Improve Sonos Audio Quality

Given a reasonably powerful amp in good working condition, the four big drivers of sound quality are:
1. Recording/mastering quality
2. Speaker quality
3. Speaker placement/room acoustics.
4. Sound levels obtained in the listening area
See where these can be improved.
The trivial things that can be distractions that have little bearing on sound quality are:
1. Quality of the Connect output
2. Mastering/recording using media that is more "advanced" than CDs, namely Hi Res or HD music formats
Ignore these distractions.

Kumar is correct. If you are blaming the Connect you are way off target. I assume you aren't using the phono input on the amp?

Always get a laugh from folks who buy ridiculously overpriced gear like that from Audio Research. I believe they were the ones who started all the "tubes sound better" nonsense.

Along with the equally over the top Conrad Johnson, I suspect.

Yes, both are bad apples.
http://www.biline.ca/audio_critic/critic3.htm

That link is new to me, thanks, though I am familiar with much of the named cast of characters. The writer certainly does not pull any punches:-).

Hi I have a Sonos Connect that is hooked to an Audio Research Amp. But the audio output is very mediocre, it lacks richness and fidelity. Is there something else that I can purchase for my setup to improve audio quality.

Hey guys, let's get back on target, no need to insult anyone's choice of gear. If you're using a digital output on the CONNECT the biggest things you can do to improve the quality of the sound is to make sure you're listening to higher quality stuff. a 128 kbps radio stream is going to sound very different from another at 320 kbps or FLAC at 1411 kbps.

If you're using a digital output on the CONNECT the biggest things you can do to improve the quality of the sound is to make sure you're listening to higher quality stuff.
And if you are using the analog output?

If you're using a digital output on the CONNECT the biggest things you can do to improve the quality of the sound is to make sure you're listening to higher quality stuff.
And if you are using the analog output?

The same thing in that case. The DAC we use is a really good one but everyone has preferences. If you firmly believe in a product you have connected along the line, you can use the digital out on the CONNECT. In the end, I'd say you're going to get great audio from any configuration of quality products, just make sure your source is good.

Ok, just checking. For a moment I thought you too have climbed on to the "external DAC and nothing less" bandwagon.