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24 bit on Play 1

  • January 11, 2023
  • 34 replies
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34 replies

Mr. T
  • January 12, 2023

Apologies to OP for digressing this thread!

Anyway, quick Search for “Bonded” and the first thing that comes up under Support is:

https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/create-a-stereo-pair

Admittedly, despite that articles wording, I agree with @John B, many experienced users and Staff in the community here tend to use ‘bonded’ when discussing HT’s and describe the Surrounds and Sub as being ‘bonded’ with/to the master Arc/Beam etc… whereas same/similar Sonos speakers are (stereo) ‘paired’ to each other and Sonos rooms (same/different) are ‘grouped’ (often that’s a temporary configuration). I see that linked article wording as ‘just an exception to the usual rule’ 😀 ha ha.

Yes, I agree with you both there. I would always refer to a stereo pair as being “paired” rather than “bonded”, but add a Sub into the equation of the stereo pair and that’s probably where I would use the terms interchangeably. Going forward, outside the HT, I will stick to “pairing”!

Edit: just another example.

https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/home-theater-or-stereo-pair-appears-as-not-configured

  • When a Sub or Sub Mini has lost communication with its bonded speaker

It’s not specific that the above bullet point is only referring to a HT setup, so I think you can see my confusion over the terms.


Ken_Griffiths

Yes, I agree with you both there. I would always refer to a stereo pair as being “paired” rather than “bonded”, but add a Sub into the equation of the stereo pair and that’s probably where I would use the terms interchangeably. Going forward, outside the HT, I will stick to “pairing”!

Edit: just another example.

https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/home-theater-or-stereo-pair-appears-as-not-configured

  • When a Sub or Sub Mini has lost communication with its bonded speaker

It’s not specific that the above bullet point is only referring to a HT setup, so I think you can see my confusion over the terms.

I do actually see the sub as being ‘bonded’ to a stereo pair, but maybe that’s just me 😂

It’s just usually a case that the term ‘bonded’ is mentioned most often with HT setups - only time I use ‘pair’/‘pairing’ is when two speakers the same/similar are setup together for use as the left/right stereo channels. 


  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • January 12, 2023

Ok this is exactly what I suspected and helps makes sense of these different behaviors! For clarity, I currently have a playbar, Play 1 surrounds and a Sub(gen 2) and from what I can gather from all of your guys feedback is that if I were to replace the Playbar(master) with an Arc I will then be able to enjoy 24 bit quality because the Arc will be sending the signal to the other speakers. I guess the issue is the DAC and/or memory or something else in the older Sonos speakers but not the speaker itself and that is great news! No need to replace the older slaves...just upgrade the master😁


Ken_Griffiths

Ok this is exactly what I suspected and helps makes sense of these different behaviors! For clarity, I currently have a playbar, Play 1 surrounds and a Sub(gen 2) and from what I can gather from all of your guys feedback is that if I were to replace the Playbar(master) with an Arc I will then be able to enjoy 24 bit quality because the Arc will be sending the signal to the other speakers. I guess the issue is the DAC and/or memory or something else in the older Sonos speakers but not the speaker itself and that is great news! No need to replace the older slaves...just upgrade the master😁

Or switch and use Qobuz, as that service under their agreement with Sonos supports 24bit with the older Playbar (confusing, isn’t it🤔?).


  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • January 12, 2023

The Play1 and Playbar are clearly is listed in the following article: https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/info/Qobuz-Vous/Qobuz-Streaming-the-compatible179461 but it does not say Hi Res like some of the others in the list. Tell you what...I will do the Qobuz free trial and do some more testing... I will let you know my findings...


Mr. T
  • January 12, 2023

The Play1 and Playbar are clearly is listed in the following article: https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/info/Qobuz-Vous/Qobuz-Streaming-the-compatible179461 but it does not say Hi Res like some of the others in the list. Tell you what...I will do the Qobuz free trial and do some more testing... I will let you know my findings...

That article is from 2017, but I believe Hi Res was only supported by Qobuz on Sonos sometime in 2021.

See this article where it mentions the Playbar being supported for Qobuz 24-bit.

https://www.techhive.com/article/579291/sonos-drops-the-needle-on-high-resolution-music-streaming-via-qobuz.html


Ken_Griffiths

  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • January 12, 2023

Very interesting...thanks...my test results will be coming soon...


  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • January 13, 2023

Test incomplete. I have no way of confirming or denying the Qobuz 24 bit compatibility because there is no badge displaying that would indicate the resolution. I think I will be getting the Arc and while I won’t be able to enjoy streaming Apple music in 24 bit yet, what I will be enjoying is Dolby Atmos and Hi Res Lossless straight from Apple TV thanks to the HDMI eARC connection.