Sonos Five Smart Speaker Review

[Siggy]

How could it?

All that using an external DAC does is insert an additional D->A and A->D conversion into the chain.

Repeatedly converting your audio to analog and back to digital does not increase signal quality.

I am not saying that AUX automatically has superior audio quality over Wifi, I am just saying that it can .

I agree that repeatedly converting music via DA and AD will not increase signal quality.

However, I do not think it degrades it. During the recording and mastering of a record, the music gets converted a fair amount of times without degrading it.

As for AUX vs Wifi, I asked Google AI if AUX has higher audio quality than WiFi and it came up with this very reasonable explanation.

Really though, anyone who is an audiophile or even just a music lover owes it to themself to experiment and see for themselves in cases like this. Certainly dont take my word for it or even Google Ai's word.

One thing AI didnt mention : It also comes down to the individual quality of a speakers AUX preamp hardware and WIFI audio hardware.


Per Google Ai

Yes, generally speaking, AUX IN will provide significantly higher audio quality than WiFi because a wired connection like AUX experiences minimal data loss compared to the wireless transmission involved in WiFi, which can lead to some degradation in sound quality, especially when streaming high-resolution audio files.

Key points to remember:

• Wired vs Wireless:
  Wired connections like AUX typically offer superior sound quality due to the direct transfer of audio data without compression or signal interference that can occur with wireless connections.
  
  
• Data Compression:
  WiFi may need to compress audio data to transmit it efficiently, which can result in some loss of audio detail.
  
  
• Audiophile Preference:
  Audiophiles often prefer AUX connections for their ability to deliver the most accurate representation of the original audio signal.
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  Per Chat GPT
• Does AUX have better sound quality than wifi?
  

  ChatGPT said:​

  When comparing AUX (analog) and Wi-Fi (digital) in terms of sound quality, there are a few key factors to consider:
  

  1. Signal Quality and Interference:​

  • AUX: An analog signal is transmitted through a physical cable, meaning there's less risk of interference (outside of potential cable damage or poor connections). However, the quality can degrade with long or low-quality cables.
  • Wi-Fi: Wireless audio streaming can be prone to interference or signal drops, especially in congested networks or with poor router placement. However, modern Wi-Fi standards (like Wi-Fi 6) have greatly improved performance.
  • 2. Audio Fidelity:
  • AUX: It provides a direct, uncompressed signal (assuming high-quality cables and source), which can give a more consistent sound quality.
  • Wi-Fi: Streaming audio over Wi-Fi can involve compression, which may slightly affect the audio quality. However, if you're using a high-quality streaming service with minimal compression (e.g., FLAC, or lossless formats), Wi-Fi can still deliver excellent audio quality.
  • 3. Convenience:
  • AUX: Requires a physical connection, which can be less convenient and limit movement.
  • Wi-Fi: Provides more flexibility and can support multiple devices without physical connections, but may not always offer the same raw quality as a direct analog connection.
  • Conclusion:
  In terms of raw sound quality, AUX may have the edge, especially in terms of consistent, uncompressed signal delivery. However, with modern Wi-Fi technology and high-quality digital streaming, Wi-Fi can still offer great sound quality, especially if you're using lossless audio formats.
  Ultimately, it depends on your specific setup, the quality of your audio equipme
  
  

 

[Siggy]

They have a few of these at the gym I go to, but it looks like some are failing. One of them sounded like it had a blown woofer.

Out of curiosity, I had a look to see if you could find replacement drivers. Doesn't look like it.

Also, I thought it odd that an active/DSP speaker should allow the driver to be damaged. You would think that they would limit or cut power to prevent damage.

Yea, I just looked and dont see replacement woofers anywhere.

If you ever blow one of the speakers you could always buy a broken late model Play 5 on ebay (appears to have identical sized drivers) which is bound to have at least one functioning woofer, or ask the seller if he is willing to part it out.

 

[AaronJ]

As for AUX vs Wifi, I asked Google AI if AUX has higher audio quality than WiFi and it came up with this very reasonable explanation.

The AI explanation is terrible. It straddles the fence with words like "can" and "may" in every single sentence. Spoken like a true audiophile.