2 options for connecting a CD Player and Turntable to the Sonos Amp a user experience

I don’t see any downsides to your setup.

It should be noted that using the IR remote for volume control is a ‘connection’ directly to the amp, not through your Tangent (as I understand it).  The optical cable has no way sending a volume command to the amp.  Given that, you should be able to use your remote for volume control whether you are using the line in source (turntable) or TV source (CD player).

If your remote is just controlling the volume of output sent to the amp, then no, that won’t work.  That may even become troublesome as you now have 2 independent sets of volume controls competing for dominance.

Thanks for the reply yes the remote in this setup has been paired directly with the amp for volume control only and works with both the turntable and the CDII.

The only other thing I would like to try is going back to the RCA switch and routing the CDII through an external DAC. I have a Schitt Modi+ i use with my MacBook and am curious to compare the sound from this DAC vs the one in the AMP.  Also this will confirm if the volume output issues are related to the DAC or the just the different line in settings required for the 2 devices when sharing the single RCA line in.

Will give it a try and add to this thread for other users.     

Okay so here are the results of my next test.

Setup:

• Sonos amp
• Project Debut EVO 2
• Schitt Mani 2 phono Pre Amp set to impedance: 47kOhm; capacitance: 150pF; gain: 40dB connected via line in and RCA switch set to source level 8 on the app 
• Tangent CDII connected to Schitt Modi+ DAC via Optical out 
• Schitt Modi+ connected via line in and RCA switch set to source level 8 in the app 
• B&W 606 Speakers

The Modi+ appears to work well with the CDII despite the reports of jitter experienced with some external DACS and this specific CD transport. The improvement over the internal DAC with both the MODI and the AMP is night and day, so in conclusion 100% only use the CDII as a transport. This is where it gets subjective and it will come down to personal preference. The volume differential with the MODI+ is way less pronounced than using the internal DAC on the CDII. However I still think you get a slightly better sound by going up a notch on the line level with the CDII with the Modi.  I think the DAC in the Sonos amp sounds a little more refined than the Modi but we are talking small margins and this will come down to personal preference ultimately. I also like the ease of use by removing the RCA switch so for me i think the winner is the use of the HDMI-Arc with the optical to HDMI connector.

Hopefully this thread will be helpful for others looking for the best way to connect both a turntable and CD player to the amp without compromising sound quality. When I started looking at this all I could find were threads saying you cant do this and you cant do that 😀.