What is Height Audio Sonos: The Ultimate Guide

Spatial audio gives an immersive experience, using various audio filters based on sound direction and distance. It’s ideal when you wish to upgrade your home sound system with spatial audio. 

Sonos and Dolby Atmos technology take immersive audio to new heights. Height audio in the Sonos is exclusive to their devices. You can easily learn how to set up a height audio Sonos system. The right setup creates a more engaging and lifelike listening experience by simply presenting sound from above.

In this guide, we’ll discuss height audio Sonos and how to set it up correctly.

What is Sonos?

Sonos is a popular American audio equipment manufacturer in Santa Barbara, California. It was founded in 2002 and has been manufacturing wireless speakers, home theater systems, and audio components for home use. Their home audio comes equipped with a high-quality sound system and voice assistants for easy use. It works on WiFi and comes integrated with most music streaming services. 

What Does Height Audio Mean on Sonos?

Technically, height audio uses upward-firing speakers to project sound above the ears to create more realistic audio. Basically, it’s a three-dimensional sound system. Sonos height audio feature allows particular Sonos speaker models to add height channels to spatial audio content. This works for music and movies mixed in Dolby Atmos. 

It generates a sensation of sound coming from specific locations around you. So, it’s able to mimic how sound travels in real life, giving you a more immersive experience. It differs from traditional stereos with only left and right sound channels.

What Does Height Audio Do in Sonos?

Height audio in Sonos systems with Dolby Atmos amplifies the overall listening experience. With a vertical dimension to the sound, height audio changes how we perceive the audio in movies, music, or gaming. It makes all the sounds more realistic.

a. Makes Sound Realistic

Height audio technology replicates how we naturally listen to sound in the real world. This is better than traditional audio setups, which only work in a horizontal plane. On the other hand, height audio makes the sound come from above, creating a more lifelike audio environment. 

Moreover, there are object-based surround sound formats like Dolby Atmos, which allows sound designers to place audio elements in a three-dimensional space. Due to this, the sounds can be perceived as coming from above, below, or around the listener. To make the sound even more real, the upward-firing speakers in the Sonos systems deliver clearer and more distinct sound effects.

b. Enhance Spatial Audio

Height audio offers an immersive listening experience as it expands the soundstage beyond the horizontal plane. When using a Sonos device like the Beam (Gen 2), the upward-firing drivers bring a sense of height and make the audio more expansive. The spatial audio and realistic sound feature from this is super effective when watching films or playing games.

For instance, gamers can benefit from the surround sounds when coming from enemy aircraft or environmental effects. This gives them a competitive edge and wins over other players in the game. Users may also adjust the height of their audio settings through the Sonos app and customize the acoustics according to their room. This generates a balanced sound that is still immersive to the listener. 

Technical Specifications for Height Audio on Sonos

We’ll discuss the technicalities that are designed to enhance the listening experience of height audio on Sonos: 

a. Frequency Range

The frequency range of height audio is the spectrum of sound frequencies that the upward-firing speakers can reproduce. Devices such as the Arc and Beam (Gen 2) have frequencies ranging from around 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The effective range may also vary when the speakers are creating a perception of height in sound. When the frequency is broad, it lets the speakers produce extensive sounds, such as deep bass. 

b. Audio Resolution

The audio resolution is the clarity and detail of the sound produced by the speakers. It is crucial in height audio for an immersive experience. Sonos has high-resolution Dolby Atmos for object-based sound. This makes the sound appear in three-dimensional space. The audio may have a bit depth of 24 bits and sample rates of 96 kHz or higher. This offers both depth and clarity to the sound.

c. Speaker Configuration

The speaker configuration for height audio in Sonos systems maximizes the sound by the upward sound firing. This reflects the sound from the ceiling, adding more depth to the audio experience. The Sonos Arc has around 11 speakers to configure. These speakers are in different directions, such as rear and front channels, and a subwoofer offers immersive and low-frequency effects.

Steps to Setup Height Audio on Sonos

Here are the steps to adjust the level of the height audio channels on Sonos: 

• Go to the Sonos app on your device. 
• Update the app if needed.
• Open the Sonos app again after updating.

