Skip to main content
john_Bury
Contributor I
June 5, 2024

Is this possible to have a Single Sonos device in multiple configurations?

I have, this week, taken delivery of my first Sonos products.  I have an Arc, Sub Gen 3 and 2 x Era 300.

Ideally I would like to:

  1. stream music to the Era 300 configured as a Stereo Pair
  2. Watch Dolby Atmos enabled Blu Rays via the soundbar utilising the Era 300s as my rear surround / Atmos speakers
  3. Game in Dolby Atmos in the same configuration as  no. 2 above

All of this was possible with my previous receiver based system (albeit stereo music was played via my front left and right speakers)

Is this achievable without having to ‘remove surrounds’ and re ‘add’ the era 300s as a stereo pair (and vice versa).  

I have read something about using multiple systems and controllers (presumably another device with the Sonos app installed).

 

Can you please help?

Cheers

John

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.

19 replies

Show previous replies
nik9669a
Senior Virtuoso
July 21, 2024

It is a feature that has often been requested, and I believe Sonos has it logged as a “feature request”. That said, who knows if or when a requested feature gets to be implemented? 


@john_Bury - did you keep your system in the end or did you return the speakers? If kept, how are you finding the listening experience?

john_BuryAuthor
Contributor I
July 21, 2024

 

@john_Bury - did you keep your system in the end or did you return the speakers? If kept, how are you finding the listening experience?

I did keep the system.

It's quite good as far as movies and Dolby Atmos goes (the deep bass is good, powerful and yet 'not in your face').  I find I use the system only for background listening when it comes to music.   It is a bit odd hearing familiar music but with a changed sound stage (as in being surrounded by sound) I am not sure that I like it.   If I want a proper listen, I still sit in front of my 30 year old stereo.  I would love to hear the era 300s as a stereo pair playing my music and see if the sound is as good.

Rhonny
Prodigy III
July 21, 2024

 

@john_Bury - did you keep your system in the end or did you return the speakers? If kept, how are you finding the listening experience?

I did keep the system.

It's quite good as far as movies and Dolby Atmos goes (the deep bass is good, powerful and yet 'not in your face').  I find I use the system only for background listening when it comes to music.   It is a bit odd hearing familiar music but with a changed sound stage (as in being surrounded by sound) I am not sure that I like it.   If I want a proper listen, I still sit in front of my 30 year old stereo.  I would love to hear the era 300s as a stereo pair playing my music and see if the sound is as good.

Disconnect them as surrounds and stereo pair them. Then you can hear what they sound like.

    john_BuryAuthor
    Contributor I
    July 21, 2024

     

    @john_Bury

    .

    Disconnect them as surrounds and stereo pair them. Then you can hear what they sound like.

    I did, briefly, use them as a stereo pair when I first set them up (didn't do a comparison though). 

     found the the process of configuring as a pair, then as surrounds and performing the Trueplay process far too onerous to be doing it again. 

    To make matters worse, I bought my speakers at exactly the same time as the Sonos app imploded and features were either missing or unreliable.  Plus, right now I do not have a good, quality way to hook up my old system to the Sonos world, and I don't feel like shelling out for a Sonos Port. 

    I originally thought u would be able to use the line in functionality if the Era300, but this is disabled when configured.as surrounds . 

    As I think I said in an easier post the Era 309 are severely hobbled when in a surround configuration (no line in, no Bluetooth and drivers disabled)

      Rhonny
      Prodigy III
      July 21, 2024

      If you go to your Surround settings: ensure you’re playing Full for music, and also turn right up the levels on the Eras for music. That way the Eras will be the dominant speakers for music playback and reduce the soundstage because the soundbar’s part will be minimised. The closest you’ll get to a stereo pair of Eras without disconnecting them as surrounds.

      john_BuryAuthor
      Contributor I
      July 21, 2024

      If you go to your Surround settings: ensure you’re playing Full for music, and also turn right up the levels on the Eras for music. That way the Eras will be the dominant speakers for music playback and reduce the soundstage because the soundbar’s part will be minimised. The closest you’ll get to a stereo pair of Eras without disconnecting them as surrounds.

      Thanks, I am aware.ifthese settings, but the speakers are still hobbled as I believe front firing drivers (tweeters at least) are disabled when set up as surrounds... Is that right?

       

      Rhonny
      Prodigy III
      July 21, 2024

      If you go to your Surround settings: ensure you’re playing Full for music, and also turn right up the levels on the Eras for music. That way the Eras will be the dominant speakers for music playback and reduce the soundstage because the soundbar’s part will be minimised. The closest you’ll get to a stereo pair of Eras without disconnecting them as surrounds.

      Thanks, I am aware.ifthese settings, but the speakers are still hobbled as I believe front firing drivers (tweeters at least) are disabled when set up as surrounds... Is that right?

       

      Oh, I see. Didn’t grasp that before. I don’t own Eras but I believe I have heard it mentioned before. Unless someone has already confirmed that in this thread, I wonder if another ‘Era 300 as surrounds’ owner on here can confirm. Apologies if that’s the case and my advice doesn’t apply. My surrounds are not Eras…

      john_BuryAuthor
      Contributor I
      July 21, 2024

      If you go to your Surround settings: ensure you’re playing Full for music, and also turn right up the levels on the Eras for music. That way the Eras will be the dominant speakers for music playback and reduce the soundstage because the soundbar’s part will be minimised. The closest you’ll get to a stereo pair of Eras without disconnecting them as surrounds.

      Thanks, I am aware.ifthese settings, but the speakers are still hobbled as I believe front firing drivers (tweeters at least) are disabled when set up as surrounds... Is that right?

       

      Oh, I see. Didn’t grasp that before. I don’t own Eras but I believe I have heard it mentioned before. Unless someone has already confirmed that in this thread, I wonder if another ‘Era 300 as surrounds’ owner on here can confirm. Apologies if that’s the case and my advice doesn’t apply. My surrounds are not Eras…

      No worries, thanks for your interest.

        nik9669a
        Senior Virtuoso
        July 21, 2024

        As has been commented above and on other threads on the same topic, it is odd to have the stereo music coming from behind, rather than in front of, the listening position. 
         

        One day (please, Sonos!!!) maybe they’ll release a “centre speaker” that you can bond 2 Eras as front left and right, and 2 more as surrounds, to give a wide sound stage and a just-use-for-stereo mode. A lot of folk would be very pleased to get that capability…

          Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement