Mediocre measurements for new Sonos Amp

Looks like the line-in tests were done without modifying the line-in level in the Sonos app in any way, resulting in poor test results with external sources, but (obviously) excellent amp results when using AirPlay streaming. Tester apparently didn't even took the time to add a music service to the Sonos app at all, so there's no test result for app-internal streaming sources either. Using a turntable as line-in source without adding a pre amp in-between doesn't sound too well-prepared either.

Apart from that it's an excellent breakdown of the AMP's built quality and overall look and feel.

I don't get the point about phono preamp; the reviewer just used signals from test equipment into the line-in.

Is someone from Sonos able to speak to the higher than expected noise levels that were measured (~93 dB SNR), which is worse than Sonos has been claiming.

I enjoyed the pretty graphics, but the review has quite a few errors.

I would expect the performance of the Line-In signal to be no worse than that of AirPlay or directly streamed sources, assuming that the Line-In gain ('Line-In Source Level') is adjusted correctly. However, nowhere is it mentioned what adjustments, if any, were made.

As for sampling at 48KHz, capping signals at ~20Khz: so what? It's above the frequency required for any human's hearing.

I too suspect the line levels were set at the default, which for mine was I think level 2. At level 2 with the volume turned all the way up, the music didn’t get very loud at all. I have since experimented and it is now set to level 7 which gives me volume more than I’m comfortable with.

Looks like some very iffy "science" going on over at that site. Doubt the admin has any real science background. Looks like he simply doesn't understand how to set the input level.

I think he's pretty accomplished:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/a-bit-about-your-host.1906/

OK, great engineering (not science) background, so he should be able to set the input level appropriately. Wonder why he didn't, apparently?

OK, great engineering (not science) background, so he should be able to set the input level appropriately. Wonder why he didn't, apparently?

It's a more than just adequate test model for conventional audio amplifiers.
I'd love to see such an in-depth breakdown of my (very conventional and indeed very analogue) Denon home stereo setup with integrated amps. A test like the one above would very much cover any important parts of this product.

I simply don't feel this test model to be sufficient enough to cover the range of modern digital streaming amplifiers.
The lack of covering tests of HDMI sources due to lack of compatible test hardware says a lot...

According to this article, Sonos specs the SNR at 116db, which puts the noise WELL below audibility. They certainly can't lie about that, so this guy is simply not measuring correctly. Perhaps Sonos' engineers should show him how to do it correctly.

https://hometheaterhifi.com/blogs/sonos-amp-review/

Lots of experience testing. Not Amir’s first rodeo.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/master-index-for-audio-hardware-reviews.2079/