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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Show previous replies

M

msf

Lyricist III

...and completely understand how frustrating this issue must be for those affected…

I love how this implies that the number of people affected by this is a small minority of owners. As if it doesn’t affect every single setup that involves an Arc paired with a sub. As if we’re supposed to believe that we’re just the unlucky ones and that somewhere out there is a sub/Arc combo running the 14.12+ update that doesn’t drop the low frequencies with TruePlay enabled.

Regardless, this is not the update we were expecting or wanted to hear. It’s outrageous that it’s now been two months and Sonos doesn’t have a timeline for a “fix”.

Here’s a thought - I’ve owned Roombas now for years and occasionally they’ll push a bad update out. When that happens there’s no way for the end user to roll the update back BUT you can contact support and they’ll roll the update back for you. Why not do something similar here? That way only “affected” users get rolled back and you guys can continue work on a fix for the masses.

There have been posters in this very thread who are not experiencing this problem with an Arc and a Sub, so that negates your claim right there. An informal poll on Facebook reflected the same. Also, the fact people unaffected are not as likely to seek out this thread or the poll, never mind post to them, lends credibility to Sonos' statement that it is only a certain subset of users affected.

Please, be so kind to answer my questions:

1. You are using android or iOS phone?
2. Do you use trueplay?
3. Where is your sub positioned - corner or in the middle of the room?
4. Do you make difference between 30HZ and 100HZ, and if so which one do you prefer?

Thank you in advance!

jgatie

Please, be so kind to answer my questions:

1. You are using android or iOS phone?
2. Do you use trueplay?
3. Where is your sub positioned - corner or in the middle of the room?
4. Do you make difference between 30HZ and 100HZ, and if so which one do you prefer?

Thank you in advance!

I’m not the person you should be asking. I happen to hear a difference between 14.12 and 14.10. Not as dramatically as some seem to be hearing, but there is a difference.

M

micman

Contributor I

You are right most of us are focused on the sub/trueplay, it sounds sh@t now at the centre. The front soundstage is totally wrong, I dont listen to music anymore as it just doesn't sound right and movies are way too centre channel heavy and tinny at times . Atmos/truehd is not too bad but sounded way better at 14 10

For general tv viewing (stereopcm or DD)my mother's £40 budget soundbar is no worse/ or my £2000 Sonos setup sounds no better than a £40 Sanyo soundbar

This 😁

J

JeroenVR

Prominent Collaborator I

How did a manage that? Are the speakers also back to 14.10?

L

LMrcpa123

Avid Contributor II

You are right most of us are focused on the sub/trueplay, it sounds sh@t now at the centre. The front soundstage is totally wrong, I dont listen to music anymore as it just doesn't sound right and movies are way too centre channel heavy and tinny at times . Atmos/truehd is not too bad but sounded way better at 14 10

For general tv viewing (stereopcm or DD)my mother's £40 budget soundbar is no worse/ or my £2000 Sonos setup sounds no better than a £40 Sanyo soundbar

This 😁

Did you not update?

B

blunderdome

Enthusiast I

Did you not update?

Top of the screencap - “System update available”

Looks like they didn’t update. Smug SOB 😆

T

TwitchyEyes

Lyricist III

You are right most of us are focused on the sub/trueplay, it sounds sh@t now at the centre. The front soundstage is totally wrong, I dont listen to music anymore as it just doesn't sound right and movies are way too centre channel heavy and tinny at times . Atmos/truehd is not too bad but sounded way better at 14 10

For general tv viewing (stereopcm or DD)my mother's £40 budget soundbar is no worse/ or my £2000 Sonos setup sounds no better than a £40 Sanyo soundbar

This 😁

I never thought I’d say this over a software update, but GOD do I envy you right now.

P

petewhiteside80

Lyricist III

You are right most of us are focused on the sub/trueplay, it sounds sh@t now at the centre. The front soundstage is totally wrong, I dont listen to music anymore as it just doesn't sound right and movies are way too centre channel heavy and tinny at times . Atmos/truehd is not too bad but sounded way better at 14 10

For general tv viewing (stereopcm or DD)my mother's £40 budget soundbar is no worse/ or my £2000 Sonos setup sounds no better than a £40 Sanyo soundbar