• Go to the Settings menu.

• Go to My System.
• Select the room with your Atmos-capable home theater product under My System. 
• Scroll to Height Audio Under Sound.
• Use the slider to increase or decrease the volume of the height of the audio channels.
• The range is from -10 to +10.

• Start at neutral and then go up and down for the best settings.

You may test the sound using spatial audio supporting media such as the movies Blade Runner 2049 or 1917. 

Ideal Settings for Height Audio on Sonos

Find out how to adjust the height audio on Sonos devices for optimal performance. 

a. Adjust Height Settings

• Open the Sonos app. 
• Navigate to settings. 
• Tap on the Height Audio option. 

• Use the slider to adjust the height. 

b. Consider Your Ceiling’s Height

Higher ceilings have a better ability to enhance the upward-firing speakers’ sound for a pronounced height effect. If you have a lower ceiling, factor that in! Not doing so may lead to congested sound. Keep the audio height around +5. For a high ceiling, you may keep it close to +10 for an immersive sound. 

c. Keep Height between +5 and +10

As mentioned above, maintaining the height audio setting between +5 and +10 offers optimal sound. This range works with several audio channels and room heights. You may also test different levels for different movies and shows. 

d. Avoid Negative Range When the Arc is Below the View

The negative settings when the Sonos Arc is below the ear level may diminish the surround sound. When the upward-firing speakers don’t work well, the lack of height effects will not add to the surround sound. Therefore, optimal placement of the Arc at ear level is necessary. If you place the Arc near or below the ear level, keep the height of the audio range between 0 and +2.

How Doe͏s He͏ight͏ Audio Impr͏ove the Liste͏ni͏ng ͏Experien͏ce͏?

Heig͏h͏t audio en͏hanc͏es the liste͏n͏ing expe͏rie͏nce with a͏ vertical dimension to͏ soun͏d.͏ T͏h͏is ͏offers a mo͏re im͏m͏e͏rsive an͏d realistic audio en͏viro͏n͏m͏ent. Here’s h͏o͏w heigh͏t audio͏ improves͏ the sys͏t͏em soun͏d:

a. C͏learer Soun͏d

H͏eight a͏udio sys͏tems l͏ik͏e Son͏os products have upw͏a͏rd-firing spe͏a͏ke͏r͏s that ͏project so͏und a͏bove th͏e lis͏te͏ner. Thi͏s design allows for clearer aud͏io by using s͏epara͏t͏e so͏und e͏lements, which wou͏ld blend toge͏ther in t͏radi͏tional speakers. 

However, in Sonos, the li͏steners can exper͏ie͏nc͏e ͏ind͏ividual sou͏nd effect͏s and dialogue. This gives a more e͏njoyable listeni͏ng experien͏c͏e.͏ Overall, the so͏unds from a͏bove͏ are more͏ defined and d͏isti͏nct as t͏he͏y͏ have͏ cla͏rity i͏n both music͏ and ͏cinematic ͏au͏dio.

b. Imme͏rs͏ive Aud͏i͏o

With a verti͏cal la͏yer to ͏s͏ou͏nd͏, heig͏ht audio allows listeners to feel as͏ if they a͏r͏e part͏ of the action. It͏ will make ͏t͏he listener feel like ͏they are part of the premises͏ in͏ the movie by making ͏sounds fee͏l too͏ ͏re͏al. For instance, it c͏an a͏mp͏lify th͏e m͏ovie͏-watching͏ experience by allowing s͏ound͏s to come͏ from abo͏v͏e,͏ such ͏as ra͏in͏ falling͏ from t͏h͏e sky. The three-dimensional sou͏nd f͏ield envelops͏ th͏e͏ listene͏r, making͏ ͏the audi͏o expe͏ri͏e͏nce͏ more eng͏agi͏ng and l͏ifel͏ike͏.͏

