Digital Drive: REVIEW: Sonos Connect (wyred 4 sound modified) DAC Processors by bullethead

Model:	Connect (wyred 4 sound modified)
Category:	DAC Processors
Suggested Retail Price:	$890.00
Description:	Sonos Connect - Modified
Manufacturer URL:	Sonos

Review by bullethead on August 23, 2015 at 06:10:44
IP Address: 173.68.57.130 Add Your Review
for the Connect (wyred 4 sound modified)

The wyred 4 sound modifications to the Sonos Connect does the following modifications:

High-end sample rate converter made by TI
Low jitter clock with less than .5ps jitter
Low noise power supply for the clock and SR
Micro processor controller
Input & output digital buffers

I've had the stock sonos connect for over a year, I pulled the trigger on the modified version from wyred 4 sound.

This is a night and day difference in sound quality, sort of like using a low quality analogue output and suddenly then using a high quality DAC.

The software as a service model is here, I use Deezer Elite FLAC streaming service and fall back to google music when albums are not available, the Sonos also supports Tidal as well as other lossless music services. Personally I don't mind a $10 or $20 or $30 bill a month for lots of music available at my fingertips, full albums at lossless CD quality. Sonos Connect doesn't support anything higher than HDCD quality 16 bit 48khz but I could care less as this is good enough for the convenience and software (music) availability.

Sound is very realistic, I would say it sounds much better than the stock Squeezebox touch into a DAC. Hi-Res, who cares, I haven't seen a high-res streaming service.

Product Weakness:	look of it, looks like a toaster
Product Strengths:	convenience

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Ben Canto REF500s
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Bel Canto Pre3
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Sonos Connect (modified wyred 4 sound)
Speakers: Gallo Ref 3.5
Cables/Interconnects: Nordost
Music Used (Genre/Selections): various
Time Period/Length of Audition: years
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Ben Canto REF500s
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Bel Canto Pre3
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sonos Connect (modified wyred 4 sound)
Speakers:	Gallo Ref 3.5
Cables/Interconnects:	Nordost
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	various
Time Period/Length of Audition:	years
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner