Contributor III

Sound Quality Connect vs. Port

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I need to replace one of my Connects that is Gen 1 and therefore not Sonos II compliant. I will be picking up a Port to replace it.

My question: if you are using the digital output to go into an outboard DAC, is the digital signal presumably a pure unprocessed bitstream? I had assumed that this would be the case with both units, but have read that if you use the Port even for volume level, you are implementing a layer of signal processing that may/will affect sound quality. I do not know if that was the same situation with the Connect.

When I get the Port I will have the choice of using it in one of my high res systems where volume is adjusted by another unit or in a secondary system where I do use the volume adjustment of the Sonos unit.

Does use of volume control with the Port affect sound quality?

Does use of volume control with the Connect affect sound quality?

FWIW, I have found the on board DA conversion on the Connect to be adequate for background music but deficient for serious listening and assume that the situation with the Port vis a vis it’s on board DAC is the same or (according to some reviews) worse.

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xxalanxx

Avid Contributor I

Just to clarify I’m comparing Amp playing files from a NAS to iPhone streaming files via Airplay 2 to the Amp.

It doesn’t sound different, it sounds way better.

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xxalanxx

Avid Contributor I

Again, just to clarify, Airplay2 is lossless and sends the digital stream from iPhone to Amp?

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ratty

So… the NAS files are in what format? And is there any EQ being applied by the iPhone before transmission over AirPlay2 (which as far as I can make out is a lossless transport)?

By the way “way better” can be explained by all kinds of factors: such as a different mix/mastering of a piece of music, whether it’s simply louder, or whether the listener believes it’s “way better” (the technical term is confirmation bias).

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xxalanxx

Avid Contributor I

Files are flac.
The difference goes beyond EQ - you can hear each individual instrument, soundstage is far more pronounced, lyrics are easier to interpret etc etc.

I was using an iPhone 6s Plus the same way previously and it just sounded the same as the Amp.

Bizarre. And I was thinking all you need is Shannon/Nyquist and 16/44 and you had the original analogue sound.

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xxalanxx

Avid Contributor I

For the clarification I’m comparing the same files played in both ways. Never expected it, just carries on as before and noticed immediately how much better it sounded. Does that excuse me from bias?!

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ratty

AirPlay2 from iPhone 6s sounded the same as the NAS files, but with a different phone it sounds “better”? To me that sounds like Apple is doing some audio ‘enhancement’ processing.

If you prefer things that way, just stick with it.

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xxalanxx

Avid Contributor I

I thought that. Looked at Amp EQ and it’s flat. Looked at player EQ on the iPhone and it’s off.

I thought I knew that all bit perfect streamers would sound the same, now I’m not so sure.

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xxalanxx

Avid Contributor I

PS whatever enhancement it is, it works a treat.

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ratty

You said the Amp sounded the same, when comparing playing the NAS files directly or via AirPlay2 from the previous iPhone. With a different iPhone it sounds ‘better’. Being a simple fellow, to my mind the obvious conclusion is that the later phone is doing something different, assuming it’s the same content in all cases.

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xxalanxx

Avid Contributor I

I agree. But what? It makes no sense if it’s better components / chip etc as it sends a bit perfect digital stream - it sends the data on the NAS to the Amp’s DAC.

And there’s no EQ.

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