Connect no longer bit-perfect?

If and when you do run the test on what the Connect does in variable output mode, it would be useful to some Connect users to know the volume level at/below which this Sonos interference with the original signal disappears. Either the 1dB cut disappears entirely as soon as the volume is backed off to even slightly below 100%, or there is a slope to where the 1dB effect reduces, to a volume level where it becomes zero. It ought to be one of these two, is my guess.

This may allow one subset of Connect users to switch to variable level mode and stop fussing over this issue and get over any angst that this thread may have caused them. Some may even switch to variable mode right away, assuage their anxiety, and regain the lost music listening pleasure from their Connect.

Those that pile on to Connect as a disgrace to any self respecting audiophile's system, are not going to stop doing so anyway, so this test doesn't matter to them, there are many other reasons that will survive to support their thinking. It is obvious that this thread stoked the fires of those of that kind that read it, but it doesn't have the power to put them out, no matter what you find now. Or if Sonos ever finds time to revert the Connect to zp90 status.

For Sonos play units, I am pretty sure that this is a complete non issue. Also, IMO, both Connect and Connect Amp are obsolete bits of kit, now meant to only serve niche needs and reducing numbers of legacy kit owners. For users of active speaker/DSP/room response tuning driven play units, if something isn't heard, it doesn't exist and there is no one with scopes to disturb their music experience. Also a good thing that, IMO. As an example, many find that the 5 unit seems to lose bass output as it approaches max volumes. Few dispute that effect, and those that need proportionate bass energy increase all the way to full volume, know the solution - add a Sub.

Testing as you type. It looks like the limiting only applies at high volume settings!!! I am surprised, but this is good. I'm now testing how many taps on the volume bar are necessary to reduce the volume enough to remove the limiting. Stay tuned.

OK, 10 taps back from max is very close to no limiting. Probably 11 to be exact but I only tested to 10 today. Perhaps that's not surprising since the limiter kicks in at around 90% of maximum signal. I'll return to this another day and perhaps start a new thread.

I remember reading somewhere - ratty? - that each tap is 1% resolution, so this suggests that in variable mode, there is no change to the original signal as long as Connect does not cross 88% of max volume. I also remember reading that sound quality effects will happen only when Connect volume levels are much below the 30-40% levels and even below 30% these will not be easily heard. That apart, we still have a lot of usable range of at least 50-60 taps of the Connect volume slider movement where full signal fidelity can be received in analog mode and, where one in principle or in prejudice doesn't care for the Connect DAC, in digital output mode as well. And allied to judicious use of the volume control of the downstream amp, there is even the advantage in variable mode of being able to use the Sonos App for remote volume control!

Seems to me that this entire issue is a molehill then, that can be easily bypassed, IF noticed when in fixed output mode, for music with high dynamic range. And therefore, it can well be something for Sonos to look at only when time hangs heavy on their developers' hands!

If you start a new thread, it might also be a good idea to give this one a proper funeral.
PS: I am however curious - is it that the 1dB cut is an on/off at 89% or does it gradually rise from 89%, reaching 1dB at 100% volume level?

Gradual change.

I'm surprised that no-one from Sonos was able to set our minds at ease. It's taken us 14 pages!!

Gradual makes it even more likely that the other respondents here only succumbed to Confirmation Bias on reading the thread. Reinforcing my conviction: Biases rule, Yo!

Sonos staff here simply passed on the concern expressed to an inbox somewhere; it may even still be lying there if inbox clearance is prioritised based on with what product the inbox is labelled.

We also seem to have discovered that it is better to use Connect in variable mode rather than fixed, if one is obsessed with the very last bit of barely heard differences from the original signal. And there, not to cross 88% on the Connect volume control. But it is impossible to disseminate this information.

I remember reading somewhere - ratty? - that each tap is 1% resolution
This is correct.

Also you can determine the actual volume setting at http://x.x.x.x:1400/status/jffs/localsettings.txt. Look for the AMV item in the EQ line. (Don't ask me for a complete interpretation of the other items. Some are obvious, others less so.)

Note that the contents of /localsettings.txt are not updated immediately. There's a certain hysteresis, presumably to cut down on the number of write cycles to non-volatile RAM.

Also you can determine the actual volume setting at http://x.x.x.x:1400/status/jffs/localsettings.txt. Look for the AMV item in the EQ line. (Don't ask me for a complete interpretation of the other items. Some are obvious, others less so.)

Good input. I doubt if this will be needed more than a couple of times at most, if ever. Tapping down ten times once from the right, and then eyeballing the level to not cross in future ought to work fine for most, if not all. And the volume setting on the downstream amp can be set once such that max desired volume from the speakers can be obtained at about 80% of max on the Connect, so there isn't the possibility of straying over the 88% line. Which is how I operate my zp90 today anyway, with the Sonos slider never having to exceed the 20-80 range of its motion.

The issue with Volume Normalisation is more about losing the feel of certain albums rather than losing it being bit perfect.

Get a recording where the first couple of tracks are pretty quiet and then the third track is loud, well you lose that, you lose the dramatic effect.

Spotify got absolutely blasted for doing this a few years back, they made it optional around 2009 time.
When users could toggle it on/off even those that said it was not an issue suddenly started to say how much better it was with it turned off.
Now the Sonos implementation of it may be far better, but I would still like the ability to hear the track as it was intended.

I would still like the ability to hear the track as it was intended.
If you read this thread you will see that Peter has shown you how to do this: switch Connect to variable level mode and don't exceed 88% on its volume slider.

There is nothing that Sonos can do if your third party speaker, where you have kept it, or poor room acoustics are coming in the way of this.