clear, thats all i hear in the reviews, but its super tiny and high piched compare to rest of the sound. I need more depth and base added to the center speaker, not only clarity…

Please make an update for the bars to use more base on speech or something.

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JonCannon

Contributor I

(Posted on another thread about tinny sound)

I just purchased my first Sonos products. Arc and 2 One SL’s. I was very excited unboxing these lovely speakers. Such attention to detail in all regards. Very Apple! Set up was fairly straightforward. Used Trueplay. I am a HiFi nut and have a good idea about sound and relevant gear so it was a good experience so far. Watched a couple of TV shows and was a little disappointed with the tinny speech. Then I turned to some movies and series on Netflix and it all went pear shaped. The dialog was so soft I had to increase the volume ...but then the music or special effects came on and i was blasted out of my seat by the extreme volume. Movie after movie (and shows) all do the same thing.

I recalibrated the system. Moved speakers. Changed settings on my Apple TV 4K. No difference. Tinny and super quiet dialog.

Looks like I am not alone with this. Complaints are all over the internet. So what’s with the overwhelming positive reviews by the press and review sites with not a single one picking up on the issues???

I will give it one more try but if it does not improve greatly its all going back. I am stunned that with this many complaints Sonos is not commenting or coming out with any fixes. Looks like no more Sonos for me.

Seems reviewers only mention the speech clarity. Sure its clear, so clear that it sounds like its comming from a small earbud in your ear with no bass what so ever. its like a solution for clarity is by removing all the bass.

Please Sonos, look in to this, product is realy good otherwise

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