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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →If your Sonos surrounds do not appear, show as not configured, or play little or no sound with a Beam, start by checking setup in the Sonos app—not by replacing speakers. Add the Beam and surrounds to the system as separate rooms, then assign the surround speakers to the Beam with Set up Surrounds. If they are already configured, check their power, connection, and surround-audio settings.
First, check whether the surrounds are configured
Open the Sonos app and look at the Beam room. If the surround speakers are missing or the home theater says not configured, work through setup and connection checks before changing audio settings.
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Confirm the Beam and surrounds are separate rooms
Both the Beam and the speakers you want to use as surrounds must already be set up on your Sonos system as separate rooms. In the current Sonos app, go to Settings, select the Beam room, and choose Set up Surrounds. Follow the prompts to assign the speakers. In the S1 Controller app, go to Settings > System, select the home theater room, and choose Set up Surrounds. Sonos’ surround setup instructions explain the process.
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Surround speakers connect wirelessly to the home theater product. Sonos recommends placing them in the same room as the Beam, with line of sight to it. If the speakers are currently configured as a stereo pair, separate the pair before assigning them as surrounds.
#1 Best Overall
- Enrich your entertainment experience with vibrant bass, crystal clear dialogue, and a panoramic soundstage.
- Experience a 3D surround sound effect with Dolby Atmos.
- Stream music, radio, podcasts, and audiobooks from all your favorite services when the TV is off.
- Control with the Sonos app, your TV remote, Apple AirPlay 2, and your voice.
- Effortless setup with only two cables and smart Trueplay tuning.
Fix a “not configured” status
Sonos says this status can mean the home theater product has lost communication with the surrounds. Check power and restart the products in this order:
- Make sure the Beam and both surround speakers are plugged into working outlets and that their power cords are firmly connected.
- Press Play/Pause on each product and check whether its status light reacts. Sonos notes this can help confirm that a product is powered and responding.
- Reboot the Beam and surround speakers, then check their status in the app.
- If the status remains, restart the router: disconnect its power, wait 10 seconds, and reconnect it. Allow the network and Sonos products to come back online, then check the app again.
- If the home theater is still not configured, remove and re-add the surround speakers using Set up Surrounds.
Sonos also identifies wireless interference as a possible configuration problem. Its troubleshooting guidance includes steps such as changing wireless channels and moving Sonos products away from certain electronics. Interference is one possible cause, not something to assume without checking the setup.
Rank #2
- Enrich your entertainment experience with vibrant bass, crystal clear dialogue, and a panoramic soundstage.
- Experience a 3D surround sound effect with Dolby Atmos.
- Stream music, radio, podcasts, and audiobooks from all your favorite services when the TV is off.
- Control with the Sonos app, your TV remote, Apple AirPlay 2, and your voice.
- Effortless setup with only two cables and smart Trueplay tuning.
If the surrounds are connected but you hear little or no sound
Once the app shows the surrounds as configured, check the surround controls. In the Sonos app, open Settings, select the Beam room, then go to Sound > Surround Audio.
- Surrounds: Make sure the surround speakers are enabled.
- TV Level: Adjust this for surround volume during television playback.
- Surround Distance: Check this setting if the speakers’ apparent level does not match their placement relative to the listening position.
- Music Level: This is separate from the TV level.
- Music Playback: Choose between Ambient and Full. Ambient is subtle and lower in volume; Full plays full-range audio at the same volume as the home theater speaker.
The music playback choice does not apply to TV audio or Dolby Atmos music. Sonos describes these controls in its surround audio settings guide.
Rank #3
- Feel sound like never before with a pair of breakthrough speakers designed from the inside out for a next-level spatial audio experience.
- Fill two rooms of your home with Dolby Atmos Music, or pair these speakers together in the same room for an all-encompassing soundstage.
- Bring every scene and song to life when you use them as rear satellite speakers with your Sonos Arc Ultra, Arc, or Beam (Gen 2) soundbar.
- Get set up in minutes with help from the Sonos app, then stream all your favorite audio content with WiFi and Bluetooth.
- Enjoy hands-free control of your listening and more with Sonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa.
Check Beam generation and app compatibility
Beam generation matters if you use the S1 Controller app. Sonos says Beam (Gen 2) is not compatible with S1; Beam (Gen 1) works with both S1 and the latest Sonos app. Beam must be set up through the Sonos app before it can play TV audio. If you are unsure which Beam you have or which app it supports, check Sonos’ Beam setup guidance.
If surround sound works with some sources but not others
A speaker-configuration problem is different from a TV or source-device audio-format problem. Sonos lists Dolby Digital 5.0/5.1 and DTS Digital Surround among the supported home theater surround formats; DTS is unavailable on products using S1. Check the audio-output format selected on the TV and the device connected to it, and consult their manuals if surround output varies by source.
Rank #4
- Featuring six optimally positioned drivers all around the front, sides, and top to support Dolby Atmos Music, the breakthrough acoustic design projects sound from wall to wall and floor to ceiling, immersing you in every dimension of the song.
- No matter where you are or what you play, the listening experience is nothing short of extraordinary. Custom waveguides disperse sound right, left, forward, and above, creating a sensationally spacious stereo soundstage you can enjoy all around the room.
- Stream from all your favorite services over WiFi. Pair a Bluetooth device with the press of a button. Connect a turntable or other audio source using an auxiliary cable and the Sonos Line-In Adapter.
- Experience mind-bending multichannel surround sound when you pair two speakers with Sonos Arc or Beam (Gen 2). Supercharged by Dolby Atmos, the lateral and overhead channels in each product create an all-encompassing soundstage to envelop you in the story.
- Enjoy free music, original content, and thousands of live stations on Sonos Radio. Play music with hands-free ease and unmatched privacy using Sonos Voice Control. Plus, access new features and services with regular software updates.
Beam uses HDMI ARC for CEC and supported voice-control features. Optical audio can carry sound, but it does not provide those controls. Sonos’ TV requirements and audio-format information can help distinguish a connection or format issue from a surround setup issue.
When to consider replacing or buying speakers
Do not assume quiet or missing surround sound means the speakers have failed. First confirm that the models are compatible with your Beam, that each speaker is powered and on the Sonos system, and that the app has assigned them as surrounds. If you need a new pair or have confirmed a hardware failure, check Sonos’ current surround compatibility guidance for the exact speaker models supported with your home theater product. The setup guidance does not establish a universally compatible model list here, so verify the specific Beam and system before buying.
Best Value
- 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos with upward-firing drivers.
- Clear dialogue and AI-powered Speech Enhancement.
- Low-profile design blends into the room.
- Wider soundstage with clearer separation.
- Trueplay tunes sound for your room and setup.
Get help if the problem persists
If the Beam still reports that the home theater is not configured after the power, restart, and re-add steps—or the surrounds remain silent after checking their settings—contact Sonos support by phone or live chat, or ask in the Sonos community forum. Include the Beam generation, surround models, app status, product-light behavior, and whether the issue affects TV, music, or both; those details help narrow down whether the fault is configuration, network, compatibility, or audio format.
Quick Recap
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