Native DSD support via USB

[Devon]

I bought a Wiim Ultra for DSD files, unfortunately the files downloaded from the DLNA server are converted by Wiim Ultra to PCM 192/24. Is there any way to add full DSD support via USB output? Are there any hardware limitations of the Wiim Ultra or is it just a software issue?

 

[slartibartfast]

Not sure what you mean - both support DSD playback, see either the WiiM Uktra or WiiM Pro Plus firmware pages where you’ll see DSD support mentioned e.g. https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support/solutions/articles/72000631650-wiim-ultra-firmware-release-notes

They do transcode it to PCM though.

 

[Burnside]

They do transcode it to PCM though.

Or process them in the DAC and output analog?

 

[slartibartfast]

Or process them in the DAC and output analog?

I think they still convert to PCM first or volume control wouldn't work.

 

[dtc]

Not sure what you mean - both support DSD playback, see either the WiiM Uktra or WiiM Pro Plus firmware pages where you’ll see DSD support mentioned e.g. https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support/solutions/articles/72000631650-wiim-ultra-firmware-release-notes

That converts the DSD to PCM. The idea is to have DSD played as DSD. The DAC chips support that but Wiim has not implemented it.

 

[Mike in NY]

Not sure what you mean - both support DSD playback, see either the WiiM Uktra or WiiM Pro Plus firmware pages where you’ll see DSD support mentioned e.g. https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support/solutions/articles/72000631650-wiim-ultra-firmware-release-notes

What's I mean is all playback is via transcoding to PCM, not native DSD, despite the DAC chipsets used in the Pro Plus and Ultra being capable of native DSD:

Playing DSD Audio Files on WiiM Devices

All WiiM devices, except for the WiiM Mini, support DSD audio file playback. These devices convert DSD content into PCM data for playback, with a sample rate of up to 192kHz. Here are the ways you can play DSD audio files on WiiM devices: ...

faq.wiimhome.com

 

[reniro]

could it also be a license thing (cost) and the reason why its not implemented ?

 

[EddNog]

could it also be a license thing (cost) and the reason why its not implemented ?

DSD is not proprietary and does not require added licensing.

I’m fairly sure they want nothing to do with true DSD because DSP cannot be applied to DSD, including digital volume control. If you wanted to listen to native DSD safely, they’d have to add an analog volume control (since they wouldn’t enable native DSD solely for external DACs).

-Ed

 

[dtc]

DSD is not proprietary and does not require added licensing.

If you wanted to listen to native DSD safely, they’d have to add an analog volume control (since they wouldn’t enable native DSD solely for external DACs).

-Ed

Two issues here. Pass through and decoding.

The systems I am familiar with that pass DSD through without decoding do indeed pass the signal through with any volume change. The DAC and/or the preamp control the volume.

If the DAC decodes the DSD signal to analog, then the volume control can be either digital or analog. The point is that the DAC decoded the DSD without going to PCM.