|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
24.189.4.90
Some of you are familiar with Sonos Connect, which streams from services like Spotify. I use it to stream Deezer elite, which has lossless (CD quality) sound. Although I knew Wired 4 Sound offered a modification to the unit, I originally steered clear of mod because, according to one post here, it made a difference in only the highest end equipment.
Then I read one person say after getting his Connect modified that "he was living the dream." Another wrote that there was a night and day difference between the modified and stock Connects.
So I took the plunge. At $550 it was certainly not the cheapest upgrade I'd entertained, but I figured it was worth the gamble, mainly because I've always believed that eliminating jitter is probably the most important aspect of digital reproduction.
I'm no stranger to jitter elimination. I've been using a Monarchy DIP for over 10 years and a JISCO jitter attenuator for a little less time. Adding both made a difference in focus and tonality. Nonetheless, I believe that the transport/streamer creates jitter that cannot be adequately removed further down the chain. Once Humpty Dumpty falls, he cannot be made whole again.
So what did the modified Connect sound like? Improvements across the board: tighter bass; a midrange so much better defined that I can clearly make out the lyrics on songs that were, for lack of better word, muddled; transients that snap into focus.
Obviously, my account is somewhat impeachable because I am relying on my auditory memory; I don't have a stock Connect to compare it with. But the difference is so noticeable that I don't think a comparison is necessary.
So I give five stars to the Wired 4 Sound upgrade. Now I'm thinking of replacing my old MSB Link III. I thought I might try their DAC, but the Bryston BDA2 is appealing as well. Basically I'd like a more open sound, now that I hear what a good streamer can do.
Follow Ups:
But I did not trial the Wyred4Sound modified SONOS Connect but DID trial the Remedy S/PDIF re-clocker.
And no, I didn't hear much improvement with either the OPPO HA-1 DAC/Headphone amp or with my MArantz NA-7004 when using the Remedy Re-Clocker on the output of the SONOS Connect. Would the fully modded SONOS Connect be a better solution? Might well be. Would a better DAC make a difference? Some would say yes. Will the SONOS Connect become my main streaming source? Not likely but not because of sound quality.
Most if not all of my streaming is Lossless FLAC over the internet. I have a 20Mbps ISP service from ATT U-Verse which is MORE than fast enough to stream Lossless FLAC. That is if the 20Mbps is a constant 20Mbps and without any starts and stops. And even with starts and stops, streaming Lossless FLAC to a player app in say a laptop will work great as you can set a rather large cache size, the track will load quickly into the cache, on some players you can even watch it load, about 30 seconds to load a 5 min track, and if now and then there is a stop then a start in the stream, you can see it but it's no problem, because you already have minutes worth of play loaded in the cache and your average loading speed is WAY faster than the playback.
The SONOS System has little or not cache in their various players. As a result, I get LOTS of drop-outs streaming Lossless FLAC through both my kitchen SONOS speaker and the SONOS Connect even though they are now hooked up via ethernet. This happens a lot in the evenings when everyone in the world is ether downloading movies from NetFlicks or watching porn.
I'm sure if I switched providers and went with COMCAST with even faster speed I could get around the problem but for now I stream using a computer where the apps of the various streaming services all allow you to configure a large cache to play from.
Have you listened to the unmodified Sonos and the newly modified Sonos each with a good DAC?
As I said, I did not compare the stock to the modified Connect.
You are wrong in implying, however, that the MSB Link III isn't a good DAC. I had mine upgraded by Channel Islands, installed with an upsampling board, and assisted by an upgraded power supply. This is basically the same equipment that rated Class A in Stereophile's Recommended Components in 2000.
I also compared it with the much ballyhooed Benchmark offering about 10 years ago. The MSB Link sounded much better to my ears, the Benchmark being much more analytical and bright.
You should know that it's all about system synergy. I could buy a dCS stack and it still might not sound right in my system.
Your inference is incorrect, I was only seeking information about the benefits (or not) of an upgraded Sonos when played through a quality DAC. I have know axe to grind about which DAC.
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: