Contributor I

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Era 300 - need immediate help with stereo pair imaging

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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

buzz

Grand Maestro

Mostly you are fighting with physics.

In arrangements where you are much closer to one speaker than the other speaker, the near speaker will dominate. On your sofa you’ll need to at least adjust the balance as you move your listening position. In an optimal stereo imaging arrangement you should be approximately as far from the speakers as they are from each other.

Your space is very “live”. There are lots of reflections from almost every surface. A simple sound could be bumbling around for a significant fraction of a second. This limits your ability to localize anything and contributes to your fatigue. Speakers that distribute ambient sound are not a good choice for this room. Your Sonus Faber’s tend to beam at you and there will be less stuff whizzing around. ERA 100 or FIVE’s in the vertical position would be a better choice than ERA 300.

There would be a major improvement if you added a rug (with a pad), heavy drapes, or tapestries (with thick pads behind). This will tame the “live” but will not improve on issues caused by sitting too close to a speaker.

ocean_tiedAuthorAnswer

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

buzz

Grand Maestro

In your 6x12 arrangement any speakers would narrow the stereo image a bit.

Voice control can be added to many arrangements. Even though FIVE’s are not directly voice controlled, adding a small Google device can fix that.

AppleMusic is available for SONOS. (I’m not a user).

ocean_tiedAuthor

Contributor I

Thank you so so very much!!

im guessing that if I place any speakers directly in front of the sofa, I’m always going to face left / right speaker bias, considering I’m always on one side of the sofa. Hence having them at the angle (either side of the fireplace) seems to help ensure center stage a bit.
Note, I have a large rug in the middle of the hardwood floor but that’s it.

If I do/should place speakers there (fireplace) vs opposite wall of sofa, that limits me to exclusively Wi-Fi speakers like KEF or Sonos.

is that your recommendation on speaker placement? If yes would you recommend Era 100 pair with sub mini or pair of Sonos 5s?

here’s hoping Era 5s are coming!

cheers!

Ocean_tied

SarahN

Local Superstar

Hi, just a quick note about the Fives. You can place them either vertical or horizontal as a stereo pair. Which ever you prefer. I have mine horizontal which I know isn't the norm. I prefer them that way though 😊

Can you have too many Sonos speakers? 🤔 😆

ocean_tiedAuthor

Contributor I

Thanks SarahN

do you have them directly in front of you or at an angle? Any balance or imaging issues for you like I’m having with the Era 300?

and did you find you needed a sub or no with the 5s?

cheers.

Ocean_tied

SarahN

Local Superstar

Thanks SarahN

do you have them directly in front of you or at an angle? Any balance or imaging issues for you like I’m having with the Era 300?

and did you find you needed a sub or no with the 5s?

cheers.

I have them facing forwards on a large sideboard with a turntable inbetween them. I do have them paired with a Sub gen 3 but they're also excellent without it. No balance issues as you can alter the balance unlike the Era 300s. I do also have a single 300 that I use just for Dolby Atmos music. I'm a bit of a Sonos junkke lol 😆

Can you have too many Sonos speakers? 🤔 😆

SarahN

Local Superstar

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

Can you have too many Sonos speakers? 🤔 😆

ocean_tiedAuthor

Contributor I

Thanks for sharing!!! Today is last day I can use the 300 before returning them so this along with buzz feedback truly helps. I wish the fives had a mic but oh well.

fyi the 300 sound amazing based on the song selection. Go to a less ideal song mix and the spatial audio and multi directional speakers sadly gives me headaches. Wild ride indeed.

Ocean_tied

SarahN

Local Superstar

You need to get the fives but also some Sonos speakers with mics. Then you can control the Fives via the other speakers 😆

Can you have too many Sonos speakers? 🤔 😆

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