Mitome wrote:

Hi all. Just arrived to the forum - and I'm impressed by the quality of the comments.
Maybe you can guide me, please. Since ~2 years I'm the (proud) owner of a Sonus Connect, connected via coax to an external DAC (Cambridge Audio Azur 851C). We are all aware of the resolution limitations of the Sonus. Since I'm willing to jump up to 24/192, I've given a look into the Bluesound Node 2. I've been reading that its internal DAC is capable of sounding great. My doubt is: if I use a Node 2, will my Cambridge Audio become redundant/unnecessary (besides the ability to play CDs, of course).
Thanks in advance for your guidance.

What you propose will not improve the sound quality at all. Stick with your current setup.

The resolution limitations of the Sonos Connect are not really the issue. If you are streaming programming from the net and listening to it, much of that content is streamed by the content originator at low data rates that compromise fidelity (some stations/sites transmit higher data rates than others). The Sonos itself is not really a limiting factor. It can't improve on what it receives.

You can't take something that has low fidelity due to a limited data rate and add anything to it to upgrade fidelity. You can't improve resolution if the content is low-resolution to start with. That is like trying to improve the resolution of a grainy photo print by looking at it with a magnifying glass; it will still be just as grainy, only larger.

We simply have to accept that much of the streaming content on the net is not very high fidelity and never can be made so, because the originator makes it that way. I limit my listening to the sources that transmit higher data rates.

One thing that MIGHT improve your sound quality is to replace the coaxial link between the Sonos and the 851C with an optical connection. Coaxial links are not always free of issues, depending on the cable impedance match to the circuits etc. (I assume you ARE using a true 75 ohm digital cable and not some ordinary interconnect).