sonos sound quality

[The_Lhc]

I'd agree with that, if you're using the digital output then the ZP90 is just a transport, the DAC will define the sound quality to a much greater extent.

Of course if the Linn devices have digital outputs exactly the same applies to them as well.

 

[manicm]

the_lhc:I'd agree with that, if you're using the digital output then the ZP90 is just a transport, the DAC will define the sound quality to a much greater extent. Of course if the Linn devices have digital outputs exactly the same applies to them as well.

The first 2 Linn DS have digital outs, the top 2 don't. But I would think you'd need an extremely expensive DAC (like the 2k Naim DAC) to improve on it - remember all DS can play native high-res 192/24 files. Your garden variety DacMagics et al of this world rule it out.

 

[Henley]

manicm:
By all accounts Linn DS is leagues ahead of Sonos and Squeezebox et al in terms of sound quality, assuming it's a wired solution as Linn recommends in the strongest terms. And of-course Linn DS has full 24bit/192khz file support from their cheapest Sneaky upwards.

I agree that Sonos is in wireless terms leagues ahead of anyone else - but I think its lack of higher resolution files is the caveat. I would without a doubt think that it simply would not cope as well with larger, higher resolution files.

Andrew Everard's blog on the WD homeplugs today has only confirmed for me that digital wireless solutions are still in their infancy (I don't want to compromise sound quality. no matter how minutely). And systems like Linn are too much hassle for me. Naim as well - they're not pretending anymore their streaming products perform as well wirelessly.

All of which takes me back to the humble iPod and dock to hifi. Or the Arcam Solo Neo which one can attach a USB drive too - but the Neo does not support hi-res files at all.

I'd love and save up for the Olive O3HD - if it sounds good. *nudge nudge* *wink wink* WHF.

WHF have the first 3HD available and it is currently being tested by their team. Watch this space..............

 

[Anonymous]

from what i understand the sonos can be upgraded to sound better, some say its teh noisy PSU others focus on jitter, they could both be linked a better DAC will help but it would need to be a very good one, i currently have the sonos linked into a Cyrus 8XPdQX and its pretty good...as it happens i was talking to Cyrus technical department last week about a few things DAC related and mentioned the streamer, im told that its not actually late it more misinformation about its release date, clearly they were unable to tell me much more other than "Bristol February 2011" and that they believe its going to be something a bit special, given Feb isnt that long to wait, im holding out and putting on hold the Sonos addition / upgrade, this may give you time to go and demo a few of the other solutions to get a feel of the interface and sound.

 

[Anonymous]

Perhaps some of you can reassure me. I have been considering Sonos for some time but when I listen to them in the stores (John Lewis etc) the sound quality seems very poor. I thought it might just be the environment as surely What HiFi would not give it 5 stars otherwise, but other machines (Pioneer X-SMC5 for example) sound amazing by comparison in the same store. Is it because you need two Sonos to get the stereo effect, or have Sonos just used a poor quality demo track (which would be unwise)?

 

[The_Lhc]

Perhaps some of you can reassure me. I have been considering Sonos for some time but when I listen to them in the stores (John Lewis etc) the sound quality seems very poor. I thought it might just be the environment as surely What HiFi would not give it 5 stars otherwise, but other machines (Pioneer X-SMC5 for example) sound amazing by comparison in the same store. Is it because you need two Sonos to get the stereo effect, or have Sonos just used a poor quality demo track (which would be unwise)?

Sonos wouldn't have any say over what tracks a store is using to demo the products. Presumably you're seeing the Play:5 and Play:3 in store? Can't say I've noticed them sounding noticably different to anything else in that kind of environment and I certainly wouldn't describe them as "very poor". There was an issue with the first release of the 3.6 firmware which really screwed up the sound on the Play:5 (two of the mid-range drives became out of phase with each other), however that's since been fixed in later updates. It's possible the store Play:5s are still running that version of the firmware (it didn't affect the Play:3).

I've certainly not heard anyone who actually owns the Play devices describe them as "very poor". I think there's a few owners here (I'm not one of them, I have a ZP90 and ZP120, I wouldn't describe either of those as poor though).

 

[PEAYEL]

I have read all the posts with interests. I spent two years auditioning all the streaming options, eventually deciding to "Sonos" the whole house. I made sure that i heard the Naimuniti, Linn, Arcam Neo and others before deciding. The downside for me on the Squeezebox set up was its set up (I needed to consider ease of use with the family), the sound quality is great on the Squeezebox. I sold all my separates and went for Sonos because of the user experience, the quality of the P5/3, their customer service, it works with most NAS boxes as well as its ability to work on its own network for bandwidth reasons (my son is an online gamer and we download to Sky anytime+/BBC Iplayer etc). Please think about the bandwidth use in your house before deciding on your streaming solution?

My family love the system and we listen to much more music than ever before. It just works and listening to music/radio all over the house is great. Please give some thought to how the family will use your streaming choice?

I use a ZP90 into a Linn Classik with KEF speakers. Yes the sound quality can be improved by adding a DAC, I have tried this and can hear the difference and may consider this in the near future, but I don't think essential when put against the way everybody enjoys music these days.

On the server side, I did take the plunge and bought a new NAS, based around Vortex software, because it can be specifically set up for Sonos/squeezebox and is really easy to use. I went for 2TB because I have 2,500+ CDs and rip in FLAC format. Yes it costs extra, but I needed to ensure that my wife/son could purchase a cd, put it in the slot, auto rip the cd and within few minutes it was available. So the investment to me was worth it. Please talk to LIV Technology Concepts as they know their stuff and preconfigured my NAS to work out of the box, literally plug in and play.

On the question of 24bit and Sonos, please go to the Sonos Forums for a read. Sonos uses 24 bit word length, but 16 bits are for audio and 8 bits are for volume/controller info. So it can't be done as things stand on a Sonos, unless you loose the volume control info and have a fixed volume. The 24 bit question is not important for me, because I can't hear the difference unless it is in a really high end system. If it is that important to you then avoid Sonos, although I hear that there are developments a foot for 2012 if you are prepared to wait.

My wife nearly had me buying a Linn Sneaky when we went for a demo, as we both thought it sounded great as well, by the way. However, there isn't a lot available in 24 bit at the moment in the genres that we as a family listen to and our 2500+ 16 bit CDs (some 33,501 tracks) are too big a collection to ignore, so again not really important to me.

Finally on the cost side of things. I have managed to cover the Lounge, Kitchen, 3 bedrooms and an Office/Library, and am working on the bathroom for a modest budget. I would not have been able to do this with any of the higher cost systems. So me a result.

All the very best, with your decision, most of all enjoy the music.