惯性聚合 高效追踪和阅读你感兴趣的博客、新闻、科技资讯
阅读原文 在惯性聚合中打开

推荐订阅源

IT之家
IT之家
OSCHINA 社区最新新闻
OSCHINA 社区最新新闻
A
About on SuperTechFans
博客园 - 聂微东
奇客Solidot–传递最新科技情报
奇客Solidot–传递最新科技情报
freeCodeCamp Programming Tutorials: Python, JavaScript, Git & More
B
Blog RSS Feed
U
Unit 42
Stack Overflow Blog
Stack Overflow Blog
Recent Announcements
Recent Announcements
雷峰网
雷峰网
罗磊的独立博客
Microsoft Security Blog
Microsoft Security Blog
Hugging Face - Blog
Hugging Face - Blog
L
LangChain Blog
人人都是产品经理
人人都是产品经理
The GitHub Blog
The GitHub Blog
F
Fortinet All Blogs
Cyber Security Advisories - MS-ISAC
Cyber Security Advisories - MS-ISAC
H
Help Net Security
P
Proofpoint News Feed
The Cloudflare Blog
D
Docker
大猫的无限游戏
大猫的无限游戏

Latest news

LG G6 vs. LG G5: I compared the latest OLED TV models, and it's a surprisingly tough choice I saw the 'MacBook Pro for Linux users' for the first time, and it's a legit Windows threat I'm putting Motorola above Samsung when it comes to flip phones - and won't think twice I tested Surfshark's new Dausos VPN protocol - here's how it compares to WireGuard How to easily encrypt your files on an Android phone - for free I'm not giving up on DJI cameras yet - not when they can upset my GoPro like this The best website builders for small businesses in 2026: Expert tested and reviewed Why I'm recommending last year's phones over 2026 models - with one exception This powerful Gemini setting made my AI results way more personal and accurate After testing this HP laptop, I get why its 'boring' design is adored by business users The best TV antenna of 2026: Expert tested Your old iPad or Android tablet can be your new smart home panel - here's how Apple's original AirTag still tracks effectively, and you can get a 4-pack for its best price ever T-Mobile will give you an iPad for $99 when you sign up for a new line - here's how How to qualify for Apple's education discount - and get a $499 MacBook Neo for school T-Mobile will give you a Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 for free - how to get yours Prolonged AI use can be hazardous to your health and work: 4 ways to stay safe Verizon will give you a free iPad or Apple Watch with your next iPhone - how the deal works The best laptops of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed I hid 4 Bluetooth trackers (including AirTags) to test their reliability - here's how Android rivals compared I stopped using my iPhone's hotspot after testing this 5G router - and that won't change The best Kindles in 2026: Expert recommended Does Best Buy price match? Everything to know about matching prices online and in-store The best WordPress hosting services of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed The best Apple Watch of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed The best TV screen cleaners of 2026: Expert recommended The best 50-inch TVs of 2026: Expert tested I traded my Sonos Era 300 for Denon's new home speaker - and see no reason to go back AI-powered website builders have come a long way - here's your best option in 2026 Amazon just slashed $250 off the Google Pixel 10 - and a Prime subscription isn't required
How I customized my Sonos speaker to make my home theater...
2026-05-10 · via Latest news

Home & Office

Why you can trust ZDNET : ZDNET independently tests and researches products to bring you our best recommendations and advice. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Our process

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.

Close

If you've left your Sonos system's audio settings untouched, you're missing out. Here's what you need to know about them.

sonos2Sonos Era 300 & Era 100
Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.


Rear speakers are a surefire way to upgrade your Sonos soundbar's performance. When listening to or watching content in spatial audio, you may notice sounds moving behind you -- that means your rears are doing their job. A subwoofer adds a hefty layer of bass, and if you can feel it, it's working.

I used to listen to stereo tracks on my Sonos home theater, consisting of an Arc Ultra, two Era 300s, and a Sub 4, with the default settings intact. I found myself saying, "Wow, for such physically imposing speakers, the soundbar seems to be doing most of the heavy lifting." 

