Port bit perfect?

That I can’t confirm absolutely. However any modification to the signal in Fixed Volume ought to show up in the lowest byte being non-zero.

With Variable Volume there does appear to be some soft knee limiting as the samples approach full scale.

Is this still true if only the high volumes are being modified (as in a volume limiter)?

I’ll hazard an answer. If the volume limiter has a non-zero attack or release time, it could reduce very low amplitude signals adjacent to the peaks, thus pushing them into the lowest byte. Otherwise, no.

I did some tests with single frequency tones at full scale and a few steps below. 

With Variable Volume there appeared to be evidence of limiting above about 85% volume when fed an input containing full scale samples. Some odd harmonics began to appear in the frequency domain. This looks akin to the ‘soft clipping’ technique which, with real music, is a lot less damaging than allowing hard clipping. I guess EQ could in theory push samples above full scale otherwise.

I wonder: does this mean *both* generations of the Connect are bit-perfect (again)? I have been reading the forum sporadically over the years and recall reading that the Connect Gen2 had a change in hardware that does not allow bit-perfect output.

To provide some context: I currently use a ZP90 (Connect Gen1) connected to a simple DAC for my main system, and a number of Play:1 / One SL units in other rooms. With the S1->S2 upgrade I have been looking into my options to keep the system up to date (i.e. run S2).

The Port is very expensive for what it is, and I’m not sure what Sonos were thinking by omitting any control buttons. I like the Amp, but am concerned about its sound signature, and I have no immediate desire to replace my amplifier. That leaves the option of getting a Connect Gen2 while I can, and hoping it will remain current for a good number of years to come. But before buying what is essentially the same device for the second time, I’d like to at least know that I’m not taking a step back..

Thanks!

Simon

Yes, all generations of the Connect are bit-perfect when set to fixed volume.

Thanks! That’s good to know. I just ordered a 2nd gen Connect in the UK for £200 (half of the RRP of the Port).

I'm not sure to understand everything. Simple question : Is Sonos Port bit perfect on digit out yes or not ?

See the tagged answer at the top.

Question: does bit perfect in fixed mode mean that it is as transparent as any other source out there, when supplying digital out to an external DAC? And that would mean that in that mode it will sound exactly the same as the Connect? Or, indeed, as any other streamer, never mind the price?

Or is bit perfect a different attribute?

Bit-perfect means it delivers the stream unmodified from the source.  For every bit in, the exact same bit comes out.