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Whether you're a movie buff, sports fanatic, gamer, music lover, or all of the above, a surround sound system allows you to experience your home entertainment in the most immersive way, right from the comfort of your living room. And when it comes to creating a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system, no one makes it as easy to achieve — or gives you as many options— as Sonos.

Not sure where to start? This comprehensive guide will tell you everything you need to know about how to choose speakers, set them up, and make sure you’re getting the best 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound experience possible.

Before we dive into the specifics, let's establish what 5.1 and 7.1 mean. These different figures refer to the number of audio channels involved in a 

 system. The number before the decimal represents the main ear-level audio channels, while the number after the decimal refers to the presence of a subwoofer, which produces low-frequency effects.

A 5.1 system traditionally consists of five speakers and one subwoofer, while a 7.1 system includes seven speakers and one subwoofer. The more channels you have, the more directions the sound can come from, creating a more immersive sound experience. You can learn more about these configurations in our 

How Sonos does 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound differently

While 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound systems usually require as many speakers placed around the room as channels, Sonos innovation delivers the same immersive surround sound experience with less hardware. For example, a Sonos 

 does the work of three speakers by reproducing the center, front left, and front right channels. This means a Sonos home theater system is not only easier to set up, but also fits and looks better in your space.

Another standout feature for Sonos is the ability of select speakers to render additional height channels for spatial audio. In the past, height channels could only be achieved by placing speakers overhead, usually by installing them in the ceiling. Speakers like 

, however, feature upward-firing drivers that create a similar effect for spatial audio content, such as movies and music mixed in 

. When you see a figure such as 5.1.2, the third number, or the number after the second decimal, indicates the height channels.

Couple sitting on a couch watching tv with a white Beam, Sub Mini, and Era 100 pair

To achieve 5.1 surround sound with Sonos, you’ll need the following products:

A soundbar for the center, front left, and front right channels.

Two rear speakers, one for the rear left channel and another for the rear right.

A subwoofer for the low-frequency effects channel.

This configuration will deliver crisp dialogue from the center, deep bass from the subwoofer, and a three-dimensional sound experience all around you.

Here are some possible product combinations:

Beam (Gen 2) + Era 100 rear speakers + Sub Mini

 (With Dolby Atmos content, this setup simulates 7.1.4 surround sound. Read more on that below.)

learn more about possible surround sound pairings

From left to right: Beam (Gen 2), Ray, Era 100 Stereo Pair, Sub Mini black

For even more immersive Sonos surround sound, you don’t actually need more speakers. You just need the right speakers that support spatial audio. Speakers like 

, for example, have the acoustic architecture to create a wider soundstage and the processing power to precisely render individual sounds all around the room. When you play Dolby Atmos content through these speakers, you will feel as though you have two additional side speakers — one to your left and another to your right — as well as four speakers overhead. It’s not just 7.1 surround sound. It’s 7.1.4.

Arc + Era 100 rear speakers + Sub (Gen 3)

Arc + Era 300 rear speakers + Sub (Gen 3)

Note that Beam (Gen 2) and Era 100 use advanced psychoacoustics-based algorithms to simulate additional height and rear side channels for virtualized 7.1.4 surround sound. Arc and Era 300, however, both have upward-firing drivers and side-firing drivers that support a truer 7.1.4 experience.

From left to right: Arc, Era 300 Stereo Pair, Era 100 Stereo Pair, Sub black

Setting up surround sound in the Sonos app

Once you have your speakers positioned, you can set up surround sound in the Sonos app:

Start by plugging in your soundbar and following the instructions in the app for connecting your TV and syncing your remote. Then plug in your subwoofer and add it to the same room as your soundbar.

Add your rear speakers to your system one at a time, giving them each their own name, like Left Surround and Right Surround. Ideally these should be placed at ear level behind your listening position and angled inward.

Choose the room where you have your soundbar and subwoofer set up, then select 

. The app will detect your rear speakers. All you have to do is select them, and in minutes your system is ready.

