which output from SONOS to outboard DAC?

neither are stupendous on the stock unit, but most feel the coax is best. I felt the Toslink gave a bit mellower tone if you are into that while the coax was a little more detailed.

If you have a few bucks to spend, consider one of the modifications available for it that will put it on par with better CD transports (Cullen Circuits, Emperical Audio Pace Car, etc). I did a Cullen mod on mine and have never had cause to fire up my CD player again.

I'm using the PWD with my moded sonos as a stop gap as well. Not as good as using the PWT or a high end CD player, but almost as good and way more convenient. I'm hoping PS Audio takes a page out of the Sonos playbook and builds a good iPhone/iTouch app to use with the bridge. Especially if the rumors of the tablet iTouch are to be believed (think iTouch with a 12 inch screen).

Mike, try hooking up a different source to your PWD to see if it is truly what introduced the brightness to your system or if it is simply the Sonos unfiltered that you are noticing. The stock Sonos has a lot of hash to it that can come across as being very bright.

If you don't have a decent CD transport, use your laptop via the USB (which I feel is a better connection than the Coax on the PWD) - a half decent cable from your local Best Buy is all you really need to see if it makes a difference. You can even download a hi-rez album or two from HD Tracks to hear full capabilities of the PWD. I like the Chesky collection myself.

Good luck.