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lmpine

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  1. Hey… Well I’m guessing that you are going to be get a lot of varying answers to this question, but I have a Sonos system as well as a PC and have been involved with computer based playback for a while now – I also have done nothing short of un-ending research online, so while I wouldn’t say I am an expert, I feel like I have a good handle on the various theories. I have a what I consider a very resolving system with good gear – Bryston SP2, Bryston 9BSST, Focal 1027Be speakers, REL subwoofer. When Stereophile reviewed the Sonos system, they confirmed bit-perfect digital output assuming you have the volume set to FIXED in the software settings. This will disable the ability to use the volume on the Sonos remote, but if you don’t do this then the software is playing with the output and can clearly cause sound quality issues. I would check this first. Second, I would suggest using the coax output rather than the optical. Not everyone believes bits-are-bits, but jitter can certainly have audible effects on sound quality – depending on who you ask this is either a major or a minor problem. Although a small minority claims to get better results with optical, it is fairly accepted that coax is the better connection and will result in less jitter. Third, you need to make sure your ripping process is robust. Personally, I use EAC and a Plextor drive with AccurateRip to ensure the best possible rips. I rip to FLAC first and trans-code to Apple Lossless. Not everyone is this anal, but I am confident that I get bit-perfect rips. Some say that they can rip within iTunes, but I have tried that, and on some discs I have heard differences. I know Chris (the host of this wonderful site) is skeptical of even the lossless compression schemes like FLAC and Apple Lossless as he believes that they are bit-perfect, but that there may be sonic issues that enter into the chain upon playback due to conversion. In my experience, in my system, using my ripping technique, I have not been able to hear a difference between FLAC, Apple Lossless, and WAV files. I don’t necessarily conclude that this means others don’t have issues, I just haven’t had them. As you can see, there are many variables that start to come into play so it’s difficult to isolate a single culprit. I think you should be able to get equal or better sound quality out of the Sonos, assuming you can take some if not all of the advice above, but even so there are some who report that the Sonos system has higher-jitter on its outputs than competing products. There are MANY options to address this – and more coming to market shortly. One person very knowledgeable on this subject is Steve Nugent of Empirical Audio who often posts on these boards. He mods the Sonos unit and sells a Pace Car to reduce jitter. I don’t have this product, but before I bought the Sonos I used one of his Off-Ramps (and still do occasionally) with my PC. I did a bunch of blind tests comparing the Off-Ramp from the PC to the Sonos using my Bryston SP-2 as a DAC and I could not reliably tell a difference between the two. If after the above, your Sonos still isn’t sounding better than the Rotel, you can explore the Pace Car, or perhaps some other alternatives. Cullen Circuits does a modification and PS Audio is planning to release a jitter reduction device called the Lens in the coming months. For me, while I still believe I can improve the sound, I am not sure what my next upgrade will be. I can say that I am getting better results than I ever did with CD’s – I have come close to pulling the trigger on the Pace Car – but haven’t yet. Keep reading this forum to learn more and have fun. Hope this helps, Lew
  2. Chris-- This is my first post over here, but I've been reading you site for a while and I've found it quite helpful. Keep up the good work! I'm really excited about being able to use an IPhone to control ITunes and I was messing around last night AND stumbled upon something that I need some help with... From all the research I've done (both on this site and elsewhere), I was completely convinced that I would not be able to get bit-perfect output on my current machine with Itunes (Windows XP without an Airport Express) which up until last night was running Foobar with ASIO. I am connecting to my DAC/processor with an Empirical Audio Off-Ramp Turbo (the original with M-Audio Drivers). Last night I tried testing two .wav files encoded in DTS and DD played through ITunes 7.7 (with volume control set-to max). Much to my surprise, both files were played back perfectly by my processor which locked onto the signal and confirmed both bitstreams as DTS and DD. Is this really bit-perfect and can I move forward with this set-up confidently without an Airport Express? Thanks for any help or insight, Lewis
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