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.

This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

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O

Omgzappy

Lyricist I

I had the setup perfect before now after the change I don’t even use my system. I’ll never buy a Sonos product again.

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R

rsint

Enthusiast I

A very interesting video from the Sonos whisperer, Peter Pee.

It's really clear that truesound breaks the sub.

https://youtu.be/EouMIJd_mxo

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106rallye

Is that not an acknowledged problem that Sonos is working on?

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R

rsint

Enthusiast I

After they caused it, yes. But it's nice to see it proven

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nikid

Enthusiast II

I’m wondering how many people here are experiencing changes in the sound profile in setups without a Sub?

My setup is Arc + 2x OneSL surrounds. I don’t have a Sub. The sound profile changed dramatically for me after the 14.12 update. In a nutshell: bass is unbalanced and generally lacking, the overall sound is muddy and the system sounds cheap, surround speakers are much louder to the point of overpowering everything else, I don’t find speech and vocals to be any clearer, TruePlay doesn’t make any significant difference either way (enabled or disabled, multiple re-runs) and finally, yes, the Arc is somewhat quieter overall.

I’m really anxious that Sonos will tweak the Sub in the next update and call it a day, leaving other 14.12 issues with the Arc unresolved for the rest of us. 😬

Totally the same experience as you. I do have the Sub Gen3 but when removed and just Arc and Surrounds bonded it's the same experience you're having. Surrounds are overpowering, it's as if they forgot to reduce the volume on those when in a surround setup. Yes I can turn them down but I shouldn't have to. That reason alone is because the Arc is quieter / not on the same volume curve as the 1SL's. I've told the forum already I don't use any enhancements, no level changes, no trueplay, I literally use it out of the box which was perfect. So it's evident that when everything is bonded together, they're not all on the same page. Shocking update, give us 14.10 back, restore the faith in the owners, restore the respect in the brand, because it's quickly disappearing day by day.

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Ken_Griffiths

A very interesting video from the Sonos whisperer, Peter Pee.

It's really clear that truesound breaks the sub.

https://youtu.be/EouMIJd_mxo

Peter Pee’s latest video mostly re-asserts once again what the Sonos Staff have announced already. See the Community Manager (@Caroline V’s) post at the start of this thread.

I don’t think the user-majority are perhaps disputing Peter Pee’s findings in this, or his other, recent videos on this topic. It is a case that the Arc’s volume curve (not its overall volume output) has been altered and that can ‘mostly’ be addressed with an increase in the volume-slider control. The center channel dialogue has been improved (I’ve certainly noticed that myself) and Sonos have recognised the following issue…

<quote>"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"</quote>

Which the users of Beam/Ray (with Sub etc.) can possibly resolve with their Sub level control in the App, but it is suggested that Arc (with Sub etc.) users should switch off Trueplay ‘temporarily’ instead, until Sonos address the matter with an update.

What is helpful here, is that Peter Pee’s frequency response charts and findings are all confirming what we were all told by the Sonos Staff… @Caroline V.’s post has been there for all to see and read for quite some time, but maybe some community users here have not read/studied that post, perhaps🤔?

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Ken_Griffiths

Totally the same experience as you. I do have the Sub Gen3 but when removed and just Arc and Surrounds bonded it's the same experience you're having. Surrounds are overpowering, it's as if they forgot to reduce the volume on those when in a surround setup. Yes I can turn them down but I shouldn't have to.

So you do not think that you should adjust your surround settings depending on where the two speakers are positioned in your room in relation to your listening position?

That distance for some Arc users might be as near as 1/2m (2 feet), or perhaps set at a much greater distance away, at more than 3m (10 feet+). So of course you should adjust their volume/settings, if not using Trueplay to tune the system to your chosen room-setup. That’s precisely why the various customisation controls are there in the Sonos App and available to everyone of us.

That reason alone is because the Arc is quieter / not on the same volume curve as the 1SL's. I've told the forum already I don't use any enhancements, no level changes, no trueplay, I literally use it out of the box which was perfect. So it's evident that when everything is bonded together, they're not all on the same page. Shocking update, give us 14.10 back, restore the faith in the owners, restore the respect in the brand, because it's quickly disappearing day by day.

I would suggest you adjust the volume and adjust the surrounds, particularly whilst the Trueplay feature is temporarily disabled, as per the Staff suggestion, until the Sonos update is released… then go back to letting Trueplay customise the system settings for you and just use the Sonos App customisation tools for very fine tuning to how you like to hear things (if necessary).

Translate

Bumper

A very interesting video from the Sonos whisperer, Peter Pee.

It's really clear that truesound breaks the sub.

https://youtu.be/EouMIJd_mxo

Peter Pee’s latest video mostly re-asserts once again what the Sonos Staff have announced already. See the Community Manager (@Caroline V’s) post at the start of this thread.

I don’t think the user-majority are perhaps disputing Peter Pee’s findings in this, or his other, recent videos on this topic. It is a case that the Arc’s volume curve (not its overall volume output) has been altered and that can ‘mostly’ be addressed with an increase in the volume-slider control. The center channel dialogue has been improved (I’ve certainly noticed that myself) and Sonos have recognised the following issue…

<quote>"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"</quote>

Which the users of Beam/Ray (with Sub etc.) can possibly resolve with their Sub level control in the App, but it is suggested that Arc (with Sub etc.) users should switch off Trueplay ‘temporarily’ instead, until Sonos address the matter with an update.

What is helpful here, is that Peter Pee’s frequency response charts and findings are all confirming what we were all told by the Sonos Staff… @Caroline V.’s post has been there for all to see and read for quite some time, but maybe some community users here have not read/studied that post, perhaps🤔?

Perhaps they’ve been swamped trying to get through the walls of text that a certain user posts quite frequently and haven’t had time to read/study it yet🤔

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Dogdad

Headliner III

I work at a store that sells Sonos but I am so dissapointed that I don’t even recommend their products anymore.

Now this speaks volumes….

The one and only ‘salesperson’ with a touch of conscience - Yes, this really must be a first... ha ha 😀

Pardon the pun here, but ‘I’m just not buying it’.

You must be the only free minded , good natured , everything is positive, and nothing can be wrong…in this forum.

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Ken_Griffiths

You must be the only free minded , good natured , everything is positive, and nothing can be wrong…in this forum.

Yes, I guess my glass is never half-empty.🤷‍♂️

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Changes to volume mapping and impact on Sub output

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