Zp 24/96

Ability to play 24bit/96 files (like the competition: slimdevices transporter)

This would be a big deal... also some confidence that new hardward will be forward compatible with other audio formats based on software updates... I'm envisioning even a "ZP80 on speed" that can handle lots of audio formats.

J

Why would it be a big deal?

There a dozens of firewire/usb computer interfaces out there that do 24/96hkz as well as all lesser formats..no problems...many for well under $750. Hifi DAC's have been supporting 24/96 for years.

This is now becoming the standard in digital audio.

Yes the files take up more disc space, but with the cost of storage plumetting and gigabit ethernet now the standard, wired networks should be able to handle 24/96 no problems. (yes some of us use wired networks!)

You can also now purchase 24/88.2 or 96hkz music on line: see linnrecords.co.uk or highdeftapetransfers.com

I'd love a way of playing these tracks on my sonos.

Also throw in a wordclock interface (like the transporter) to drop jitter...

A ZP 24/96 with wordclock ..Heaven..bring it on!

AB

can sonos please allow higher bit rates on music files? 16 bit can be too restrictive

thanks

16 bit is not the bitrate. I guess you mean the resolution.

Afaik, music on CDs is sold stored as 16-bit, only.

I'm curious. What files do you have with more than 16-bit resolution?

16 bit is not the bitrate. I guess you mean the resolution.

Afaik, music on CDs is sold stored as 16-bit, only.

I'm curious. What files do you have with more than 16-bit resolution?

SuperHD content is equivalent to that of SACD and DVD Audio. It comes in 5.1 surround sound and stereo, and is encoded at 24 bit 88kHz or higher

I have tried a modified ZP80 from Cullen Circuits, and the difference in pure sound quality is obvious to me. The soundstage is much wider, and the sound is more detailed. There is also more "air" between instruments/voices, like a curtain has been lifted..

I think I will have to buy one :)

http://www.cullencircuits.com/webapps/site/67005/78076/shopping/shopping-plus.html?find_groupid=12070

The hardware in this ZP80 is upgraded to be able to play 24/96 files, but the Sonos software does not support this?

I tried to download a record from www.linnrecords.com in Studio Master Flac quality, 24 bit/ 96 kHz but when I try to play it the Sonos controller says that that the format is not supported.

Studio Master FLAC

If absolute sound quality is what you want then this file is best for you.

FLAC files are lossless at various high bit rates, for example, 48KHz, 88.2KHz and 96KHz (check each title for actual details). The quality is identical to that of an SACD (Stereo only). The format will be dependent on the actual recording method we used originally. No DSD files are offered as it is not possible to play them back on a PC so an equivalent PCM format is offered. These files offer true "studio quality" and are what was used by Linn to produce the production version of our CD releases. Be sure to check compatibility with your computer sound card etc before you download a file and note that large amounts of storage space are required for each track.

FLAC files can be imported into many media players, such as the Linn DS digital stream player, but unfortunately Microsoft does not yet support high bit-rate FLAC, so these files will not play in Windows Media Player. There are many other FLAC players available such as Media Monkey and Foobar.

FLAC Studio Masters play in Play and VLC, but not in Cog or MPlayer. It is however very easy to transcode FLAC to several other lossless formats.

For further information about FLAC please visit the FLAC website.

Please note:
We recommend you burn a DVD-audio to create a back-up of your download purchase. Click here for instructions.
You can also play Studio Master files through your digital media receiver or in windows media player.
These files are too large to burn on to a CD and you will not be able to play these files in your CD player.

We will be adding more albums at this quality rate as they become available.
Click here for a full list of all available Studio Master albums.


http://www.linnrecords.com/linn-formats.aspx

I also tried to play the new Nine Inch Nails 24/96 album, but no. www.nin.com

This should be possible to fix with a software upgrade?

I can play the same 24/96 files om my iMac, using the music player "Play".

As far as I know this is possible using Logitech Squeezebox and Transporter, so why not Sonos?

More and more sites offer music in 24/96 format so this should be something to consider updating.

Here is just some of the sites where you can buy files in this 24/96 (or higher) format:

www.2l.no
www.linnrecords.com
http://www.highdeftapetransfers.net/
http://www.gimell.com/
www.musicgiants.com
http://www.referencerecordings.com/HRx1.asp
www.hdtracks.com 24/96 Coming soon

sonic-x,

This is very interesting these upgrades but what is the point of the upgrade if you cannot support HiRes files?
Unless obviously you are using the Internal DAC.

The only reason why I holding off buying the entire system is pretty 96khz/24b file support.
My DAC will take it with pleasure, with Sonos Net 2.0 it should also be easier to transmit the files too, because what's the point of having these HiRes files if you have a lot bigger probability of loosing the stream from your NAS half way through a track?

HiRes + Wifi = better have 802.11n!

I don't understand why they came up with this box update after 3 years?

sonic-x,

This is very interesting these upgrades but what is the point of the upgrade if you cannot support HiRes files?
Unless obviously you are using the Internal DAC.

The only reason why I holding off buying the entire system is pretty 96khz/24b file support.


The point of the upgrade is first and foremost the better sound quality from the digital output on the ZP80/90. I didnt thought it could be any difference between a regular and an upgraded ZP80, but the difference is quite amazing. The soundstage is so much wider, and details are "flowing" out of the speakers. There is much more "air" between the instruments and voices. I would never believed it unless I could A/B compared it myself. And I would never thought that such an upgrade could have such an effect on the sound quality, since I have always thought that "digital is digital" and the differences lies in the external DAC, not in the ZP80/90.

But I was hoping that maybe a firmware update could adress the problem with not playing higher bitrates/samplerates. I cannot see why the Sonos-system has such a limit, especially when Logitech and others dont.

I am not sure if a regular ZP80/90 would be able to output 24/96kHz to a DAC if the software did?

If not I think that Sonos should be making an MK2 version of the ZP90 which allows playback of high-res music.

I cannot see why the Sonos-system has such a limit, especially when Logitech and others dont.

Actually they do have a limit. The SB3 and Duet cannot play hi-sample rate files directly. They are downsampled (badly) on an external server before they are played.

Cheers,

Keith

Well, the link below says that SB can play 24 bit files, but not more than 48kHz samplerate according to this. The Transporter can play 24/96 files:

http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.php/SqueezePlay_Audio_Playback

But this wasnt ment to be a comparison with the SB, but rather to say that more and more of Sonos "competitors" are offering this feature, and I dont understand why it should be such a limit in the Sonos? Is it the hardware, or the software? If it is the software, then it shouldnt be too hard to update. If its the hardware, then why not make another ZP90, maybe to an additional cost including the possibility to play 24/96 files :)

Linn network players as Klimax, Akurate, Majik DS and Sneaky DS can play 24/96 kHz (ok, they are not the same price range, but anyhow..):

Linn network players: http://www.linn.co.uk/digital_stream_players
T+A Network player: http://www.taelektroakustik.de/eng/index.htm
Helios network players: http://www.helios-labs.com/us/products/xline/index_xline.shtml
Olive network player: http://www.olive.us/products/opus4.html
And more to come..