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anybody replaced their Connect with a Port?

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  • Finbow
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Hi,  begrudgingly having to replace my connect as the connect is the beginning of my mesh network & I will not be able to separate my system.

Any forum members picked up a Port to replace their connect? 
I am running my current Connect through an Arcam Rdac into a classic NAD 3020.

Any one experienced a degradation in sound quality using the Port?

The recent ‘What Hifi’ review has made this potential  purchase even more of a quandary.

Didn't fancy shelling out the £279 before. The fact that this might actually be an inferior product to the connect makes me doubt it even more.

i don’t want to get into a ‘bun fight’ about DACs & ‘subjectivity’ only want to hear from people who have actually upgraded please 

Any input greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

 

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Best answer by Finbow 27 March 2020, 18:38

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109 replies

jgatie

Glad I checked here.  Saw the couple reviews saying the newer, more expensive kit was worse.  It may be only slightly worse, or barely noticeable, if you’re willing to give up variable line out.  But why pay more for slightly worse?  

 

Opted for a gen 2 connect.  But if someone tries the fixed line out and finds it solves the problem, I’ll be ordering a port.

 

Fixed line-out is not affected, nor is the analog out (either fixed or variable).  Only the variable digital outs have the problem.  

L

Glad I checked here.  Saw the couple reviews saying the newer, more expensive kit was worse.  It may be only slightly worse, or barely noticeable, if you’re willing to give up variable line out.  But why pay more for slightly worse?  

 

Opted for a gen 2 connect.  But if someone tries the fixed line out and finds it solves the problem, I’ll be ordering a port.

E

I just replaced my perfectly decent (and working) Gen 1 Connect for a new Port and am really regretting that decision. It should have been plug and play but this was not the case.   The Sonos 2 App couldn’t find any of my devices.   Three different calls with Sonos support (approx 5 hours of my time) and the Sonos 2 App can now find my devices however I can no longer play anything through my wired speakers/stereo system as I could with the Connect.  So frustrating.  I’m very close to adding the Connect back into my system and sending the Port back to Sonos; I may look for a Gen 2 Connect since that will work with the Sonos 2 app, though the Sonos 1 app worked just fine for me.

I used to be a big fan of Sonos and had raved about it to many of my friends who ended up purchasing Sonos themselves.  No more. Really disappointed.  

R

I have ordered a port. Going to connect it via coax digitally. Update to follow, fingers crossed.

M
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I have not found a way to immobilise the volume slider as is the default for S1 for using the digital output, which I find annoying having only 2 locations in use.

Settings → System → Room_name → Line-Out → Line-Out Level

If you’ve been adjusting the volume limit all along while leaving the Line-Out as Variable, rather than Fixed, then it potentially explains the ‘night and day’ differences between Port and Connect. As I remarked in an earlier post there is evidence that Port uses more DSP in Variable, to protect the S/PDIF from clipping.

In Fixed Volume mode there should be zero difference, whether the SMPS is inside the enclosure or at a safe distance in an outboard PSU.

 

thankyou ratty !

as i mainly use the desktop app, i had no idea re these extra settings for line out/volume limit levels.

subsequently, my ‘volume limit’ was set to 100%.

so, as per your advise elsewhere in this thread i have dropped this to 80% , and boom, my music sounds so much better than ever before.

clearly this has been the cause for my ongoing distortion issues that i mentioned a few weeks ago.

all these years.

better late than never.

thank you.

 

T
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Really enjoying streaming again from Qobuz now I have swapped the Connect for the Port. The CDs from my NAS were always spot on, now all is good.

 

I use the digital output through Arcam rDAC into Quad pre/power into B&W 805s - magical!!

 

The Sonos app controls everything.  Next step is to improve the power supplies. First for Port and then for amps. 

 

Totally blown away by the great sound quality now!

L

Aside from the sound being better/worse than the Connect - does the Port offer any performance gains?

I have one of the old Connect/Zone Player units (stuck on S1) and with Spotify Connect it’s not always been that great  - sometimes it refuses to start playing or randomly stops.

