Trending Lyricist I

Surround Placement

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I’ll be moving to a new house soon. In the basement is a rec room where we will install a TV and we would like some decent audio. I currently have a 5.1 system with towers and a big center, on-wall surrounds, and a receiver but looking to make things easy in the new house, one remote (Apple TV) and a clean install. Plan is an Arc Ultra on the built-in cabinet, with a Sub 4 on the floor. The sofa will be right against the back wall so there is no room for surrounds on stands. I can wall mount or ceiling mount, though I don’t know the best location. I have ordered Era 300s and hope to use those, but maybe an Amp with some 3-rd party surround speakers might be the better option? It looks like I have some conduit in the ceiling, though placement is odd about midway between the TV wall and the back wall. I may be able to run power to the Era 300s via this conduit or speaker wire to the Amp.

Room will be used for TV, movies, and games. Music isn’t really a big concern.

If the recommendation is the 300s, where should I put them? On the ceiling mid way, upside down and facing the back wall? On the ceiling but mount them on the back wall facing forward? On the side wall?

If regular on-wall surrounds are the better option with an Amp I can go that route as well.

Overall room layout. Sofa will be against the back wall, cabinet up front is built-in.

Floor plan view, room has an opening on one side and window on the other. Room entry from the back, open with no door.

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BoboBobAuthor

Trending Lyricist I

I’ve the Era 300 just in the corners of the sofa (which is placed in a wall like you) more or less at the head’s level and they perform great. I turned them 20 degrees to the listener position.

In your case perhaps the wall mounted could be the best solution, but you can also try with the stands. For the corner it will fit, but the other side perhaps it’s not nice for you to see it while you enter in the living room.

I don’t see the ceiling solution as the best option to enjoy surround…

I agree it may not be the best but I may not have a good location for the surrounds speakers in this case :(

BoboBobAuthor

Trending Lyricist I

I’ve the Era 300 just in the corners of the sofa (which is placed in a wall like you) more or less at the head’s level and they perform great. I turned them 20 degrees to the listener position.

In your case perhaps the wall mounted could be the best solution, but you can also try with the stands. For the corner it will fit, but the other side perhaps it’s not nice for you to see it while you enter in the living room.

I don’t see the ceiling solution as the best option to enjoy surround…

I agree it may not be the best but I may not have a good location for the surrounds speakers in this case.

BoboBobAuthor

Trending Lyricist I

The 300s are going to give you Atmos surrounds while almost every other option won't.

100s have very limited Atmos compared to the 300s and wouldn't be on my list of preferred options. I am using them here for other reasons and while they are acceptable they are a distant second choice to the 300s.

As to mounting, make some temporary stands and try different heights and inverted.

Would that be true if I ran Sonance in-ceiling speakers connected to an Amp and paired with the Arc Ultra?

The Amp is only two channels, no matter what it is hooked to that is all it can provide.

The 300s are multi channel Atmos speakers, check the store page to see all the details and pictures. Yes, channel is the wrong word here but it is close enough.

I guess in the audio sent to the Amp, *which* two channels go to the speakers and do the rest of the channels (rear, height) still go to the Arc Ultra?

Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

I don't recall seeing anything about the down-mix process when using an Atmos capable front device and single channel rear ones.

One would assume that Sonos and Dolby have something in place for that, maybe search the Dolby site?

I was suggesting test mounting for the 300s, as said for many of the rest it isn't an option. There are enough 300 options that wall repairs could get expensive if you try more than one.

AjTrek1

@BoboBob

No offense however I think you’re overthinking the use of Era 300’s and the Arc Ultra. There are only two options for the Era 300’s Stand or Wall mount that are recommended/supported by Sonos. If you find a 3rd option it will likely be by a 3rd party that Sonos doesn’t support.

Also, everyone in this community are volunteers. Asking questions about which channels send what and how are questions for Sonos Engineering and design. Maybe a Moderator can gleam a bit more information to your technical questions regarding channels.

Sonos has a liberal return policy. The only way to know is to do a test on a make-shit stands for Era 100 and Era 300’s then return the pair you don’t want.

The last option is to cut holes in your wall or ceiling and use a Sonos Amp. There’s really no more information I can provide. Good luck with your project to fully enjoy Sonos.

Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.

BoboBobAuthor

Trending Lyricist I

I don't recall seeing anything about the down-mix process when using an Atmos capable front device and single channel rear ones.

One would assume that Sonos and Dolby have something in place for that, maybe search the Dolby site?

I was suggesting test mounting for the 300s, as said for many of the rest it isn't an option. There are enough 300 options that wall repairs could get expensive if you try more than one.

This is what AI had to say. I guess it’s not full Atmos surround but I don’t think I can really achieve that with my room size/config. I think the in-ceiling speakers are going to be my best and cleanest option. Appreciate the help.

BoboBobAuthor

Trending Lyricist I

@BoboBob

No offense however I think you’re overthinking the use of Era 300’s and the Arc Ultra. There are only two options for the Era 300’s Stand or Wall mount that are recommended/supported by Sonos. If you find a 3rd option it will likely be by a 3rd party that Sonos doesn’t support.

Also, everyone in this community are volunteers. Asking questions about which channels send what and how are questions for Sonos Engineering and design. Maybe a Moderator can gleam a bit more information to your technical questions regarding channels.

Sonos has a liberal return policy. The only way to know is to do a test on a make-shit stands for Era 100 and Era 300’s then return the pair you don’t want.

The last option is to cut holes in your wall or ceiling and use a Sonos Amp. There’s really no more information I can provide. Good luck with your project to fully enjoy Sonos.

Fair enough, thanks for your help. Just trying to understand my options.

Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

The wall mounting options are what really opens a can of worms / screw-holes!

Ear level? Higher, but two feet or more below the ceiling? Closer than two feet but inverted?

A cheap sheet of strand-board will let you try all three. Most places will even rip the board to size. Add a few screws and explore with no damage.

Airgetlam

Honestly, for this, I don’t trust AI. It’s only able to regurgitate information it finds in the internet, and a lot of that isn’t correct, often enough.

Bruce

Airgetlam

That being said, the copied data you’ve received seems fairly accurate. I do like the final summary ;)

Bruce

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