To make sure you’re getting the best experience, you’ll want to use 

™ to fine-tune the sound for your space. You can also 

 from within the app by choosing the room where you home theater is set up and selecting 

. From there, you can adjust the TV level and music playback according to your preference.

For music playback, you can set your surround speakers to Full or Ambient mode. These are set to Ambient mode by default, which means the rear speakers will perform as they do for home theater, producing low-volume audio within a limited frequency range optimized for the seated position you’d have when watching TV. If you select Full, the rear speakers will act as a stereo pair for more powerful and immersive sound that fills more of the room.

Diagram illustrating a typical 5.1 home theater setup

Your Sonos surround sound experience depends on your TV connection and content. Most shows and movies are mixed for 5.1 surround sound, so you can expect to get a 5.1 experience from any Sonos surround sound system.

For 7.1.4 surround sound, you need two things. First, your TV should support HDMI eARC. (You should be able to verify this from the manual or a quick Google search.) Second, your streaming service will need to have Dolby Atmos content, which is available from services like Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. You can 

 from the Now Playing screen in the Sonos app.

Some content, especially music, will default to stereo playback through your surround sound system, so you’ll experience stereo sound from both the front and back of the room. If you have Beam (Gen 2) or Arc, you can enjoy a more immersive spatial audio experience on your system by listening to Dolby Atmos Music from Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited. Just look for the Dolby Atmos badge next to the track or on the Now Playing screen. You also have the option to 

turn off spatial audio for music playback in the app

Investing in a surround sound system with Sonos allows you to bring the theater-experience to the comfort of your home with fewer components and hassle-free installation. If you’re ready to create your Sonos home theater system and feel fully immersed in your home entertainment, explore

 our ready-made speaker sets for 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound

Couple sitting on a couch watching tv with a black Arc, Sub, and Era 300 pair

How to Get 5.1 and 7.1 Surround Sound with Your Sonos System

, is an essential part of any modern audio-listening system. But how does it work? And do you really need to shell out a ton of money for a new or upgraded DAC that promises to deliver better sound from your 

Before we answer those questions, we need to clarify what a DAC actually does. In this guide, we’ll discuss how a DAC converts audio from CDs, MP3s, and streaming services into an analog signal that your speakers can use to produce incredibly detailed sound.

. It’s that simple — but only if you understand the difference between digital and analog signals in the first place.

When you listen to a live performance, your ears are picking up an 

 signal. This signal is smooth and constantly variable, with no sharp edges that separate one part of the sound from the next. When you listen to a speaker, you’re also hearing an analog signal — one that’s produced by a constantly fluctuating stream of electricity.

Some physical mediums use analog signals, too. Vinyl records have a tiny groove that moves back and forth in a wave-like fashion, never fully stopping at one fixed location. A record player picks up the vibrations made when a needle moves through this groove and sends it through an amplifier and into a speaker. No conversion is necessary here, because you’re starting with an analog signal and ending with an analog signal.

That’s great if you only listen to vinyl. But most people these days listen to music from laptops and smartphones, which store songs in MP3 files and other digital audio formats. These formats are 

, which means that they store audio information in discrete increments rather than as a continuous signal. These increments are essentially tiny snapshots (or samples) of the original analog signal captured by the microphones during the recording process.

Digital audio formats help us store audio in a conveniently tidy package, but they emit digital signals that can’t be interpreted into sound by an electrical speaker. The signal must be converted 

into an analog electrical signal that the speaker can use — and this conversion is exactly what a DAC does.

Port placed on top of some books on a bookshelf

 takes a digital signal from a stored audio file and transforms it into a curvy, continuous analog signal. But how? 

DACs work by taking tiny snapshots, or samples, of the digital signal and stitching these snapshots together into an analog waveform. A DAC might take thousands of samples from a single second of an audio file (the exact amount of samples it takes per second is referred to as the 

). It then plots these samples on a graph and creates a curved analog wave that intersects all of the individual sample points.