I do realise that this is mostly likely network based issues...but just wondering if the much newer chipset of the Port was any better at handling such things.

I’m not very keen to drop £££ on a new Port, although the Airplay functionality does look quite handy.

Edit  - I’m on wired network, not wifi. 

 

 

 

K

Boy, am I glad I quit focusing solely on the equipment some years ago, and started listening to the music. 

Lol. Just listening to the music and not using it as a test signal? Get a life, man...:-))

K

 

 

And of course you have conducted a rigorous, level matched, double blind test to prove your findings 

 

I have given up asking.

D
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Thank you for pointing this out, i’ll check over the settings once more.

ratty

I have not found a way to immobilise the volume slider as is the default for S1 for using the digital output, which I find annoying having only 2 locations in use.

Settings → System → Room_name → Line-Out → Line-Out Level

If you’ve been adjusting the volume limit all along while leaving the Line-Out as Variable, rather than Fixed, then it potentially explains the ‘night and day’ differences between Port and Connect. As I remarked in an earlier post there is evidence that Port uses more DSP in Variable, to protect the S/PDIF from clipping.

In Fixed Volume mode there should be zero difference, whether the SMPS is inside the enclosure or at a safe distance in an outboard PSU.

D
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Further to being cross-examined over the tiny button next to the volume slider on S2, I confess that you are right, the button exists, but is not for the purpose of releasing the volume slider. I have my iPad in front of me now playing Pachelbel Adagio in landscape orientation. The volume slider moves and is presently at maximum position. I’m now going to Settings… System… Select the Room… Volume limit and reset this to maximum allowed volume. Now moving back to Room playing Pachelbel the volume slider is still fully to the right. There is a little symbol that looks like a TV screen which I have referred to as being a button. Pressing this a pop-up displays the track now playing and the room setting. I have now realised that volume limits can be made to suit individual room settings. I have not found a way to immobilise the volume slider as is the default for S1 for using the digital output, which I find annoying having only 2 locations in use.

 

 

 

jgatie

The $2 Port power supplies can backwards infiltrate the mains supply with electrical noise. A mid price low voltage linear power supply will cost 100% over the Port. I’ve gone to some lengths in getting best possible fidelity from my Connect, proportionate to it’s cost. I have achieved this by using an MCRU mains lead into a six way Iso-Tex mains block, connected with an even a higher grade MCRU cable to a new noise filtered un-switched power socket outlet. All-in cost for this, taking 1/6 of the cost for the shared six-way mains block and MCRU final connection cable and the full the cost of MCRU mains cable to the Connect is around £200, (lower than to upgrade the Port). The end result has been outstanding, the Port simply isn't in the same league. Said enough now to rattle the usual cages.

 

 

And of course you have conducted a rigorous, level matched, double blind test to prove your findings (and I bet this rattles you far more than you have rattled us)? 

 

ratty

Boy, am I glad I quit focusing solely on the equipment some years ago, and started listening to the music. 

D
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The $2 Port power supplies can backwards infiltrate the mains supply with electrical noise. A mid price low voltage linear power supply will cost 100% over the Port. I’ve gone to some lengths in getting best possible fidelity from my Connect, proportionate to it’s cost. I have achieved this by using an MCRU mains lead into a six way Iso-Tex mains block, connected with an even a higher grade MCRU cable to a new noise filtered un-switched power socket outlet. All-in cost for this, taking 1/6 of the cost for the shared six-way mains block and MCRU final connection cable and the full the cost of MCRU mains cable to the Connect is around £200, (lower than to upgrade the Port). The end result has been outstanding, the Port simply isn't in the same league. Said enough now to rattle the usual cages.

 

 

 

ratty

This is perhaps no longer relevant to you but:

 

Just further commenting on the quality of the Power Supply for the Port. Why is this not visibly labeled   with the output specs and country of origin (we know where from anyway)?

It is. 12V 1A. China.

 

The 13 Amp connector does not appear to have a replaceable fuse either.

For a SMPS of that rating a replaceable fuse has to be a rarity. I’ve yet to meet a ‘wall wart’ USB charger with one, and they’re typically rated at up to 12W output for just a single port, with multi-port units commonplace.

