I’ve just finished work on a new house and could use some advice on placing speakers. I’ve got an Arc Ultra for video, and that’s more than adequate for our TV needs, so I don’t need to connect anything more to it. But for music, I want more – both for casual listening throughout the combined kitchen, dining room and living room, and for somewhat more focused listening (or at least the best and loudest sound) in the kitchen itself. My working assumption has been six Era 100s mounted high on the walls, plus a sub, as shown below. But is this optimal? Should I be going in a different direction? Thank you!
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A Sub will only bond to a single 100 or a paired set so that makes multiples more challenging.
For louder I'd look at Fives, might not need the Sub.
Yes, I’ve wondered about that. I wish there were a way to at least trick the other 100s into thinking they’re connected with the sub so they don’t try to produce the lows!
Not that anyone has found.
Closest you could come would be to roll back the tone controls on the non-sub connected ones and that will be nowhere close to Good.
I wonder If Sonos could do something like this in the Pro space. In a commercial setting having multiple mono speakers and one or more Subs working together to fill a shop seems like a good option. Maybe a home version too at some point.
I guess I could try to find two more super cheap and old subs, pair them with the other 100s, then stash them in the basement with the volume turned all the way down on them. Seems like a PITA and sorta silly, but would it work?
I was thinking maybe an Amp or old Connect:amp grouped with them to keep them all matched but give you a source for the Sub.
So in that scenario the 100s would all play the same full spectrum and the sub would do its own thing connected to the (silent) amp?
My idea would be to use two Sonos Fives on either side of the TV for focused music listening with good low-end.
I’d consider Two Era 300’s as surrounds with the Arc Ultra and tie in the sub with it as well. The up-side is that the Arc Ultra and Era 300’s will play music together and enhance movies. The sub IMO is better utilized with the Arc Ultra to complete the home theater experience.
The Era 100’s IMO are used when needed to bring music into the kitchen/dining area. They can be grouped to the Fives to extend the listening area for music.
@timgrieve
FYI…
Whatever your decision when setting up multiple Sonos speakers for the first time each one should be added to the app first and setup as an individual room; the exception being the sub. In your situation the room names can be factious. Afterwards you can assign them as stereo pairs or surrounds and later change the room name (for stereo pairs) to your liking.
The sub should be added last an assigned to the room (speakers) you want it to interact with. The sub is never permanently assigned to any room. It can be reassigned at your pleasure. That’s not say that you want to be reassigning the sub on a regular basis. Also, you may have to experiment with sub placement to gain the best overall impact.
Thank you for these detailed replies! They’re really helpful. I’m not sure I’ll get away with mounting Fives next to the TV, but I might be able to mount them in the center area.
Thank you for these detailed replies! They’re really helpful. I’m not sure I’ll get away with mounting Fives next to the TV, but I might be able to mount them in the center area.
Not sure what you mean by “mounting in the center area”. However, Fives are best enjoyed as I have shown in my diagram or on stands in a similar arrangement. Also, they can be positioned vertically or horizontally.
Your setup is solid just make sure the Era 100s are angled down if mounted high, and place two near the kitchen at ear height. Sub placement matters, so test a few spots for best bass.
