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Contributor I
September 5, 2026

Sonos setup recommendation for 4000 sq ft workshop with 16' walls and 27' open ceiling peak

  • September 5, 2026
  • 36 replies
  • 226 views

I’m new to Sonos and am looking to setup my workshop with a Sonos system that will give smooth and immersive sound throughout.  I’m thinking potentially four Era 100 speakers in the corners at about 10’ high and either another pair of 100’s or a pair of 300’s in the middle firing towards the center. 

The workshop is 50’x80’ with 16’ walls and 27’ peaked open ceiling.  Walls are insulated metal panels so will likely have high reflectivity, but the space has relatively low to moderate slap echo.  One of the short sides is drywall with fully OSB sheeting behind and full rockwool insulation, which might explain some reduction in echo.

I’d like to be able to start with a pair or four speakers and then add to them to spread expense.  I figure I’ll eventually have to add a subwoofer as well at some point.  Not having any experience with Sonos, I’m open to suggestions about what to purchase and use in such an application.  I ordered two Era 100SL speakers to start, but could always return them if needed.  I listened to a large automotive workshop that had 8 Sonos One speakers and two subs that sounded absolutely amazing, especially at high volume levels.  I don’t need such high volume levels but would like smooth evenly distributed sound.

If anyone has experience with setting up a large space like this and could make recommendations, I would appreciate it.  Also, I’m not sure whether Era 100SL, Era 300, and potentially an Era 100 Alexa enabled speaker could all be integrated together.  Also not sure whether to run them in stereo pairs or all mono.  Please chime in with any advice.  

Cheers!

36 replies

buzz
September 6, 2026

You could integrate the receiver by adding a PORT or replace the receiver with.an AMP. The AMP would allow you to use the B&W’s as surrounds for the ARC UTRA.

buzz
September 6, 2026

If the TV viewers are you and your wife, the new ARC ULTRA, along with a pair of the ACE ULTRA’s will fix your intelligibility issues for movie watching.

As an overall note on this discussion, we each have our suggestions, but in the end only you will know what sounds “best” (to you).

Lardog888Author
Contributor I
September 7, 2026

You could integrate the receiver by adding a PORT or replace the receiver with.an AMP. The AMP would allow you to use the B&W’s as surrounds for the ARC UTRA.

Yes, but it would be difficult to run speaker wire to the surrounds so the wireless (other than power) option is great. I’ll most likely go with one of the ARC Ultra packages when the time comes. I haven’t looked at the connections to the ARC Ultra, but I’m assuming it’s the master and only needs power and HDMI or TOSLINK.  

Airgetlam
September 7, 2026

Honestly, I’d stay away from TOSLink, if you can. It’s ‘old’, one way, and bandwidth restricted. By which I mean it can’t carry volume controls, or anything beyond Dolby Digital. Of course, HDMI is ARC or eARC, so requires that port on your TV. Other regular devices (sources) can be plugged in to other HDMI ports. 

Bruce
106rallye
September 7, 2026

I see you using the word “mono” for how you’ve set up your Era’s. As I understand it Era speakers are always stereo speakers - do you mean “stand alone” instead of “mono”?

buzz
September 7, 2026

Stereo and SUB’s are not supported in Zones. Plus, all speakers in a Zone play at the same level.