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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K

Kumar

Really not happy that I’ve spent so much money and now the product I have is not the product I bought. I presume the return window will remain well and truly closed for those who really don’t like they way the system sounds now 🙁

You will soon have the fervent Sonos fans chiming in here, telling you that when you opened the box you implicitly signed the end user license agreement granting Sonos the permission to change the sound profile as and when they feel like doing so. And the same fans will tell you this is because you really bought a computer loaded with software that just also happens to deliver sounds, so this is really your fault.

If the quoted is indeed what has happened to you, I agree that it sucks.

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BlazerJia

Lyricist III

Hi Sonos, please re-release the previous version before your team fixes the 14.12. My Sonos one sounds not as well as before, which leads me here. It maybe not the bass or sub issue for me, because I do hear some differences even in mid or high range. I like the sound before the update. Now I think I had to defer my purchase plan for another Sonos stereo pair….

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Rich76

Hi Sonos, please re-release the previous version before your team fixes the 14.12. My Sonos one sounds not as well as before, which leads me here. It maybe not the bass or sub issue for me, because I do hear some differences even in mid or high range. I like the sound before the update. Now I think I had to defer my purchase plan for another Sonos stereo pair….

Pre 14.12 I was a fervent Sonos fan. I have the speakers all over my house. My comment there wasn’t serious, not for one moment suggesting I should be allowed to return 18 months later. More stressing the point of the product I bought is now significantly inferior (in my ears) to what I paid for.

Here’s hoping Sonos do the right thing and put the sound profile to how it used to be. Or at least give users the choice of the sound profile they prefer. Surely that can’t be too difficult??

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Ken_Griffiths

Hi Sonos, please re-release the previous version before your team fixes the 14.12. My Sonos one sounds not as well as before, which leads me here. It maybe not the bass or sub issue for me, because I do hear some differences even in mid or high range. I like the sound before the update. Now I think I had to defer my purchase plan for another Sonos stereo pair….

Your profile doesn’t list a Sonos Arc, nor a Sub for that matter, which is what the recent 14.12 update/change discussion has been all about - it’s not anything to do with a Sonos One, or a stereo pair as far as I can make out 🤔? I would perhaps just try re-tuning your ‘One’ speaker, or try it with Trueplay disabled and perhaps try adjusting the EQ Bass/Treble settings too, whichever suits the way you like to listen to your speaker.

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K

Kumar

Or at least give users the choice of the sound profile they prefer. Surely that can’t be too difficult??

That makes a lot of sense, but I suspect that this isn’t something that is easy for Sonos to implement. Even letting users roll back an update is probably a big task.

The legacy audio industry has worked on making these changes with new hardware model releases; so users with old products do not get these benefits unless they buy new hardware. The advantage of this is of course that many simply stick to old hardware if they do not want/need the sound profile change, not believing that to be a benefit. Which is also why sometimes the old version is re-released as a classic edition.

Via upgrades, Sonos seems to be correcting what it thinks are its past mistakes in hardware already sold, but that then leaves people in the boat you find yourself in.

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BlazerJia

Lyricist III

Hi Sonos, please re-release the previous version before your team fixes the 14.12. My Sonos one sounds not as well as before, which leads me here. It maybe not the bass or sub issue for me, because I do hear some differences even in mid or high range. I like the sound before the update. Now I think I had to defer my purchase plan for another Sonos stereo pair….

Your profile doesn’t list a Sonos Arc, nor a Sub for that matter, which is what the recent 14.12 update/change discussion has been all about - it’s not anything to do with a Sonos One, or a stereo pair as far as I can make out 🤔? I would perhaps just try re-tuning your ‘One’ speaker, or try it with Trueplay disabled and perhaps try adjusting the EQ Bass/Treble settings too, whichever suits the way you like to listen to your speaker.

Hi, thanks for your reply. Now I roll my Sonos one back to s1 at 11.5 version. I feel now I get a richer sound and it is better than s2 14.12 both with/without Trueplay.

I also tried to update to s2 14.10 from s1, but I got blocked by Sonos server. Therefore, I might stay in s1 for a while, wait their update and try again….At least now I can hear something ‘normal’.

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K

Kumar

Hi, thanks for your reply. Now I roll my Sonos one back to s1 at 11.5 version. I feel now I get a richer sound and it is better than s2 14.12 both with/without Trueplay.

I also tried to update to s2 14.10 from s1, but I got blocked by Sonos server. Therefore, I might stay in s1 for a while, wait their update and try again….At least now I can hear something ‘normal’.

That seems like a solution, but there may be some downsides, though not being able to get HD audio definitely isn't one!

Why are you not able to stay on s1 forever? I am on it and it all works just fine.

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BlazerJia

Lyricist III

Hi, thanks for your reply. Now I roll my Sonos one back to s1 at 11.5 version. I feel now I get a richer sound and it is better than s2 14.12 both with/without Trueplay.

I also tried to update to s2 14.10 from s1, but I got blocked by Sonos server. Therefore, I might stay in s1 for a while, wait their update and try again….At least now I can hear something ‘normal’.

That seems like a solution, but there may be some downsides, though not being able to get HD audio definitely isn't one!

Why are you not able to stay on s1 forever? I am on it and it all works just fine.

Yeah, s1 seems good enough now. I can at least play CD quality music from my phone or tidal, which is enough for me. One downside is Alexa support is not as good as s2, but not a big deal.

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Ken_Griffiths

Hi, thanks for your reply. Now I roll my Sonos one back to s1 at 11.5 version. I feel now I get a richer sound and it is better than s2 14.12 both with/without Trueplay.

I also tried to update to s2 14.10 from s1, but I got blocked by Sonos server. Therefore, I might stay in s1 for a while, wait their update and try again….At least now I can hear something ‘normal’.

Well using two Play:1’s almost side by side, one on S1 and the other on S2 with Trueplay disabled and flat EQ, I struggle to hear any differences to shout Home about .. see screenshot attached. which shows my brief test here…

I had to switch between the two as the streaming music service (Amazon) would only let me stream A and then B and not both at the same time, despite using the S1/S2 Apps. Anyhow, all I can say is there must be something wrong if your are hearing a significant difference on that (now) old speaker when it runs on the old S1 system.

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John B

If it is true that max volume is unchanged, but the curve to get there has changed then that, to me, seems a complete non-issue. Other changes to the sound signature, if they cannot easily be adjusted away, clearly will be an issue for users who don’t like the change. But audio judgements are notoriously subjective and preferences differ. Based on past changes made by Sonos, I can’t help feeling that if the new sound signature had been the old, and the old the new, there would be just as many complaints on this forum.

I honestly don’t know if Sonos has got this right or wrong. In fact it is probably much less clear-cut than that. Sonos has certainly not made a good job of communicating what it was trying to do. It would be good to have a more detailed explanation in this forum of significant changes implemented by an update. More in-app info would also be good, because the percentage of users who come onto this forum routinely is presumably fairly small.

I hope this is resolved to the satisfaction of as many people as possible, but I suspect you cannot please all of the people all of the time.

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Changes to volume mapping and impact on Sub output

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