 

I discovered tiny printing etched on the connector end but is too small to read.

See above.

 

This is the worst power supply that I have encountered on an electrical product to date. The only reason for providing a low voltage power supply is that electrical products can be cheaply made overseas with no H&S risk and can be supplied worldwide with a country specific adapter like this. 

Perhaps that’s a factor, but it also avoids the proximity of mains voltage to sensitive audio parts. There are several respected audio vendors I can immediately think of who use outboard PSUs. It's not as if the demands placed on a device like Port require reserves of transient power.

 

ratty

The S2 App allows variable output over digital, this can be made fixed as an option, however I found this too easy to revert back to the volume control slider by touching a tiny button next to this inadvertently.

I’ve no idea what this means. A tiny button next to the volume slider? There is no tiny button on Now Playing which would switch Fixed Volume to Variable. On the left there’s Mute; on the right the rooms picker for grouping. In the middle, just a dead bar saying “Fixed Volume”.

 

D
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Updating my earlier comments concerning Sonos support finding a solution to reinstate my Boost and Connect as a separate system under S1. Giving credit where it is due, the problem was solved over a further Sonos chat session this morning. On this occasion another support team member took over the transcript and the problem was sorted fairly quickly using an alternative approach. I felt like giving this a mention because I have been openly critical recently on this forum, concerning my dissatisfaction with the Port. Now that my S1 set-up has been restored I feel in a joyous mood, as I’m able to return the Port finally back to port. To me the S1 App interface appears clearer and has a default fixed output when connecting to digital. The S2 App allows variable output over digital, this can be made fixed as an option, however I found this too easy to revert back to the volume control slider by touching a tiny button next to this inadvertently. I also did not like the background colour changing to suit the album art covers in my music library, often reverting to a dirty brown, enough said about that though. That’s all folks.

 

 

D
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Just further commenting on the quality of the Power Supply for the Port. Why is this not visibly labeled   with the output specs and country of origin (we know where from anyway)? The 13 Amp connector does not appear to have a replaceable fuse either. I discovered tiny printing etched on the connector end but is too small to read. This is the worst power supply that I have encountered on an electrical product to date. The only reason for providing a low voltage power supply is that electrical products can be cheaply made overseas with no H&S risk and can be supplied worldwide with a country specific adapter like this. Reverting back to my Connect for a better subjective sound. Port is being returned shortly does not give me any feeling of equivalent quality.

F
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Hi All,

Just wanted to update - I took Finbow’s advice, I returned my Port to Sonos, and was able to purchase a brand new factory sealed Generation 2 Connect. I found it online at World Wide Stereo in PA. There are also some brand new ones as well as used Generation 2 Connects on Ebay (just be sure they are Gen 2 before purchase). I will report back once I hook it up, but I feel much better about this plan of action, so thanks so much for the advice!

Hope you think you made the right call. Absolutely no regrets here! 

ratty

Hi Patrick I made the same mistake too. I totally agree that the Port sounds far inferior compared to the Connect played through my Rega Dac, poor timing, dynamics and richness of sound being my main criticisms. I consider that the very poor quality remote power supply to the Port is the main culprit. 

I rather doubt that the power supply has much, if anything, to do with it. It’s been reliably reported that when the digital out is in Variable Volume mode the Port applies more limiting and/or dynamic range compression than Connect, ostensibly to protect the S/PDIF from clipping. 

For example, see https://www.techhive.com/article/3546333/sonos-port-review.html

J

Hi All,

Just wanted to update - I took Finbow’s advice, I returned my Port to Sonos, and was able to purchase a brand new factory sealed Generation 2 Connect. I found it online at World Wide Stereo in PA. There are also some brand new ones as well as used Generation 2 Connects on Ebay (just be sure they are Gen 2 before purchase). I will report back once I hook it up, but I feel much better about this plan of action, so thanks so much for the advice!

