Sonos Connect is missing digital audio input
Why doesn't the Sonos Connect support digital input so that you can use it to attach e.g. Play-3 speakers and the SUB to a TV? Every modern TV utilizes HDMI and Optical Output and you can find less and less dual RCA cable output. Yes, the Sonos Connect has a simple mini jack to dual RCA which I could use but I really don't want to try to watch movies that way. I am willing put put the money down for a good solution but it appears that there is none. I fear I have to take back the SUB and the connect. Do you know of any solution to this? Thanks!
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The PLAYBAR has a 30ms latency for the optical input. Because it maintains point-to-point links with its surrounds/SUB -- via 5GHz wireless or Ethernet -- it can afford to reduce the amount of buffering.
When other players are grouped with a PLAYBAR they must use the standard 70ms buffer, which is why they don't play in sync for the TV source.
When other players are grouped with a PLAYBAR they must use the standard 70ms buffer, which is why they don't play in sync for the TV source.
Userlevel 2
+1
Ok... I'm starting to get it.
That would be the main reason why Sonos would not want to introduce a digital input in it's Connect devices...
This might seem like a really bad news situation for myself, as I was supposing not to invest on the Playbar, at least, in the next 6 months...
This might seem to be very bad news for my pocket... 😕
That would be the main reason why Sonos would not want to introduce a digital input in it's Connect devices...
This might seem like a really bad news situation for myself, as I was supposing not to invest on the Playbar, at least, in the next 6 months...
This might seem to be very bad news for my pocket... 😕
Userlevel 6
+15
I dunno. I'm doing 2ch stereo audio (temporary solution while I'm in a transitional living space) using a TV optical,out, a Best Buy cheapie DAC, and a ZP80 connected to a pair of good computer speakers, plus a Play:3 grouped in to improve the bass. I don't get bothered by the delay. But since I have two play:3s in the group, I get an occasional dropout. Still a work in progress.
Userlevel 2
+1
Regarding the delay, please, let me ask you this: when you are watching a movie on TV and if there is, let's say, a blast, or some sudden situation that's quite instantaneous or really quick to happen, would'n that make you feel uncomfortable, if the sound comes a bit later than what you just saw in the movie?
( I put this question here as I've just ordered one more Play:3 speaker and a Connect for my living room and kept the thought that it would be enough to get a decent basic stereo setup to get the sound from the TV, but then I red about the delay... 😕 )
You should be able to adjust the audio delay in your TV settings. This may, or not, solve the problem.
Userlevel 2
+1
That would just be great: To have a TV set where one could adjust the VIDEO delay, setting it to show picture with a 70ms delay...
Then, that would correct the delay that the Sonos system adds to the sound...
Would there be a device that could add a delay to the video sent by, let's say, a DVD player to a TV set? (that would solve the problem. 😉 )
Then, that would correct the delay that the Sonos system adds to the sound...
Would there be a device that could add a delay to the video sent by, let's say, a DVD player to a TV set? (that would solve the problem. 😉 )
Almost 2018 and still no new Connect with digital inputs? ... This is really idiotic... Sonos speakers are great... but it's this stuff that makes me constantly look for alternatives.
How can you have a Connect device, that takes analogue RCA in and has Optical out? Do you expect me to take my headphone out from my TV and feed it in to this? Or you expect me to buy a separate external DAC to convert my TV optical to RCA just to be converted to digital again? That's two unnecessary conversions and an extra device in the chain. And if you buy a cheap Fiio D3 optical to RCA converter, you're adding a really poor quality component in the middle, which adds noise, can cut out, adds latency, needs extra cables and power...
The whole point of Sonos is to have minimalistic dead easy to use systems. Hacking together custom components and addapters is exactly what Sonos users don't want...
Get your **** together and release a proper DAC Connect with one or two optical inputs.. I've stopped buying Sonos gear for two years because of this.
How can you have a Connect device, that takes analogue RCA in and has Optical out? Do you expect me to take my headphone out from my TV and feed it in to this? Or you expect me to buy a separate external DAC to convert my TV optical to RCA just to be converted to digital again? That's two unnecessary conversions and an extra device in the chain. And if you buy a cheap Fiio D3 optical to RCA converter, you're adding a really poor quality component in the middle, which adds noise, can cut out, adds latency, needs extra cables and power...
The whole point of Sonos is to have minimalistic dead easy to use systems. Hacking together custom components and addapters is exactly what Sonos users don't want...
Get your **** together and release a proper DAC Connect with one or two optical inputs.. I've stopped buying Sonos gear for two years because of this.
+1 @jgatiie in response to a post that displays a complete lack of understanding of the purpose and history of the Connect and Connect:Amp.
