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

Dogdad

Headliner III

Hi all,

Thank you for your continued discussion. We’re really happy to be able to tell you that today we’ll release an update that will include fixes to the issues that resulted from the 14.12 software update with Enhanced Clarity for Arc.In the 14.12 release, we made a change to Arc’s sound profile to improve dialogue clarity and the overall sound experience. Since that update, some users whose configuration included a Sub have experienced two issues:

Users of Arc would find the same volume settings resulted in lower output volume. Whilst the maximum volume and bass capabilities were unchanged, volume settings in the lower regions resulted in a quieter sound than before the update
Users of Arc, Beam and Ray would find their Sub output is lower than desired after performing a new Trueplay tuning.

(Home theatre configurations without a Sub were unaffected, including standalone soundbars and those bonded with surrounds only)

With the 14.18 software update, both of these 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.

Glad to hear and hopefully it resolves the issues for most as it doesn’t seem everyone is always happy with the updates.
On another note, why don’t you put this post as a new topic instead of a reply in the old 14.12 issue post? If I didn’t scroll through that post I wouldn’t have seen your new posts. Also, why does Sonos refuse to put these update explanations in the release notes instead of “ bug fixes and enhancements “ .

R

RBM1505

Lyricist III

It will make me think very carefully about buying Sonos products in the future when they can change the sound profile so drastically with no user option to reverse the changes.

I find it very odd that anyone in management thought it's a good idea. It means it will likely happen again.

Audio is subjective. Beyond entry level gear, you can't just make everything sound 'better' to everyone without changing hardware. It shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how people purchase high end audio gear. I just don't understand fiddling with stuff to make minor improvements, that nobody asked for, to the detriment of others.

I'm sure some people prefer the new sound, but did that stop them purchasing it in the first place? Is it stopping anyone from purchasing it in the first place? Has this increased sales/revenue/profit/reputation?

Or, as I suspect, has it had the opposite effect? Ongoing lawsuits have already decimated their stocks and dare I say they skirted very closely to another one.

S

Stone love sound

Enthusiast I

Hi all,

Thank you for your continued discussion. We’re really happy to be able to tell you that today we’ll release an update that will include fixes to the issues that resulted from the 14.12 software update with Enhanced Clarity for Arc.In the 14.12 release, we made a change to Arc’s sound profile to improve dialogue clarity and the overall sound experience. Since that update, some users whose configuration included a Sub have experienced two issues:

Users of Arc would find the same volume settings resulted in lower output volume. Whilst the maximum volume and bass capabilities were unchanged, volume settings in the lower regions resulted in a quieter sound than before the update
Users of Arc, Beam and Ray would find their Sub output is lower than desired after performing a new Trueplay tuning.

(Home theatre configurations without a Sub were unaffected, including standalone soundbars and those bonded with surrounds only)

With the 14.18 software update, both of these 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.

Thank you very much for reaching out and addressing this issue. I have noticed a significant improvement in the sound quality and my low end and output, which I am very pleased and happy again with.

O

Outburst

Enthusiast II

I doubt it had any effect on sales figures and why do you think that ongoing lawsuits are responsible for the stock price? Have you followed any other tech stocks over the past few months?

S

Stone love sound

Enthusiast I

@skullc

I don’t see too much of an issue here. The reason the EQ settings are there is to customise things after TruePlay tuning, if that means you prefer the treble at -6 then just leave it there, where that seems to suit your hearing/environment. Each room is different and we all hear things differently.

I do prefer the ‘brightness’ that TruePlay brings to the audio, particularly now the Bass issue has been rectified, but I’m sure I may still go onto adjust the EQ settings when things have settled down and I’ve listened for a while.

Agreed!

C

craigski

Local Superstar

I used the phone prior to 14.12 to run truplay with no problems
I run truplay after every patch whether I am asked to or not seems strange that a patch charges how my phone does truplay

One thing to check before running Trueplay is how clean is your iPhone microphone is, if there is an accumulation of ‘pocket fluff’ in the microphone, there will be a different frequency response from previous Trueplay, and therefore a different sound profile.

I only wave the phone slowly where the ears are in the room for the HT setup, ie ear height along the sofas.

skullc

Prodigy III

@craigski

My phone is clean and I have performed truplay correctly many many times

Thanks for your reply

Network= livewire cpe pro 3 +eero 6 pro wireless

B

blunderdome

Enthusiast I

Been fun, folks. See everyone in a few months at the next one of these!

S

slongChez

Trending Lyricist I

Can confirm, after updating and redoing Trueplay, it’s sounds amazing. Big thanks to Sonos for fixing this and implementing multiple changes the community has wanted. They are indeed listening and it’s appreciated.