D
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Hi Patrick I made the same mistake too. I totally agree that the Port sounds far inferior compared to the Connect played through my Rega Dac, poor timing, dynamics and richness of sound being my main criticisms. I consider that the very poor quality remote power supply to the Port is the main culprit. At the present time my Boost and Connect have been rendered useless by the S2 upgrade. Sonos support, after several hours chat this morning have not yet come up with a solution to reinstate my  original Boost and Connect system. I’m presently taking time out to consider my next move.  However, this may be the incentive I need to go for something far better. I’ve been with Sonos since their inception, they don’t require clients like us anymore.

 

 

 

F
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I also wrote to the CEO a few months back to tell him how disappointed I was with the Port! As follows……

Hi Patrick,

I hope you & your family are well? 

I have been a Sonos user for a few years & have recommended your products to many.
I use a connect on my main Hi-Fi & have Ones & Play Ones through the rest of the house.
I like many others have legacy products as part of my set up. 
I recently ordered the Port as an upgrade to my now legacy connect. I wasn’t massively happy about having to do this in order to keep up to date but appreciate that technology moves on.
What I wasn’t prepared for was the downgrade in audio quality when using the digital out on the Port compared to my Connect. 
The sound is much more compressed & ‘reigned in’ when fed through my DAC. The soundstage & instrument separation aren’t nearly as good. 
I’m going to have to return the Port & carry on using my Connect which now means I must split my system or carry on with the old App. Neither of which I want to do.
Why would the Digital signal be worse in the new product? I want to upgrade but the new product needs to be an ‘upgrade’ in order for me to feel comfortable handing over my hard earned cash.
Appreciate this is really one for your engineers & R&D team but just wanted to share my disappointment in this product with you first hand. 

Kind regards,

Simon.

 

…. As yet no response, it’s almost like he’s got something better to be doing 😂! 

F
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Hi All, First time poster here.  I too bought a Port to replace a Connect, which I felt compelled to do to keep my system up to date, as many others have.  I have read the What Hifi and Tech Hive reviews. When I received my Port, I hooked it up, and it did not sound great to me - compressed, less separation of instruments, bass not as deep, treble not as crisp. I read many posts here and began to wonder - is it me, or is it the actually the Port, so I set to find out.

I hooked up the Port and Connect at the same time via Coax to my Marantz SR7012 AVR and both were on fixed volume. I chose 4 songs  I am very familiar with to play: Steely Dan - Aja -Home At Last (MFSL), Elton John - Tumbleweed Connection - Ballad of a Well Known Gun (MFSL), Elton John Captain Fantastic - Captain Fantastic, Stevie Wonder - Innervisions- Don’t You Worry bout a Thing.  My Speakers are B&W CM9’s with CM Centre 2 S2 and ASW 600 Sub and B&W Surrounds. My Preferred Listening Mode is Auro 2D Surround.

I played each song, and had my Son choose the source 8 different times while each song was playing. Sometimes he switched the source, sometimes he didn’t, but there was a brief “break” between each switch request (he would choose a non source to break the sound, and then choose either the Port or Connect after that) so I could not tell which he was choosing. I then wrote down for each trial which source,  Connect or Port, I thought I was listening to, for each song. He kept track of which source he chose each time, and we compared notes at the end of each song.

I was able to guess the source correctly 72% of the time (23 out of 32 times). My scores for each song were 75% - 62% - 62% - 87% repsectively (not sure if that says something about Elton John : ))

My conclusion is that this is statically significant to me, and more often than not, I can tell the difference between the Port and Connect. So, am i disappointed? yeah, a bit. Am I going to return my Port - I’m not really sure - I am choosing between staying up to date vs. better sound from my Sonos streamer. I will probably end up keeping the Port and using it for more casual listening, and use other sources for more critical listening. And, hope for a Port update that will improve the sound.

The one thing I feel strongly about is that Sonos should at least acknowledge that their could be an issue with the Port sound, and to address it in some way with the community. There have been enough post and articles about the subject that not addressing it only hurts Sonos’ reputation (and I am a big fan and own many products) and possibly hurts further sales of the Port.

Thanks for listening.

 

Do what I did. Order a Gen 2 connect from Richer Sounds. Only £199 & then the best of both worlds great sound of Connect & runs S2. I couldn’t be happier! 

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