Ideally, a DAC should follow a consistent timing sequence when it converts a digital signal to an analog signal. To accomplish this, a typical DAC relies on a master clock that is precisely tuned to the sample rate.

But in some DACs this clock can be more prone to errors. If a 

 occurs, you may be able to detect a slight degradation in sound quality. This is because the individual samples aren’t being converted at consistent times, and the sound is thus distorted when played back.

This generally isn’t a problem with modern DACs, as many of them decode digital files at a rate higher than the human ear can detect. But it may be something you run into if you’re relying on the built-in DAC in your phone or laptop, which may not be as good at handling clocking errors as a high-quality DAC (such as the 

So, do you actually need to upgrade your sound system with an external DAC? In most cases, 

your sound system likely has a great DAC already built into it

. This is the case with Sonos Port and our other 

, all of which come with a high-quality DAC.

But if you’re relying on the DAC built into your smartphone or laptop, then yes, many external DACs are superior at limiting clocking errors. Whether you’re able to actually detect those clocking errors, in any case, depends on how well you can hear; it’s not a given that you’ll be able to tell the difference.

If you’re streaming music from a digital device into a DAC-less sound system, you might want to experiment with a USB DAC that connects to the USB port of your computer (it can also connect to your phone via a USB adapter).

Can I get better sound by using two DACs instead of one?

No. You only need one DAC to do the job. So, if you stream music from your phone to a Sonos speaker, you’ll only need the speaker’s built-in DAC to convert the digital signal from your phone into an analog signal the speaker can interpret.

This makes intuitive sense — since a DAC’s job is to convert a digital signal to an analog signal, it doesn’t make sense to stack two DACs on top of each other. Once the digital signal has been converted to analog, it isn’t digital anymore. Simply put, an analog signal can’t be converted to analog 

With that said, you can bypass the internal DAC of your phone or laptop by connecting to an external DAC with better components. Your device will send a direct digital signal to the DAC of your choice, which will convert it into an analog signal and send it through to your speakers or headphones.

Sonos takes care of the DAC question for you. 

 seamlessly converts the signal from your favorite streaming service or digital media player into a smooth analog wave, ensuring that your audio is as crisp and clear as possible.

For a wired setup, you can connect one end of a digital coax cable to the digital coax input on your receiver. The built-in DAC will convert this digital signal before sending it onward to the speaker.

Though a weak DAC can be a limiting factor for your system, your overall sound quality depends on a lot more than just your DAC. Your speakers and other components also matter — a lot! We’ve taken any possible weak links out of the equation with our 

, which include options with powered all-in-one speakers, subwoofers, and more.

What Is a DAC (And Do You Need It for Home Audio)?

When HDMI first appeared more than 20 years ago, it set a new standard for high-definition home entertainment. Today, HDMI — which stands for “

” — remains among the most popular digital interfaces used to transmit high-definition video and audio signals over a single cable.

HDMI cables connect the output from any number of HD sources (streaming devices, soundbars, gaming consoles, etc.) to the input of an HD display, such as a high-definition TV or projector. Since you probably use at least one of these devices on a daily basis, chances are that you’ve already plugged in an HDMI cable without even knowing it.

In this guide, we’ll give you a brief introduction to HDMI. We’ll also walk you through the basics of HDMI ARC and HDMI eARC, two audio-focused technologies that simplify your life by reducing the cables needed to connect your TV to a compatible 

To understand what HDMI is and what it does, it helps to simply break down the acronym:

The best new TVs support stunning crisp image and audio quality. But higher quality means a huge amount of data. Not every cable or connection is capable of transferring all this data from an input source to your TV at the speed or bandwidth required for optimum performance. HDMI was created to solve this problem, and newer versions keep ratcheting up the bandwidth to keep pace with ever-increasing levels of video and audio quality.

