Issue with Distortion at Very Low Volume When Using WiiM Ultra with External DAC

Smartplug said:
I just tried that as well zero distortion whether music playing or not. It was set to 1. No hiss, no distortion. The dac I used for that matter was smal do200 mikii. Coax, usb and optical produce zero distortion. My ultra is not connected to tv or any source aside from its built in streaming. What amp do you have? I ask because you tried another dac and was same outcome. If all fail, send message to wiim via app it will send your log to them to check. If determine it was ultra is the problem it will be replace free of charge. I think they have 5 years warranty.
Click to expand...
Why do you think they have 5 year warranty?
 
I have an Audiophonics AP300-S500NC power amplifier, and I’ve resolved the issue by setting the WiiM to a fixed volume of 100% and using my DAC as the controller. This way, the sound isn’t distorted anymore in very low signal levels, but I’ve lost the enjoyment of controlling my system using the WiiM application’s volume controls.
 
AssafAviv said:
I have an Audiophonics AP300-S500NC power amplifier, and I’ve resolved the issue by setting the WiiM to a fixed volume of 100% and using my DAC as the controller. This way, the sound isn’t distorted anymore in very low signal levels, but I’ve lost the enjoyment of controlling my system using the WiiM application’s volume controls.
Click to expand...
Have you reported it to WiiM?
 
AssafAviv said:
I’ve lost the enjoyment of controlling my system using the WiiM application’s volume controls.
Click to expand...
That's was the whole reason for me to buy an Ultra, coming from a Pro with external DAC. Not really a "solution" is it? Curious to hear what WiiM have to say because I was looking at getting the same DAC.
 
AssafAviv said:
Hi everyone,

I own a WiiM Ultra and have encountered an issue when connecting it to an external DAC (Topping E70 Velvet) in the following setup:

• Volume is controlled via the WiiM app (I have only power amplifier and not an integrated or dedicated pre-amp).
• The signal is sent digitally to the DAC (usually over USB).
• The DAC is set to Fixed Volume mode.

The problem arises at very low volume levels (around volume level 1 in the WiiM app). In this range, the audio sounds distorted. However, when I increase the volume significantly, the distortion disappears.

I first noticed this problem while listening to music late at night at a low volume to avoid disturbing my family. The distortion is particularly noticeable when playing CD-quality tracks (16-bit, 44.1kHz).

To rule out other potential causes, I tested a similar digital audio configuration using a PC/Mac, as well as an optical connection from my TV directly to the DAC. In both cases, the issue did not occur.
Click to expand...

I share the exact same problem. Only recognised it a couple of days ago, not sure whether it was always there or not.

In any case, high level of distortion and noise at listening levels 1-5 (wiim control). Only effects digial outputs, I tested USB and Coax. I actually feed the Ultra output into a Denafrips DDC and then into the DAC via i2s with high quality Audioquest cables. If I use other sources then the Ultra, e.g. my Macbook via USB, there is no problem. Tested now several days before I found this thread and am kind of relieved the problem is not related to my digital chain. Problem reported to wiim Support today.

I hope this is some kind of bug or something that can be fixed. I am also dependent on the Wiim Ultra volume control as I feed the DAC (also without volume control) directly into my Bryston power amp.
 
I use optical out and I haven't heard it, but I cannot remember playing below much below 50% either. (I'm not much into background music, and when I play Mahler the volume control is typically at 80%, and maybe more on some early CDs that are recorded without limiters and therefore rather conservative on the preamp gain. Digital dynamic clipping sounds like squares.)
 
I'm having the same distortion iisue with my new wiim ultra, that I got 3 days ago,that why I'm here after doing a Google search about the issue,my setup consists of zen stream -usb to gustard x16 dac then rca to topping headphone amp/hifiman sundara,so to compare the ultra to the zen stream I connected the wiim ultra with spidf to my gustard x16 dac,I then played the same track on the wiim ultra and zen stream and switched between inputs on the gustard x16 dac to compare the sound quality,I heard a difference right away,the zen stream was alot cleaner sounding,and the zen stream is about 3-4 dB louder for some reason when I switch between the zen and ultra,and ive jst read 2 other posts on here today from other users that' the volume output is low on the ultra,
compared to the wiim ultra,I hear better bass and detail with the zen stream,I thought I was hearing some kind of distortion so I switched from spidf to usb on the ultra and usb to spidf on the zen stream,checked all my cables,made sure eq was off and wiim ultra was at 100% volume,but its still the same,it's dosent sound very good at all,running the latest fw
 
Last edited:
hash70 said:
... and wiim ultra was at 100% volume ...
Click to expand...
The OP is about distortion when the WiiM Ultra is controlling the volume and the volume setting is very low. Possibly an entirely different subject.

