Retired Community Manager

14.12 Update

Changes to volume mapping and impact on Sub output

Thank you for your feedback regarding the recent 14.12 software update with Enhanced Clarity for Arc.

In this update, we made a change to Arc’s audio profile to improve dialogue clarity and the overall sound experience. This change is based on feedback from our listeners in the field and brings Arc in line with our other Home Theater products, resulting in a more accurate representation of the sound as intended by the content creator.

The updated tuning adjusts the spectral balance of Arc+Sub to achieve a more accurate representation of the sound and an improved sound experience. While the Arc+Sub output capability remains the same, the mapping of volume across the 0-100% range has been adjusted with this release which means low and mid volume levels are relatively lower compared to the previous tuning so you may need to adjust the volume slider to achieve your pre-update volume level. The maximum volume and bass output are unchanged. We acknowledge that this change was not made more clear in the release notes and in the future we’ll be sure to make sure we communicate these rare changes more effectively.

Please note, we have identified an issue for some users of Arc, Beam and Ray whose configuration includes a Sub (with or without surrounds), who may find their Sub output is lower than desired after performing a new Trueplay tuning.

Users with Beam or Ray bonded with Sub can increase the Sub level for a more powerful low-end response, however this won’t have the same impact for Arc users. Customers using Arc bonded with a Sub (and/or surrounds) who find their Sub output is lower than desired following performing a new Trueplay tuning, should temporarily disable Trueplay on Arc until this is addressed by an upcoming software update.

Trueplay tunings for Home Theater configurations without a bonded Sub are unaffected, including standalone soundbars and those bonded with surrounds only.

If you would like any assistance adjusting the sound of your Home Theater setup, the community is here to help. You can also contact Sonos support.

Moderation edit:

With the 14.18 software update, the above mentioned issues have been addressed, and the Enhanced Clarity for Arc adjustments are retained. There was a clear preference within our community for the previous volume settings, and these have been restored. This will be apparent immediately after updating to 14.18. The Trueplay issue has been fixed. Customers who experienced a lower Sub level after performing Trueplay after updating to 14.12 will need to update their systems and then perform a new Trueplay tuning in order to address these improvements in their system. Customers will hear a more powerful low end response, meaning any Sub level adjustments made after 14.12 should no longer be required.

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John B

Certainly for Android, that isn't a 'feature' at all , auto updates are not either off or on and you can turn off Auto updates on an App basis.

Just select the top right for the App to decide if you want it to auto update.

Thanks for posting this. I was going to say it’s not available on my Galaxy, but it is...just not where I would expect it. You can’t set this in Settings for apps….where permissions, notifications, and everything else is. You have to view the app in the Play store, and then you can enable/disable this. I mean, why would anybody expect to change the auto-update setting under Settings?

A bit more info about this. When I selected “Enable auto update” on one app (from position of globally off) I got the following screen:

If I clicked “No thanks”, auto updates were not turned on for the individual app. If I clicked “Turn on” then it is turned on updates globally. I found I had to enable all then disable individually, which actually suits me very well.

Maybe I was doing something stupid initially, but I have ended up where i wanted to be. Thanks to @sjw for pointing this out. This came as news to me.

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Ken_Griffiths

Hi I found the following video on YouTube. The frequency response of Sonos arc does change from 14.10 to 14.12 when turning off the Trueplay. (put them in the same volume level)

I don’t think Sonos team will take their ‘valuable time’ to design an extra profile for my Sonos one, so here can show why I can hear the difference even if I turn off the Trueplay, and why the clarity improves when I downgrade to s1.

I am more than happy with Peter Pee’s review of the changes to the Sonos Arc in the 14.12 update - however the review just does not apply to other Sonos products, like the Play:1/Sonos One speaker that you keep mentioning …and looking at your online profile, you don’t own the Arc, so not sure what you are trying to say here?

The recent 14.12 update did not change your standalone Play:1/Sonos One speaker. If you think it did then perhaps speak with Sonos Customer Support via this LINK and perhaps try to resolve your issue directly with them.

Perhaps kindly report back later on what the Staff had to say about the matter.

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RussJK

Trending Lyricist II

Guys,

I too have had issues with audio quality following the 14.12 update.

Today I decided to connect my sub to my router via Ethernet instead of wireless. The sub now works perfectly.

Prior to the last update the sub worked perfectly via wireless.

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J

John B

Guys,

I too have had issues with audio quality following the 14.12 update.

Today I decided to connect my sub to my router via Ethernet instead of wireless. The sub now works perfectly.

Prior to the last update the sub worked perfectly via wireless.

It is difficult to believe that this explains any perceived difference related to the update. Wired vs wireless may affect dropouts and glitches but not "audio quality". Do you have any other Sonos devices wired?

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RussJK

Trending Lyricist II

Hi John,

Yes, my ARC is wired.

I understand your point about dropouts etc, but I can only tell you what I experienced:

wireless sub - virtually inaudible, even with sub volume at maximum

wired sub - audible with sub volume set at maximum

I am going to experiment later with a variety of content and different sub volumes.

I have also got Trueplay switched off as per the advice previously given in this thread.

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J

John B

Hi John,

Yes, my ARC is wired.

I understand your point about dropouts etc, but I can only tell you what I experienced:

wireless sub - virtually inaudible, even with sub volume at maximum

wired sub - audible with sub volume set at maximum

I am going to experiment later with a variety of content and different sub volumes.

I have also got Trueplay switched off as per the advice previously given in this thread.

I am glad you have the Arc wired as well - it’s a bad idea to wire only the Sub. Can you confirm please that you still have ‘WiFi enabled” on the Arc and haven’t set it to ‘Disable Wifi”

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RussJK

Trending Lyricist II

Hi John,

Both the ARC and Sub have WiFi disabled. My One SLs are WiFi enabled.

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J

John B

If you had wifi disabled on the Arc when it was wired and the Sub wireless then that would explain the Sub's poor performance. Please change both devices to WiFi enabled. Leave the Arc wired and take the cable off the Sub. It will probably then be fine.

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