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Speaker selection and placement in room

  • July 23, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 60 views
C

Hi All, I am currently in the middle of an extension build, the end result will be open plan dining, then kitchen and an additional seating area at the end, this space is roughly 4.8m x 11m, 3m ceilings... I would like to incorporate speakers for music, and then TV/Movies and PS5 around the seating area. I like the sonos for simplicity and expanding at some point into the garden for summer BBQs.

I was thinking either 1) Arc Ultra alone OR 2) Beam2, a sub mini and 2 x ERA 100s on the back wall (either side of the art on the picture) at the tv area, and a ERA 100 at the other end between the dining and kitchen for filling the area when only listening to music.

We are at a point of electrics in the build, now I am thinking do I need 2 x 100s wall mounted at either side of the sofa for rear surround? My concern is that I obviously don't have the room to sit them behind the seating area, so will they be too much 'in your ear' for surround sound AND also if your lazying on the sofa listening to music? I don't want to go the effort of hiding cables in the wall, and mounting them to only find I just turn them off/down because they are so close to your head and overwhelming.

NOTE: we are not audiophiles, never had expensive speakers etc. Currently have an old Philips Fidelio B5 as a sound bar/surround use a JBL Charge 6 as the music source :)

 

 

3 replies

Stanley_4
  • Stanley_4
  • Grand Maestro
  • July 23, 2026

In that room I'd go with an Arc Ultra and a Sub at a minimum, maybe a second Sub later. An Arc alone will sound decent but will struggle to fill that large open space. A Beam would also work and be an improvement on the TV speakers but it isn't going to provide the sound hou are hoping for.

For the rear the 300s are going to be better in that tight space than 100s, the 100 sound comes out the front, and even angled in the closer one will overpower the more distant. The 300 with side firing drivers really works  well in close positions, my kitchen pair of 300s is amazingly better at providing a stereo image than the 100s I had there even when standing directly under one and 6 feet from the other. The Atmos is a nice extra too.

    AjTrek1
    • AjTrek1
    • July 24, 2026

    Very nice AI rendering of your intended space!

    My suggestion on whichever Sonos speaker you choose for surrounds (Era 300 or Era 100) is to consider additional wall studding for mounts. True...it will result in studding that under normal construction would not be present; but you’d have a solid base for mounting allowing for better positioning. This assumes you know approximately where the speakers will be mounted based upon your rendering.

    Also, if some type of art is going to be mounted in the area shown I’d place the speakers above such art so as not to restrict movement to either aside. You may want to change/rearrange the wall decor at some point in the future.
     


    I realize you are in the U.K. However, you may want to consider mounts of a more decorative design such as the ones below (also in white) and available here. You may be able to find something  locally.

    Also, assuming it’s not too late you have time to run the Sonos cables inside the wall and out to a nice wall plate behind the sofa.

     

    Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.
      Stanley_4
      • Stanley_4
      • Grand Maestro
      • July 24, 2026

      The side support on the 300s mount looks like it might impact the side firing driver, can't tell for sure.

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