How and where to position every Sonos speaker

Adding a Sonos speaker to your house is at all times a deal with, whether or not you’re simply getting began with a single Sonos One, including a transportable Roam or Transfer for yard or poolside listening, or getting deeper into the weeds with a Sonos Arc-based encompass sound system on your dwelling theater setup full with a Sonos Sub or Mini Sub.

Whereas Sonos makes the setup of its network speakers dead simple with its app and Trueplay computerized room tuning, some questions which can be typically requested when bodily putting a Sonos speaker in any area embrace the place to place it, how near partitions ought to they be, and the way a lot area there needs to be round it, whether or not it’s a speaker, subwoofer, or soundbar.

The excellent news is that Sonos makes its audio system fairly versatile when it comes to the place you’ll be able to place them, and plenty of of them are comparable, however some do have superb positioning. On this how-to, we’re going to undergo the very best methods to place and place each Sonos speaker.

Sonos One, One SL (Play:1), and Sonos Period 100

For a lot of, the Sonos One (or it is earlier Play:1 incarnation) has been the entryway into the Sonos world, with its low worth and flexibility as a great-sounding standalone speaker in addition to it’s skill to be stereo paired and even added to a Sonos soundbar and sub as a pair of fantastic rear encompass audio system. Aside from the One SL’s lack of voice management, its precisely the identical as its One sibling, so setup and placement are the identical.

Sonos’s newest single speaker, the Period 100, got here out in March 2023 and is slated to interchange the One ultimately. Read our full review for the differences, however in so far as setup goes, Sonos has roughly left nicely sufficient alone. Right here’s how one can place them in every of these conditions.

Step 1: Common positioning/as a single: The One, One SL, and Period 100 will be positioned just about wherever, even within the toilet because of their resistance to humidity. They’re not waterproof although, so you could wish to preserve them indoors (although we’ve had some success in the wild).

Don’t be shy about putting the them on a shelf or close to a wall, however the one stipulation you must adhere to is to depart not less than 1 inch of area from the again of the speaker. Strive experimenting with much more distance as nicely, as much as 4 inches, as it could add extra resonance of low finish with some bounce off the wall — no matter sounds greatest to you.

Step 2: Stereo pair: Sonos One and the Period 100 audio system sound wonderful as a stereo pair and are straightforward to setup with the Sonos app. For positioning, and for superb left-right stereo sound separation, it’s really useful that you simply set them up between 8 and 10 toes aside and positioned 8 to 12 toes away from the place you’re most probably to be listening to them. If you happen to don’t have that sort of area, that’s OK, too — that is simply what Sonos says is good. The nearer you’re to them, you’ll hear the bass a bit extra, however you’ll be able to at all times add/take away bass to your liking within the EQ settings within the app.

Step 3: Surrounds: OK, so that you’ve snagged a Sonos Sub or Sub Mini and a soundbar just like the Arc, Beam, or Ray, and it’s time to maneuver your set of Ones or Period 100s to the rear wall as surrounds. Ideally, Sonos recommends that every speaker is positioned roughly 10 toes out of your viewing place on either side and angled in direction of you. You should buy wall-mount brackets from Sonos or Amazon for fairly low cost, too. For the Period 100s, the one distinction is that Sonos recommends leaving not less than 8 inches of clearance round every speaker, and although they don’t say the identical for the Ones, we’d suggest that for them, too.

And whereas Sonos doesn’t particularly counsel this, widespread peak for rear surrounds is roughly 2 toes above your sitting ear peak. The encompass settings within the Sonos app additionally lets you inform the system how removed from the entrance soundbar place the rear audio system are, permitting for tweaking of the sound.

Sonos Period 300

Sonos’ latest and most refined speaker up to now can be, arguably, its greatest sounding. Dolby Atmos enabled for benefiting from spatial audio and Atmos Music tracks, the Era 300 shoots out nice sound from all instructions with its six-driver speaker array. Right here’s how one can greatest place it.

