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What does Sonos Connect 'do' to a recording?

I have Sonos speakers around the house outside of my listening room where my primary system is. My wife really enjoys it and for casual listening I'm happy with it too. I stream via Amazon Music, normal resolution.

I stream Amazon Music into my main system through an older Apple TV module which I understands is not an optimal way in regard to sound quality. It also cuts out for half a second from time to time with some regularity. Sonos never cuts out.


I have a Sonos Connect that I could run into the pre-amp of my main system, possibly with Amazon's hi-res option.


The question is, does the Sonos Connect 'do' anything to the files transmitted through it to the pre-amp? (As you can tell I have very poor understanding of the various components of steaming.) In other words, would it be more or less desirable than the Apple TV as a streaming device? Is there anything about Sonos Connect that would make paying extra for Amazon's hi-res option not worthwhile? It is my understanding that the new Sonos app, S2, will handle hi-res files now and that the Connect is compatible with S2.

Any insight into this would be much appreciated.

George
n80
eisenb11
33 posts
 
@n80 I think you're referring to the Sonos Port as Gen 2. I have the Connect and it's Gen 1 and won't work with S2. I'm pretty happy with my Connect, but have been debating if it's worth upgrading to a Port or just switching to a DAC with built-in streamer.
n80 OP
2,116 posts
 
It is my understanding that the Connect came out in two generations and the only way to tell was by serial number or the mute button.

Sonos lists the Connect Gen1 as not compatible with S2 and the Connect Gen2 as compatible.

The one I have is definitely a Connect (a white box, not black) and it definitely works with S2 and according to the S2 app it has the latest firmware on it now.
eisenb11
33 posts
 
@n80 wow, I had no idea there was a 3rd variant of the connect, it looks like you’re right. First it was the Zone Player, then G1 Connect which had no change other than the name, then the G2 Connect. It looks like both of my Connects are G1.

The G2 Connect has more memory which is why it can use S2. 
Sounds like the easiest way to tell which you have is to see if you have a mute button (G1) or play button (G2) on the front of it. 
n80 OP
2,116 posts
 
Update: I've got the old Sonos Connect tied into my primary system. It runs into the Oppo via Coax. AppleTV runs into the Oppo via optical.

I don't hear a huge difference between the AppleTV and Sonos streaming Amazon HD but would give the nod to the Sonos. AppleTV cuts out from time to time. Sonos almost never does.

The reason I kept the AppleTV component is that when I'm searching for music and recommendations the Amazon HD interface is better than the Sonos interface.
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@n80

a few important facts on the sonos connect that may help you... i climbed the full learning curve on this some time ago

the cutoff date is 2015 - where 2015 and newer connects will be s2 software compatible, 2014 and older not - year and month of manufacture are the 1st 4 digits of the serial number underneath the units on the bottom plate

sonos has not implemented any higher res streaming than current 44.1khz as yet on s2 platform -- but that may be coming, or so it is rumored

in its current form, wyred 4 sound has a mod for the sonos connect streamer where the digital section is upgraded by ej sarmento at w4s and the digital bitstream of the modded unit is 96khz, which in effect gives you the first (and most important) tidal mqa unfolding, if you care about that, some folks do

also, instead of modding the connect (for $499 i believe, which is alot for a $300 streamer), w4s can also sell you a box (a remedy reclocker, for $299 i believe) which does the same thing outside of the sonos unit, connected with spdif cabling...

i have no affiliation with w4s, just a happy customer...
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