Sonos delivers LPCM update

[Grim5]

For Sonos owners, today's S2 software update unlocks LPCM support for Sonos ARC owners.

https://www.slashgear.com/sonos-arc...s-improved-upgrade-program-launches-10646639/

Owners of the nintendo switch and PC gamers can now get surround sound on Sonos, finally after so many years

Launched in May, the Sonos Arc was the company’s largest and most capable soundbar. Supporting Dolby Atmos surround sound for the first time – and tapping the new Sonos S2 software and platform in order to do it – it also offers Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support, plus the ability to set up a wireless surround system with other Sonos speakers.

What it didn’t offer, at least at launch, was multi-channel LPCM. Unlike the two channels of normal PCM, the multi-channel variant can transmit up to eight channels of sound over the eARC connection. Back in May, Sonos confirmed it planned to add the technology – popular for those wanting the very best quality from their Blu-ray, gaming, and other media experiences – in a later firmware update, and today it’s being released.

You can upgrade your Sonos Arc by installing the newest Sonos S2 update from iOS App Store or Google Play store, then heading into Settings > System > System Updates > Check for Updates. That will download and load the new firmware to the soundbar.

 

[Grim5]

And I've tested this, it works perfectly as long as your TV has eARC and can pass through lpcm

 

[Grim5]

Hi and thanks for the heads up - I’ve got 5.1 running (albeit with a beam as the “link”) on one of my PC’s and having the surrounds (play 3s) work. Do these extra channels refer to those that the arc can play (upwards for example) rather than to the surrounds? Thanks.

I need to spend more time with it to listen to what the height channel do when 7.1 or something is enabled because windows lets me select LPCM in5.1/7.1 or even Atmos with the ARC, all of them work well and sound comes from the direction you expect but need more time to analyze the differences between them. I think I will just enable Atmos all the time, I noticed that when Atmos content is not playing it will down grade to 5.1 for something like a old netflix movie or 2.0 watching youtube but if Atmos content is detected it does Atmos, so it's its automatic which is nice.

The Nintendo Switch let's me select LPCM in 5.1 and 7.1 after today's update.

In theory the ARC has a maximum of 5.1.2 channel support, but with the Switch and Windows letting me use 7.1, I am curious to test if the ARC is trying to simulate the extra two surround channel with 7.1 or if its the same sound output as 5.1, the Sonos phone app definitely shows the sound input as LPCM 7.1