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DaveyDean
Contributor I
February 26, 2026
Answered

Bluetooth Grouping

I bought 4 era 100 and a gen 4 sub for a TV entertainment room thinking I could connect everything via Bluetooth and make a mock surround sound. However, you can only group 2 era 100s + a sub, so i have to make 2 sets. Bluetooth will only connect to 1 set at a time. I have successfully added the 2nd group after connecting to Bluetooth on my TV, but it rarely works. Looking for any advice to make this work preferably with the least path of resistance and cost. Thanks in advance. 

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Airgetlam
AirgetlamAnswer
February 26, 2026

I thought Bluetooth signals were restricted to stereo only. Has this changed? Certainly the ‘best practice’ to send a signal of any type to a Sonos system is to send it to one device, and then ‘group’ that device in the Sonos controller with all other devices desired to play. But as to sending a 5.1 or Atmos signal to a Sonos system via Bluetooth seems unusual. 

I suspect your best bet is to spend more money (I know, sorry) and get a Sonos soundbar that connects to a TV with either optical or HDMI-ARC, both of which have the appropriate bandwidth to handle that 5.1 or Atmos (requiring ARC or eARC) data streams. 

if you send the Bluetooth signal to one pair of Era speakers, you should be able to group the other…but I still don’t think Bluetooth will carry 5.1 (which may be a restriction on Sonos side at this point, not sure). So you’d only get stereo, not anything more (including a .1 signal of any type). 

 

Edited to correct autocorrect…

Bruce
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3 replies

Airgetlam
AirgetlamAnswer
February 26, 2026

I thought Bluetooth signals were restricted to stereo only. Has this changed? Certainly the ‘best practice’ to send a signal of any type to a Sonos system is to send it to one device, and then ‘group’ that device in the Sonos controller with all other devices desired to play. But as to sending a 5.1 or Atmos signal to a Sonos system via Bluetooth seems unusual. 

I suspect your best bet is to spend more money (I know, sorry) and get a Sonos soundbar that connects to a TV with either optical or HDMI-ARC, both of which have the appropriate bandwidth to handle that 5.1 or Atmos (requiring ARC or eARC) data streams. 

if you send the Bluetooth signal to one pair of Era speakers, you should be able to group the other…but I still don’t think Bluetooth will carry 5.1 (which may be a restriction on Sonos side at this point, not sure). So you’d only get stereo, not anything more (including a .1 signal of any type). 

 

Edited to correct autocorrect…

Bruce
    AjTrek1
    AjTrek1
    February 26, 2026

    I agree with ​@Airgetlam regarding BT signals. Here’s an AI generated explanation:

    • Standard Bluetooth technology does not directly carry true 5.1-channel surround sound (such as Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS). Bluetooth is designed to transmit audio in stereo (left and right channels) only.
    Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.
      jgatie
      jgatie
      February 26, 2026

      Using Bluetooth and grouped speakers to make a “mock” surround sound is akin to using two motorcycles lashed together to make a “mock” automobile.  Not really worth the effort. 

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