@Corry P, can you confirm this? When the USB-C is used for aux input, will it have the standard 75 ms delay that other aux input (Port, Amp, Five) currently have?
What is the delay for bluetooth input?
If the 75ms is not honored, the units will not be compatible with any other SONOS products.
Without a dongle/adaptor, the USB-C socket doesn’t do anything, presently.
Ok, so what the adaptor does is replace the bulkier and more expensive Port/Connect; still a very useful feature, especially for the more budget friendly 100.
If you ignore the output capability of the Port, then yes.
Given that the Era 100 and 300 have USB-C ports (which are digital), wouldn’t it be possible to connect these speakers to a TV ARC port using a HDMI-USB-C cable? The Sonos 5s only had an AUX line in which is never ideal because of audio lag.
The lag isn’t entirely cause by limitations of the 3.5mm analog jack requiring conversion to digital, but also the requirement for a buffer to be created to keep the multi-room audio synchronised. I presume that hasn’t changed.
@Corry P, can you confirm this? When the USB-C is used for aux input, will it have the standard 75 ms delay that other aux input (Port, Amp, Five) currently have?
What is the delay for bluetooth input?
Yes, Line-In via the USB adaptor will still incur at least a 75ms delay for buffering.
I am working on getting you an answer for the Bluetooth delay.
@Corry P, can you confirm this? When the USB-C is used for aux input, will it have the standard 75 ms delay that other aux input (Port, Amp, Five) currently have?
What is the delay for bluetooth input?
If the 75ms is not honored, these units would not be compatible with other SONOS products. Era Line-In would be ahead of Grouped players -- unless the other players don’t insert the latency any more.
Without a dongle/adaptor, the USB-C socket doesn’t do anything, presently.
Ok, so what the adaptor does is replace the bulkier and more expensive Port/Connect; still a very useful feature, especially for the more budget friendly 100.
I’m with @melvimbe on this one:
If you ignore the output capability of the Port, then yes.
I’m wondering if the Era 100/300’s will allow ‘room grouping’ (over WiFi) when playing a Bluetooth audio source, like we see with the Sonos Roam, so that Bluetooth audio can be group-played to any/every Sonos room in the system
?
I’m wondering if the Era 100/300’s will allow ‘room grouping’ (over WiFi) when playing a Bluetooth audio source, like we see with the Sonos Roam, so that Bluetooth audio can be group-played to any/every Sonos room in the system?
Yes they will!
@Corry P, can you confirm this? When the USB-C is used for aux input, will it have the standard 75 ms delay that other aux input (Port, Amp, Five) currently have?
What is the delay for bluetooth input?
If the 75ms is not honored, these units would not be compatible with other SONOS products. Era Line-In would be ahead of Grouped players -- unless the other players don’t insert the latency any more.
Essentially yes. However, the line-in could operate the way TV audio is played, which obviously has it’s pros and cons. I have no really issue with the delay, but just wanted to confirm.
I suspect the bluetooth delay will be the same, for the same reasons.
@Corry P
The entire group would revert to stereo playback.
Thanks. I guess it doesn’t matter all that much as the times when I would be listening to Atmos I would be stationary in the sweet spot and generally when I’m listening to whole home audio Im moving around doing things.
I assume a pair of Era 300’s could be grouped with a Gen 3 Sub? That might make for a nice upgrade for the pair of Ones I have grouped with my home office setup where I listen to music all day while working.
I assume a pair of Era 300’s could be grouped with a Gen 3 Sub? That might make for a nice upgrade for the pair of Ones I have grouped with my home office setup where I listen to music all day while working.
Oh yes indeed!
So if you have two Era 300’s paired with a sub for a really nice Atmos listening experience and you are streaming the same music to other non spatial audio enabled Sonos zones at the same time does the signal just revert to stereo for the zones that can’t handle it?
Exactly, yes.
Really? So Dolby Atmos continues to play on the Era 300s?
Apologies - I had to seek confirmation on this and there was a misunderstanding.
Playback would continue in stereo for the entire group, including the Era 300s.
So to clarify, it does not matter if the group coordinator (the Sonos room that initiates playback) is atmos capable?
