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tomyc
Contributor I
March 16, 2022

Hi Res lossless 24bit 192khz to sonos five via Line in jackplug

  • March 16, 2022
  • 32 replies
  • 6076 views

I would like to know if this is a good solution to play hi res files (24bit 192khz) on a sonos five stereo system.

As far as I know and read in div. threads in this forum it is not possible to stream Apple Hi-Res lossless via the Sonos app (only AAC 256).  Amazon Music Ultra HD or Quobuz/ Tidal is limited to 24bit 48khz.

Streaming from Apple Devices via Airplay is also limited to lossless (16bit 44khz).

That's why I thought about the following:

Usage of my Apple Devices (Mac or iPad) via DAC (e.g Topping DS 50 or FIIO) connect via USB and then use line in to Sonos five. I can see (via a borrowed RME ADI2 ) that I receive 24bit 192khz from my Apple devices.

My question now is: is the SONOS five directly using this stream without any further conversions, or does it convert the stream, when it is played locally via the wired connection described above (Mac-USB-DAC-jack plug -Line in Sonos five)?

Anyone using this solution already? How does it sound?

Thanks a lot,

regards tomyc

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    32 replies

    jgatie
    jgatie
    March 16, 2022

    If 24/192 is all it’s cracked up to be, surely you could hear the difference just by listening, no? 

    tomycAuthor
    Contributor I
    March 16, 2022

    I surely can hear the difference by using my headphones

    Belly M
    Belly M
    March 16, 2022

    The Sonos line in gets converted to digital, absolutely pointless exercise doing this. You may want to look at Amazon HD or Qobuz as these are supported on Sonos natively, 24/48 is all Sonos supports.

      tomycAuthor
      Contributor I
      March 16, 2022

      thx, but they are all limited to 24bit 48khz natively in the App. 

        jgatie
        jgatie
        March 16, 2022

        I surely can hear the difference by using my headphones

         

        Of course you can.  So put it through the Line-In and tell us how it sounds. 

        Belly M
        Belly M
        March 16, 2022

        thx, but they are all limited to 24bit 48khz natively in the App. 

        That’s all Sonos hardware supports, nothing more,

          tomycAuthor
          Contributor I
          March 16, 2022

          I surely can hear the difference by using my headphones

           

          Of course you can.  So put it through the Line-In and tell us how it sounds. 

          I can't hear any difference to streaming natively with Sonos App. That's why I raised this question.

          Best Sound to my ears is streaming with Amazon Music Ultra HD via Sonos S2 App.

           

            tomycAuthor
            Contributor I
            March 16, 2022

            so it is about time that Sonos integrates Apple Music Hi Res natively, but I don't know if this will ever happen… (ALAC vs. FLAC)

            jgatie
            jgatie
            March 16, 2022

            so it is about time that Sonos integrates Apple Music Hi Res natively, but I don't know if this will ever happen… (ALAC vs. FLAC)

             

            It’s not up to Sonos, it’s up to Apple.  Sonos just supplies the API, and since there are other services offering HiRes, the API is quite capable of doing it. 

              tomycAuthor
              Contributor I
              March 16, 2022

              I understood that the Sonos Api is capable FLAC for Amazon Music Ultra HD, Tidal and Quobuz…

              but the Sonos Api has to cover ALAC, so what is the todo for Apple? I don't think that Apple would change from ALAC to FLAC...

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