14.12 Update | Sonos Community

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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Won’t be until October 18th at the earliest. They tend to release 1 software update a month on the 3rd Tuesday of every month. So don’t expect anything until then. If still no fix, then it’s time to vent once more.

Sonos please make me a birthday present and fix the sub and sound signature please... I honestly can't wait any longer... ;(

This thread died :/

Much like my previous affinity for Sonos.

Just another voice to say the sub update is definitely broken.

I have an Arc, 2x One SLs and the Sub Gen 3. I don’t have Trueplay enabled.

I’ve just been doing some A/B and there’s definitely something wrong.

With sub audio set to default (0), I actually get better more prominent low end with the sub OFF. It’s immediately noticeable if I play a low end heavy track. I have to turn the Sub volume up to +6 to get roughly what I was hearing pre-update. You can flick it on and off while tracks are playing.

When you enable the sub it ‘takes over’ the low end from the Arc/Ones essentially automating crossover. However, following the update the sub is being so underpowered that by doing this you’re just losing the low end completely.

This is a dedicated £750 sub. It’s not meant to be subtle, it should have noticeable bass which it used to. I’ve spoken to Sonos support, even they are admitting it’s still a problem guys.

I think the majority of us will agree with you, including myself that the sub is still broken. But in the interim, we are just trying to improve the sound quality as best as possible until it’s completely fixed.

I had this issue - split your Ones and Sub into one ‘room’, and put the Arc in another ‘room’, for music you will get 14.10 type sound playing both rooms simultaneously. You wont get the lack of bass issue with the ones driving the Sub. I have the Arc volume slightly above the ones/sub, I can enjoy music again until they fix this mess properly.

This should also work for TV too via the HDMI (tested mine via Creative X4 external DAC to PC and I can game in 5.1 audio, even though the system is split into two virtual rooms, so same principle should hold true for TV connection, I would think.

Only thing this wont fix is allowing you to play Atmos music via Amazon Music - multiroom playback stops you from having the ability to select Atmos (prob due to the 2x ones + sub as a standalone) and UHD tracks, but to be honest HD sounds amazing anyway.

Hope the above helps anyone wanting a short term music fix!!!! Literally cant believe the difference - my sub is now on +2 (from +15 and still sounded rubbish) and the bass is thundering away on my music again properly as it should be!

This is a really good idea. I think I’m going to give it a try just to see how it works.

Splitting the arc from SUB definitely works, just make sure that the other room with SUB + One sl’s has trueplay disabled. I did that and was able to shake my walls again :D

I'm new to Sonos but months ago the system was impecable, could almost cry listening to it.

But for a while now the volume has halved. Not happy at all. My classic speaker friends are laughing at me.

Whyyy?

Beam + 2 Fives + Sub

I'm new to Sonos but months ago the system was impecable, could almost cry listening to it.

But for a while now the volume has halved. Not happy at all. My classic speaker friends are laughing at me.

Whyyy?

Beam + 2 Fives + Sub

The overall device-volume hasn’t changed - it’s just a change to the volume curve. Set your volume slider a little further up, over to the right, to restore it to the volume-level you were using before.

I'm new to Sonos but months ago the system was impecable, could almost cry listening to it.

But for a while now the volume has halved. Not happy at all. My classic speaker friends are laughing at me.

Whyyy?

Beam + 2 Fives + Sub

Maybe you haven’t noticed that many do not like the volume map they changed.. regardless whether it’s a little or a lot. For most I think it’s a lot.

I'm new to Sonos but months ago the system was impecable, could almost cry listening to it.

But for a while now the volume has halved. Not happy at all. My classic speaker friends are laughing at me.

Whyyy?

Beam + 2 Fives + Sub

Maybe you haven’t noticed that many do not like the volume map they changed.. regardless whether it’s a little or a lot. For most I think it’s a lot.

Slightly irrelevant, as the conversation was about the volume ‘halving’ - whereas the overall volume has not actually changed, its just the mapping to the volume slider that has changed, so as stated, to return the Beam to the same volume output as before, then the volume slider needs to be moved to the right - this is very clearly mentioned/covered in the first post in this thread by the Staff.

We are waiting..... NEVER FORGET , NEVER FORGIVE ... THIS IS SPARTA :D

Recently bought Arc + Sub Gen 3. Using with Sony Bravia XR X90J. Overall system is awesome but not happy with power output, especially the arc. Volume levels are awfully law. I switched from JBL bar 9.1 that has 800+ watt output. For content I used to listen to at 50% volume, I have to raise Arc volume all the way till 90/100. My TV audio out level is at 100%, Arc volume limiter is at 100%, night mode is off. Pretty much everything that can get in the way of volume is handled. Yet, Arc leaves you wanting more power.

Software on arc and sub are up to date. I am an android user so can't even blame the trueplay tuning bug related to 14.12 update. I hate to say but my conclusion is - Arc simply doesn't have enough power output, which is a disappointment considering it's such an expensive hardware. Happy to be proven wrong.

@darshakparmar,

I have Arc, surrounds and Sub with an LG C9 TV in a 22’ x 14’ room and I find 40% is the volume level we mostly use. I certainly never have the level set higher than double that, as 80% volume is way too loud in our Home.

So that perhaps infers, that these things depend on the fixed volume-output level of the attached TV and that the Sony XR X90J has perhaps been designed to work at a much lower volume level output, than some other brands? So Sonos presumably have to cater for every brand & model and their ‘varying’ volume output levels.

You didn’t accidentally limit the volume output in the S2 app?

@Ken_Griffiths thanks for sharing that info. I am in a pretty similar room - 25ft by 15ft with my viewing area in one side of the rectangular room. I have used JBL bar 9.1 with the same Sony tv and with exact same audio settings/configuration. But as I mentioned, Arc seems to lag behind with peak power output.

@JeroenVR No. My volume output on S2 app is at 100%.

I will find an iPhone and try trueplay tuning to see if it changes anything.

EDIT - one of the reason it could be happening is that JBL (like many other brands) upscales lesser channels audio into all channels (eg 2.1 to 5.1.4 or 5.1 to 5.1.4) in order to utilise all available speaker drivers on the system, making overall presentation louder and fuller. Sonos, on the other hand, remains truthful to the source audio and uses speaker drivers based on available channel data from source content (eg stereo will use only left/right channels, 5.1 will not use height channels ...). That might make Sonos sound not as loud as JBL bar 9.1 under same configuration of A/V. But having said that, missing power is more evident when I am streaming music from Sonos app

Just to make sure:

I mean the volume limit, that’s different than volume output. Maybe we talk about the same thing, then never mind

I'm new to Sonos but months ago the system was impecable, could almost cry listening to it.

But for a while now the volume has halved. Not happy at all. My classic speaker friends are laughing at me.

Whyyy?

Beam + 2 Fives + Sub

Maybe you haven’t noticed that many do not like the volume map they changed.. regardless whether it’s a little or a lot. For most I think it’s a lot.

Exactly that. I ungrouped my 2x 1SL's and created a stereo pair with the sub3. All of this is now on the previous volume curve, blows me away at level 50 and sounds back to how it should. Not worth having my Arc on any more, now the quietest thing in the house when everything else is at the same level. Why did they have to change it beats me. Singled out the flagship and ruined it. What a shame and what a waste of my hard earned cash. Needs reverting back, simple. I'll keep banging the drum

Just to make sure:

I mean the volume limit, that’s different than volume output. Maybe we talk about the same thing, then never mind

Yep. We are talking about the same thing

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Logged on for the first time in years. Have an old S1 system but moving to a new house in a year and started research for a soundbar and this is the first thing I see. Why still on S1? I was hacked off by the junking of the controllers and the attempted junking of the S1 components so refuse to buy any more Sonos cos they junk stuff. First thread I see and it appears the old habits are still foremost?

Ah well, Sony, Samsung, Sennheiser or whatever….

Best of luck, people.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Ah well, Sony, Samsung, Sennheiser or whatever….

Best of luck, people.

Nobody cares, dude. But hey, you do you.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Ah well, Sony, Samsung, Sennheiser or whatever….

Best of luck, people.

Nobody cares, dude. But hey, you do you.

Wrong.. many people care… speak for yourself, not for others.

I meant nobody cares about someone who gave up on Sonos years ago checking in to tell us they gave up on Sonos years ago. It's not relevant to the current problem, which I certainly know people care about.

And if you believe someone still bitching about S1 is actually looking at Sonos S2 soundbars, I have a bridge to sell you. This just another pissed off S1 complainer who won't let it go.

As Dogdad wrote, do not speak for me. I never gave up on Sonos, it was Sonos that attempted to give up on me.

Yeah, sure I stopped buying new Sonos products but then my rooms were all serviced, I had no need. Now I am moving home. After reading up about the Arc it could satisfy my future requirement and reviews well hence, as I said, I came on here to enhance my research and I merely pointed out the irony that the same things that turned me right off were still happening. Believe it or not I am a happy bunny on S1. Take your superiority complex with you.

As Dogdad wrote, do not speak for me. I never gave up on Sonos, it was Sonos that attempted to give up on me.

Like I said, nobody cares.

if I knew that the new firmware update would have ruined my viewing and listening pleasure i wouldn’t have updated my Sonos arc, yet here we are the in the month of October and it appears still no resolution insight.

Is trueplay broken with the new sub mini also, or it’s working normally? I’m looking forward to see the answer in the next days…

Changes to volume mapping and impact on Sub output

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