Contributor III

Sound Quality Connect vs. Port

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
October 14, 2020
34 replies
2199 views

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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Show previous replies

ratty

Beats me. I’m no iPerson, but if phone A sounded different from phone B -- and both were delivering a stream losslessly -- I’d assume some processing was going on somewhere at the phone end.

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xxalanxx

Avid Contributor I

Perhaps it’s the Amp end? Sliders on EQ set to 0, but iPhone EQ is switched off. Surely that wouldnt make that much difference?

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xxalanxx

Avid Contributor I

Assuming Airplay bypasses the Amp EQ of course. Probably doesn’t!

Ken_Griffiths

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.

Just observing this thread, I’m curious as to what App player you’re using to AirPlay your tracks, so I can perhaps try this too… thanks.👍

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xxalanxx

Avid Contributor I

Plexamp. Unfortunately it costs money.

ratty

Plexamp. Unfortunately it costs money.

Is that streaming from a Plex server? If so, is anything happening there?

Ken_Griffiths

I suspect the Plexamp software is playing a role in the issue mentioned here, as it’s description on the iOS App Store says it has in-built loudness levelling, a configurable pre-amp and parametric EQ.

I don’t have a plex server setup here to go onto try out the software, but I suspect that is perhaps what might be at the root of the difference being heard in the audio here.

If the plexamp software suits, then the answer has to be to stick with what you prefer.

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xxalanxx

Avid Contributor I

Looked at the settings:

loudness levelling on.

EQ switched off.

Preamp at +4db

Server is on a 10th Core i7 Intel NUC

I’m definitely sticking with this configuration, especially as the App sticks to the Amp like glue; no annoying casting disconnects, restarts etc.

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xxalanxx