Also if you group two rooms that are atmos capable, will they play in atmos? Or is it a case where you can not play atmos in a group at all?
Also, a much less important question. If a group consists of atmos and non-atmos rooms, playing stereo...and the non-atmos rooms leave the group, will the audio switch to atmos? Or do you need to initiate a new playback stream?
So to clarify, it does not matter if the group coordinator (the Sonos room that initiates playback) is atmos capable?
Also if you group two rooms that are atmos capable, will they play in atmos? Or is it a case where you can not play atmos in a group at all?
The Group Coordinator needs to be Atmos-capable for Atmos content to be initiated.
If there is a group, all speakers in the group will play the simplest format compatible with all players in the group. Therefore, if two Atmos-capable rooms are grouped (without any other rooms) then both will play Atmos.
Also, a much less important question. If a group consists of atmos and non-atmos rooms, playing stereo...and the non-atmos rooms leave the group, will the audio switch to atmos? Or do you need to initiate a new playback stream?
Good question - it’s the latter, but the next track (or the same track if on repeat) starting will make the remaining, Atmos-capable group switch back to Atmos - there doesn’t need to be any action taken by the user. This is the same behaviour as if you grouped in a One (for example) with your Arc or Beam (Gen 2) while playing Atmos music.
So to clarify, it does not matter if the group coordinator (the Sonos room that initiates playback) is atmos capable?
Also if you group two rooms that are atmos capable, will they play in atmos? Or is it a case where you can not play atmos in a group at all?
If there is a group, all speakers in the group will play the simplest format compatible with all players in the group. Therefore, if two Atmos-capable rooms are grouped (without any other rooms) then both will play Atmos.
Also, a much less important question. If a group consists of atmos and non-atmos rooms, playing stereo...and the non-atmos rooms leave the group, will the audio switch to atmos? Or do you need to initiate a new playback stream?
Good question - it’s the latter, but the next track (or the same track if on repeat) starting will make the remaining, Atmos-capable group switch back to Atmos - there doesn’t need to be any action taken by the user. This is the same behaviour as if you grouped in a One (for example) with your Arc or Beam (Gen 2) while playing Atmos music.
That all makes sense. Thanks Corry.
I was in the market for a second Play 5 Gen 2 to make my music set-up stereo and bigger, but now I’m wondering about the Era 300 as an alternative to pair with my Play 5. Does it play nice with a Play 5 to produce a stereo set-up?
I was in the market for a second Play 5 Gen 2 to make my music set-up stereo and bigger, but now I’m wondering about the Era 300 as an alternative to pair with my Play 5. Does it play nice with a Play 5 to produce a stereo set-up?
Stereo pairs need to be the same model. You can’t stereo pair a Play:5 and an Era 300.
@Corry P
You stated earlier that the Era 300’s + Arc + Sub = 7.1.4 (fantastic btw) with the two side channels being virtualized. Does that mean the Beam (Gen 2) is also 7.1.4 with 2 height and 2 side channels virtualized, or is the Beam (Gen 2) going to be 5.1.4 with the Era 300’s? Also is the 7.1.4 going to be officially documented on either the product or support pages somewhere? I saw it verge article yesterday, then I just saw you comment on it earlier in this post, but I couldn’t find it “officially” listed anywhere...
I was also wondering, since we are finally getting real 7.1 support, will the Sonos S2 App display Dolby Atmos (5.1) vs Dolby Atmos (7.1) so we know what the audio (movie / tv show / streaming service / music) source is actually outputting at? I know I have seen the app within the “About my system” display things like Dolby TrueHD, PCM 5.1/7.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Plus 7.1, etc.. But usually with most streaming services it just displays “Dolby Atmos.” In the past it hasn’t mattered since the Arc + Rear + Sub only technically did 5.1.2, but now with it doing 7.1.4 it would be interesting to see the difference with the source is outputting 7.1 Atmos content vs 5.1 Atmos content. Could also help with troubleshooting? Just curious. :)
Pre-ordered my 300’s! Can’t wait to hear the difference after replacing my current Sonos One SL rears... As good as the Arc height channels are, I always feel like it needs more, so I am hoping this is going to be just what I have been waiting for… I might even get a 2nd sub, and just go full 7.2.4 :)
When the Era 300s are used as surrounds with the Arc or Beam (Gen 2), is it considered a 5.1.4 or 7.1.4 setup? What specific channels do the side-firing drivers of the Era 300 play when playing a 7.1 or 5.1 audio track?
