Contributor I

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Sonos Connect DAC

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I’m hoping someone can help me understand what is happening when Sonos Connect is connected to my preamp via optical input to my preamp, which also has a DAC. Does the optical connection bypass the DAC in the Connect? Or does the conversion happen in the Connect? I’m trying to figure out if the DAC in the preamp then does additional conversion, or if it does nothing because it is seeing an analogue signal that doesn’t need conversion?
I’m fine with the DAC in the Sonos, but the reality is my preamp has one also. I’m not sure how to think about what might be the best way to connect the devices to avoid having to go through the conversion twice (or if that even matters).

Many thanks for the education.

conversion

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K

KumarAnswer

If you have wired the Connect's optical out to the digital input of the preamp, the Connect DAC is bypassed and not in use. Alternatively, the Connect DAC can be used, by wiring the analog output to the analog inputs on the preamp; that will bypass the preamp DAC. Which way to go can be as trivial as which cable you happen to have.

Airgetlam

My belief would be that the DAC in your pre-amp is ignored, the digital signal is sent out via optical to the CONNECT, and it would be the CONNECT that would be taking the signal and converting it. If it was the DAC in the pre-amp, the signal in the optical cable wouldn't be digital, which it is supposed to be.

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Bruce

K

KumarAnswer

If you have wired the Connect's optical out to the digital input of the preamp, the Connect DAC is bypassed and not in use. Alternatively, the Connect DAC can be used, by wiring the analog output to the analog inputs on the preamp; that will bypass the preamp DAC. Which way to go can be as trivial as which cable you happen to have.

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P

Peck

Avid Contributor I

If you have wired the Connect's optical out to the digital input of the preamp, the Connect DAC is bypassed and not in use. Alternatively, the Connect DAC can be used, by wiring the analog output to the analog inputs on the preamp; that will bypass the preamp DAC. Which way to go can be as trivial as which cable you happen to have.

Kumar - are you still around? Do you know if the optical digital link behaves differently then to the coax optical output? I have noticed recently that the bass and treble controls in the Sonos App alter the sound despite me using the optical digital output and external dac. This is confusing me, since I previously considered the sonos network and Connect to be acting purely as a digital cable between source and amp. But evidently the sonos equipment is doing signal processing... On the other hand, if I set it to ‘passthrough’ In advanced audio settings then the bass and treble controls in the sonos app DONT make any difference. In which case is the Sonos equipment not doing anything at all to the sound itself?
I wonder whether someone knowledgeable could educate me on these things?

All that said... I’ve been trying to hear any difference in the quality of the sound with these various settings (pass through vs variable etc) and can’t hear any difference. At the end of the day I’m trying to figure out why I feel dissatisfied with the sound coming out of my system...
Thanks all. M

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ratty

Select Fixed volume. Passthrough is for using the Sonos controller to manipulate the volume in a compatible downstream receiver/amp.

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I

Iwillwalkagain

Lyricist III

I’m following! I’m in the process of setting up my connect to my Cambridge CXA60 integrated amp. Is there a difference in quality between the coax and optical connections???

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jgatie

No. Audiophiles will give some mumbo jumbo about them being different, but they aren't. Bits is bits, and any decent DAC takes care of the timing anyway.

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ronenzaam

Avid Contributor I

is it regards to Digital coax cable also ?
Thanks

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jgatie

is it regards to Digital coax cable also ?
Thanks

Yes. Also, Digital Coax (SPDIF) was designed to operate through a standard 75 Ohm video cable, like the ones that come free with DVD players. To spend more than $5 on one is throwing money away.

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J

JCHJ

Lyricist I

I know this is long past the time that the decision has been made, but I think it still worth correcting a bit of what jgatie stated. Yes, it’s true that bits are bits, so the music stream is the same whether one chooses optical or coax/SPDIF. However, that doesn’t mean that the connections are the same. John Darko, for example, states that the Connect:Amp digital coax connection is a noisy connection. And it is true that noise or interference induced through that connector could lead to a worse output through coax. I haven’t tested this for myself, and it could also be a unit defect based on his experience rather than general throughout the Connect:Amp range.

Anyway, the stream itself is the same, but that doesn’t mean the signal you end up with is the same if the Connect:Amp is pushing noise through one of the connectors.

Your amplifier’s DAC is likely better than the one in the Connect:Amp, and if Mr. Darko is right, then the optical output is likely better than the coax. But the only way to know for sure in your setup is to try each connection method and decide for yourself which is the best. It will depend on your equipment, but also on lots of other factors like your room and your listening style.

The bottom line, though, is that it likely doesn’t matter that much. Do you like the music and the way it sounds? Then it works for you! And, ultimately, that’s all that’s really important.

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John B

Where you say 'Connect:Amp' do you mean 'Connect'?

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