Answered

Surround Audio setting doesn’t change surround levels on Era 300s

G
Userlevel 7

@Corry P Some Reddit users noticed that the Surround Audio TV Level setting doesn’t actually change the rear surround levels on the Era 300s. So I decided to test it for myself.

When playing a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 Test Tones video and a DTS 7.1 Sound Check video, the TV Level setting has no affect on the levels of the rear surround channels. It only changes the side surround levels.

When playing a Dolby Atmos 5.1.4 Test Tones video, the TV Level setting has no affect on the levels of both surround channels. BUT when playing a DTS 5.1 Sound Check video, the TV Level setting DOES change the levels of the two surround channels.

NOTE: The DTS audio is being played as Multichannel PCM from a Blu-ray player.

Is this a bug in the software?

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Best answer by Corry P 27 July 2023, 10:56

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

106rallye
Userlevel 7
Badge +17

This seems a bit off topic for this thread. You say speaker, not speakers? You cannot use just one speaker for surround.

S
Userlevel 1
Badge +2

I like surround sound but due to my room size, my sitting position is against the wall and not space to place my surround speaker.. it is possible to place right at side of wall instead, will the surround effect is possible.

Corry P
Userlevel 7
Badge +18

Hi @GuitarSuperstar et al

We now consider this issue to be resolved. If you continue to see this issue, please ensure your Sonos system is up to date, then get in touch with our technical support team for assistance.

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

It would be also quite interesting to see how they perform when it comes to 5.1 (with side surrounds) and stereo music. Will the inner drivers also be used for these cases, or are they still only using the outer drivers?

When playing 5.1 audio, both the outside and inside drivers are used to play surround audio.

Thanks mate for your fast reply! I really appreciate it because this was one of the main reasons I returned my units. Since my living room is not perfectly shaped for sound to bounce of the side walls, I really like this change! 

 

I guess it’s time to rethink my decision about the Era 300s 😊

G
Userlevel 7

It would be also quite interesting to see how they perform when it comes to 5.1 (with side surrounds) and stereo music. Will the inner drivers also be used for these cases, or are they still only using the outer drivers?

When playing 5.1 audio, both the outside and inside drivers are used to play surround audio.

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

It would be also quite interesting to see how they perform when it comes to 5.1 (with side surrounds) and stereo music. Will the inner drivers also be used for these cases, or are they still only using the outer drivers?

G
Userlevel 7

I was personally notified by a Sonos Technical Support Engineer today that the 15.6 update has fixed the Surround Audio slider/inside driver level issue on the Era 300s. I have not been able to test this myself yet, but I will later tonight when I have the opportunity.

For those of you who are using Era 300s as surrounds, let us know if the 15.6 update has fixed this issue for you.

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

I have the same issue, surround volume adjuster only changes the volume of the surrounds for the 300’s, not the rears.

Corry P
Userlevel 7
Badge +18

Hi @GuitarSuperstar 

Thanks! I have done so, and he has created an investigatory ticket.

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
G
Userlevel 7

Hi @GuitarSuperstar 

The best thing would be to troubleshoot with our agents, and if they can’t help, eventually get the case escalated.

Neither diagnostic reports indicated anything wrong, and my colleague was not able to reproduce the problem. He thinks what you experience may be more to do with the Arc than with the Eras. Therefore, removing the surrounds and adding again may help, or perhaps a reset of the Arc.

And no, this is not by design.

I hope this helps.

 

@Corry P Can you ask your colleague to watch this video that explains the problem in detail?

 

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
G
Userlevel 7

 

Which test tones are you currently utilizing? I experimented with an MKV file, but I observed that the upward-firing speakers remain silent, and the inner drivers of both my Era speakers do not produce any sound either. Despite removing them as surround speakers and replaying the audio, the issue persists. I am beginning to question whether the audio file is corrupted or if it is simply unsuitable for testing with the Era speakers. I am interested in exploring an alternative audio source to troubleshoot this matter further.

I am using a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos Test Tones video from a Dolby Atmos Blu-ray demo disc. But it is also available here to download:

https://download.dolby.com/us/en/test-tones/dolby-test-tones_7_1_4.mp4

If you have an iPhone and an Apple TV 4K, you can AirPlay this video from your iPhone to the Apple TV and it will play in Dolby Atmos. Or you can download the file onto a USB flash drive and plug it into your TV. Just confirm that it is playing in Dolby Atmos in the Sonos app.

 

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

 

Which test tones are you currently utilizing? I experimented with an MKV file, but I observed that the upward-firing speakers remain silent, and the inner drivers of both my Era speakers do not produce any sound either. Despite removing them as surround speakers and replaying the audio, the issue persists. I am beginning to question whether the audio file is corrupted or if it is simply unsuitable for testing with the Era speakers. I am interested in exploring an alternative audio source to troubleshoot this matter further.