Step 1: Common positioning/as a single: As with most Sonos audio system, the Period 300’s Trueplay tuning means you’ll be able to roughly put it wherever and it’ll sound good; even within the toilet with its humidity resistance. Nonetheless, superb placement can be to depart not less than 2 toes of overhead clearance because of its upfiring audio system, and to not place it in an enclosed area like a bookshelf – the sound wants area to disperse. If you happen to occur to be setting it up inside 2 toes of the ceiling, Sonos recommends mounting it the other way up.

It’s additionally greatest to depart not less than an inch area within the again if setting it up close to a wall (you’ll be able to experiment with this, too), and not less than 8 inches of clearance on the perimeters.

TL;DR, give the Period 300’s speaker array some good area to do its factor.

Step 2: Stereo pair: As with the Ones and Period 100s, place a stereo-paired set of Period 300s roughly 8 to 10 toes aside and, if doable, round 8 to 12 toes out of your listening spot, however Sonos additionally says that due to the distinctive all-directional sound dispersion, wherever is actually a very good listening spot.

Step 3: Surrounds: Not like the Ones and Period 100s, you’ll be able to set the Period 300s up as left and proper rear encompass audio system, both wall mounted or on stands, however it’s not essential to level them on an angle in direction of the “candy spot” sitting space as a result of, once more, in all places is a candy spot. Sonos merely recommends going through the Period 300’s entrance grilles towards the TV.

Sonos 5 (Play:5)

The Sonos 5 (and its older Play:5 mannequin) is among the longest-running fashions Sonos has supplied, and it’s nonetheless additionally its strongest. Substantial in measurement and weight (14 kilos!), it is nonetheless one in all the best wireless speakers you should purchase and will be stereo paired and used as surrounds, too. Right here’s one of the simplest ways to set them up.

Step 1: Common positioning/as a single: The 5 is one in all few Sonos audio system that may be positioned horizontally or vertically. For stereo sound, nevertheless, it needs to be positioned horizontally. Vertically, it can solely produce mono sound.

5’s six front-firing drivers push out massive sound, and whereas Sonos doesn’t specify a really useful distance from the audio system just like the 8 to 12 toes really useful for different Sonos audio system, the corporate does say that they need to be arrange “throughout the room.” There must also be not less than two inches of area round it, which makes it straightforward to placed on a shelf or bookcase, too. The 5 can be toilet pleasant.

Step 2: Stereo pair: For stereo pairing, place two Fives of the identical sort needs to be positioned 8 to 10 toes aside for the very best sound separation. The excellent news is, you can too place a stereo pair of Fives vertically for a extra targeted soundstage, or if it’s higher on your area otherwise you desire the way it appears to be like. Putting them each horizontally will widen the soundstage as nicely, which might work nice in greater rooms.

Step 3: **Surrounds: **Just like the Ones and Period 100s, every 5 needs to be positioned 10 toes out of your listening spot and angled in direction of it. You may as well apply the rule of getting them sit 2 toes above your sitting ear peak, though it’s not needed. Wall mounts and ground stands are additionally accessible.

Sonos Roam and Transfer

These are the easy-peasy ones. The Roam and Move are Sonos’ most moveable and climate resistant audio system (IP56 for Transfer and IP67 for Roam) can go just about wherever, indoors or out. Battery powered and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectible, they’re tremendous versatile. And other than not with the ability to be used as surrounds, you’ll be able to put them wherever and stereo pair them (Roam to Roam / Transfer to Transfer). Right here’s some suggestions for greatest positioning.

Step 1: Common positioning/as a single: On a shelf, bookcase, wall, wherever actually, all it’s important to do is simply give each the Roam and Transfer not less than an inch clearance on the again. The Roam will be positioned vertically or horizontally with no sound distinction however the Transfer should sit upright.

Each audio system function computerized Trueplay tuning when their microphones are on. Whereas the Sonos Roam can stand up to submersion in water for as much as half-hour, the Sonos Move can solely take direct spray from any course (rain, a rogue backyard hose), however it’s price noting that the Transfer’s cost base just isn’t waterproof so preserve that inside.

Step 2: Stereo pair: To not sound like a damaged file now, however the Roam and Transfer are inline with different paired Sonos audio system and its really useful that you simply separate them by 8 to 10 toes for the very best stereo impact. The 8 to 12 toes of distance from the listening space additionally applies as a suggestion, however be happy to maneuver them round, as a result of you’ll be able to.

Sonos Ray, Beam, and Arc/Arc SL soundbars

Sonos makes some incredible-sounding soundbars that may improve the sound of your films, TV, and sports activities, whereas additionally doing a reasonably good job with music, too. The Sonos Beam (2nd gen) and Arc additionally function assist for Dolby Atmos, and when arrange beneath your TV they supply some nice encompass sound (particularly when paired with different Sonos audio system for a full encompass system). Positioning every Sonos soundbar is fairly comparable. Right here’s how:

Step 1: TV stand or media unit: When putting the equally sized Sonos Ray and Beam on a TV stand, place the soundbar centered beneath the TV with not less than a 1-inch clearance so you’ll be able to entry the contact controls. In case your media unit occurs to have a shelf above the TV, simply don’t put it so excessive you could’t attain the controls. Aside from that, simply be sure to depart not less than a foot of area on the left and proper sides of the speaker. The Sonos Arc is identical, however requires not less than 4 inches from the highest of the Arc to the underside of the TV.

Step 2: Wall mounting: The excellent news is, whether or not you’re wall mounting or placing them on a TV stand, the distances are the identical: a minimal of 1 inch beneath the TV for the Ray and Beam, and not less than 4 inches for the Arc, whereas leaving not less than a foot of clearance on the ends.

Sonos Sub and Sub Mini

Whether or not you’re creating a house theater Sonos setup or specializing in the very best music sound you may get, nothing beats a subwoofer for impression, richness, and immersion. The flagship Sonos Sub and its smaller, cheaper sibling, the Sub Mini, are true to Sonos’ simplicity in setup, and when added to a Sonos system they’re completely in tune (no Trueplay pun meant, however it’s apt). Placement differs barely for every subwoofer, however remains to be tremendous straightforward.

Step 1: Sonos Sub: Whereas it may be positioned just about wherever (Trueplay will tune it to the room), all you actually have to recollect is to ensure that not less than one of many sides of the Sub’s gap (generally known as the slot) is free from obstruction. You may place it towards a wall, in a nook, or together with a TV stand, behind the sofa, and even laying flat on the ground (if below some furnishings, the slot simply wants not less than 1 inch of clearance).

Step 2: Sub Mini: The Sub Mini is supposed to be positioned standing upright and close to the audio system it’s paired with — it could actually’t be positioned on its aspect. Just like the Sub, it has a middle slot, or “tunnel,” which will be pointed in any course however should have sufficient area round it for air to maneuver by means of.

Step 3: Twin subs, whaaat?: Sonos gave audio nerds a present by enabling Sonos Subs and Sub Minis the flexibility for them to be doubled up. For the Sub, it’s price noting that one in all them have to be the most recent Gen 3 model for this to work. If you happen to’re shopping for new, you received’t have to fret.

However why would you need two subs, you may ask. Subwoofers can be fickle beasts and might typically be on the mercy of the room they’re in. If you happen to’ve ever walked round a room with a subwoofer in it you could have observed that there are bass lifeless spots or factors the place it’s actually saturated. Whereas room correction like Trueplay and placement tweaking can remedy these points, probably the greatest methods to handle that is by including an extra subwoofer to the room as they’ll cancel out all these rogue frequencies and ship balanced, full low finish.

Including a second Sonos sub to your system is, in fact, straightforward with the Sonos app (be sure your predominant system is ready up first). So far as placement goes, like with non-Sonos subwoofers, there are two good choices you’ll be able to strive.

First: on the identical wall as your soundbar and TV, place one sub in the precise nook and the opposite within the left nook, following the identical pointers above as for slot/tunnel clearance.

Second: strive one sub within the left or proper nook of the soundbar/TV wall, after which the opposite within the reverse diagonal nook behind you. Run the Sonos Trueplay correction and you ought to be booming very quickly.

Editors’ Suggestions