I recently set up Trueplay on a couple of Play:1s that I own. When testing out the post-Trueplay calibration sound I discovered bass distortion once I dialed up the speaker to about half-way on the volume bar (my EQ had bass and treble right in the middle and Loudness was turned off). At first I thought it was an issue with my speaker, but turning off Trueplay removed the distortion issue. The best way to describe the distortion is that it is a deep popping bass sound like occurs intermittently (maybe once every couple of seconds, but that depends on how bass heavy the song is).
Anyone else having this issue with a Trueplay-tuned Play:1?
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I'll note that I've had a stereo pair in my bedroom for a year and never had a similar issue. I'm wondering if it's a room/speaker placement issue. My kitchen is smaller and shaped like an L, and thus the Play1:s are placed perpendicular. I really hope Sonos has actually been testing Trueplay in all sorts of room configurations, I'd be surprised if they can't replicate the issue. For the time being, I believe they should update the software to allow "fine tuning" after Truplay. The bass and treble sliders simply don't cut it. Oh I'm playing from my own music library, so it's not a streaming music issue.
Try the same song that created the popping in your kitchen and do it in the bedroom at about just under mid level volume and please let me know if it made the popping
I have the speakers playing simultaneously. I can walk back and forth and very clearly tell the difference. Volume doesn't matter much, anything greater than 15-20% causes the issue. Also, It is obvious with a majority of the music in my library (90% or more). I just don't know if "pop" is the right way to explain it (hard to explain sound in words). Best way I can put into words is maybe like the bass is "gulping"...totally distorted and sounding very off, usually with the first beat (kick drum) of a 4/4 dance/electronic music track.
I have the speakers playing simultaneously. I can walk back and forth and very clearly tell the difference. Volume doesn't matter much, anything greater than 15-20% causes the issue. Also, It is obvious with a majority of the music in my library (90% or more). I just don't know if "pop" is the right way to explain it (hard to explain sound in words). Best way I can put into words is maybe like the bass is "gulping"...totally distorted and sounding very off, usually with the first beat (kick drum) of a 4/4 dance/electronic music track.
Maybe this is a newer play 1 hardware issue then if the older models don’t seem to be effected. So your positive there is no bass distortion at all in your older play 1’s?
I have the speakers playing simultaneously. I can walk back and forth and very clearly tell the difference. Volume doesn't matter much, anything greater than 15-20% causes the issue. Also, It is obvious with a majority of the music in my library (90% or more). I just don't know if "pop" is the right way to explain it (hard to explain sound in words). Best way I can put into words is maybe like the bass is "gulping"...totally distorted and sounding very off, usually with the first beat (kick drum) of a 4/4 dance/electronic music track.
The reason that I’m surprised that your bedroom does not have any distortion is that I’ve had 4 different units one being my uncles and 3 from bought new and return because I thought it was broken. Bought another one same problem and Sonos replaces it because they said it was defective and now the one they sent me is doing the same thing. I know I’m asking a lot of you but I’m trying to figure things out to help everyone who effected by this. Is your bedroom a single unit or a pair? If it’s a pair could you do me a favour and unpair them and set them up as singles units and try each one out with the music that does it the most in the kitchen. Please play the music between 25% - 50% volume and with trueplay on and then let me know if it sounds distorted at all. If you can’t it’s all good it will just help me better understand how widespread this is because I’m contacting sonos back and forth on the issue.
Actually I looked back at the purchase dates and they are only a few months apart (July and November of 2017), hardware versions are the same (1.20.1.6-2), not sure if there's anything to be gleaned from the serial numbers. Also considering this thread is 2 years old I'm less inclined to believe its a hardware issue.
To be honest, since everything is working fine in my bedroom I'd rather not mess with it right now. But yes, the 2 in the bedroom are set up as a pair, as are the 2 in the kitchen. I can say I built up the system in my bedroom over time...I started with one Play:1, then added a second Play:1, then recently added a Playbar...always used Trueplay after setting up a new device and have used at all different volumes for months, and never had a similar issue like my kitchen Play:1s. I am curious what could be the problem and can test out my kitchen Play:1s in other rooms, but that will have to wait until next weekend when I have time.
