Hello, Sonos professionals,
I’m getting a new house in a few days, and I’m finishing the basement with a SONOS system in mind--while I have the exposed walls, I’m trying to get the electrical setup. The living room upstairs will have an Arc Ultra and sub (where we watch tv--eventually I will add the erras for surround), and I want the basement to be able to sync to it for when we have parties.
My question is how to do the basement. It’s about 700 square foot, and most of it is in one square, open area. I will have a poker table, a pool table, and a bar in this area. I’m designing the system for MUSIC primarily, as there won’t be a dedicated entertainment area any time soon, despite the presence of a wall mounted TV. I want something that can bang when it wants to for parties, but otherwise, provides clean universal music that can be talked over, specifically for poker games (so no speakers directly in anyone’s faces.)
I’m currently thinking that two in-ceiling speakers over the poker table, a single wall mounted speaker by the pool table, and a sub somewhere would be enough to fill this room with sound, but I wanted some second opinions. Too much? Too little? What’s your experience running SONOS without an Arc in the room? Any tips are helpful!
It would help to see a diagram of the space detailing built-ins (i.e. cabinets and/or bar) as well as probable placement of furniture (including the TV).
In-ceiling speakers IMO are good for ambient music and can complement other free-standing speakers. They also limit the stereo sound stage as the sound is downward versus being able to reflect off side walls as with a free-standing stereo pair. It’s typically recommended if in-ceiling speakers are primary that they be set to mono so that no matter a person’s position in the space the sound is uniform for everyone.
It would also help to know to your planned budget for the Sonos speaker project.
Each line represents 2.5 ft. Obviously a rough sketch. I simply want music to sound good for parties and for poker games. The TVs are primarily just going to be used for sports, so I’m not too worried about them. My main tv entertainment area is upstairs. The budget for the basement floats around 2-3k but I have an electrician and a carpenter able to assist with installation.
I was thinking of a shelfed Era 100/300 by the pool table and a sub 4 by the by the right tv but that’s about all I was planning to add initially. The idea of mono sound for the ceiling speakers as someone who absolutely loves stereo separation in music production is off putting but I don’t know much about spatial audio.
Will the TV’s be playing the same content or different content?
The TVs will not utilize the Sonos system. The Sonos is for music.
Thanks for the diagram.
If I were looking to fill the space with music I’d invest in a stereo pair of Era 300’s placed along the wall with the mural (length-wise north and south of the pool table). That would create what is known as a “Room” (or Zone as some prefer to say).
By way of explanation a “Room” can also consist of just one speaker. I bring this to point out that the Sub4 can only be assigned to one “Room”. Placement of the Sub4 can be any where in the space where it produces the best low-end.
If the Era 300’s don’t flood the space to your satisfaction when hosting a party placing an Era 100 in the vicinity of the couch should help. You might also consider an Era 100 in the vicinity of the bar. If so both speakers should be set as individual rooms.
All said…in total there would be three (3) rooms in the space. The rooms can be “Grouped” together in any combination to play in sync.
Of course you can start with your original plan of a single Era 300 and Sub4. However, I’d forego the Sub4 and opt for two Era $300’s and possibly a Sub Mini to boost the low-end; if needed.
Separate cable boxes or TV Apps will not likely stay in sync. If you plan to play the same content on all TV’s, I suggest driving them from a common video feed.
Thanks for the diagram.
If I were looking to fill the space with music I’d invest in a stereo pair of Era 300’s placed along the wall with the mural (length-wise north and south of the pool table). That would create what is known as a “Room” (or Zone as some prefer to say).
By way of explanation a “Room” can also consist of just one speaker. I bring this to point out that the Sub4 can only be assigned to one “Room”. Placement of the Sub4 can be any where in the space where it produces the best low-end.
If the Era 300’s don’t flood the space to your satisfaction when hosting a party placing an Era 100 in the vicinity of the couch should help. You might also consider an Era 100 in the vicinity of the bar. If so both speakers should be set as individual rooms.
All said…in total there would be three (3) rooms in the space. The rooms can be “Grouped” together in any combination to play in sync.
Of course you can start with your original plan of a single Era 300 and Sub4. However, I’d forego the Sub4 and opt for two Era $300’s and possibly a Sub Mini to boost the low-end; if needed.
Is this in addition to the ceiling speakers or in place of?
Thanks for the diagram.
If I were looking to fill the space with music I’d invest in a stereo pair of Era 300’s placed along the wall with the mural (length-wise north and south of the pool table). That would create what is known as a “Room” (or Zone as some prefer to say).
By way of explanation a “Room” can also consist of just one speaker. I bring this to point out that the Sub4 can only be assigned to one “Room”. Placement of the Sub4 can be any where in the space where it produces the best low-end.
If the Era 300’s don’t flood the space to your satisfaction when hosting a party placing an Era 100 in the vicinity of the couch should help. You might also consider an Era 100 in the vicinity of the bar. If so both speakers should be set as individual rooms.
All said…in total there would be three (3) rooms in the space. The rooms can be “Grouped” together in any combination to play in sync.
Of course you can start with your original plan of a single Era 300 and Sub4. However, I’d forego the Sub4 and opt for two Era $300’s and possibly a Sub Mini to boost the low-end; if needed.
Is this in addition to the ceiling speakers or in place of?
It can be in addition to or in replace of. It’s your choice. Also be sure to read the last paragraph in my initial response.
Also, re-read my position on in-ceiling speakers to create a stereo image for everyone. Especially since you can’t have everyone at a party clustered around the poker table 
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