top of page

Why Are My Sonos Home Theater Rear Speakers Playing at a Low Volume?

  • Writer: Craig Whitaker
    Craig Whitaker
  • Jun 2, 2025
  • 1 min read

If your Sonos surround (rear) speakers are playing at a low level, there are a few common reasons—most often, the surround volume simply needs adjustment.

Here’s how to fine-tune the settings in the Sonos app:


How to Adjust Surround Speaker Volume

  1. Open the Sonos app.

  2. Go to the Settings menu.

  3. Under My System, select the room with your surround setup.

  4. Tap Surround Audio under the Sound section.


Available Settings You Can Adjust

  • Surrounds

    Toggle surround sound on or off.

  • TV Level

    Adjust the volume of the surround speakers when watching TV using the slider.

  • Music Level

    Adjust the volume of the surround speakers during music playback.

  • Music Playback

    Choose what kind of audio plays through the rear speakers when listening to music (does not affect TV or Dolby Atmos content):

    • Ambient (default): Soft, subtle background audio with limited frequency range.

    • Full: Full-range audio, played at the same level as the main speakers.

  • Surround Distance

    Tell Sonos how far your surround speakers are from your main listening position. Adjusting this affects overall volume for both TV and music playback.

  • Reset

    Tap this to reset all surround settings to their factory defaults.


Fine-tuning these settings can significantly improve your surround sound experience.


If you need personalized help, feel free to reach out to us at 888-775-2673 or visit www.wbsouth.com/freeconsultation2 to schedule a FREE virtual consultation.

Related Posts

See All
How Do I Add Music Services to My Sonos App?

As more of our clients upgrade to Sonos , we want to be sure everyone is getting the most out of their system. Did you know that in addition to Sonos Radio, Sonos supports over 130 different music ser

 
 
 
What Can Affect My Wi-Fi Network Performance?

We’re often called out to homes where clients say, “My internet is fast, but my Wi-Fi isn’t reliable.” That’s an important distinction because Wi-Fi performance is affected by much more than just your

 
 
 
Can I Add Music on My Computer to the Sonos App?

As more clients move from older Bose systems to Sonos , one of the most common questions we hear is whether Sonos can play music that’s already stored on a computer or external hard drive . The good n

 
 
 
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn Social Icon
  • Twitter

Proudly Installing Custom Audio Video Solutions for the Past 30 years

 

 

Serving Delaware, Maryland, Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and West Virginia

 

2017 Whitaker Brothers South | All Rights Reserved

bottom of page