I currently run Deezer Elite -- this is an FLAC stream. I was told by an audio salesman that while Sonos runs FLAC the audio you actually get is less than CD quality due to Sonos’ own compression. Is this true? If so, does the broader band of S2 eliminate said compression (or is the improved sound quality only going to be when you upgrade a stream all the way to HD) Would this elimination be immediately audible or do we need to await further updates?

Avid Contributor I

Answered

S2 Sound Quality Improvements?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
June 8, 2020
17 replies
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I currently run Deezer Elite -- this is an FLAC stream. I was told by an audio salesman that while Sonos runs FLAC the audio you actually get is less than CD quality due to Sonos’ own compression.

Is this true?
If so, does the broader band of S2 eliminate said compression (or is the improved sound quality only going to be when you upgrade a stream all the way to HD)
Would this elimination be immediately audible or do we need to await further updates?

Sonos S2

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Best answer by Nialli

jgatie

I currently run Deezer Elite -- this is an FLAC stream. I was told by an audio salesman that while Sonos runs FLAC the audio you actually get is less than CD quality due to Sonos’ own compression.

Is this true?
If so, does the broader band of S2 eliminate said compression (or is the improved sound quality only going to be when you upgrade a stream all the way to HD)
Would this elimination be immediately audible or do we need to await further updates?

The salesman is full of it (as most of them are).

pwt

Virtuoso

this is an FLAC stream. I was told by an audio salesman that while Sonos runs FLAC the audio you actually get is less than CD quality due to Sonos’ own compression.

It is not true.

4 x P:5 | Sub | 4 x P:1 | 3 x Connect | 2 x Boost | Connect:Amp | 2 x One | Amp | Move | Port | Era 300

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NialliAnswer

Contributor I

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Nialli

Contributor I

No mention of MQA support with S2. Disappointing for Tidal users but Qobuz, Deezer and Amazon Music HD users should be happ

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Peder_1

Prominent Collaborator I

Yes - according to the feature desicription 24-bit is only for local FLAC/ALAC files, so users of ie Tidal HD streaming will still only get 16-bit audio… No upgrade there...

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Brandon_7Author

Avid Contributor I

Thanks all. Niall, just for clarity -- the current system supports 16-bit?

The s2 will support 24 bit,but Sonos also refers to this as FLAC and ALAC? Why both? Why not just say 16-bit is FLAC and 24-bit is ALAC?

Thanks.

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Brandon_7Author

Avid Contributor I

And to all -- so essentially S2 won’t offer any sound improvements until we get the updates allowing for ALAC audio streams?

jgatie

Thanks all. Niall, just for clarity -- the current system supports 16-bit?