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Speech enhancement of movies

Cheezy2
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In my living room I use a Sound Bar, Two “Ones” for Surround and a Sub. I have turned on speech enhancement, but it makes little difference. Is there anything else I can do besides selling my Sonos and buying a conventional home theatre setup which will work much better.

I am very disappointed that after all these years of people complaining about dialogue on Sonos that nothing has been done to address this.

This is the only reason I cannot recommend Sonos to friends and family.

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Best answer by Ken_Griffiths 25 March 2024, 02:11

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Sonos - Love it!
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21 replies

G
Userlevel 7

Be sure to perform Trueplay tuning. If it doesn’t help, try performing Trueplay with a different iOS device. You can also try disabling the Loudness setting. Also be sure to play 5.1 audio when possible. The Night Sound setting can also be helpful since it lowers the dynamic range of the audio.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
S
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I have owned my Sonos Arc, and Sub for over 2 years, and the Port for over 6 months. 

I have had Voice Enhancement and Night Sound turned on, and they do absolutely Nothing to assist hearing Dialogue what-so-ever! 

I have had BB tech people here, several times, to try to help with this very real problem, and everything that can be done has been done!  Nothing helps, and it is quite annoying to not hear what people are saying on TV programs & movies! 

I cannot believe that Sonos has not done anything to resolve the issue with all of the complaints received!  I feel that I have wasted a substantial amount of $ on Sonos equipment.  I have been sold "a piece of goods!" 

I think Sonos is highly overrated, in many ways! 

 

The Port is irrelevant to this particular issue, but I am mentioning it because of the overall wasted $ spent on Sonos as there is only 1 HDMI & 1 FIBER input jacks, and Nothing Works Well!  The separation, when playing music from any source, is totally non-existent!!!

I am very unhappy, and do not have the time and money that I have spent to try to rectify these problems! 

 

G
Userlevel 7

@Stirv What model TV do you have? Do you use any external media devices? What do you primarily watch? From what apps?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
Dogdad
Userlevel 5
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Sonos is not what it used to be. With its constant  “ bug fixes and performance enhancements” every month, they have taken away the sound they used to have and lowered the volume overall. Wouldn’t recommend it now and won’t buy any more of their products. 

G
Userlevel 7

Sonos is not what it used to be. With its constant  “ bug fixes and performance enhancements” every month, they have taken away the sound they used to have and lowered the volume overall. Wouldn’t recommend it now and won’t buy any more of their products. 

Lowered the volume? I’ve had my Arc since 2020 and the volume level hasn’t changed. My Arc sounds better today than it did the day I purchased it. I can say the same for all of my other Sonos speakers.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
Dogdad
Userlevel 5
Badge +14

Sonos is not what it used to be. With its constant  “ bug fixes and performance enhancements” every month, they have taken away the sound they used to have and lowered the volume overall. Wouldn’t recommend it now and won’t buy any more of their products. 

Lowered the volume? I’ve had my Arc since 2020 and the volume level hasn’t changed. My Arc sounds better today than it did the day I purchased it. I can say the same for all of my other Sonos speakers.

Reading other comments on Sonos fb group posts.. others have same opinion as mine. When you have to turn the volume up to 40 when the same level was 25…volume has changed regardless if you think it’s just a number. As far as the sound..look at the measurements Peter Pee shows in his review videos of these constant updates . Sound curve is constantly changing. Seems the Sonos techs can never agree or come to a definitive sound. Maybe it’s just job security for them to constantly change the sound curve. Won’t debate ..we each have our opinions..

Mr. T
Userlevel 7

Sonos is not what it used to be. With its constant  “ bug fixes and performance enhancements” every month, they have taken away the sound they used to have and lowered the volume overall. Wouldn’t recommend it now and won’t buy any more of their products. 

Lowered the volume? I’ve had my Arc since 2020 and the volume level hasn’t changed. My Arc sounds better today than it did the day I purchased it. I can say the same for all of my other Sonos speakers.

Reading other comments on Sonos fb group posts.. others have same opinion as mine. When you have to turn the volume up to 40 when the same level was 25…volume has changed regardless if you think it’s just a number. As far as the sound..look at the measurements Peter Pee shows in his review videos of these constant updates . Sound curve is constantly changing. Seems the Sonos techs can never agree or come to a definitive sound. Maybe it’s just job security for them to constantly change the sound curve. Won’t debate ..we each have our opinions..


Has to be one of the most ridiculous reasons for not buying anymore Sonos; I have to have the volume at 40 when I used to have it at 25 lol

And you would rather they didn’t implement bug fixes? 🤦🏻‍♂️

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GuitarSuperstar Maestro - I have a 77” LG OLED w/eARC & Tos/AKA Fiber, etc.  I watch Network TV series (all are recorded on cox’s crap wifi DVR); some live news including cable; sports (sometimes recorded) NBA on League Pass; Movies on various stations including Prime Video, Hulu, MAX, Occasionally on a firestick, a Blue Ray player, & probably a few more. I also watch somethings on cox’s contour.  I have also streamed recorded things from a SS thumb drive, and my PCs (music also).

 

I also wasted $500+ on the Sonos Port to connect my great Yahama turntable which only has RCA capabilities, and neede a preAmp in addition! 

 

The 3 pieces of Sonos equipment is not worth one tenth of it’s cost, which I am not able to recover, and now heading for the trash! Now I have to spend another $1,000.00 to $2,000.00 to replace it all with something that works!!!

 

I hope that is sufficient info for your query!  However, None of that has any bearing on the totally unreasonable lack of unclear dialogue; nor does it have anything to do with the fact that this quite expensive soundbar & sub does not have decent separation for music and/or vocals!!!

 

I find it astonishing that the highly overrated Sonos equipment still receives undeserved overly good reviews, especially when it comes to dialogue enhancement!!!   I cannot but wonder if, and how much, Sonos pays off reviewers!!!!

S

 

PS: What the hell does “"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi” have to do with anything for me, or my complaint, and the dozens+ other complaints Sonos has received, and has done NOTHING to find a  fix???????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Perhaps you can view things that cost you much of your hard earned money “with simplicity,” however most of us who are not billionaires CANNOT!!!

The only thing you have accomplished with that sentence is create annoyance!

You should keep that type of your personal thoughts to yourself, especially when it is totally irrelivant! Thank you!!!

S

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03/24/2024

re Mr. T, Enthusiast II, Dogdad, GuitarSuperstar - of 8 days ago:

 

When you must raise the volume 5, 10, 20+ times, and still cannot distinguish dialogue there is a MAJOR problem!!!!!

When that problem persists for years, and too many people complain about it, and the company, Sonos, cannot or will not do anything about it - THERE IS SOMETHING MAJOR WRONG WITH THE COMPANY!!!!!

 

Furthermore, as I said above,  it IS astonishing that the highly overrated Sonos equipment still receives undeserved overly good reviews, especially when it comes to dialogue enhancement!!!   I cannot but wonder if, and how much, Sonos pays off reviewers!!!!

S

 

Mr. T
Userlevel 7

@Stirv - I’m not interested in your rant

G
Userlevel 7

@Stirv

For the best quality audio, be sure the Sonos Arc is connected to the TV’s eARC port, not the optical port.

Also be sure to set your TV is set to these settings:

HDMI Input Audio Format: Bitstream

Digital Sound Output: Pass Through

eARC Support: On


On the Fire TV Stick, be sure to set the Surround Sound setting to Best Available.

Also be sure to perform Trueplay tuning in the Sonos app.

 

The quote by Rashi is just words of wisdom that I try to live by. It’s not necessarily related to anything Sonos.

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

@Stirv 
What’s all this about raising the remote 5, 10, 20+ times - I can’t even get my Wife to hand it over, never mind have the chance to adjust the TV volume level. 

