Wyred4Sound Modified Sonos


All
Looking for some real world feedback from those that have had their Sonos modified by Wyred4Sound?  Any info you can provide would prove useful.  Also, if anyone has one they're looking to sell, I may be interested.
Thx
Jim
shoboat90
I actually purchased the sonos connect modified already by Wyred for Sound.  I don't believe they give the option to buy the connect modified all in one unit any longer as the Connect is not available for purchase.  
I purchased it three years ago and it sounded excellent.  The only drawback is it doesn't play high resolution format only cd format.  However I can't say for sure high resolution is really any better sounding, maybe a little but depends on the recording.
I've since upgraded to a metrum ambre streamer to go along with my metrum onyx dac and the difference between the modified connect and ambre is minor.  The sound is a little smoother and a little more analog like with the ambre and the ambre can play all resolutions but it's close.  The modified connect sounded very good from its coaxial connection.  The ambre has a custom i2s connection which is a better digital connection and intended to connect to Metrum dacs so that is why I purchased the ambre.  
My modified connect is 16/44 output.  I didn't want the connect upsampling as that can be done via computer software of the dac and I believe the upsampler in the modified sonos would probably be inferior to other upsampling options. I prefer not to upsample and just play music in its native format.

Anyway I may be interested in selling my connect, let me know how it goes.  
I have had a w4s Sonos (clocked @96) for years. It was worth it then. But I mean now you can get a Bluesound for $600. So that might be a better way to go. But if you are committed to the Sonos ecosystem then I think its a good option. w4s mods the new Sonos player (Port) as well but now your looking at around $1K right? Trouble with the Sono Connect and Port is the splitting the network thing if you get any of the newer stuff. And at some point the music service is going to make a change and the old connect is going to NOT work. I have Roon and it just sees the Connect as an endpoint so for $100 or so I can pick up an old Connect online and have a roon endpoint for el cheapo and dont have to worry about it becoming a brick cause Sonos had to update app to comply with the service like Qobuz Tidal etc.
Thanks for the feedback guys.  I had a Bluesound Node2i for a while but after hours and hours of comparing both (level matched) there was no discernible difference between the Sonos Connect and Node2i...so I saw no point in dropping the $550 for the Node 2i and then having to use the BlueOS in addition to Sonos.  You make a good point in that the Connects will eventually go obsolete.  @jbuhl, if you think the w4s Sonos is comparable to the Node 2i, then I guess I need to start looking elsewhere.
Thank you
Just want to offer my two cents. I have the Modded Sonos and also have an Innuos Zenith MK2. The Sonos probably gives you 75% of what the Innuos does. Where the Zenith separates itself is in the air/space around instruments, as well as the ability to deal with complex music in a better way. If there's a lot going on, the Sonos can get a little compressed sounding in comparison. Now all that said, I have found that adding a better PC makes a difference, as does a better dig coax. The Sonos still has easily one of the best interfaces around for usability, so that is something to consider too.
I used the modded Sonos Connect with a TG audio silver power cord and Wywires digital silver coax cable and the TG audio was plugged into a PS audio powerplant.  I even put a lead weight on the sonos as it is very light. I have to say it sounded very good and I agree with the previous comment that a better streamer such as my metrum ambre streamer via I2s is just a bit better on more complex music but the sonos does sound very good. My brother in law has a bluesound node 2i and we compared the modifed sonos coax with the blusound coax output and in my metrum dac the sonos was clearly better sounding.  I plan on using my connect in another system and as a backup to the metrum ambre.  
But I agree at this point the modified connect cannot do high resolution and there are other newer options available.  But if cd resolution is all you are interested in, the modification does improve the sound a lot.
I have a Sonos Connect with the Wyred 4 Sound mod and I love it. It's paired with very nice DAC, the original Naim DAC. Huge improvement over the regular Sonos Connect (through the same DAC). For me this made the most sense - it's a cheaper upgrade than a Naim streamer or similar high-end streamer, and I use Sonos throughout the house. All as Roon endpoints. I had heard also heard mixed things about the BlueSound streamers as Roon endpoints. I A/B'd against a standard Connect and the modded one is significantly better. Hard to find at the moment I think though - I found one through a dealer since W4S didn't respond to my attempts to buy through them. 
I was stuck in Sonos hell for the last few years. The convenience of the operating system is undeniable. I have both Wyred4Sound and Empirical Audio Micro-Mesh reclockers. They both improve the sound noticeably. The W4S solution is very voice forward though. The MM does a better job of keeping the whole soundstage intact, but a very expensive bandaid for an already flawed streamer. If you do not want to deal with Roon, which I find overly complicated, and want an iPhone controlled environment the logical solution is Auralic. The DS Lightening app may not be as elegant as SONOS but it provides essential controls of the processor etc. while easy to set up zones for multi-room coverage and finding your favorite music. The drawback is that you will be limited to TIDAL and Qobuz. My wife likes Apple Music and Sirius so I run SONOS as well for background music and to keep my wife sane as it all gets too complicated for some. So what about the sound? I have the Mini. Femto and G1. All provide true audiophile quality only limited to the abilities of your system. You will only have to play a note or two of your favorite song to know this is a whole different ballgame. The Mini and Femto are very similar based on my tests. They have the same basic processors so only difference is really the femto clock from my understanding. I would be happy with either. So the proverbial question is the G1 worth it? As many times the answer is it depends on your system. If you have a say $10K+ system the answer would be resounding: YES! I have two of them on similar systems only with different amps. Class AB in one system and Class A in the other. The sound is truly amazing. Hard to describe but my wife, who is musically trained, probably put it best: “Finally I get the warm fuzzy feeling I used to get from analog audio.” I can now retire my MiniMac and just enjoy digital bliss while controlling it all from my iPhone. So my advise would be pick up a couple of used Femto’s or Mini’s and start a mult-room audiophile experience. They are an unbeatable value. Once you have tried them I am sure you are going to want a G1 for your reference system.