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Is very good DAC a waste with Sonos Connect?

I've just recently hooked up a Sonos Connect in my main rig, and have been quite enjoying it. My current DAC is an M2Tech Evo (without any of the outboard frills.

My question: As I'll be using the Connect to stream lossless files from a Mac Mini (and to listen to music using Deezer (which offers CD-quality streams)), would it be a waste to get a better DAC? Suppose, for example, I were to get a Berkeley Alpha DAC, which can be had used for a bit less than $2k. Would the Sonos be pumping out bits that would make that a foolish purchase, or would I hear the difference? Thinking higher still, if I were to hook up a PS Audio DirectStream DAC, would I be getting at least something of what that device offers, or would the Sonos Connect be, effectively, a roadblock?

Thanks for any help you might be able to give a boy on this.

Warm regards,

Howard
hodu
beewax
173 posts
 
No, good DAC is not a waste with Sonos. Only the old high-end DAC is waste of money. DAC is electronic technology and gets better daily.
I also have a Sonos With Zdac and they makes wonderful music. My next upgrade will be the Zdac v2 for $500.00 if necessay at all.
It provides asynchronous sample rate conversion of all inputs, which are re-clocked and up-sampled to 422-kHz/24-bit
jond's avatar
jond
5,689 posts
 
Perhaps focus less on technology and more on sound quality? To wit my Sonos feeds a decidedly low-tech Yamamoto YDA-1 dac with to me really stunning results. So yes a dac will improve your Sonos just don't necessarily buy by specs or numbers.
bhobba's avatar
bhobba
303 posts
 
No. I recently heard some very good results from an old squeeze-box into a high end very heavily upgraded DAC - its so good it took out a DCS in a comparison. The real difference maker was this really good SPDIF cable from Keith Eichmann:
http://kleinnovations.com/kle-innovations-klei-products/klei-gzero-digital-spdif/klei-gzero3d-ic/

It was nearly as good as a high end USB setup.

Thanks
Bill
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
The Berkeley will make it sing!
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