7.1.4
Together with Arc’s side-firing speakers, the Era 300’s will virtualise side channels for a 7.1 track.
That makes sense for the outside side-firing drivers. What about the inside side-firing driver of each surround speaker?
Maybe I’m just overthinking it.
When playing normal 5.1 audio (EG Dolby digital +), how will these speakers work as surrounds?
When the Era 300s are used as surrounds with the Arc or Beam (Gen 2), is it considered a 5.1.4 or 7.1.4 setup? What specific channels do the side-firing drivers of the Era 300 play when playing a 7.1 or 5.1 audio track?
7.1.4
Together with Arc’s side-firing speakers, the Era 300’s will virtualise side channels for a 7.1 track.
That makes sense for the outside side-firing drivers. What about the inside side-firing driver of each surround speaker?
Maybe I’m just overthinking it.
Possibly 
They will operate independently and deliver the standard rear channels.
When playing normal 5.1 audio (EG Dolby digital +), how will these speakers work as surrounds?
They will perform exactly the same as previous speakers, i.e. they will deliver the rear left and rear right surround channels.
Thanks @Corry P - I thought that would be the case but just wanted to check. So will sound come out of the top speakers, but just not atmos channels?
@Corry P
You stated earlier that the Era 300’s + Arc + Sub = 7.1.4 (fantastic btw) with the two side channels being virtualized. Does that mean the Beam (Gen 2) is also 7.1.4 with 2 height and 2 side channels virtualized, or is the Beam (Gen 2) going to be 5.1.4 with the Era 300’s? Also is the 7.1.4 going to be officially documented on either the product or support pages somewhere? I saw it verge article yesterday, then I just saw you comment on it earlier in this post, but I couldn’t find it “officially” listed anywhere…
The Beam (Gen2) plus Era 300s will also deliver 7.1.4, but the Era 300s will be responsible for virtualising the side channels.
I will pass your feedback regarding the documentation to the right team.
I was also wondering, since we are finally getting real 7.1 support, will the Sonos S2 App display Dolby Atmos (5.1) vs Dolby Atmos (7.1) so we know what the audio (movie / tv show / streaming service / music) source is actually outputting at? I know I have seen the app within the “About my system” display things like Dolby TrueHD, PCM 5.1/7.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Plus 7.1, etc.. But usually with most streaming services it just displays “Dolby Atmos.” In the past it hasn’t mattered since the Arc + Rear + Sub only technically did 5.1.2, but now with it doing 7.1.4 it would be interesting to see the difference with the source is outputting 7.1 Atmos content vs 5.1 Atmos content. Could also help with troubleshooting? Just curious. :)
When it comes to the actual stream, it makes no difference. Atmos audio is object based, rather than channel based. This means that when the audio track is mixed, rather than assigning each sound to a particular channel, or a mix of them, it’s instead assigned a source coordinate. It is up to the decoder (the Arc or Beam) to figure out how to render that sound with it’s given coordinates according to it’s own known ability (the speakers it has available to it). I’m confident, therefore, that the app will always just say “Atmos”.
I hope this makes sense. The technicalities of it can be found on this Wikipedia page.
Pre-ordered my 300’s! Can’t wait to hear the difference after replacing my current Sonos One SL rears... As good as the Arc height channels are, I always feel like it needs more, so I am hoping this is going to be just what I have been waiting for… I might even get a 2nd sub, and just go full 7.2.4 :)
Fantastic! I might be a little bit jealous.
Thanks @Corry P - I thought that would be the case but just wanted to check. So will sound come out of the top speakers, but just not atmos channels?
Correct.
@Corry P
Amazon Ultra HD audio is not supported by the Sub (Gen 2). Would that still be the case if the Sub (Gen 2) was bonded/paired with two Era 300s? I am assuming the audio would still revert to non-Ultra HD audio due to the Sub (Gen 2)’s limitation, but wanted to confirm. Thanks.
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