Just to say my Fire TV has volume normalisation (volume leveller) which I have set to ON anyway, so I very rarely need to adjust anything when using that A/V source… it’s not something I expect my TV attached Sonos speaker(s) to do anyway - it’s more a ‘sending-device’ issue IMHO …and in 99% of my TV viewing I also find the dialogue front-centre channel sounds fine to my ears.

I have ‘Night Sound’ scheduled to turn on/off for late night listening using the Soro (3rd-party) App, so as not to disturb neighbours/young children next door. That was just ‘set & forget’.

Nothing to complain about as far as Sonos is concerned here, but if they want to pay me for this favourable review then any reward will be most gratefully received.😂

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HEY Mr. T  Enthusiast II - I DO NOT GIV A __________ WHAT YOU ARE INTEREST IN!!!!!

Furthermor, you do not even know a rant when you see one!  THERE WAS NO RANT!!!

For what it is worth, an to you it will not be worth anythin, I only offered FACTS included with my experiences!!!

If you’re not interested in facts go back to your hole, and do not read anythin!

Mr. T
Userlevel 7

HEY Mr. T  Enthusiast II - I DO NOT GIV A __________ WHAT YOU ARE INTEREST IN!!!!!

Furthermor, you do not even know a rant when you see one!  THERE WAS NO RANT!!!

For what it is worth, an to you it will not be worth anythin, I only offered FACTS included with my experiences!!!

If you’re not interested in facts go back to your hole, and do not read anythin!

😴😴😴

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GuitarSuperstar Maestro – he Sonos Arc IS. connected to the TV’s eARC port.

HDMI Input Audio Format: Bitstream = YES

Digital Sound Output: Pass Through = YES

eARC Support: On = YES

I will have to check the Fire TV Stick!

With reference to ‘Trueplay tuning:”

“BEEN THERE, DONE THAT” – At least ½ dozen times with my wife’s iPhone & with Audio/Video specialist Techs from BB’s Geek Squad, and it does not do a damned thing!

Thanks anyway.

*** wife’s iPhone (I wouldn’t own anything Apple, beyond stock until they lose their antitrust trial), and Sonos refuses to develop a similar App for Android owner!!!!!!!!!!  Lousy equipment, & only willing to service some consumers🤷‍♂️)!!!!!!!!!!

This has been a problem for years, and there does not seem to be a fix!

 

With all due respect - The quote by Rashi may be something good to live by, but I think this is not the place to offer personal philosophy, and it is not relivant to the not-so-simple frustrations Sonos customers are experiences.

 

S
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Ken_Griffiths,

“What’s all this about raising the remote 5, 10, 20+ times - I can’t even get my Wife to hand it over, never mind have the chance to adjust the TV volume level.” LOL, LOL, 😂😂😂

My wife claims that she doesn’t even know how to use the remote because it always in my hand, or I’m sitting on it😂

When I looked up the speakers in the Arc I only found mentioned one tiny front-centre speaker, and no way to adjust it.  I admit that I am hard-of-hearing, but I doubt many people can compare to, or knows someone who has the “X-Ray” hearing that she has, and she has problems distinguishing dialogue from the TV.  Even my hearing aids do not help me.

‘Night Sound’ is on.

I am not familar with “Soro,” so I just looked for it. It must be just for iPhones???

I think that they must pay the “professional” reviewers, so they should pay you too!

 

S
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Mr. T  Enthusiast II - I

😴😴😴 I guess you know the world you live in!

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I saw this Question posed to someone under another “thread.”

“Where is the arc mounted? Wall, TV stand? Ear level? What's the distance from your main listening position and the ARC?”

 

I do not think the answers will assist US, but we’re open minded, especially if we do not have to spend a fortune $ more!!!

 

The ARC is ~ 1” below the TV, mounted on a bracket affixed to the back of the TV (so it is not even back on the wall).

Sitting on the sofa the soundbar is at ear level.

