How to Use Sonos Era 100 as Surround Speakers? (Easy Steps)

If you want to set up your Sonos Era 100 as surround speakers, then you’re in the right place!

The built-in custom support for “Stereo” and “Surround” installation is one of Sonos Era 100’s excellent features, making it a trustworthy choice for your home theater experience.

To get the most out of the surround sound experience, the speakers must be positioned in a specific way and you will be guided through the reset via the Sonos application!

To use Sonos Era 100 speakers for surround sound, set each speaker to a separate room and place each unit in the appropriate position.

Open the Sonos app, go to “System” → “Room” and tap “Stereo Pair” to specify the main surround sound speaker.

Keep reading to find out more details about the setup!

Can Sonos Era 100 Be Used As Surround Speakers?

Absolutely! 

One of Sonos Era 100’s main purposes is to establish a secure wireless connection between all of your added speakers, to create a “Stereo” or “Surround” sound environment.

The Sonos app allows the user to modulate with the speakers in many ways by altering the sound output via the “Stereo Pair” function.

What Does Sonos “Stereo Pair” Do?

This is the Sonos feature that makes the surround sound installation possible!

Well, it links up two or multiple speakers from different rooms and shares the audio feedback with both after assigning a “Left” and “Right” position.

• Remember that altering the physical position of the speakers is mandatory, as the surround sound setup won’t work otherwise.

Now, keep reading for a complete guide on how to use Sonos Era 100 as surround speakers!

How to Set Up Sonos Era 100 As Surround Speakers?

Tip: If you’ve never set up surround speakers, follow all the steps consecutively!

1. Add Each Speaker to a Separate Room

The first step is to ensure that each of the Sonos speakers you wish to pair is assigned to an alternative room.

The “Stereo Pair” function of Sonos does not function unless the speakers are allocated to a different configuration within the mobile Sonos app.

Here’s how to assign brand-new Sonos speakers during the setup:

1. Wait until the speaker powers on and open your Sonos app.
2. Wait for automatic detection of any nearby Sonos speakers.
3. Next, tap on “Continue” and wait for the application to load up.
4. Specify the room “Where are you putting your (speaker name).”

Multiple speakers can be registered under a single room, but you will require a separate Sonos Era 100 speaker to activate the “Stereo Pair” function and use them in surround configuration.

Note: The room of the Sonos Era 100 speaker can be specified in the early stages of the setup!

2. Complete the “Stereo Pair” Setup

You can set up the Sonos Era 100 speakers in a “Surround” configuration by activating the “Stereo Pair” function.

The option is available in the speaker settings under each room, but you have to link multiple rooms together to create a surround configuration.

Follow these steps to use Sonos’s “Stereo Pair” function:

1. Open the Sonos app and go to “Settings” (cogwheel in the bottom right.)
2. Tap on the “System” tab and choose the room of the speaker you will pair.
3. Next, tap on the “Set Up Stereo Pair” button in the settings of the speaker.

How to Add Multiple Sonos Speakers to “Stereo Pair?”

The great thing about Sonos Surround is that you’re not limited to just two speakers.

You can link up as many units as you want, as long as each of the speakers is added to its own room and supports a stable connection to the internet.

You will be able to assign the speakers with different functions once you have completed the surround sound installation of the Sonos Era 100.

3. Position the Speakers for “Surround”

The essential step for using Sonos Era 100 as surround speakers is positioning each of the Sonos Era 100 units appropriately.

The placement must be calculated according to your viewing position, whether it will be the touch, kitchen table, or hangout spot in your home.

Then, follow the visual prompts and instructions within the Sonos app to identify which speaker must be on the “Left” and which speaker must be on the “Right.”

How to Identify “Left” and “Right” Sonos Era Speakers?

The “Left” and “Right” positioning of the Sonos speakers is automatically assigned by the Sonos app, so you don’t have to worry about positioning prior to activating “Stereo Pair.”

If the speaker that’s supposed to be on the “Left” or “Right” does not play a chime or cannot be identified, there can be an issue with the audio settings or the internet!

How to Fix Sonos Era 100 Surround Sound Not Working?

In case the speakers were unable to link with each other and work in unison, there are multiple solutions you can undertake!

Inspect the Internet Connection

In the first step, you must verify that the Sonos Era speakers have established a secure connection to the internet.

Here are reliable solutions for Sonos Era internet issues:

• Change the Wi-Fi of Sonos at “Advanced Settings” → “Wireless Setup.”
• Perform a power cycle of the network router or modem paired to Sonos.
• Temporarily suspend the service connection of Sonos’s network device.

Notice: Contact your service provider if there are connection issues with other devices!

Re-Add the Sonos Era 100 Speaker

Perhaps, there’s an issue with the application profile of one of the Sonos Era 100 speakers that’s preventing it from being assigned to a surround sound setup.

Here’s how to re-add the Sonos Era speaker from the application:

1. Open the Sonos S1 Controller app on your iOS or Android.
2. Navigate to the “Settings” tab and access the “System” page.
3. Select “System Tools” and then press on “Remove Products.”
4. Select the problematic Sonos speaker that does not connect.
5. Next, wait until the app rediscovers the speaker and pair it again.

Note: Stay within close range of the speakers that are removed so it can be re-detected.

Reinstall the Sonos Application

In case you were unable to eliminate the issue by re-adding the speaker, you should uninstall the controller application and download it again. 

Follow these steps to reinstall the Sonos app on your mobile:

1. Locate the Sonos app’s icon on your mobile’s homepage.
2. Tap and hold the surface of the app for about 2 seconds.
3. Once the menu appears, choose “Uninstall” or “Delete.”
4. Wait until the Sonos app is removed from your device.
5. Download the app through Google Play or the App Store.

Once the reinstallation is complete, re-add all Sonos Era 100 speakers and attempt to set up the surround sound from scratch.

Quick Recap

To use Sonos Era 100 as surround speakers, add each speaker of the surround sound setup in a different room and access the Sonos controller application.

Next, configure the physical positioning of the speakers and go to “Settings” →  “System” → “Room” and tap “Stereo Pair.”

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