Can a Sonos Arc Ultra w/ Era 300s work with Roon Nucleus and CA Evo 150?

[Antares]

I have a modest collection of DTS CDs, DVD-Audio discs, SACDs and the new Blu-ray audio discs. Fortunately, my Sony UBP-X800 and Sony UBP-X800M2 players can play them all and can also bitstream Dolby Atmos and DSD signals from files on a connected thumb drive.

Not to barge in but some AVRs can play DSD from USB.

 

[Trebdp83]

Yes, and my AVR can handle a DSD two channel bitstream over wifi as well. DSD multichannel bitstreams are an issue and different devices will do different things with them when playing them over HDMI or a network connection. In many cases, the DSD signal is decoded and sent as multichannel PCM or is sent out as two channel DSD.

 

[Rossco65]

Network issues can really take the fun out of setting up new equipment. Enjoy your new setup and research. What is the TV model in use here? There are settings to consider when trying to get multichannel PCM output over eARC.

I've got a LG OLED, 65 inch C3. I've got my Nucleus in another room connected to the house router, and its connected via ethernet to my Mac (in another room). I've connected HDMI from the Nucleus to a Google 4K streamer thingy. I'm not sure if its doing anything. I read somewhere that it needs to be connected to a HDMI capable device.
I've downloaded HQPlayer but I haven't got around to setting it up yet and I'm a bit nervous after reading some initial setup stuff. Its irritating when the instructions don't seem to match what I'm seeing.
I've had a few little hiccups - like tonight, setting up a new iPad and that seemed to throw everything out of whack. But its up and going again.
I've turned off the telly lately and just find myself listening to music like I did when I was a teen back in the early 80's. Loving it.

 

[Trebdp83]

The Nucleus and the “Google 4K streamer thingy,” which is probably the Chromecast 4K, each have HDMI output ports and connecting one to the other will do nothing.

The Sonos Arc Ultra is Roon Tested but not Roon Ready. So, using a network connection, the Nucleus can use Airplay 2 or Chromecast to get a signal to AVP/AVRs and Soundbars that support them. The Sonos Arc Ultra supports Airplay 2 but not Chromecast.

Unfortunately, multichannel DSD files will not be supported over Airplay 2 or Chromecast. Multichannel DSD signals will work over the network if the receiving device is Roon Ready and the signal will be converted to PCM(DoP.)

When using the HDMI output port on the Nucleus, or Mac/PC used as the Roon Core, DSD multichannel signals are output as multichannel PCM to the connected AVP/AVR.

There are only a few Roon Ready multichannel receivers out there. JBL, Pioneer and Onkyo have some Roon Ready receivers on the market. They will be able to handle DSD multichannel signals over a network using DoP.)

Using Airplay 2 to get music from the Nucleus to the Sonos Arc Ultra will be limited to 2ch signals and DSD multichannel signals will not be supported at all and a 2ch signal will be sent instead.

Using a supported iPad model, the “Trueplay” room correction feature of the Sonoc Arc Ultra will be available for use to adjust the audio output.

I still recommend using an AVR and better speakers for the setup and would also recommend a Roon Ready model for use with the Nucleus if connected to it over a network. A Roon Tested model would need to be connected to the Nucleus via HDMI to receive multichannel signals.

A Mac with sufficient storage running Roon connected to a Roon Ready receiver over a network would make the Nucleus completely unnecessary. On the other hand, using the Nucleus over a network with the Roon app in an iPad makes a Mac unnecessary here since the Nucleus can Airplay directly to a device that is not Roon Ready.

 

[Rossco65]

Thank you so much for your very comprehensive reply. I very much appreciate it.
I'm stuck with the Sonos system for a while as its impractical for me to have anything else - at this time. (more KFC Mum?)

However, I will certainly upgrade to a `proper' system and am indulging my nerdy chromosomes in research, so I'll be prepared for that day. I have an old SACD of David Bowie's Heathen with a 5.1 mix.
I played it the other day and was shocked at how awful it was. When I purchased it nearly 20 years ago, I had a Sony Home Theatre in a Box system, and I thought it was terrific. Over my Sonos sound bar with the two rears - yuck! DB's voice was crystal clear front and centre, but the band sounded like it was half a kilometre away. Lol.

Playing the stereo version of the disc was still lovely, though. The two-channel stereo over the Sonos system has a pleasant way of surrounding me with music. I can still listen to Atmos from Tidal and Apple, and I like it. However, this has switched me onto the possibilities of a good, audiophile-level surround sound system.
Thank you again for your help.

 

[isolar8001]

Thank you so much for your very comprehensive reply. I very much appreciate it.
I'm stuck with the Sonos system for a while as its impractical for me to have anything else - at this time. (more KFC Mum?)

However, I will certainly upgrade to a `proper' system and am indulging my nerdy chromosomes in research, so I'll be prepared for that day. I have an old SACD of David Bowie's Heathen with a 5.1 mix.
I played it the other day and was shocked at how awful it was. When I purchased it nearly 20 years ago, I had a Sony Home Theatre in a Box system, and I thought it was terrific. Over my Sonos sound bar with the two rears - yuck! DB's voice was crystal clear front and centre, but the band sounded like it was half a kilometre away. Lol.

Playing the stereo version of the disc was still lovely, though. The two-channel stereo over the Sonos system has a pleasant way of surrounding me with music. I can still listen to Atmos from Tidal and Apple, and I like it. However, this has switched me onto the possibilities of a good, audiophile-level surround sound system.
Thank you again for your help.

As a Bowie fan since 1972, I know what you mean about the Heathen 5.1 SACD.
It sounds awful no matter what you play it on.