Somethings not right, hope it not my ears...
Posted by: Occean on 05 January 2009
Well I have been continuing my quest to find a network audio replacement for my CD5 (which is sold)
Currently running a Sonos as a transport, which I have been running through my Pioneer THX av amp, into my 112/150 and Spendor s5e's. It's not bad.
But today I picked up a PS Audio Dac, so connected it up had a listen not bad either. After a bit of fiddling with cables, got both the Dac and my av amp on A/B comparison. And you know what, I can hardly tell the difference!
So where's the issue?
- The pioneer is better than I give it credit for?
- The Sonos is limiting?
- The DAC isn't amazing?
- My ears are bust?
First time this has happened, normally pretty good at this, as is my girlfriend who agrees, for a change.
Puzzled and a little gutted.
Posted on: 05 January 2009 by Graham Russell
I use Sonos through Lavry and it's getting very close to the CD555.
What file formats are you playing?
I have found limitations with compressed flac files with Sonos.
I suggest you try wav files to get the max out of the Sonos.
Graham
Posted on: 05 January 2009 by Occean
I am using FLAC, but I will try a WAV. But as far as I am aware FLAC = WAV. I will also give the CAC alot more warm up time.
Is there anywhere that demos the Lavry? I did a quick google search with no luck
Posted on: 05 January 2009 by Graham Russell
Mathematically flac = wav i.e. you can recreate a wav file from a flac file. However, playing flac requires real-time decompression of the streamed file. This is where I've found an issue with the Sonos.
Creating flacs with compression level 6 which is the default for EAC sounds significantly worse than wavs. I now create flacs with compression level 0 and these sound much much better. Flacs have the advantage of tagging which is lost with wavs.
I'm not too far from Wimbledon so you'd be very welcome to pop round to listen to Sonos/Lavry vs CD555 on my system. We've had several listening sessions here with Macs, Lavrys, Cyrus DACs etc.
Posted on: 05 January 2009 by paremus
Graham,
Any idea which CPU is used in your Sonos? Very interested to note your comment concerning decompression.
Cheers
Richard
Posted on: 05 January 2009 by pcstockton
quote:
Originally posted by Graham Russell:
Creating flacs with compression level 6 which is the default for EAC sounds significantly worse than wavs.
My response a la 555, or Guinliguzzi Mazzolarnia (sp?)
Posted on: 05 January 2009 by pcstockton
My guess is that FLACs only sound worse on a Sonos.
Sold at Best Buy.... I wouldn't hook one of them up to $4000 worth of Naim electronics and expect anything positive.
I imagine the Sonos' processing power is on par with my calculator watch.
I have have spent years "auditioning" FLAC and cannot hear a single audible difference.
MP3? Everytime. every. FLAC vs WAV, it would be a blind guess everytime.
I would be very interested if you can duplicate your results on a bit of kit which can handle the FLAC codec properly.
Posted on: 06 January 2009 by james n
quote:
Sold at Best Buy.... I wouldn't hook one of them up to $4000 worth of Naim electronics and expect anything positive.
Really ? Hooked up via a good DAC and into Grahams rather good 555 system, its a fine source (yes i was suprised).
James
Posted on: 06 January 2009 by gary1 (US)
PC, I've got a sonos hooked up to my Naim kit and the sound is quite good and very enjoyable. Actually you should hear the HDX rips through the sonos-very good.
Posted on: 06 January 2009 by Occean
Graham
Thank you very much for the kind offer. I have already been convinced that a sonos (or PC/mac/sb etc) can sound very good through a suitable setup.
I was just very surprised at my findings, be it the Pioneer is really quite good or the PS Audio DAC is not - I am not sure. I have have been too hasty in selling my CD5 as I have no baseline comparison now! One thing I do know is that neither dac is as punchy (prat..) as the CD5.
The DAC would have been warm for 24hrs now - so I look forward to hearing it when i get home. But I believe the demo unit will remain a demo unit.
Out of curiosity has anyone used an AV2 with a Sonos?
Posted on: 06 January 2009 by pcstockton
all of the above makes me VERY pleased I bought a $180 Beresford and an M-Audio Transit.
Posted on: 06 January 2009 by gary1 (US)
quote:
Originally posted by Occean:
Graham
Thank you very much for the kind offer. I have already been convinced that a sonos (or PC/mac/sb etc) can sound very good through a suitable setup.
I was just very surprised at my findings, be it the Pioneer is really quite good or the PS Audio DAC is not - I am not sure. I have have been too hasty in selling my CD5 as I have no baseline comparison now! One thing I do know is that neither dac is as punchy (prat..) as the CD5.
The DAC would have been warm for 24hrs now - so I look forward to hearing it when i get home. But I believe the demo unit will remain a demo unit.
Out of curiosity has anyone used an AV2 with a Sonos?
Occean, sorry but I thought that the PS audio Dac killed any sense of music. Yes, the CD5 is better than both.
Posted on: 08 January 2009 by matt303
One thing I've seen on forums about the Sonos is to make sure you've got it switched to fixed level output. A number of people have reported that they thought when left on variable output the sound quality was compromised.
Just something that might be worth trying if you haven't yet.
Posted on: 08 January 2009 by AS332
I have to say that I'm very impressed with the Sonos . I've had mine linked up to a Beresford but have recently purchased a Lavry from those nice Cymbiosis people . I'm listening to it with fixed output at the moment but for general listening I use the volume on the controller. Very happy .
Sounding even better today as a friend let me borrow a superline yesterday to power the Lavry.
Posted on: 08 January 2009 by Occean
Yes I will be trying more DAC's
Though have been given 'permission' for a AV2 - so may delay the DAC and run it though that for a little while.
Posted on: 09 January 2009 by Jay
Hi Eric
I hope you don't want your CD5 back
The issues you're having is basically what I went through. I didn't really find a solution and relegated the imac/itunes/beresford combo to background music in the main. I have a nice turntable anyway.
I had an av2 for 4-5 years and the dac in it is what I would call a little "soft". It's very good but not a patch on a dedicated decent cd player like the CD5.
Jay
Posted on: 09 January 2009 by Occean
quote:
I hope you don't want your CD5 back Smile
Not quite yet...I am sure there is a solution out there. I think I need to see what this Lavry is all about.
Posted on: 10 January 2009 by PS
quote:
I use Sonos through Lavry and it's getting very close to the CD555.
Graham - excuse the ignorance, but what sonos kit do you have with the Lavry to get close to the CD555?....I mean are you running it through your 552/500 to get the sound quality close to the CD555?
Posted on: 13 January 2009 by pcstockton
I bought a Sonos last night and have been playing around with it....
I am returning it tonight.
It cannot handle the size of my library unfortunately.
I still cannot find an acceptable alternative to what I already have.... Foobar.
WILL APPLE PLEASE NATIVELY SUPPORT FLAC!!!!!!! please.... it is the only thing I request of you.
Steve J... i kknow you have Naim gear, and frequent this site.
Get on it.
Posted on: 13 January 2009 by Graham Russell
quote:
Originally posted by munch:
quote:
Originally posted by PS:
quote:
I use Sonos through Lavry and it's getting very close to the CD555.
Graham - excuse the ignorance, but what sonos kit do you have with the Lavry to get close to the CD555?....I mean are you running it through your 552/500 to get the sound quality close to the CD555?
Yes its run through his great system.
As Munch says. The Sonos/Lavry is running through 552/500. Sounds very very good.
On critical listening the CD555 (with dual PSUs) is better. For convenience, background music and "good enough" for the family the Sonos/Lavry combo is £19k cheaper!!
