Opinions on the Sonos

Digital out on the Sonos is average ... It is no Mac Mini 

However get it wired for sound and it becomes somthing special ... A great liile transport. 

I checked the price of the mod. Ouch.

I could do a s/h UnitiQute instead.

I've been using a ZP90 (now called a Connect) for 2y into my nDAC through a SuperNait and listen to it every day. Internet radio, and Spotify premium mainly, as well as my music library, majority aiff full res rips. 

I'm sure there are users of higher end systems out there who will say that an NDX or ND5XS plays aiff/flac rips better but it's the the Spotify premium integration that seals the deal for me.

The software control (on Mac, iPad or iPhone) is just flawless.

I've never owned a Squeezebox though . . .

Cheap enough to take a gamble on too, particularly if your router is close enough to link the ZP90 directly to it.

John

Try a s/h ZP80 and see how you go. You don't need a Mac Mini given the load.

If it's the nDAC you are thinking about, I wouldn't worry too much. IME differences are nuances at best. I use a Macbook Pro with a cheap €10 optical cable, AIFF files sound great. I also have a WWSN6, it came up second hand at half the price. I am pushed hard to tell the difference. I stream Spotify at 320kkps from the MBP, it sounds very good whatever cable I use. I have a Sonos ZP90, connected via a Naim DC1 RCA, feeding my nDAC. It sounded very good prior to the mod and it sounds very good now, after Dr. Gert Volk lay his hands on it. Again, I am pushed hard to notice a difference to my CDX2.2 feeding the nDAC. Has the mod been worth it? I don't know. I'd like to think it sounds better. Does it really? Probably. Is it important to me? Nope. All of the above sound good to me. I have stopped with the sound analism, life is too short to worry about something, which is just not worth worrying about. It's the music that counts... Sorry for not being more excited about the minute things any longer but I think I have simply regained my sanity....

The Sonos is a great little box and works very well with the nDAC.

The Macmini would be another good option as Guy said. The new Remote on iPad has surpassed the Sonos app IMV. But I do like the Sonos blue though, different UE, both are a joy to use...

Choices, oh choices....

tp

sonos  digital out through a good dac is closer to expensive streamers than most will say, even naimers/linnys.A great way into streaming, excellent app that is the best.

I've been using an un-modded ZP90 into my SN via DC1 for a couple of years and it sounds great to me. Yes it could be better, but only by spending a shed load more dosh.

Plus points are flawless software and ease of use.

Negatives? it only plays 16bit which is becoming more of a problem for me now.

Other than switching from the analog to digital out (which made q huge improvement) my biggest revelation came when I uncompressed my FLAC library. HUGE improvement.

If you're using WAV files you're already there, but if you using anything compressed or, God forbid, lossy files such as MP3 switch to uncompressed lossless now. You won't regret it.

I used to think the Touch and Mini sounded noticeably better than the stock Sonos.  I moved the nDAC from the bottom shelf under the 500 to between the 500 and 552 on top.  Now the Sonos Connect is under the 500 and I am not sure I can hear any difference between the three sources.  Might be down to cable dressing, though I thought I had it right in both situations.  

IMHO, it is hard to recommend throwing any of the three out for one of the others.  I have ended up using the Mac Mini most.  The more frequent updates make the Mac feel less settled than the rest, but that is the price of the added versatility and an evolving platform.  

Nick

@Nick: Did you ever get a chance to listen to the Rega RS5s?

Hi, MM,

On my To Do list.  I looked at them at Roosevelt and asked them to let me know when they demo for somebody else, as I am long in speakers, at the mo.

What are you missing that Sonos might provide?  The UI still beats Apple, but it still hasn't won me over.  Not knocking it, though.  

I thought you sold the nDAC.

Rgds,

Nick

@Nick:

Nah, it was just the idea of the day. Better to run it past the new forum than to hit the 'buy it now' button on Amazon. :-)

Well, let me know if you plan to go for the RS5 demo. I'll put my email address on my profile for a couple of days.

I have, in fact, sold my Rega Dac, unfortunately.

Got it.

Hi, MangoMonkey,

Just curious what your favorite streamer is at the mo, and what has been "disqualified", especially lately.

ATB,

Nick

my current favorite: unitiqute into nDac + xps2 -> Nait XS.

after all the threads of stuff just sounding bad no mattered what I tried I find this to be audio heaven indeed. list of things I've tried and lived with: nd5xs, ndx, squeezebox touch into ndac and rega dac.

 it sounds good enough that I have no interest in trying anything else anymore.

oh, im listening to the unitiqute bare right now with the p3esr. the unitiqute totally kills the SU in terms of musical involvement. very well balanced, warm, just righti might just sell everything off and just go with the unitiqute. it really is that good, and my study is just 10feet by 13 feet.

oh, and drop me an email when you get a chance..

Z90 through the ndac is far better than most will admit to. best way to try streaming and the op application is the best by far

I use to run modded sb touch into nDac / xps2.

About a year ago changed the touch for the unitiqute, no looking back. This is an awesome sound feeding the UQ into nDac.

I also like the idea that the UQ is a backup, just in case I have an issue with my amps.