When we say “multimedia,” all we mean is that HDMI can support more than one type of media. HDMI supports both uncompressed video and multi-channel audio; that’s why we call it a multimedia interface.

An interface is essentially just a connection between two devices. It’s the place where those two devices communicate and share data back and forth with each other. In this case, HDMI acts as an interface between an input device (the source of your entertainment) and an output device (the thing that plays or displays your entertainment).

Say you have a source of audio and video data that you want to connect to your TV. This source could be a streaming device such as a Roku or Apple TV, a modern gaming console such as a Playstation or Xbox, or a Blu-ray player.

 (in other words, a physical connection) that allows you to transfer all this 

 (i.e. audio and video) data. But not just any interface will do. You need one that can transfer a huge amount of data at an incredibly fast rate, in order to achieve the 

 quality that has become standard among modern TVs, projectors, and other entertainment devices.

You may notice that we italicized some words in the above description. When you combine these words together, you get 

, or HDMI. This interface is widely used to transmit digital audio and video signals across devices, and it eliminates the need for multiple cables by consolidating different signals into a single connection.

HDMI cables can be used to transmit uncompressed digital audio and video signals between compatible devices.

 14-millimeter HDMI cable (Type A) has 19 pins and two “male” connector ends, both of which plug into “female” sockets on the devices it connects. Standard HDMI cables come in varying lengths, but as a general rule, the shorter the cable, the faster the data is transferred. Once you get past 10 meters or so, you may start to see some noticeable signal degradation.

Newer versions of HDMI cables support higher data-transfer rates. These cables look like the Standard cable but are labeled 

. Both are an improvement over Standard, but if you want the best possible experience with the latest HDMI 2.1 components, you may want to stick to the Ultra High Speed cable.

The good news is that these newer cables are all backward-compatible, meaning you can use them with earlier-version devices that were released before the upgrade in cable technology. The bad news is that a cable alone will not upgrade the quality of those old devices.

: Other types of HDMI connectors — Type B, C, D, and E — also exist for different use cases, e.g. smartphones, cameras, and vehicle entertainment systems. We’re focusing on Type A here, as it’s the standard connector for home-entertainment devices.

Closeup of the HDMI and ethernet ports on the back of Sonos Arc

The ARC in HDMI ARC stands for “Audio Return Channel.” If you use your TV with a soundbar or audio receiver, this feature helps you cut down on cables.

In a non-ARC setup, you would need a total of three cables:

An HDMI cable to connect your source device to the audio system

Another HDMI cable to connect your audio system to your TV

An optical/audio cable to connect your TV 

With HDMI ARC, you can eliminate this third cable. This is because the HDMI cable that connects your audio system to your TV can also send the TV audio 

 into your audio system. Instead of having two one-way roads, you’re essentially combining them into a single two-lane data highway.

ARC is not necessary if you only plan to use your TV’s speakers. But if you want to use an external speaker, it not only eliminates the need for an extra cable, but also improves the sound quality of the signal by allowing the same signal to travel in both directions (to and from the speaker).

HDMI ARC is compatible with HDMI 1.4 cables and all later versions. If you’re planning to connect a Blu-ray player or any other content source with video resolutions of 1080p or higher, you should likely spring for at least a High Speed HDMI cable. Before rushing out to buy a cable separately, though, note that most soundbars already come with an HDMI ARC cable in the box.

Just note that the devices you’re connecting also have to be HDMI ARC-enabled. You should see “ARC” clearly marked on the HDMI port of your TV or source device if it’s compatible.

Black Arc with cables hanging underneath it

HDMI eARC stands for HDMI “Enhanced Audio Return Channel.”

The eARC standard was introduced in the latest version of HDMI (HDMI 2.1). It works in much the same way as HDMI ARC, though it boasts even higher audio bandwidth.

