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

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DGsound

Lyricist I

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

Ken_Griffiths

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.

Dogdad

Headliner III

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.

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.

Ken_Griffiths

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.

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.

J

Jagielak

Trending Lyricist I

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

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darshakparmar

Avid Contributor I

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.

Ken_Griffiths

@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.

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JeroenVR

Prominent Collaborator I

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

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darshakparmar

Avid Contributor I

@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

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JeroenVR

Prominent Collaborator I

Just to make sure: