Latest news with #SonosApp
Tom's Guide
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Got a Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar? You should change these 3 settings immediately
The Sonos Arc Ultra is an excellent soundbar — there's a reason it tops the list of the best soundbars you can buy today. It features amazing Dolby Atmos performance, along with super smart features. It's not cheap, but it's worth every penny of its $1,000 price tag. But you might not be getting the most out of your pricey soundbar. So, let's make sure that your Sonos Arc Ultra is working its absolute best as you watch your favorite movies. Get that Sonos App installed, and lets get your soundbar tuned up. The Sonos Arc Ultra is our pick for the best soundbar overall, and when you sit down and watch some movies with it, you'll soon understand why. It sounds excellent, and the surround and Dolby Atmos performance is out of this world. Ok, so some of you might already know how this works, but if you've just plugged your soundbar in and not checked out the app yet, the bar might not be properly attuned to your space. Every room, be that a bedroom, a living room, or even a bathroom (if you've got a Sonos Arc Ultra in your bathroom, I suspect you might be Lex Luthor), has different audio parameters. Sound is bounced around in different ways by wall layout, and even the stuff that you've got in the room, like sofas, tables, and even light fittings. Some things absorb sound, changing the way the movie sounds even further. That's where TruePlay comes in — the soundbar plays a series of noises, and then listens to them to make sure the sound is as good as it should be. It doesn't take long, but it's a must if you want your movies to sound the way the director intended. First off, tap the TruePlay button, and then follow the on-screen instructions. From there, the soundbar will play a series of noises to read the room, and then change the EQ from there to make sure that it sounds its best. It'll let you know when it's done. Now you can enjoy amazing sound! That said, remember to redo the TruePlay tuning if you significantly change the makeup of your room, like moving furniture. Also, redo it if you put the soundbar in a different room. Preferably out of the bathroom, Lex. Not getting the full effect of the height channels when you're watching a Dolby Atmos-encoded movie? Make sure you check the height channels in the Sonos app. The height channels in the Sonos Arc Ultra are bounced off the ceiling, so raise them to make sure they're coming in at the correct height. It's another simple fix. Go to the height channel settings in the Sonos App, and then raise and lower them until you're hearing overheard effects. Not sure what to watch? I like to use the Dolby Atmos test video, although you'll have to pick up a special DVD and DVD player to make it work properly. Otherwise, use your favorite movie on Netflix or Disney+ that you know features a Dolby Atmos channel, and adjust accordingly from there. My room needs about +1 to the height channels for the full effect, although your room may vary depending on the ceiling height or how tall your TV stand is. Dialogue is a tricky thing for any kind of audio equipment to get right. Perhaps there's lots going on in a scene, or there's some mad director's decision that's left the dialogue feeling lost and muffled (I'm looking at you, Christopher Nolan). Either way, the Sonos Arc Ultra has some excellent built-in features to make the dialogue in your favorite movies sound even better. There's a setting called "Dialogue enhancer," which make the voices in your movies sound clearer and easier to hear. It's easy to find and use, and very useful if you or someone you know is hard of hearing. Find the Dialogue Enhancer option in the Sonos app, and from there find the option that works best for you. The "Low" and "Medium" settings are the least intrustive, but they don't enhance the dialogue as much for people who struggle with busy sounding move mixes. "High" and "Max" are the options you'll want to use if you struggle to hear the dialogue. They quieten the rest of the scene, and raist the volume of spoken parts to make them easier to hear. They aren't very close to the director's intent, but they're a great way of making movies more accessible for more people. And we can finally hear what the characters are saying in Tenet. No thanks to you, Nolan.
Digital Trends
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Sonos uses AI superpowers to boost dialogue in latest soundbar update
Sonos has turned to AI to make speech clearer in your content, with a new Speech Enhancement feature, a technology that it's now pushing out via a software update. The aim is to ensure that you can hear every word that's spoken, so the important dialogue isn't lost within the rest of the soundtrack. Clarity has been a growing problem for TV watchers, with increasing emphasis on that pounding bass or immersive soundtrack, sometimes the spoken elements get lost. That's a particular frustration for those with any sort of hearing loss, because you might not be able to follow the action at all, instead resorting to subtitles – which are often of varying quality. Recommended Videos Sonos' new Speech Enhancement feature aims to address this, with Sonos saying that AI provided a real 'breakthrough', allowing the speech to be separated from other audio in the centre channel, so that it can be emphasized. It's not just about pushing the speech harder, it's about making it clear while still preserving the rest of the sound experience. Working with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (a UK-based organization supporting those who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus) the new Sonos Speech Enhancement feature offers four levels to choose from, with the top level specifically design for those with hearing loss. To access the feature you'll have to use the (beleaguered) Sonos app. Here's how Sonos describes the four different levels: Low – A subtle, artistic nudge that emphasizes dialogue while maintaining the original experience and creator intent. – A subtle, artistic nudge that emphasizes dialogue while maintaining the original experience and creator intent. Medium – A medium enhancement that provides better dialogue clarity and a tasteful balance of the surrounding mix elements. – A medium enhancement that provides better dialogue clarity and a tasteful balance of the surrounding mix elements. High – A higher setting that makes dialogue obviously prominent while reducing other mix elements. – A higher setting that makes dialogue obviously prominent while reducing other mix elements. Max – The most pronounced setting where dialogue clarity takes full priority, designed for those with hearing loss. Unlike the more balanced approach of Low, Medium and High levels, Max level further controls the dynamic range of non-speech elements, placing dialogue firmly at the forefront of the experience. Soundbars have offered speech enhancement options for a number of years, but Sonos says that these modes 'lacked the effectiveness and sound quality needed to truly solve the problem'. The solution is Sonos' AI-powered offering, which is rolling out to the Sonos Arc Ultra from today. Just to be clear, this isn't about volume, it's about changing the emphasis in the soundtrack so that the listener has more control over how speech comes through. If you find that you struggle to make out what people are saying in movies or TV shows, then this could be the solution. 'One in three adults in the UK experience hearing loss, and it is reported that just under one in four adults in the USA do too,' said Lauren Ward, Lead RNID Researcher. 'This tool has the potential to impact a large number of people.' The Sonos Arc Ultra features on our selection of best soundbars, offering one of the best Dolby Atmos experiences, with the flexibility to expand the system to make it more potent. We previously praised the dialogue delivery when we reviewed the Sonos Arc Ultra, but now things should be even better.