Corry P
Userlevel 7
Badge +18

Hi @GuitarSuperstar 

The best thing would be to troubleshoot with our agents, and if they can’t help, eventually get the case escalated.

Neither diagnostic reports indicated anything wrong, and my colleague was not able to reproduce the problem. He thinks what you experience may be more to do with the Arc than with the Eras. Therefore, removing the surrounds and adding again may help, or perhaps a reset of the Arc.

And no, this is not by design.

I hope this helps.

 

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
G
Userlevel 7

Hi @GuitarSuperstar 

I’m told the effect is not as pronounced as it is with other units used as surrounds, but that it is there and noticeable. 5.1 was not tested at that time and by that person.

Could you please submit a support diagnostic, change the surround levels, then submit another and share both numbers with me here? Thanks.

 

Before - 546026888

After - 1696952144

Hey @Corry P. Do you have an update on this? Did the diagnostics reveal anything? Is it by design that the inside drivers of the Era 300s remain at the same level regardless of what setting the Surround Level sliders are set to?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
G
Userlevel 7

Hi @GuitarSuperstar 

I’m told the effect is not as pronounced as it is with other units used as surrounds, but that it is there and noticeable. 5.1 was not tested at that time and by that person.

Could you please submit a support diagnostic, change the surround levels, then submit another and share both numbers with me here? Thanks.

 

Before - 546026888

After - 1696952144

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
G
Userlevel 7

Hi @GuitarSuperstar 

I’m told the effect is not as pronounced as it is with other units used as surrounds, but that it is there and noticeable. 5.1 was not tested at that time and by that person.

Could you please submit a support diagnostic, change the surround levels, then submit another and share both numbers with me here? Thanks.
​​​​​​

@Corry P The effect is there, but the issue is the Surround Audio level slider doesn’t change the level of the two inside drivers on the speaker. Those drivers remain at the same level regardless if the TV Level slider is set to -15 or +15. The TV Level slider only changes the volume of the two outside drivers. Is this by design?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
Corry P
Userlevel 7
Badge +18

Hi @GuitarSuperstar 

I’m told the effect is not as pronounced as it is with other units used as surrounds, but that it is there and noticeable. 5.1 was not tested at that time and by that person.

Could you please submit a support diagnostic, change the surround levels, then submit another and share both numbers with me here? Thanks.

 

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein
G
Userlevel 7

We have been unable to reproduce this issue with Atmos playback on Arc and Era 300s.

@Corry P When your engineers play the 7.1.4 test tones file below, are they able to control the volume of the rear surround channels (inside drivers) of the Era 300 using the Surround Audio level sliders?

https://download.dolby.com/us/en/test-tones/dolby-test-tones_7_1_4.mp4

 

And are they unable to reproduce the issue with 7.1 and 5.1 playback too?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
G
Userlevel 7

Hi @GuitarSuperstar et all

We have been unable to reproduce this issue with Atmos playback on Arc and Era 300s. I would encourage you to remove your Era 300 surrounds from your Arc and add them back again - if that does not resolve the situation, I recommend you get in touch with our technical support team in order to go through some troubleshooting steps and to provide some contextualised diagnostics. Please feel free to mention this thread when getting in touch - it’ll reduce the amount of explaining you’ll need to do

I hope this helps..

I am still experiencing this problem. How about everyone else?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
Corry P
Userlevel 7
Badge +18

Hi @GuitarSuperstar et all

We have been unable to reproduce this issue with Atmos playback on Arc and Era 300s. I would encourage you to remove your Era 300 surrounds from your Arc and add them back again - if that does not resolve the situation, I recommend you get in touch with our technical support team in order to go through some troubleshooting steps and to provide some contextualised diagnostics. Please feel free to mention this thread when getting in touch - it’ll reduce the amount of explaining you’ll need to do

I hope this helps..

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

Is there any update on this. Still having this issue.

J

I also have the same issue, can you confirm when will this be fixed?

T

Just to add that I am experiencing this problem as well.

J
Userlevel 2
Badge +1

Any update on this?

J
Userlevel 2
Badge +1

@GuitarSuperstar what are you using as test tones? I tried an mkv file but i noticed my up fire speakers are not producing any sound and the inner drivers from both of my eras are not producing any sound either. I have removed them as surround and played the audio again but still have the same experience. I wonder if it’s the audio that’s corrupted or simply not meant to be tested with the eras and I’d like to try a different source. 

My atmos speakers were doing the same and not producing any sound as well.  When I unpaired the 300s as surrounds and re-paired them, and after true-playing again, I do hear the Atmos up firing speakers during the 7.1.4 test file.  

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