c.͏ Better͏ Gaming 

Many g͏ames come with immersive a͏udio͏ technologie͏s. Thi͏s le͏ts players he͏ar sounds ͏fr͏om͏ dif͏fe͏rent d͏i͏recti͏ons, including a͏b͏ove ͏them. So,͏ fo͏r͏ gamers, he͏ight͏ audio can ͏provide a͏ c͏ompetit͏ive edge͏. This capabi͏lit͏y enhances ͏their gameplay with spatial awareness. The͏y can e͏ven l͏o͏ca͏te ene͏m͏i͏es or navi͏g͏ate environm͏ents more eff͏ectively. Sounds ͏like footst͏eps or gunfire ca͏n be perc͏ei͏ved͏ a͏bou͏t͏ t͏he͏ playe͏r’͏s͏ p͏osi͏tion. This ͏can make the game feel͏ mo͏re realistic͏ and re͏spo͏nsive.

d͏. Enhanc͏ed͏ Ro͏om Audi͏o͏

Height audi͏o enhances͏ the roo͏m’s͏ ͏ac͏oustics as ͏it also͏ us͏es th͏e space abov͏e the͏ li͏stener͏. I͏t bo͏unces ͏the s͏ound o͏f͏f the ce͏il͏ing a͏nd fill͏s th͏e room with sound ͏more e͏f͏fectively. This is grea͏t͏ for͏ la͏rger s͏pa͏ces͏ where sound ͏may diffuse. The͏ s͏ound ͏can͏ reach͏ s͏ever͏al ͏room͏ c͏orn͏e͏rs wit͏h a height ͏audio feature.͏ ͏This wo͏rks͏ no matter ͏where you a͏re sit͏t͏ing in the room.

e. ͏More ͏Detai͏le͏d Soundtracks

You’ll have a richer ͏audio e͏xperie͏nce with b͏ette͏r so͏un͏d pro͏je͏ct͏i͏on fro͏m above. Eve͏n ͏th͏e͏ most subtle sound e͏ff͏ects ͏wi͏ll be͏ audibl͏e and ͏di͏fferent from ͏the re͏st. If a movie or͏ ͏mu͏sic has high-͏qu͏ality audio, e͏ach sound will be enhan͏ced͏ ͏int͏o th͏ree-͏dimensi͏onal space. 

Conclu͏sion

͏Now y͏ou͏ kn͏o͏w͏ what h͏eight au͏dio Sono͏s is͏, its specificati͏ons͏, and how to s͏e͏t it͏ up fo͏r͏ your home. The ͏height audio featur͏e͏ allows ͏the percep͏ti͏on of͏ ͏so͏und from variou͏s locations͏, ͏m͏aking i͏t seem more͏ re͏al. The 3-d͏imension͏al s͏ound mim͏ics how sound travels in͏ ͏real ͏li͏fe. ͏This can enhance the music-listenin͏g͏ or mo͏vie-watch͏ing e͏xperi͏ence. 

FAQs

Q1. How high to place the Sonos Arc?

Generally, place the Sonos Arc approximately 4 inches below the bottom of the TV. The Arc should be slightly below ear level for a great listening feel. Also, consider room size for better projection of the sound. Ensure that the Arc isn’t too high so that the height audio feature doesn’t diminish.

Q2. What does height mean in the Sonos app?

The height is the height audio settings in the Sonos app. It controls the volume of the upward-firing speakers. The main function is to adjust the audio mix for an immersive experience. You may adjust the height audio level using a slider that ranges from -10 to +10. A higher setting will increase the intensity of the upward-firing speakers, while a lower setting will reduce their prominence.

Q3. What is the height of the Sonos soundbar?

Each Sonos soundbar’s height may vary depending on the model. For instance, the Sonos ARC has a height of 3.43” (8.7 cm), an overall width of 44.96” (114.2 cm), and a depth of 4.57” (11.6 cm). These dimensions make it suitable for various setups. This design allows it to fit under the TV for the best audio experience. Therefore, it is suggested that you always look into the product specifications to find the correct dimensions. 

Q4. Is Sonos true Atmos?

Sonos offers true Dolby Atmos with devices like Sonos Arc and Beam (Gen 2). The Sonos Arc has an upward-firing speaker that creates a three-dimensional sound experience. Sonos Arc delivers a compelling Dolby Atmos experience, making it suitable for movies, music, and gaming.