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Upgrade over Sonos ZP90?

Hi there fellow a-goners.
I am in the process of upgrading my system. I use my faithful Sonos as a digital source and have been perfectly happy with it up-to-date. However, I understand that there are better digital transports out there. What I need is a transport that would be as user-friendly as the Sonos, but will exceeded in terms of sound quality and have the ability to do high res. I intend to use it as a transport with an external DAC and my DAC does not have USB input, so it’s either coaxial or Optical inputs (I have a Reimyo DAP-777 and a CHORD DAC64).

I was looking at aurender, auralic Aries, and Linn Akurate DS1.
I also have an Oppo 105D i use it strictly for video, as my experience with it as an audio  transport has not been good: Sonos sounds better.
I am a cost minding type of guy, so I am looking for a used piece preferably under 2000 us. Thanks for your help and looking forward to your advice.
ja_zz
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Yes. It is always better to design and power something separately rather than modding. I know this because I modded all types of transports and computer audio devices for 10 years, including Sonos. This is better.

You need the better S/PDIF cable anyway, so there is no savings there.

Shelf space is 4.5"X4.5". Pretty small.

There is also the benefit of upsampling 44.1 to 96. The DAC will sound better because the digital filter is better.

There is also the benefit of galvanic isolation.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio


lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,430 posts
 
Steve,

Ahh!...the good old debate on Seperates vs Integrated 😉

I don’t have anything to gain from pushing either of these suggestions to ‘UP’ the SONOS performance so I am going to dish out my point of view, whether anyone agrees with me or not.

You need the better S/PDIF cable anyway, so there is no savings there - I disagree, with Synchro Mesh Clocker you are adding another component in the middle of Sonos and DAC. So you do end up buying an additional S/PDIF cable instead of going direct between SONOS and the DAC.

Shelf space is 4.5"X4.5". Pretty small - Still another component on the shelf you now need to make room for.

There is also the benefit of upsampling 44.1 to 96. The DAC will sound better because the digital filter is better - Wyrd 4 Sound recommends 96khz upsampling with their mod, so no diffrence here.

There is also the benefit of galvanic isolation - 👍
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
You need the better S/PDIF cable anyway, so there is no savings there - I disagree, with Synchro Mesh Clocker you are adding another component in the middle of Sonos and DAC. So you do end up buying an additional S/PDIF cable instead of going direct between SONOS and the DAC.

My point is that almost nobody has a S/PDIF cable this good, so replace the one you have with this one.  It will make a big difference, even with no reclocker.

There is also the benefit of upsampling 44.1 to 96. The DAC will sound better because the digital filter is better - Wyrd 4 Sound recommends 96khz upsampling with their mod, so no difference here.

Maybe, maybe not. The devil is in the details. There is only one upsampling chip IME that performs well. All others are substandard. I used to mod myself, so I got to hear lots of different chips.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

ja_zz OP
124 posts
 
@lalitk 
Please check my questions above. 
Thanks. 
ja_zz OP
124 posts
 
@audioengr 
I will think about it, but at this stage I concur with @lalitk : the more boxes and wires, the more potential too go wrong...
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