AssafAviv said:
Just put your DAC at full volume (fixed) and play at volume 1 in the WiiM the following song (a good example), and listen to the right speaker - Joao Jilberto - Izaura (https://tidal.com/track/362326485?u)
Click to expand...
Do you happen to have fixed output resolution enabled on the WiiM Ultra?

If so, could you try to disable it and re-read your original setup?

See here:
E

Post in thread 'Really bad resampling of 44.1kHz/16bits files with Fixed Resoultion SPDIF setting'

So, in the meantime I have tested the optical output of the Wiim Ultra directly, and not on the analog outputs of my external DAC. I tested all combinations of sampling rates and bitdepths, below are just the respresentative ones.
The summary remains as identified before:
- 24 bits in the input will always resample correctly independently of the output setting
- 16 bits inputs are not correctly resampled when the resmpling is non-integer

44k/16b to 48k/16b: not ok
44k16bTo48k16b.png

44k/16b to 48k/24b: not ok
44k16bTo48k24b.png

44k/24b to 48k/16b: ok
44k24bTo48k16b.png


44k/24b to 48k/24b: ok
44k24bTo48k24b.png...
  • Like
 
harkpabst said:
The OP is about distortion when the WiiM Ultra is controlling the volume and the volume setting is very low. Possibly an entirely different subject.


Do you happen to have fixed output resolution enabled on the WiiM Ultra?

If so, could you try to disable it and re-read your original setup?

See here:
E

Post in thread 'Really bad resampling of 44.1kHz/16bits files with Fixed Resoultion SPDIF setting'

So, in the meantime I have tested the optical output of the Wiim Ultra directly, and not on the analog outputs of my external DAC. I tested all combinations of sampling rates and bitdepths, below are just the respresentative ones.
The summary remains as identified before:
- 24 bits in the input will always resample correctly independently of the output setting
- 16 bits inputs are not correctly resampled when the resmpling is non-integer

44k/16b to 48k/16b: not ok
44k16bTo48k16b.png

44k/16b to 48k/24b: not ok
44k16bTo48k24b.png

44k/24b to 48k/16b: ok
44k24bTo48k16b.png


44k/24b to 48k/24b: ok
44k24bTo48k24b.png...
  • Like
Click to expand...
I have to say that I'm not sure I understand you. can you try to explain again? :)
 
slartibartfast said:
You said your issue was at 100% volume. The issue in this thread occurs at 1 on the volume scale.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the issue accurs at 1 on the volume. Yeah, the issue occurs at 1 on the volume. However, I recently purchased a preamplifier and set the WiiM to 100% volume (which has resolved the distortion issue). I prefer to control the preamplifier rather than the WiiM volume itself for this issue.
 
AssafAviv said:
The answer is no; the resolution changes as a function of the played music.
Click to expand...
OK, in this case your issue is probably unrelated to the thread I linked to.

I just noticed that you said the issue was most pronounced at CD resolution and I was speculating if the effect described there might become more obvious at low volume settings.
 
hash70 said:
I'm having the same distortion iisue with my new wiim ultra, that I got 3 days ago,that why I'm here after doing a Google search about the issue,my setup consists of zen stream -usb to gustard x16 dac then rca to topping headphone amp/hifiman sundara,so to compare the ultra to the zen stream I connected the wiim ultra with spidf to my gustard x16 dac,I then played the same track on the wiim ultra and zen stream and switched between inputs on the gustard x16 dac to compare the sound quality,I heard a difference right away,the zen stream was alot cleaner sounding,and the zen stream is about 3-4 dB louder for some reason when I switch between the zen and ultra,and ive jst read 2 other posts on here today from other users that' the volume output is low on the ultra,
compared to the wiim ultra,I hear better bass and detail with the zen stream,I thought I was hearing some kind of distortion so I switched from spidf to usb on the ultra and usb to spidf on the zen stream,checked all my cables,made sure eq was off and wiim ultra was at 100% volume,but its still the same,it's dosent sound very good at all,running the latest fw
Click to expand...
It sounds strange! Because the WiiM provides a bit-perfect sound when you don’t touch the EQ and the volume is set to a fixed (100%) level. Therefore, there’s no reason for any change (in terms of sound quality or volume) between these streamers…
 
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