DAC use

[Juliemeikle]

I have a Wiim Ultra, but find it a little harsh with my Quad Atera Play+ and Artera Stereo power amp to Spendor speakers. The CD is great with no harshness. If I add a Signature v2 will it play the CD through the Zen DAC or canI keep the internal Quad DAC for the CD and just use the Zen for the Wiim streamer?

 

[harkpabst]

How do you connect the WiiM Ultra to your Artera Play+? Analogue or digital inputs on the Play+?

The built-in CD player will always use the internal DAC.

 

[Juliemeikle]

How do you connect the WiiM Ultra to your Artera Play+? Analogue or digital inputs on the Play+?

The built-in CD player will always use the internal DAC.

Coaxial and sometimes I shift to RCA, but not a lot of (if any) difference as the DACs are very similar chips.
Also wondering about the Fiio K11 R2R

 

[harkpabst]

The built-in CD player will always use the internal DAC.

I should be more precise here: The built-in CD player will always use the internal DAC as long as you connect the analogue out of the Play+ to the Artera stereo amp. You could feed the coaxial or optical output of the Play+ into an external DAC if you want to.

Coaxial and sometimes I shift to RCA, but not a lot of (if any) difference as the DACs are very similar chips.

I don't believe in ugly ESS hump vs. velvet AKM vs. superior NOS R2R sound, so Im not the right person to help here.

If there is such a big difference in sound, either something is not set up ideally (did you try different RCA output levels?) or some EQ is applied unnoticed of some EQ is needed to make it sound right.