Trueplay sounds unbalanced

TruePlay, at the end of the day, is an attempt to match something designated by a Sonos engineer. It isn’t perfect for your ears, nor can it modify things for every situation. If you find that you can tune things so that they sound better for you, you shouldn’t be using TruePlay.

I use TruePlay often as a baseline, then make modifications to suit my ears and layout. Not a bunch, but I do like some extra bass, especially in my movies. On the other hand, other rooms I’ve never TruPlayed (actually, I did, then turned it off), since I don’t perceive any value. There is zero requirement for any user to use TruePlay, in fact, for Android users, they can’t. 

If you have your Beam and Eras set up as a single room home theatre configuration, the Trueplay process should produce the sound chimes from all three speakers. There’s no additional setup needed.
 

Trueplay tries to adapt the sound to match the room acoustics, so: yes, you need to sweep your phone into all parts of the room and at different heights. 
 

As has been said, sometimes the results are less than optimal. 

 The 300s are too close to the listening position to have really good balanced sound.  That is if the couch is the listening position.  Tough room.

 When I executed TruePlay I walked all around the room.  Results have been very good.  

I know a fellow for whom TruePlay would be a disaster. Nothing sounds good to him unless bass and treble are at max and SUB (also at max) is in a corner where it dominates the room.

In many cases walking a room with TruePlay is a help. In this room you cannot do an easy job of walking the room because the sofa is mostly preventing that.

You could start with TruePlay, then amend it. If this does not suit, then ignore TruePlay. In the end, only you know what sounds “best” (to you). The fellow above thinks his room sounds great, but to me it’s ugly.

EDIT: FWIW, I knew what this fellow liked and I setup the room. I don’t need to push my preferences on anyone.

 I know some Best Buy stores like that bass heavy room.  In those store when they are playing a song in the store and also in the bathrooms you have to go into the bathroom to actually hear what the song is.  The store itself is nothing but bass.

It would have been great had you consulted this community beforehand; we may have given you better guidance regarding your room.

Typically mounting surround speakers on a rear wall should be 2 to 2.5 meters above the floor (or split the difference).

The current position of the Era 300’s is too low for a few reasons:

• The sofa and pillows are most likely absorbing the sound before it moves through the room
• The listener’s head is most likely too close and the ear has very little time to capture the subtle nuisances of the surround audio
• Although I can’t see the entire room it appears there is an area rug with more throw pillows in front of the sofa that are also sound absorbers.

If there are drapes and/or other padded seating in the room like the sofa; they too are absorbing sound. Not just from the Era 300’s but also the Beam2 and sub-mini.

To create a good surround environment reflective surfaces are best. On the other hand, too many reflective surfaces can be detrimental and create a hollow sound. 

The Beam2 might be better placed forward on the mantel rather than wall mounted.

I don’t know where the sub mini is placed. However, you can experiment by placing it in various locations in the room to ascertain where it sounds best.

Finally, TruePlay is not a silver bullet that will correct the sound in every room. Ironically it can make the acoustics worst. Sometimes it’s better not to use any auto-tuning; but manually dial-in the EQ where permissible in the Sonos app.

Hi, 

Thanks for reply, I was told apparently the speakers are supposed to be 1.2-1.3 meters high, my ceiling is 2.4m in height, I had to opt for 1.4m as the missus bought a new sofa that would have obstructed the speakers on a stand and she wouldn't allow the sofa to be pulled forward either hence wall mounting at 1.4m high, and at least 30cm away from surrounding wall. The wall the era300s are mounted on is brick. 

There is no way my girl would allow the gen2 to sit on the mantleplace, she barely tolerated me putting any of it in at all, not for the sound just aesthetics. 

The tv was mounted on the chimney breast as there was no where else for it to go, we haven't got the room, houses aren't that big in the UK, unless you're loaded with money

I'll show you where the sub mini is placed maybe I could do something there. 

I had no idea this stuff was so complicated or you need a perfect room, it's a shame, that this is not mentioned on Sonos website

Dont get my wrong the sound is pretty good but as I mentioned something feels not right, now trueplay isn't the silver bullet, I don't know what to do, apart from ripping it out. 