This extra bandwidth allows eARC to support higher-quality surround-sound technologies. For example, though most 

you’ll need HDMI eARC to play lossless Dolby Atmos audio

You typically don’t have to do anything special to enable HDMI eARC; simply connect the HDMI cable as you normally would. If your TV or projector supports eARC, you may see an “eARC/ARC” or similar label on its HDMI port. If you don’t see this label, check the user guide to confirm if eARC is supported.

You don’t necessarily need a special cable for HDMI eARC, though a High-Speed HDMI cable or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable is probably a good bet. The latter option is sure to work, as the Ultra High Speed specifications support all HDMI 2.1 features.

As is the case with all newer HDMI cables, the Ultra High Speed cable is backwards-compatible with devices that don’t support HDMI 2.1.

If you’re using external speakers with your 

 and you’re concerned with maximizing the quality of your audio output, HDMI eARC is the way to go. Just note that all of the components in your mix — your TV as well as your soundbar or audio system — must be eARC-compatible to ensure optimal bandwidth. Otherwise, your bandwidth may be limited by the weakest link in your system, i.e. the device that’s only compatible with ARC.

 that will help you get the most out of your home theater experience? Check out an eARC-compatible soundbar such as the 

Couple sitting on a couch watching tv with a white Arc, Sub, and Era 100 pair

The Beginner's Guide to HDMI, HDMI ARC, and eARC

Filling your business with on-brand sound helps amplify your brand and drives strong emotional connections to your business. Want to blast pop hits? You got it. Acoustic instrumental more your brand’s tempo? Done. Sonos Pro includes access to ad-free commercially licensed music for every type of business.

The Beginner’s Guide to Commercially Licensed Music

When managing your business, every element plays an important role in shaping the customer experience. One often overlooked but impactful aspect is the ability for music to influence your customer’s purchasing behaviors. However, while it may be tempting to play a popular tune from your personal playlist, streaming  music in a commercial space is not the same as enjoying music at home or on the go.

A subscription to a consumer music service such as Apple Music or Spotify provides a license to stream music for personal use, but does not provide a license to stream music for commercial use.  This means that the service cannot be used on a sales floor or restaurant dining room while the business is open. You’ll need to check  the terms of your consumer music service before playing any popular hits in your business.

, it means that the rights to use and distribute the musical work have been granted by the appropriate copyright owners or rights holders. Licensing is a crucial part of the music industry, ensuring that artists, songwriters, and creators are compensated for their work and that users have the legal right to use the music in specific ways.

For the case of restaurants, cafes, and retail stores, the law considers your brick-and-mortar business to be a public space, and music played in that space requires a specific license for commercial use. These licenses come in different types, each giving specific rights and limitations on how music can be used. One license that is required for commercial spaces is a 

, which is handled by Performance Rights Organizations (PROs), such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC (among others) in the United States.

A photo of two patrons of a yoga studio engaged in conversation, with various yoga paraphernalia and a Sonos speaker in the background

A photo inside a modern, stylish medical office, with a nurse speaking to a patient whilst holding a clipboard

Choosing the right commercial music service for your business

Failing to secure the proper rights can lead to legal consequences and financial liabilities for your business, so it’s crucial to navigate the world of music licensing appropriately.

 is made just for businesses, streamlining your usage to support only commercially licensed music services. Sonos Pro comes with 

, a selection of stations curated for your business. Sonos Backgrounds includes the commercial licensing you need for your retail, restaurant or business space, including licenses with all major PROs in the United States.

Sonos Pro also supports multiple third-party commercial music services, like Soundtrack Your Brand or Cloud Cover, enabling multiple options to provide your business with all the legal music it needs to make the perfect sound experience for your customers.

With Sonos Pro, you have the power to customize and control the music in each of your locations from a centralized platform — bringing you the hardware, commercially licensed music, and system control you need to create amazing sound experiences.

As the pioneer of multiroom audio, Sonos provides top-tier hardware and sound experiences that elevate any space. Our speakers are simple to 

, so you don’t need a high degree of technical expertise to use them.

