Contributor I

Answered

Era 300 - need immediate help with stereo pair imaging

28 replies
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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

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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

buzz

Grand Maestro

@buzz - would a turntable isolation block help?

Yes, but only for the foot conducted sound. Looking at your photo, this turntable might offer better than average foot isolation, but the average is extremely low. Make sure that the FIVE’s don’t touch the walls or lamps.

SarahN

Local Superstar

@buzz - would a turntable isolation block help?

Yes, but only for the foot conducted sound. Looking at your photo, this turntable might offer better than average foot isolation, but the average is extremely low. Make sure that the FIVE’s don’t touch the walls or lamps.

The Fives don't touch either of those things and yes, the turntable feet are the cone type which I know are better. I might look to get an isolation block for it to try as I'd rather raise that than the Fives. I do get a small amount of hum from the Fives so guessing that's due to the factors you state. I doesn't affect my enjoyment too much but if I could lessen it more, that would be good. I have no way of placing the fives anywhere else so they will have to stay on the same cabinet as the turntable. Would putting the Fives in the vertical orientation make any difference?

Can you have too many Sonos speakers? 🤔 😆

ocean_tiedAuthor

Contributor I

@SarahN I’m certainly no @buzz but wouldn’t making them vertical also give more separation L/R as well as options to angle (not to mention less surface contact like you stated)?..

Ocean_tied

buzz

Grand Maestro

Hum and acoustic feedback are two different issues.

Hum can be caused by various factors and will be present when there is no contact with the record. Does the hum change while you move the arm across the playing area near, but not touching the record surface.

buzz

Grand Maestro

With respect to horizontal or vertical, only you know which sounds “best” (to you).

SarahN

Local Superstar

The hum is quiet but there when nothing is being played. So maybe not feedback as such then. From memory of my old 80's set up, it is different to feedback. So would an isolation block not make any difference to this?

Can you have too many Sonos speakers? 🤔 😆

buzz

Grand Maestro

Isolation will only affect hum if it accidentally spaces the turntable closer to or farther from the source of hum. First do the arm movement test.

ocean_tiedAuthor

Contributor I

Hey all. Any ideas on how to pre filter music to find tracks that are lossless? For example I use Apple Music and ask for artist, song, genre, etc. However, lossless only shows once that song starts playing. The “problem” is there could be multiple search results for that song or album, and I cannot see which is lossless until after I select that song to play.

I don’t know if Amazon music using Sonos app does similarly or if I’m missing a hidden Sonos app trick.

Cheers

Ocean_tied

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