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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melvimbe

Why would Sonos bother with a EULA if they do not intend to use it as an argument? What a silly comment, of course Sonos will use the EULA as an argument, there's no other reason to have a EULA.

What is a EULA?

End User License Agreement

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Danny

jgatie

Why would Sonos bother with a EULA if they do not intend to use it as an argument? What a silly comment, of course Sonos will use the EULA as an argument, there's no other reason to have a EULA.

What is a EULA?

End User License Agreement. Unlike hardware, which you purchase and own, the software you "buy" is really a license to use, and as such, it is not covered by the same warranty laws as the hardware. Almost all software made has a EULA which includes clauses which allow the producers of the software to alter it at will. Here is Sonos' for US users:

EULA for Sonos Users in the United States

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Dogdad

Headliner III

Why would Sonos bother with a EULA if they do not intend to use it as an argument? What a silly comment, of course Sonos will use the EULA as an argument, there's no other reason to have a EULA.

What is a EULA?

End User License Agreement. Unlike hardware, which you purchase and own, the software you "buy" is really a license to use, and as such, it is not covered by the same warranty laws as the hardware. Almost all software made has a EULA which includes clauses which allow the producers of the software to alter it at will. Here is Sonos' for US users:

https://www.sonos.com/en-us/legal/terms-of-use

After reading the section, even thought it says turning off auto updates would not get updated, mine did. Very aggravating to say the least.

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jgatie

After reading the section, even thought it says turning off auto updates would not get updated, mine did. Very aggravating to say the least.

It has already been explained to you - Turning off automatic updates in the Sonos app only turns off firmware updates to the Sonos hardware. You must also turn off automatic updates to the apps on your controller devices. Automatic app updates are a feature of the mobile OS, and cannot be controlled by Sonos. Which is why your controller app was updated, which in turn alerted you to the firmware update on the Sonos hardware because the two were out of sync.

This is one of the crappiest “features” of iOS/Android, auto updates are either off or on, you cannot set it to off for some apps and on for others.

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A

arcosin

Enthusiast II

Disabling TruePlay has made little difference on my system (Arc + sub + surrounds). The sound is still tinny with no depth to the bass, even if I then turn up the bass EQ to full. My conclusion is either Sonos have not fully understood the scope of the issue yet, or they have chosen to downplay it for marketing reasons. In my opinion neither reflects well on Sonos.

Even if you ignore the unintended issues of bass response being broken in some setups, when you have customers who have spent thousands of $/£ on Sonos equipment, I find it pretty disappointing that Sonos product management ever thought it would be ok to roll out a significant change to the sound profile to all Arc customers on an automated software update with no ability for users to opt in or out of the change. Sure, some people like the change, and some don’t. But those people who auditioned the Sonos equipment or who relied on reviews of the sound profile by seasoned reviewers, are now left with a product that no longer provides that experience. Sonos isn’t some subscription service where people who don’t like the new experience can just switch to another service. It’s expensive hardware that you’re stuck with if Sonos decide that the sound profile you liked when you made your purchase decision is no longer available. In my opinion, this is not a good way to treat customers if you want them to be happy and remain long term Sonos fans, or repeat customers as new products are released.

As soon as this issue has been resolved (if it ever is) then I will be disabling Sonos software updates and hoping Sonos continues to work as is in a stable sate without needing any kind of mandatory update in the future.

I’ve adjusted my “would you recommend Sonos to a friend” score from 8/10 down to 2/10.

For those who are not effected by the any issues or who don’t find this experience as disappointing as me, then that’s ok. I’m just trying to respectfully share my experience and my opinion, and I’m not saying it reflects your experience or should be your opinion.

Two months ago (with the connectivity issue and sonos completely ignoring it and the people who complained about it), I recommended a friend to stay away from sonos if he wants to stay sane. Now, another friend of mine wants to buy a new theater system and I told him the same thing. losing two customers is probably not gonna make a difference at sonos, but if they’re trying to make a bad reputation for the company, it’s definitely working.

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Dogdad

Headliner III

After reading the section, even thought it says turning off auto updates would not get updated, mine did. Very aggravating to say the least.

It has already been explained to you - Turning off automatic updates in the Sonos app only turns off firmware updates to the Sonos hardware. You must also turn off automatic updates to the apps on your controller devices. Automatic app updates are a feature of the mobile OS, and cannot be controlled by Sonos. Which is why your controller app was updated, which in turn alerted you to the firmware update on the Sonos hardware because the two were out of sync.

This is one of the crappiest “features” of iOS/Android, auto updates are either off or on, you cannot set it to off for some apps and on for others.

And it’s also turned off on my devices… jeeeese.. not everyone s first rodeo

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Airgetlam

There has never been a case reported and confirmed here in which Sonos updated itself without prior authorization to do so.

Which leads many of us to the conclusion that either this is absolutely new behaviour, or there’s something else going on.

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Bruce

jgatie

And it’s also turned off on my devices… jeeeese.. not everyone s first rodeo

I don’t know you from Adam, you could be a neophyte or you could be the next coming of Steve Jobs. Given that, like all other support techniques, we start with the basics. But hey, sorry for trying to help. 🙄

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J

John B

After reading the section, even thought it says turning off auto updates would not get updated, mine did. Very aggravating to say the least.

It has already been explained to you - Turning off automatic updates in the Sonos app only turns off firmware updates to the Sonos hardware. You must also turn off automatic updates to the apps on your controller devices. Automatic app updates are a feature of the mobile OS, and cannot be controlled by Sonos. Which is why your controller app was updated, which in turn alerted you to the firmware update on the Sonos hardware because the two were out of sync.

This is one of the crappiest “features” of iOS/Android, auto updates are either off or on, you cannot set it to off for some apps and on for others.

And it’s also turned off on my devices… jeeeese.. not everyone s first rodeo

Clearly you have only just done that, or you would not have been in the position of having app on 14.12 and system on 14.10.

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D

DarwinOSX

Sonos needs to take a look at their development and QA process. Clearly there is something wrong. I don’t care about turning up the volume but not having sub or disabling Trueplay is pretty lame. As it happens I got my arc and sub the day this update came out so it has never run on anything else. Not a great first experience. Once they fix the sub issue I expect I will be happy but I am close to retuning the arc and sub anyway just because not leaves a bad taste in my mouth. especially after it took them months to fix the issues with arc, sub, and rears disconnecting. I’m betting when they fired half their American staff to save money they also outsourced development to the usual 3rd world countries.

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Changes to volume mapping and impact on Sub output

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