The Connect is just a bridge device to allow your hifi equipment to partake of the SONOS ecosystem. It will either process the digital signal with its internal DAC and output analog out via RCA, or it can output the raw digital signal to an external DAC. I’m of the belief that not all DACs sound the same, so you could notice a slight difference in sound quality depending which DAC you use. |
youtube
john darko primer on streamed audio - 3 parts
watch it - all 3 |
I have a Sonos Connect in one of my systems, where I use it merely as a streamer and output the signal to a Meridian Director DAC. The limitation you will find is that the Connect cannot resolve beyond 16/44.1k - higher res files will not play at all. However, I stream Tidal and Qobuz (CD level) and it sounds as good, if not better, than my Meridian CD player. I've not spent much time listening through the Connect's internal DAC, so I cannot comment on that.
That said, if you are already using the Sonos environment, give it a try. You can always add an external DAC down the road, but I wouldn't invest too much. You'll still be limited to CD level sound, and the Connect's life span may be limited since Sonos will no longer update it. |
Thanks guys. Good info. I will watch the videos about streaming.
I have an ’external’ DAC in the form of an Oppo blu-ray player that I use as a CD player. It has optical-in that plays directly through its DAC as if it were a stand-alone DAC.
So if I run optical-out from the Connect into the Oppo’s optical-in it will use the Oppo’s DAC and not the Connect’s?
As far as support for the Connect this is a Gen2 and it is functioning fine with the new Sonos S2 app. I know that the Gen1 is not supported and will not function with S2. S2 is supposed to support hi-res files but I’m not sure how high that means. Regardless, I’m perfectly happy with CD level res. |
Yes it will use the Oppo DAC connected with optical. Easy rule of thumb, if you go analog left, right out you're using the internal DAC if you use digital out, coax, optical, AES3 you're not using the internal DAC. |
Thanks, that helps. So I'm going to give this a try at some point. Bound to be better than 1st gen Apple TV! |
@n80 I think you're referring to the Sonos Port as Gen 2. I have the Connect and it's Gen 1 and won't work with S2. I'm pretty happy with my Connect, but have been debating if it's worth upgrading to a Port or just switching to a DAC with built-in streamer.
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It is my understanding that the Connect came out in two generations and the only way to tell was by serial number or the mute button.
Sonos lists the Connect Gen1 as not compatible with S2 and the Connect Gen2 as compatible.
The one I have is definitely a Connect (a white box, not black) and it definitely works with S2 and according to the S2 app it has the latest firmware on it now.
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@n80 wow, I had no idea there was a 3rd variant of the connect, it looks like you’re right. First it was the Zone Player, then G1 Connect which had no change other than the name, then the G2 Connect. It looks like both of my Connects are G1.
The G2 Connect has more memory which is why it can use S2.
Sounds like the easiest way to tell which you have is to see if you have a mute button (G1) or play button (G2) on the front of it. |
Update: I've got the old Sonos Connect tied into my primary system. It runs into the Oppo via Coax. AppleTV runs into the Oppo via optical.
I don't hear a huge difference between the AppleTV and Sonos streaming Amazon HD but would give the nod to the Sonos. AppleTV cuts out from time to time. Sonos almost never does.
The reason I kept the AppleTV component is that when I'm searching for music and recommendations the Amazon HD interface is better than the Sonos interface.
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@n80
a few important facts on the sonos connect that may help you... i climbed the full learning curve on this some time ago
the cutoff date is 2015 - where 2015 and newer connects will be s2 software compatible, 2014 and older not - year and month of manufacture are the 1st 4 digits of the serial number underneath the units on the bottom plate
sonos has not implemented any higher res streaming than current 44.1khz as yet on s2 platform -- but that may be coming, or so it is rumored
in its current form, wyred 4 sound has a mod for the sonos connect streamer where the digital section is upgraded by ej sarmento at w4s and the digital bitstream of the modded unit is 96khz, which in effect gives you the first (and most important) tidal mqa unfolding, if you care about that, some folks do
also, instead of modding the connect (for $499 i believe, which is alot for a $300 streamer), w4s can also sell you a box (a remedy reclocker, for $299 i believe) which does the same thing outside of the sonos unit, connected with spdif cabling...
i have no affiliation with w4s, just a happy customer... |
@jjss49 Thanks for the info. It is helpful. However, I have found that for my ears 44.1khz is probably enough and jitter is just something I've never been able to detect or at least separate from other elements that might degrade SQ.
Possibly A/B testing in my system or listening to someone else's would reveal some of these things to me but I'm not sure of the benefit of pursuing that.
I will say that Sonos+Amazon HD played through the Oppo DAC sounds almost identical to a CD played through the same Oppo. Maybe some subtle differences but I'd be hard pressed to say which was better.
All of which is to say that I'm happy with this configuration other than finding the S2 app quite a bit more buggy than S1 ever was.
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