Upgrade over Sonos ZP90?


Hi there fellow a-goners.
I am in the process of upgrading my system. I use my faithful Sonos as a digital source and have been perfectly happy with it up-to-date. However, I understand that there are better digital transports out there. What I need is a transport that would be as user-friendly as the Sonos, but will exceeded in terms of sound quality and have the ability to do high res. I intend to use it as a transport with an external DAC and my DAC does not have USB input, so it’s either coaxial or Optical inputs (I have a Reimyo DAP-777 and a CHORD DAC64).

I was looking at aurender, auralic Aries, and Linn Akurate DS1.
I also have an Oppo 105D i use it strictly for video, as my experience with it as an audio  transport has not been good: Sonos sounds better.
I am a cost minding type of guy, so I am looking for a used piece preferably under 2000 us. Thanks for your help and looking forward to your advice.
ja_zz

Showing 9 responses by ja_zz

lalitk,
Thanks for your reply. N100C is quite rare, N100H is a lot more common.
How good is Bluesound compared to Aurender?


Also, does anybody have experience with Soundaware, namely D100PRO?
Thanks!

@audioengr 
I will think about it, but at this stage I concur with @lalitk : the more boxes and wires, the more potential too go wrong...
@audioengr
Steve, thanks, but... Trouble is, I am way across the pond, in Mordor (if you know what I mean) ;-)

One of my Sonos ZP90s was modded by Cullen Circuits (the 24/96 upclock mod). Was playing great (and much better than the stock) when I got it initially. But when the upgrade bug bit me a few years later (now exactly), I started experimenting and found that the stock ZP90 outplayed the modded version.
Must be something wrong with it...