Contributor I

Answered

Era 300 - need immediate help with stereo pair imaging

28 replies
1512 views

Hello! I am at the end of my trial period for a pair of Era 300s. In a nut shell I really like them (using Apple Music). BUT I am getting ear fatigue as I think it’s due to the pair competing with each other. And I cannot get the imaging to balance out. What I mean is the only way to experience a center stage for vocals is sitting dead center between the pair, just like old school audiophile days. However, I tend to sit on either end of my living room sofa.

I’ve done Trueplay multiple times, as well as place the speakers in different parts of the room. Note, I have high ceilings on half of the living room. And I’ve placed the speakers about 7 feet apart at an angle to the sofa, in order for both speaker to have the same ceiling height (You can see two pictures where I’ve experimented with speaker placement).

I’ve spoken with Sonos support several times, and they’ve mainly stated Sonos removed the L/R Balance adjustment on Era 300s because of Spatial Audio. :( They didn’t offer much more ideas sadly…

I find one single Era 300 does not give me ear fatigue, though it’s certainly not the same room filling experience. I also have a pair of old Sonus Fabers which are much better, but will require something like an NAD C700 to get close to the Sonos convenience benefit.

Q: To achieve what I’m desiring, would a pair of Era 100s and a sub-mini be a better fit? Any other suggestions? I think the 5s may work but would need to be vertical position and of course I lose latest tech and voice control.

I really need some timely help here.

Thank you!

Michael Amir

This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

ocean_tiedAnswer

Contributor I

Hey there! Thank you buzz!! 😎

Unfortunately, Sonos removed the Left/Right balance for Era 300s, so no joy there.

As for distance, I completely get what you are saying which works if I move speakers back in front of the sofa, but still have unbalanced proximity to one speaker over the other. Still great points you are making.

And, I won’t put up drapes or anything though that makes sense acoustically.

This room is about 19 feet long, 13 feet deep (speaker wall to back of sofa) and ceiling is split between 8 feet to 18 feet high); your point about Era 300s help tremendously!!

”ERA 100 or FIVE’s in the vertical position would be a better choice than ERA 300.”

Based on your recommendation, and knowledge of this room size, would you recommend a pair of Era 100s (and likely a sub-mini) or a pair of 5s (would need to be vertical)? And would either become an issue if the distance between them was 6 feet or less (I sit approx 12 feet away).

FYI, I could do an NAD, but (like using the 5s) I don’t get voice assistant. And I don’t get Apple Music. I have no experience with Bluesound as an app.

Cheers!

Michael Amir

Ocean_tied

Show previous replies

ocean_tiedAuthor

Contributor I

Wow! I didn’t know you could do that with the fives.

I’m building out the house with HomeKit over time, so I’m also trying to ensure things work within that ecosystem, which Sonos does….

I really hope they come out with new fives with mics and Wi-Fi 6, etc, bc the 300s are great, at times (song dependent). I spoke with a Sonos L2 tech who basically said, yeah that’s the chance you take with the 300s and song reproduction. :( I was even going to do a sub-mini to free up the mids, but that won’t help with @buzz great point on sounds bouncing all around.

@SarahN I see you have “1-2” Sonos products 😜 Any reason you did Amazon music vs. say Apple Music?

Cheers! You all are fantastic!!!

Ocean_tied

buzz

Grand Maestro

I know they're a bit too close together but nothing I can do about that. They sound fab anyway 😁

You risk some acoustic feedback with this setup. Try inserting some padding under the FIVES’s.

You can explore the acoustic feedback risk using your knuckles to rap things while playing a stationary or silent record. Be sure to rap on the dust cover. Placing an LP or two on the cover might improve things. Rap again after making changes in order to explore the results.

Another way to explore this is to play a silent or stationary record and increasing the Volume to the point where there is a howl. (This might upset a pet) Make note of the Volume setting, then make a change. Higher settings indicate improvements.

K

Keithmac

Virtuoso

I use an Echo Dot to control my Playbar, I believe you could do the same with a pair of Five/ 5's?.

SarahN

Local Superstar

@buzz - is the risk due to them being a bit close or being on the same unit as the turntable?

Can you have too many Sonos speakers? 🤔 😆

buzz

Grand Maestro

Both. Audio from FIVE’s will be conducted through the countertop and up through the turntable feet. There will also be transmission through the air, especially to the turntable cover and to some extent directly to the record. Each turntable is different in this respect. A few will pass my “rap test” with flying colors, most will not.

ocean_tiedAuthor

Contributor I

@buzz After reading your replies to @SarahN I think your original suggestion to me about rugs I may have misinterpreted; were you suggesting placing some padding directly under the speakers (between the speaker and tables)? If yes, my apologies for misunderstanding. Would Sonos or Sanus stands help instead??

And if so, would you still recommend the fives given the room layout? I’m thinking you’re gonna say indeed. LOL

Ocean_tied

buzz

Grand Maestro

@SarahN actually, I use my fingernails to rap things. This is not a popular technique for females with nail “enhancements”.

buzz

Grand Maestro

@ocean_tied you understood me correctly. You need major room treatment, simple padding under the speakers will not accomplish much for you. It‘s different physics.

SarahN

Local Superstar

@buzz - would a turntable isolation block help?

Can you have too many Sonos speakers? 🤔 😆

ocean_tiedAuthor

Contributor I

@buzz I cannot thank you and Sarah enough for your help and REAL WORLD guidance!!

As you know, I am new to Sonos and with anything, it’s easy to fail into the trap of “forcing a square peg into a round hole…”. I also don’t want to turn the main living room into a studio engineering room hahaha.

I’m going to try the fives and see if that does the trick. Then I’ll once again experiment with placing them either in the corner by the fireplace or opposite of the sofa. If it does, I found Sanus stands on Amazon specific for the fives.

Ocean_tied

Show more replies

Sign up

Login to the community