Thanks,

I guess I will have to keep trying with trueplay, it's like a science lesson. I need a day to play with it without distractions. i didnt appreciate that you have to do so much tinkering, I know Jack about sound definitely not an engineer. 

​@buzz thank you, i can walk in front of the sofa , i will just have to persevere with this, I'm new to this stuff and naively thought, you unpack, switch on and go. That bit is true, the finetuning and room layouts affecting sound i had no idea about..

Try turning it off completely, and just messing with the controls offered in the controller, you may find you like that better. As others have stated, your room has certain impediments to excellent sound….but none of us live in perfect environments, including myself.

One note of caution, though. The Beam Gen 2 can interpret Atmos signals, but it has no upward firing speakers in it, like the Arc and Arc Ultra do, so be aware of that. It should sound ‘good’, though. But only your ears and brain can define good, no matter what we say. 

​@Airgetlam Thanks for replying,

I appreciate that trueplay is trying to help I  watched the Sonos video, and the woman walks around the sofa, i didnt realise after looking through the comments that you have to go to every part of the room with it, maybe that's where I'm going wrong? 

It can’t hurt, as it is recommended, and certainly what I have done when using it. Just don’t expect a real magical transformation.

As suggested, there appear to be concerns in your room, and Sonos can only do so much when altering sound profiles of each speaker. Usually, it is incrementally better, once you get used to the difference, but in the moment, it may be hard to perceive. Give it, your ears, and your brain time. As I recall, even part of the process suggests ‘over time’. 

​@Airgetlam Thank you again for your input, the feedback is appreciated.

The system will have subtle changes, that I'm not registering just now, when I have some spare time, a few hours without interruptions which is rare.... I will move the iPhone in every corner and alcove to the sides of the gen2, the middle of the room, seated area, and surrounding walls which I haven't done give it a week with viewing and listening to music, . I just followed the Sonos video, where she walks by the sofa.

Someone not on here, mentioned that the era300s can do trueplay on their, and monitor the room, would that help for the surround sound too?

Thanks. 

No, the TruePlay is for the room itself (all speakers in the Sonos ‘room’), not separate speakers. The TruePlay the Era 300s do ‘on their own’ only happen when they’re set up as single or stereo speakers, and not as set up as surround speakers. 

As long as you’re following the instructions in the controller, including the video, you’re doing the best you can with TruePlay. Remember, it’s only a suggestion, not perfection. Half of users don’t have the ability to use it, and Sonos knows that. As I’ve previously said, you may be better off not using TruePlay, and just using the controls provided in the controller. 

Or, you can always call Sonos Support to discuss it, rather than trusting random people on the internet. Up to you.

When you speak directly to the Support staff, they have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your network and Sonos system

Well at least I have learned something, and it seems you know your stuff. 

I will experiment with it, i haven't paid too much attention to the controller app either, as i believed trueplay configures and that's that. Lives and learns I guess.. 

I appreciate your replies I think I can get this dialled in now I have had more help. 

Cheers 

Dave. 

You could stretch your arms over the sofa to let Trueplay take in more of the room.

In one of my rooms Trueplay didn’t make any difference. In another room it was a big help.

Subwoofer performance is very tied to its placement in the room. That’s the way the physics work. Attempt to place it vaguely in the same plain as the front speakers. You’ll discover that moving it a foot or two can make a big difference. Placing it under or behind something is not a big deal. Distance from the walls, especially the corners, is a big deal.

Thanks buzz, I will do that, 

I'm kind of stuck a bit with sub-mini placement, it's to the left about 1.5metres and forward from the gen2.

I could move it back towards the alcove I have  about 70cm play which whilst not aligned would be a bit better.

Thank you i will do that. 

Cheers. 

😂 No worries, my partner works with imperial and I was taught metric at school, so DIY projects as you can imagine, are challenging... Haha

Thank you all for  your help.

With all the information I've received this question has been answered and can be closed off. 

Kind regards 

Dave.