I fully understand the history intended purpose of the Connect and Connect:AMP. What does that have to do with wanting an update? The historic purpose is more or less obsolete these days, as proven by the poor sales numbers of these devices. Sonos created those devices at the time to appease the people that wouldn't want to jump into the ecosystem because they have expensive legacy equipment that they wouldn't be able to use. Many years later now though, turns out that was a fairly small market... Or another way to look at it is that maybe the existance of these Connect and Connect:AMP devices was enough to convince those people to try Sonos, and once they tried it, they realized they don't need to hold on to their legacy gear, and could just replace everything with native Sonos, in which case the devices were a huge success, even if they didn't sell well.
In any case, all I'm saying is that there would be a much bigger real market for a Connect unit that played well with current needs of today's house holds. All Sonos customers probably have at least one or two TVs... Being able to connect these to existing Sonos speakers that we have in our house sounds like a good idea, don't you think? A Playbar costs a lot of money, and not everyone wants a Playbar.
Oh my goodness - how patronising can one be?
I have had several pieces of Sonos kit for several years - and it has annoyed me that the input options are so limited. As much as I like my Sonos system, I find it impossible to recommend it as a basis for a one-size-fits-all solution.
If (some) Sonos components are equipped with an analogue input, and indeed Sonos can muster the desire to have an optical digital input on the Playbar, there is NO REASON AT ALL why the other Sonos components cannot also be designed to have a digital input (where appropriate).
I am currently sitting in a room with a Sonos S5 and a computer. I listen to the Sonos ... and sometimes I'd rather like to listen to the computer as well. So Sonos comes to my aid as the S5 has an audio jack input ... but actually I'd rather have a ZP120 (or descendant) with attached speakers AND have a digital link into the Sonos ecosystem from the computer.
I have a son who is deeply into classical music - and who ALSO likes to play games on his laptop. Try as I might, Sonos just does not come to the rescue. It's bananas using 'cheap' DACs in laptops to get analogue out, only for the Sonos to re-digitise for transmission around its ecosystem. It's bananas getting an external DAC so he can get digital out of the computer into a nicer DAC ... to get analogue out, only for the Sonos to re-digitise for transmission around its ecosystem.
I can't see why it is such a difficult concept ... especially when Sonos accepted that they needed to 'accept external high quality digital audio inputs' with the advent of the Playbar.
To survive, one has to evolve... it was originally a streaming media player. It could, if it tried a little bit harder, be just that little bit more useful to a large number of us who have been pretty vocal over the years. Just look at the reasons why people return Sonos kit - by observation, the failings are down to its limited connectivity.
We want to stick as many sources of sound into our Sonos systems with the minimum of fuss and unnecessary restrictions.
I shall try to be a bit less patronising this time but.....
The Connect was designed to turn a conventional hifi into a Sonos player. The line in was a subsidiary feature for those wedded to CD players and turntables. The Connect is not fundamentally an input device.
The Sonos system as a whole was designed to be a multiroom hifi system. Not for TV, not for computers, not for gaming. And I hope Sonos keeps its focus on being what it is but doing it better and better.
When Sonos produced a TV audio product they used a digital input because TVs have a digital output and it minimises latency.
Finally, Sonos' stated direction of travel is towards streaming media.
Some sort of Sonos device with more connectivity options may come along and I am sure some users would find it helpful if it did. But you are plain wrong to describe the lack of a digital input as 'bananas'. There are both historical and current reasons why this has so far been way down Sonos' priority list.
The Connect was designed to turn a conventional hifi into a Sonos player. The line in was a subsidiary feature for those wedded to CD players and turntables. The Connect is not fundamentally an input device.
The Sonos system as a whole was designed to be a multiroom hifi system. Not for TV, not for computers, not for gaming. And I hope Sonos keeps its focus on being what it is but doing it better and better.
When Sonos produced a TV audio product they used a digital input because TVs have a digital output and it minimises latency.
Finally, Sonos' stated direction of travel is towards streaming media.
Some sort of Sonos device with more connectivity options may come along and I am sure some users would find it helpful if it did. But you are plain wrong to describe the lack of a digital input as 'bananas'. There are both historical and current reasons why this has so far been way down Sonos' priority list.
This is interesting A wireless system in an age of internet streaming has to evolve by adding more physical wired connections?
I was a Sonos reseller for several years and not one potential customer asked about line in or ever returned an item for any reason... certainly not for lack of physical connections. This forum is a place for people with grievances to congregate, and is entirely unrepresentative of the user population as a whole.
I shan't waste time reading any further replies on this thread.
I was a Sonos reseller for several years and not one potential customer asked about line in or ever returned an item for any reason... certainly not for lack of physical connections. This forum is a place for people with grievances to congregate, and is entirely unrepresentative of the user population as a whole.
I shan't waste time reading any further replies on this thread.
+1 for a digital input for the next generation Connect and Connect Amp or similar product. This is very very important!!!!! Also to use such product to make a 5.1 set with only Play5 (3 or 1) and Sub without Soundbase! We have 2018 guys. Come on!
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