Would I benefit from a dedicated DAC?

I went through the same questioning of the need for an external DAC with the Sonos Connect (purchased in August 2012), and did buy an Emotiva XDA-1 DAC before my Sonos arrived.

My Opinion, Bottom Line: Unless each component of your system cost as much or more than my entire system, don't spend any money on a DAC, you won't improve on what the Sonos DAC does on its own.

I spent about 90 minutes listening critically, not extensive, but enough to say with confidence that my system does not benefit. I can hear absolutely no difference in sound between using the Sonos analog outputs to my preamp compared to using the Sonos digital out to the XDA-1 with the XDA-1 analog output to my preamp, regardless of music, from classical to jazz to rock.

I think that the XDA-1 is a great value as a DAC, but that the Sonos DAC is equal for my system and hearing ability.

So far have only tested this myself, no other listeners.

My System:
Rotel RC-1070 preamp (2005)
Rotel RB-1070 amp (2005)
Large Advent speakers (1973 vintage, refoamed surrounds)
Emotiva XDA-1 DAC/preamp (2012)
Denon DCM-360 CD changer (1997)
AKG-400 headphones (1997)
Sonos Connect (2012)
Western Digital MyBook Live network HD
Apple Airport Extreme router
All music files in Apple Lossless format

I did testing both with the headphones connected to the Rotel preamp headphone jack, and speakers. Sonos connect is connected to the XDA-1 by digital coax RCA (emotiva brand cable), and to the Rotel preamp with high quality Monster cable RCA coax. When switching between sources using the headphones, there is no interruption or gap in the sound.

It is slightly harder to tell if there is a difference when using the speakers, as the is a short interruption in the sound on switching, but I could could hear none.

Also tested the sound from the Sonos system in both configurations against the CD played in the Denon. The Denon may be the weakest part of my system (??) but again, I could hear little or no difference between the three sources, and even if there is a difference, it was so small and hard to pin down.

PJ48inMN,

Thanks so much for putting the effort into doing a listening test and also for providing your set-up. This is all good information for helping the rest of us make good, educated decisions about our equipment purchases. Great stuff!!

Thanks Jonis. More music, less noise.

More music, less noise.
+1 to that.

People seem to like adding and tinkering with new toys, and then the music has to sound better to justify the activity. I was on that train once:).

People seem to like adding and tinkering with new toys, and then the music has to sound better to justify the activity. I was on that train once:).

A person needs to spend ever increasing amounts of money to gain ever decreasing improvements in sound quality. Where does it end? Bankruptcy? Divorce? (talk about expensive...)

It's not hard for someone to drop $50 grand on a sound system. I'd rather spend $3 grand on a really nice stereo that buys me 99% (or better) of the sonic performance of the $50 grand system, and invest the remaining $47,000 in an annuity that pays interest and allows me to attend well over 900 live performances at $50 each. An extreme example, for sure, but I think most people will get the point.

An extreme example, for sure, but I think most people will get the point.
At the end of the day it is each person's take on priorities isn't it, and I suspect it is also a time of life/age thing.

The point you make is very valid, and it applies to so many other things in life. I could make the same argument about cars, or many other so called bso - bright shiny objects. I always remember something I read in a Warren Buffett interview, the man refuses to buy fancy brand clothes. A shirt is a shirt he says, and refuses to pay more for the brand named ones. Maybe that is how he got to be so wealthy:).

In your face marketing that is the norm today also contributes and plays heavily to this syndrome, making suckers of us all.

Hi - one point that didn't get any airtime in this thread is that the DAC will add additional delay to your playback, meaning if you use the DAC on your hifi (via Connect), your sound will no longer be synced in all rooms. This is fatal in my case, as I always hear an echo. (For this reason, I've connected the analog out to my A/V receiver, not the digital one.)

(Just wanted to throw that in there...)

Hi - one point that didn't get any airtime in this thread is that the DAC will add additional delay to your playback, meaning if you use the DAC on your hifi (via Connect), your sound will no longer be synced in all rooms. This is fatal in my case, as I always hear an echo. (For this reason, I've connected the analog out to my A/V receiver, not the digital one.)

(Just wanted to throw that in there...)
Not necessarily true, about the delay. I have mine connected to the DAC in my SACD player because it has been in my system from before Sonos came home, and it has to justify its existence, and I see no delay/echo. But my amp is a 2 channel one, the delay you see must be on account of signal processing taking place in your AV receiver.

Old thread, but 3 years later I have to disagree with most posts, at least for my Sonos setup. I purchased a Peachtree DAC ITx for my Sonos ZP80 and the change is dramatic. It's like a curtain in front of my speakers has been removed, much more detail and insight, stage is becoming deeper with more air around instruments and vocals. Of course the rest of the equipment must be of a certain quality to display such a change, in my setup this was a very good investment. I don't know if this will be the case for a new Sonos Connect, but I'm very happy with it.

My setup for now is:

Synology DS 211j (audiofiles: FLAC)
Sonos ZP80
Peachtree DAC ITx
Marantz PM KI Pearl Lite
Dynaudio Audience 8

alternative listen: Meier Audio Corda Rock headphone amplifier with AKG K701 headphones.

The DAC took quite some running-in time to get to its best results.

However, the original poster was thinking about going with an external DAC along with what sounds like fairly commercial amp and speakers. Most posters said it can make a difference but speakers and amplifier would be the first to replace. You have higher end speakers and amp so naturally then the DAC becomes the weakest link and therefore the higher end DAC makes a noticeable difference. Would you notice that difference with some department store Polk speakers and home receiver? Maybe a little but not as much as replacing the speakers and amp.