A Sonos Connect with a re-clocker can provide very good sound. IÂve compared the standard and Wyred4Sound modified units using a good $1,300 Dac, and the W4S Connect is much better. Another option is using the standard Connect with an Empirical Audio Synchro-Mesh re-clocker. As you probably know, the Sonos interface is excellent and streaming glitches are rare. Access to Spotify, Mog/Beats, and Pandora is easy and quick. Qoboz CD bit rate streaming may be added soon in the U.S. So the Sonos with re-clocker is an excellent choice for ease of use and sound quality.
That said, a Mac Mini can provide better quality sound when using a very good USB converter, high-resolution sources, and better playback software (e.g., Pure Music). But this also brings added complexity. The Apple Remote IPad application is excellent for controlling stored music. But IÂve yet to find a good solution for controlling Pandora, Spotify or other browser-based internet radio stations. Are there any? Second party apps for Spotify are rather poor, IMO. VNC solutions work but are really awkward, with really small text. As for sound quality, CD quality sources on a Mac Mini should sound better than Sonos. High resolution files sound better yet. With 320K sources like internet radio, I doubt there will be much difference in sound quality with the low bit rate and better playback software cannot be used, but I have no personal experience in this area.
You might want to tryout some of the applications to control Spotify, Pandora, including the VNC apps, before buying a Mac Mini. I did and was convinced to stay with the W4S Sonos for the time being.
That said, a Mac Mini can provide better quality sound when using a very good USB converter, high-resolution sources, and better playback software (e.g., Pure Music). But this also brings added complexity. The Apple Remote IPad application is excellent for controlling stored music. But IÂve yet to find a good solution for controlling Pandora, Spotify or other browser-based internet radio stations. Are there any? Second party apps for Spotify are rather poor, IMO. VNC solutions work but are really awkward, with really small text. As for sound quality, CD quality sources on a Mac Mini should sound better than Sonos. High resolution files sound better yet. With 320K sources like internet radio, I doubt there will be much difference in sound quality with the low bit rate and better playback software cannot be used, but I have no personal experience in this area.
You might want to tryout some of the applications to control Spotify, Pandora, including the VNC apps, before buying a Mac Mini. I did and was convinced to stay with the W4S Sonos for the time being.