I can get my Sonar box sounding better than Joe's PT rig up the street. I think the question of whether Sonar sounds better than PT, is answered correctly by: It depends on who's using it. Maybe the audio interface in question is. All I know is that Nuendo and Samplitude sounded way better. My tests were strickly software through a digi interface using ASIO drivers and there own proprietary drivers. Between these two you are comparing hardware. I've never tried Sonar, but I dought it sounds better than Pro Tools HD. All I know is that through the same path they sound very different, I ditched Pro Tools LE, because it sound worse than the others. This may be due to the Plugin delay compensation or the mix bus or just they way they are coded. I can hear a big difference between Pro Tools LE and Nuendo and Samplitude. I guarantee they will be differences, but how audible is another question. Some do it one way which will sound diiferent than another. It really depends on the talent of the programmers. I write code so yes there are differences. They all sound a little different, with Samplitude and Nuendo having an edge. Listen to Pro Tools LE and Samplitude or Nuendo. There definitely are audible differences.

Pro tools first vs cakewalk by bandlab