Also: How I upgraded my Sonos soundbar's audio quality - 3 easy and free methods

If I were listening in stereo, nearly every component of the song would come through the Arc Ultra, while the Era 300s would merely whisper. If you're listening to or watching in stereo and want more immersion and fullness from your audio, you're not alone. You might have set up your system and left its audio settings unexplored, or you might be unsure what certain settings mean. However, playing around with these settings helped me make the most out of my setup.

Here's a guide to the Sonos home theater audio settings.

How to fine-tune your Sonos home theater

What you need: Sonos speakers configured in a home theater setup, and access to your Sonos account.

Once you find the room with your Sonos home theater, scroll down to the Sound category. Here, you'll see options to adjust the audio of your surrounds, subwoofer, and height channels (if applicable). 

Sit down in your room's ideal listening spot, whether that's a dedicated chair or a specific spot on a couch. Remember that there's no handbook for these settings, and you should go with what sounds best to your ears. All of these settings are easily reversible, so if some setting combinations sound great for watching movies but not for listening to music, you can change them.

Show more

The Sonos equalizer consists of Bass and Treble, and it's relative to the entire system within the room you've chosen to edit. You can slide each of these categories on a 20-point scale; I keep my Bass at +2 and Treble at +1.

Also: How I upgraded my soundbar audio quality for free - and 4 other methods to give it a boost

The Loudness feature boosts audio at lower volumes to help you hear a wider range of sounds. Our ears focus on midrange frequencies (such as dialogue) when volume is low, and higher volume enhances bass and treble.

Show more

TV and Music Level: In this settings folder, you can adjust the audio level of your surrounds when playing TV audio or music. You can adjust these levels on a 30-point scale, plus or minus 15. I keep these settings neutral

Surround Distance: Ensure your surround distance is as accurate as possible, as this feature serves as a balancing measure for your surrounds. This distance refers to how far your Sonos surround speakers are from your preferred listening position. However, Sonos only provides three vague distance options for this option, so if you don't plan to move your room's furniture or speakers anytime soon, let TruePlay gauge this distance for you.

Music Playback: This feature changes the loudness of your rear speakers' output. Your options are Ambient or Full. I prefer listening to music when my rear speakers are set to Full. I noticed that this setting improves balance when listening to stereo music. In Ambient, I felt that my soundbar was doing too much of the heavy lifting, and I could only hear vocals without many instruments; it was unenjoyable for me. If you prefer your music to be front and center, you'll appreciate Ambient more.

Also: Sonos Era 300 vs. Denon Home 400: Why I'm pulling the plug on the more popular speaker

I also noticed that I could squeeze more immersion from stereo tracks with the Full setting, and my music went from highly center directional to a wider soundstage with some illusion of sounds coming from above my head. Note that changing this setting does not apply to Dolby Atmos music playback.

However, if your Sonos system is in an asymmetrical room (as many living or family rooms are), the audio from your surround speakers might become too loud or overwhelming if you end up sitting closer to one of them. If you like the fuller surround sound but it's too loud, first try adjusting the TV and Music Level settings mentioned above.

Show more

The Sonos Arc, Arc Ultra, Beam (Gen 2) soundbars, and Era 300 speakers have dedicated upfiring speakers. These speakers are angled upward to project sound above your head, which bounces off your ceiling, creating the illusion of sound coming from above you. 

Increasing the volume of the height channels can help strengthen their presence, especially if you've had trouble hearing overhead sounds when watching immersive content. If you have vaulted ceilings, you may need to max out the height channels.

Also: Why the 'Subwoofer Crawl' is the only way I found the bass sweet spot in my living room

My living room ceiling is nine feet tall, and I have my height channels adjusted to +4. Increasing the height channels still won't get me as much immersion as in-ceiling speakers, but increasing their volume did make a noticeable difference. 

You can adjust this setting on a 20-point scale, though if your soundbar is at eye level, you likely won't need to use the negative side.

Show more

You can increase or decrease the volume of your subwoofer; I keep mine at +2, since the Sub 4 is very powerful. I don't like to increase this setting too much, or I'll risk overpowering my other speakers with excessive bass.

Increase this volume if your system sounds thin or lacks depth, and decrease it if the bass is too boomy. You'll also see an option to set the subwoofer's phase control. Keep phase control at 0 degrees if it's near your main speakers and facing you. Try flipping the phase control to 180 degrees if it's on the opposite side of the room from your main speakers.

Show more

Editorial standards