I’m curious on what the support teams going to do next for me. Since they just sent me this new one.
Stereo Pair Play:1s purchased 3 days ago experiencing same issues. Most noticeably at lower volumes < 50% with TruePlay and Loudness on. I initially thought I had a bad speaker but after reversing locations / retuning I realized it must be software. A quick google search brought me here where I must say I am disappointed to see this has been going on for so long with no remedy. However - it’s great to see a forum with lots of great info and interaction!
I have relocated and retuned many times (large kitchen / eating area). The problem still exists although some locations do seem better than others. Loudness off and bass reduced to about 35% makes it manageable for now. Occurs on Pandora and Amazon Music streams. I haven’t tested with other sources.
I have relocated and retuned many times (large kitchen / eating area). The problem still exists although some locations do seem better than others. Loudness off and bass reduced to about 35% makes it manageable for now. Occurs on Pandora and Amazon Music streams. I haven’t tested with other sources.
I have relocated and retuned many times (large kitchen / eating area). The problem still exists although some locations do seem better than others. Loudness off and bass reduced to about 35% makes it manageable for now. Occurs on Pandora and Amazon Music streams. I haven’t tested with other sources.
Hopefully I will get some answers for all of us soon! I’ve been moved up to speak with an engineer at sonos next week on the issue. Doing some testing with Sonos over last week I have come to a conclusion that for now the best option is to turn off loudness and turn off trueplay. Also doing the testing I have found out that it’s not just trueplay, you can get the same results with trueplay off if the loudness is set to on and vice versa. There was a mention from the tech about the limiter going off but it should not be going off at these types of levels. Do be warned Sonos did replace my last unit because they deemed it damaged, I would recommend turning these settings off till we find out what’s happening.
I have the same bass distortion problem. Diagnostic # is 8492096.
Anyone else having this issue with a Trueplay-tuned Play:1?
Excellent explanation. Thanks for sharing your findings. I have 6 Play1s. My latest purchased Play1 has the bass distortion issue exactly as you described. My diagnostic number is 870362266.
Anyone else having this issue with a Trueplay-tuned Play:1?
Excellent explanation. Thanks for sharing your findings. I have 6 Play1s. My latest purchased Play1 has the bass distortion issue exactly as you described. My diagnostic number is 870362266.
https://en.community.sonos.com/wireless-speakers-228992/trueplay-bass-distortion-on-play-1-6733388/index7.html#post16207648
All Play 1s have this popping. It's the limiter inside of them. Even the ones that you think don't have the issue will make the popping noise at different volume levels. You just haven't heard it because you aren't listening to them at the level that would trigger the limiters. But why does one out of 7 sound worse then all the others? It has to do with the way Trueplay is adjusted the speaker for your rooms. There is no fix unless Sonos works on either Trueplay or the limiter.
Userlevel 5
+4
Hi Macollin,
You should submit a diagnostic through the app under [Settings] > [Advanced Settings] > [Submit Diagnostics], and then post the diagnostic number here for a SONOS member to assist with. Then I would suggest re-tuning your PLAY:1's and see if that helps. Mostly a re-tuning will resolve it but submitting the diagnostic first will help SONOS understand it and maybe why it occurred.
Best regards!
You should submit a diagnostic through the app under [Settings] > [Advanced Settings] > [Submit Diagnostics], and then post the diagnostic number here for a SONOS member to assist with. Then I would suggest re-tuning your PLAY:1's and see if that helps. Mostly a re-tuning will resolve it but submitting the diagnostic first will help SONOS understand it and maybe why it occurred.
Best regards!
Userlevel 5
+4
Awesome! They can take a look at the tuning from there.
I did encounter this once with my PLAY:1's but I simply re-tuned and it was perfect. Not sure what the cause is though.
I did encounter this once with my PLAY:1's but I simply re-tuned and it was perfect. Not sure what the cause is though.
Userlevel 2
I too have noticed the distorted bass on my new Play:1's - it's an intermittent problem, but very distracting when all of a sudden the bass is really strong and then dies back. I've turned off the Tuneplay feature and lowered the bass manually, but I still here it occasionally. I'm hoping there's a software fix soon?
