FAQ

What is Sonos Properly?

Sonos Properly is a free planning tool that helps you design a Sonos system room-by-room. It’s built to stop overbuying, highlight sensible upgrade paths, and give you a plan you can actually act on.

Who is this for?

Anyone building, upgrading, or sanity-checking a Sonos setup — from a one-room flat to a whole-home system.

Does this replace professional installation advice?

No. It’s a practical planning tool to help you make better decisions and avoid expensive mistakes. If you’re doing built-in speakers, major renovations, or tricky networking, professional advice can still be worthwhile.

Is Sonos Properly affiliated with Sonos?

No. It’s an independent project focused exclusively on Sonos systems.

How do you make money from this?

Some product links may be affiliate links. If you buy through them, Sonos Properly may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See the Affiliate Disclosure for details.

How does the planner decide what to recommend?

It uses a transparent rules-based scoring system (“rules engine”) that weighs your rooms, listening priorities, and layout to suggest sensible Sonos components — not a black box.

How accurate are the recommendations?

They’re designed to be a strong starting point based on typical room sizes, layouts, and use-cases. Real-world outcomes vary depending on acoustics, placement, and personal taste.

Why does the planner sometimes recommend fewer speakers than I expected?

Because most people overbuy. Not every room needs a speaker, and not every room needs a powerful one. The goal is balanced coverage and better value, not maximum hardware.

Can I plan upgrades in phases?

Yes. A good Sonos system is often built in phases: start with your core room (usually TV or kitchen), then expand strategically.

Can I save or share my plan?

Not yet — for now, take a screenshot or copy the recommended setup list.

Can I mix different Sonos speakers in the same room?

For stereo, you generally want a matched pair. For surrounds, you typically need two matching surround speakers. Mixing across different roles is fine (e.g., soundbar + Sub + surrounds).

Can I use Sonos speakers as surrounds?

Yes — supported speakers can be used as surrounds paired with a Sonos soundbar in the same room. This is one of the best-value upgrades for home cinema.

Do I need a Sub?

Not always — but for TV rooms and larger spaces, adding a Sub (or Sub Mini) is often the biggest single upgrade. It improves immersion and clarity because the soundbar/speakers don’t have to work as hard on low frequencies.

Sub vs Sub Mini: which should I choose?

Sub Mini is usually better value for small–medium rooms and flats. Full-size Sub makes more sense for larger rooms, higher volumes, or where you want deeper bass headroom.

Can I use two Subs?

In some setups, yes — dual Subs are mainly about smoother bass distribution in larger rooms (not just “more bass”).

Arc vs Beam vs Ray — which is best for TV?

Quick rule:

Soundbar	Best for
Ray	Small rooms and budget upgrades
Beam	Best all-rounder for most homes
Arc	Larger rooms and Atmos-focused setups

Not sure? Use the Sonos Planner to model your room.

Do I need eARC for Dolby Atmos?

Often, yes — especially for the most reliable Atmos experience. Some TVs support Atmos over standard ARC, but eARC is the safer path.

How do I know if Atmos is working?

During playback of Atmos content, the Sonos app typically shows the current audio format. If it isn’t showing Atmos, it’s usually a TV settings or source issue.

Can I group my TV sound to other rooms?

Yes, but expect a small delay in grouped rooms. That’s normal. TV audio needs buffering to stay stable across multiple speakers.

Is Sonos good for cinema-style surround sound?

Yes — when you match the soundbar to the room, place surrounds properly, and tune the system. Most underwhelming setups are placement or configuration issues, not hardware limits.

Can I plan a system for apartments and small spaces?

Yes. The planner works for flats and small homes and is designed to recommend sensible, controlled setups. See the small apartment guide.

How do I keep a Sonos setup neighbour-friendly?

Focus on clarity over volume: speech enhancement, night mode, controlled bass, and good placement (avoid corners and shared walls where possible).

Can I plan for outdoor audio?

Yes. Include outdoor areas when you map rooms and zones so they’re factored into the final plan.

Will Sonos work reliably outside?

Yes — within the limits of your Wi-Fi coverage and weather resistance. Outdoor reliability is mostly a networking problem, not a speaker problem.

Can I group outdoor audio with indoor rooms for parties?

Yes — when it’s playing over Wi-Fi in the Sonos system. If a portable speaker drops to Bluetooth, grouping won’t work the same way.

Why do Sonos speakers cut out or disappear?

Usually Wi-Fi interference, weak signal, extenders/mesh issues, or network changes (new router/password). Sonos depends on a stable network.

Is it better to connect Sonos via Wi-Fi or Ethernet?

It depends on your home. Wiring one device can improve stability in tricky environments. The best result is a stable network, not a specific connection type.

I changed my router / Wi-Fi password — what now?

Update the network details in the Sonos app so all speakers get the new credentials. Avoid factory resets unless you’re truly stuck.

What’s the quickest way to improve reliability?

Improve Wi-Fi coverage, avoid cheap extenders, and keep your network consistent. Most Sonos problems are network problems in disguise. See the connectivity guide.

Does speaker placement really matter with Sonos?

Yes. Placement affects bass build-up, clarity, and perceived loudness more than most people expect. See the placement guide.

What is Trueplay and do I need it?

Trueplay is Sonos room tuning. It usually improves clarity and controls bass — especially in small rooms and home theatre setups. See the Trueplay guide.

Why does my system sound bass-heavy?

Common causes: corner placement, reflective rooms, too much bass in EQ, or no tuning. Move the speaker slightly and re-tune before buying more hardware.

Do you store my data?

Planner inputs are stored in your browser and in any share link you generate. Analytics data is collected via Google Analytics. Read the Privacy Policy.

Can I contact you with feedback or a bug?

Not yet — a contact route is coming. For now, keep a copy of your plan or a screenshot if you want to reference issues later.

Why should I trust this over random forum advice?

Because the planner gives consistent, repeatable recommendations based on your layout and priorities — and the guides explain the trade-offs so you can make an informed call.