New floorstanding speakers for Sonos Amp.

A solid state amp is an amp is an amp, except for cheap chinese knock offs and defective units. As is the sonos amp. Provided it can deliver enough power to drive the speakers, and I can't see the new Sonos version falling short on that front.

Remember that the Sonos amp needs to have its volume controls set higher than almost every hi-fi amp to obtain the same sound levels. And that even a difference of 0.2 dB leaves the sound that is lower, sound thinner.

The price thing, in the world of home audio/hifi, is a red herring.

Assuming the same music source supplying the amp as before, there is no technical reason for your sound from your speakers to change.

If I understand it right, you mean the change of DAC and amplifier has no impact on sound quality whatsoever?

None that can be picked out in a sound level matched single variable double blind listening test. The kind that is used in scientific circles in different domains including clinical trials for new drugs.

Plenty of impacts if this rigour is missing, including psychological ones.

If that is the case, can I safely assume that a better pair of speakers will definitely sound better on the Sonos Amp?

Here’s the thing about the quoted.

If Sonos was a lot smaller than what it is, and was of the same size as many specialist HiFi makes, economics around volumes/scales would not allow them to price their amp below USD 2000, and perhaps higher than that.

In the world of home audio when you compare price points, it is impossible to do an apples to apples comparison. 

The other thing is that a lot of  “HiFi” kit is purposely priced high, as a subtle marketing strategy.

Yes, you can, as long as they don't demand more power than what the Sonos Amp can deliver. Not likely with the 110 or so WPC that Sonos Amp delivers, but there may be some cases that need more.

Remember however that speaker sound preferences are very subjective. What might sound better to me may not sound better to you, although it may sound different.

Therefore, the way to best decide is to test at home, with music that you like, for a few days and make sure that the “better” speaker also sounds better to you.

Thanks a lot.

I tend to disagree with you on the first point (change of sound quality when amp changed). I do notice that the Amp’s volume is lower than other amps. However, even when I increase its volume, there is still a lack of subtlety when compared to my Creek Destiny. I acknowledge expectation bias but in this particular case I think I do hear the difference, since those are songs I have listened to hundreds of time. Too bad that I have sold my Destiny and will not have a chance to try a blind test.

Nevertheless, I think you are right that the size of Sonos allows them to price the Amp at a much lower point than its equivalents from other hi-end makers.

Unless you actually eliminate this successfully from the comparison, in a way that only a rigorous listening test will, you have no way of knowing what caused the difference you heard.

Also, level matching to make for a good enough test needs sound level matching via instruments, not by human aural judgement.

I am not saying that there is no difference in your case - just that no one that hears these has seen them justified by a scientific test, anywhere in the world. Odds are therefore against you.

The practical approach is that if the difference is not large enough to lose sleep over, to forget about it and enjoy the music for itself. In time, the music will prevail.

To elucidate: what was the source of the music fed to the Connect?