T3 Awards 2020: Sonos Port is the streaming DAC with two killer weapons

The best streaming DAC brings all the benefits of cord-free audio streaming to your home speakers, and nobody does cord-free audio streaming better right now than Sonos. That's why it's our DAC winner in the T3 Awards 2020. You'll take to it like a DAC to water!

The Sonos Port is the successor to the venerable Sonos Connect, and it turns your trusty turntable into the heart of your multi-room music system by sharing what may well be your very best audio source with your entire house. 

However, the Port's talents do not end there. Mais non. As well as streaming your vinyl to any Sonos speakers you have arrayed around your domicile, this compact magic box also has a wired audio output.That means it can also turn your fusty old hi-fi, soundbar or any other powered speaker with an audio input, into a thrustingly modern Sonos speaker.

With the right positioning, or very long wires, it can even do both of these tricks simultaneously. Oh yeah.

It works best with Sonos’s own app, but you can also stream via AirPlay 2 from Apple devices and laptops using iTunes.

The Port also has an extremely discreet, compact industrial design. It's built with the professional installer in mind, and three Ports will slide seamlessly into a standard AV rack. However, that compactitude also means it's extremely to place in your home, even if you are not a professional installer. In fact, with Sonos' easy setup, intuitive, if slightly sprawling app, and rock solid connectivity 'installing' the Port is absolute child's play.

Most importantly, the Port's beefed-up DAC delivers clear, balanced and detailed audio. It makes the most of even the ropiest Spotify stream but feed it something of higher quality – Tidal HiFi or Amazon HD, for instance – and it sounds absolutely corking. There's no support for audio of above CD quality but arguably you don't need it. 

•  T3 Awards 2020 – all the big announcements so far, from phones to fitness