Would I benefit from a dedicated DAC?

To reiterate for the benefit of users of all Sonos devices since all include a capable enough DAC - nothing that will be audible in a well controlled level matched blind ABX test will be audible in any external DAC, no matter how high it is priced. Or, rephrasing more accurately, nothing has been proven to be heard so far in such a test anywhere in the world. I too haven't found any difference in various DACs although I admit that the most expensive one I used was priced at only USD 1500.

DACs sometimes come with sound shaping filters - these are akin to tone controls - and DAC performance needs to be compared with this feature defeated to allow for apples to apples comparison across DACs.

DACs will sound different for psychological reasons though and anyone that believes that a modern day DAC needs to be run it before it delivers best performance is under the influence of these reasons.

Today a basic DAC is a cheap commodity.

Some people really do talk about rubbish here regarding their systems. One person said you build from the speaker first. No you don't. There is an old saying in hifi, if you put rubbish in you get rubbish out so you start with the very best source you can. The Connect is not the best source of music, it's very good but not the best. However if you do use one like me then adding a decent DAC will improve the sound source going into the amplifier which in turn shows itself through your speakers. I am not quoting prices because it's all relative. I have owned budget systems right up to one's costing £20K new although I purchased second hand at 40% of that cost. Thats another tip, buy good second user kit if you can. With the Connect chances are it will be new but everything else buy 2nd hand and that way you will get a great system. If you look at reviews for a product make sure at least 3 different magazines give it a great review because 1 great review only usually means that mag is bias and you will probably see adverts in that magazine for the great product. However, music is like art, if it makes your emotions change as it changes that is good enough for you to like it. We are too keen for the approval of others that our system sounds great. Only you should decide that. So people on here like Kumar telling you to spend on speakers first is rubbish, spend it on what you hear is the best for you regardless of cost, if you can afford it and it makes you happy...do it. Once again I am not talking about how much you should spend, thats your decision

Unless the only thing you are playing is FLACs on your Sonos, then the compressed file formats 99.9% of users are listening to are the biggest source of rubbish in the entire system. An external DAC vs the one in the CONNECT/CONNECT:AMP is going to be inaudible for pretty much everyone, even the self-proclaimed audiophiles...

people on here like Kumar telling you to spend on speakers first is rubbish
Sonos has made things a lot simpler for everyone with their play units, and underlined that via the recently released 5. Now one needs to just spend on the speakers, first and last - there isn't anything else required for home audio! Separate systems and boxes is technology of the last century.

sorry, the Play units do not out perform many speakers I have come across. I once heard a Sonos Connect directly connected to Meridian DSP6000 speakers which have 4x75 watt amps built in each speaker and Wow it kicked ass and they also have a DAC built into them. The sound was way better than anything from a Sonos Play unit and I'd say from anything else I've heard a Sonos Connect connected to

So the Meridian is DAC,Amps and speakers which you say are not needed

it kicked ass and they also have a DAC built into them.
I do hope that these units have digital inputs that can accept an external USD 50k DAC that will then get them to kick bigger ass:-).

A modern DAC like a Chord Hugo makes a huge difference. If you run a Sonos connect optical out into a Chord Hugo, 2 qute, or even a mojo, and RCA from the DAC into quality amplification, which is powering great speakers, the musical experience is dramatically different and better than RCA directly out from the sonos into the same downstream chain. Amplifiers, like speakers, have different sonic signatures. My Octave v80se compared to a Naim Supernait 2 is smooth sparkly punchy and warm, but lacks the soundstage differentiation (depth, width, and height) and urgency of the supernait 2 presentation. When you power something like a Dynaudio Contour or Focal Electra BE with aforementioned chain things are pretty stunning. Stock sonos class d amplification is woefully average by comparison.

Cables are rubbish.

A modern DAC like a Chord Hugo makes a huge difference. If you run a Sonos connect optical out into a Chord Hugo, 2 qute, or even a mojo, and RCA from the DAC into quality amplification, which is powering great speakers, the musical experience is dramatically different and better than RCA directly out from the sonos into the same downstream chain.

Meh.

Amplifiers, like speakers, have different sonic signatures.

Not if they're accurate, the don't. Only the ridiculous overpriced "audiophile" amplifiers sold to know-nothings, which color the sound, emphasizing certain frequencies, or adding lots of distortion on purpose, will sound significantly different.

Amplifiers have different sonic signatures.
@chicks: anyone that has the above as a credo is impossible to argue with, I have found. It is like arguing against a creationist.
PS: Should I link the Connect Bit Perfect thread here?;)

Amplifiers have different sonic signatures.
@chicks: anyone that has the above as a credo is impossible to argue with, I have found. It is like arguing against a creationist.
PS: Should I link the Connect Bit Perfect thread here?;)

I didn't mean to start a pissing contest with a couple of trolls. But if you both are telling me that all amplifiers and DACs are perfectly linear and there is zero variability (audible) then I'm with you hundred percent. But how do you know what is truly linear? My old technics, while good, wasn't as nice as the nakamichi stasis that replaced it. The Denon and Yamaha units I compared the Nak when I bought it were also different (worse). Nor is the stock radio in my current Honda nearly as good as the Alpine I had in my youth. I don't disagree that most stuff is pretty good these days and capable of accurate sound with power. But are you really saying it's all the same? On a side note, have you heard the output from a chord dac? Do you really not hear a difference between it and the stock Sonos?