With the Sonos Pro dashboard, you can schedule when and where music plays, and adjust the volume to suit the time of day or atmosphere. These remote monitoring and management capabilities allow you to maintain consistency across all your locations, regardless of where you are.

What’s more, Sonos Pro offers excellent customer support, helping you quickly resolve any issues and minimize downtime. You’ll also have access to a customer success manager to make sure the system meets your exact needs.

With one easy subscription, your business has access to everything it needs to sound great: high-quality audio, commercially-licensed music, and a comprehensive dashboard to keep the sound of your business consistent across all your locations. 

*Sonos Pro is only available in certain territories.

A photo of friends and family gathering and socializing in a restaurant

Commercially Licensed Music: How to Select Sound for your Business

Imagine walking through your home, seamlessly enjoying your favorite music or catching every bit of dialogue from a movie, no matter which room you're in. The idea of continuous music or sound following you throughout your house might seem like a luxury, but creating this sound experience is easier than ever with a multiroom audio setup. In this guide, we’re explaining how a multiroom audio system works and offering a few tips for creating one.

Multiroom audio is a system that lets you play the same music, podcasts, and other types of audio in multiple rooms of your home at the same time. That means you can go from one space to the next without the music fading away into the background.

For example, you can listen to your favorite playlist while doing chores around the house, and as you walk from room to room, the music will follow. Or maybe you're watching a movie and want to grab a bowl of popcorn from the kitchen. Instead of hitting pause, you can sync the audio from your TV to your kitchen speaker and step away without missing a word.

White Arc mounted under a television and white Sub placed nearby on the floor

At its core, multiroom audio works by linking various speakers across different rooms to play synchronized audio. This can be achieved through wireless or wired connections, depending on your setup and preferences.

A wireless sound system, like Sonos, is one of the easiest ways to get multiroom audio. Once you place your speakers in their desired locations and plug them into power, you can link them together over your WiFi network. A wired connection, on the other hand, requires some drilling and physically connecting your speakers to an amplifier, either through the walls or ceiling. This typically requires professional installation, but it’s great if you want your speakers to blend discreetly into your space.

Once your speakers are setup, most systems come with user-friendly controllers or apps that allow you to manage playback in different rooms using your smartphone, tablet, or computer. If you have a Sonos system, the Sonos app allows you to simply group rooms and speakers together. You can even create custom groups or zones that are frequently synced together. For example, you can create a custom group called “Downstairs” to enable playback across all the speakers on the same floor of your home.

Note that you can still enjoy the benefits of wireless control even if you have a wired system.

What Do You Need to Set Up Multiroom Audio?

For a multiroom audio setup, you need a speaker in every room where you want sound. These speakers can range from bookshelf speakers to sleek soundbars or discreet in-wall or in-ceiling speakers, depending on your preferences and room aesthetics.

Once you’ve decided on the type of speakers you’d like, they need to be connected to each other. As previously discussed, wireless connections — especially via WiFi — are most popular for their convenience and flexibility. However, certain scenarios may necessitate wired connections — like playing audio from physical media (such as CDs and vinyl) or using passive speakers like in-ceiling speakers, which will require a separate amplifier for power, such as 

. However, for most users, WiFi is the recommended and preferred option due to its ease of use.

How to Get 5.1 and 7.1 Surround Sound with Your Sonos System

What Is a DAC (And Do You Need It for Home Audio)?

The Beginner's Guide to HDMI, HDMI ARC, and eARC

Commercially Licensed Music: How to Select Sound for your Business

How to Create a Multiroom Audio Setup in Your Home

The Beginner’s Guide to Spatial Audio

Mono vs. Stereo Sound: What's the Difference?

What Is Hi-Fi Audio? A Beginner’s Guide

What Is a Soundbar? And How To Choose One

What Is Dolby Atmos? And How to Bring It Into Your Home

The Beginner's Guide to Bass

Music Streaming for Businesses: How to Choose the Right Solution

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