The distance from the ARC to the sofa is 13.25’.

&

We both hear ALL of the other sounds from the TV just fine 🤷‍♂️

Ken_Griffiths

@Stirv,

I guess we all may hear things differently and of course there’s the listening environment to consider aswell as the various audio/video sources. There could even be something wrong with your A/V products, or cables etc.

It is difficult to diagnose these things from afar. However I and all my immediate family members have 6 Sonos soundbars between us and that includes 3 Sonos Arcs and we all think that the Arc sounds great. 

If you think something isn’t right with your equipment you should really reach out to the manufacturers customer support desk. If you think it’s your Arc that’s at fault, then supply Sonos with diagnostic reports and videos and then go from there.

Personally speaking myself and family members that have Sonos Home Theatres are all happy with them - I’m sorry if you do not believe that’s the truth, but I can assure you it is.

To submit diagnostic reports and video etc. to Sonos, see the below links…

And I do sincerely hope you find the answers you’re looking for with your TV audio in your own listening environment.

P.S. - Yes the Soro App is iOS only (sorry🙏 I perhaps should have clarified that). 

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SONOS WANTS YOUR MONEY AND THAT IS ABOUT IT!!!

READ ALL OF THE BELOW - IT IS UNBELIEVABLE!

 

 

TOPICS/THREADS OF THE PAST – Some are still open.

 

“Sonos Arc extremely poor dialogue levels VS Music and Action”

https://en.community.sonos.com/home-theater-229129/sonos-arc-extremely-poor-dialogue-levels-vs-music-and-action-6850391?tid=6850391&fid=229129

 

“Sonos Arc dialogue poor”

https://en.community.sonos.com/home-theater-229129/sonos-arc-poor-dialogue-6880807?tid=6880807&fid=229129

 

“Arc Mids and Highs Poor and low volume”

https://en.community.sonos.com/home-theater-228993/arc-mids-and-highs-poor-and-low-volume-6860244?tid=6860244&fid=228993

 

“Arc poor dialogue”

https://en.community.sonos.com/home-theater-229129/arc-dialogue-poor-6891013?tid=6891013&fid=229129

 

“Sonos Arc Poor Dialogue”

https://en.community.sonos.com/home-theater-229129/sonos-arc-poor-dialogue-6880807?tid=6880807&fid=229129

 

“Sonos Arc dialogue levels low VS Music and Action very high”

3 MO OLD THREAD & ALREADY CLOSED

https://en.community.sonos.com/home-theater-229129/sonos-arc-dialogue-levels-low-vs-music-and-action-very-high-6887758?tid=6887758&fid=229129

 

 

 

OLDER THREADS – ALL CLOSED

“Is the Sonos Arc “

“Is the Sonos Arc fit for purpose”

No Atmos sound via Sonos Arc

 

“Arc Mids and Highs Poor and low volume” & THEN 14.12 UPDATE THAT MAKES EVERYTHING WORSE!!!  READ THE COMMENTS

 

14.12 Update = by Caroline V.   Retired Community Manager   

https://en.community.sonos.com/members/caroline-v-8133567

 

Retired Community Manager MAKES EVERYTHING WORSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://en.community.sonos.com/product-updates/14-12-update-6872573?tid=6872573&fid=None

 

https://support.sonos.com/en-us/contact          HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

Sonos cannot even come up with an update that makes any sense!

They also, OBVIOUSLY, do not even check their updates before releasing them!

 

DO NOT TAKE MY WORD FOR ANY OF THIS READ ALL OF THE THREADS, AND THE COMMENTS ABOUT THEIR SOCALLED UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!

 

Corry P
Userlevel 7
Badge +18

Hi All

We want to thank everyone for their contributions, but it seems this thread has now run it’s course. We are closing this thread so as to avoid getting water in the boat - the waves are getting high, so to speak.

As for the Speech Enhancement setting having no discernible effect, we have opened an investigation, but have no further information to share at this time.

 

 

 

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
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