Hello Max p, thank you for your reply. Ok I have two Play 1's, one is worse that the other. This is the diagnostic number for the worst one:5273094
Couple of things to note, I have tried to retune trueplay several times but it is still the same.
As I mentioned above, with trueplay off, the sound is very flat. The sound was great on the last software (pre trueplay). Many thanks
Chris
Couple of things to note, I have tried to retune trueplay several times but it is still the same.
As I mentioned above, with trueplay off, the sound is very flat. The sound was great on the last software (pre trueplay). Many thanks
Chris
I'm sure you realise that Trueplay tuning cancels all previous EQ settings? If you'd tweaked the bass or treble beforehand, and not readjusted them post tuning, then with Trueplay OFF it could indeed sound a bit flat.
As for the popping with Trueplay, I've also heard this intermittently. It's not related to a specific unit; a brand new PLAY:1 did just the same. The bass in a PLAY:1 is already heavily EQ'd in the DSP to provide decent bass from such a small speaker. If Trueplay tuning results in an additional bass lift at certain frequencies I guess it's conceivable that clipping could be occurring somewhere.
As for the popping with Trueplay, I've also heard this intermittently. It's not related to a specific unit; a brand new PLAY:1 did just the same. The bass in a PLAY:1 is already heavily EQ'd in the DSP to provide decent bass from such a small speaker. If Trueplay tuning results in an additional bass lift at certain frequencies I guess it's conceivable that clipping could be occurring somewhere.
Hi Ratty yes I was aware, I pretty much run the eq flat anyway so like I say should sound as it did before. I think Sonos have done it this way so that trueplay sounds even better once it's tuned.
I think that your spot on, it's a dsp thing that could be causing clipping. It does sound like clipping, it does it at low volumes too!
I think that your spot on, it's a dsp thing that could be causing clipping. It does sound like clipping, it does it at low volumes too!
With Trueplay off it probably (/almost certainly) does sound as it did before. Only, you've become habituated to the Trueplay effect and therefore now find the earlier non-Trueplay sound unsatisfactory, even to the extent of not quite believing that's how it used to sound...
It's like when people "run in" speakers for a 100 hours, and think the speakers sound different at the end of it; they won't: rather, their ears (/their brains) have just become accustomed to the sound but instead conclude erroneously that the speakers sound materially different (better) than prior to the "running in" period.
RDog. I don't agree with any of what you just said. But thanks for your input
It's not dissimilar from poor quality streams or low digital sources, but my sources are lossless and any case sounded fine before. Turning off trueplay just makes the sound overall bad, so I really want this sorted!
Hello Detailme, this is very odd. The update will not change in any way the sound unless you use TruePlay. Also, when TruePlay is turned off the Sonos speaker should be returned back to the way it was.
I would like more information about your Sonos device and the device in question. Mind submitting a diagnostic and replying with the confirmation number? Here's an article explaining how: How to Submit Diagnostic
Hello Max p, thank you for your reply. Ok I have two Play 1's, one is worse that the other. This is the diagnostic number for the worst one:5273094
Couple of things to note, I have tried to retune trueplay several times but it is still the same.
As I mentioned above, with trueplay off, the sound is very flat. The sound was great on the last software (pre trueplay). Many thanks
Chris
Hi there ive just updated with trueplay now noticing what can only be described as too much Base at times giving distortion sounding like its too much for the speakers which I doubt but thats how it sounds, also had loads of locking up of my comtroller after initial trueplay set up diagnostic number is 5323302 be great if you can help on this thanks.
Ive had to turn the Base down a fair bit from standard now as I feel im going to damage the speakers never had to do that before
Ive disabled true play now not prepared to risk damaging my speakers Base is very distorted re tuned trueplay again no better diagnostic number 5323549
Froze up again after trying true play again diag 5323643
Ok great thanks for getting in touch I have hard reset the speakers and not used trueplay should I set it back up with trueplay before ringing tech support?
Rang the support line yesterday not really got anywhere other than been advised not to run trueplay on my kitchen speakers which im not really pleased about. I was advised to try moving speakers and re run trueplay which made no difference.
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