Poll: Ultra with external DAC

Have you already tried your WiiM Ultra with an external DAC?

  • No and I don't feel the need to. The Ultra sounds perfect for me (what are your references?)

    Votes: 29 33.7%

  • No, but I am planning to do so later. I feel like there is room for improvement. (references?)

    Votes: 7 8.1%

  • Yes, but I could not hear a significant difference (which DAC model and connection method?)

    Votes: 6 7.0%

  • Yes and there was a clear improvement (which DAC model and connection method?)

    Votes: 32 37.2%

  • other

    Votes: 9 10.5%

  • Yes, but there was only a minor improvement, the Ultra sounds good enough.

    Votes: 3 3.5%
  • Total voters
    86
I wonder what Amir at Audio Science Review or Gene at Audioholics could produce as honest graphic measurements if one of the "Better with External DAC" crowd could send in both their Ultra and External Dac (and cables/PS necessary too make it so)...
 
s3igell said:
I wonder what Amir at Audio Science Review or Gene at Audioholics could produce as honest graphic measurements if one of the "Better with External DAC" crowd could send in both their Ultra and External Dac (and cables/PS necessary too make it so)...
Click to expand...
Well ASR said this about the rme. (I think it’s a positive review)

Overall combination of features and performance pushes me to give the RME ADI-2 FS DAC V2 my strong recommendation. Indeed, I am still listening to it as I type this and will make it my everyday DAC+amp at my workstation.
 
Muffinman71 said:
Well ASR said this about the rme. (I think it’s a positive review)

Overall combination of features and performance pushes me to give the RME ADI-2 FS DAC V2 my strong recommendation. Indeed, I am still listening to it as I type this and will make it my everyday DAC+amp at my workstation.
Click to expand...
That’s a review of that standalone DAC, not in comparison against an Ultra though
 
Amazon Music for me as it ticked a lot of boxes - I already had been using it for a few years before WiiM devices came along (indeed the WiiM Mini’s full support of Amazon Music up to 24/192 was the reason I bought it); I and the wider family had Echo devices which supported it (unlike Qobuz or Tidal); we have a family subscription and I have prime which means five of us have access to full res hi res music for around £3 per month per head; and finally, I couldn’t hear a difference between the different services - surely Qobuz and Tidal didn’t manage to get all the good masters when someone like Amazon and its purchasing power didn’t?
 
Burnside said:
Burnside

Thread 'Do Streaming Services Have a Sound?'

Some might find this article interesting or something to agree/disagree with ;)

positive-feedback.com

Do Streaming Services Have a Sound? - Positive Feedback

Do Streaming Services Have a Sound?
positive-feedback.com positive-feedback.com
  • Like
Click to expand...

I do hear diffs between Qobuz and Apple on the tracks posted on that article. And yes, all playback settings are correct. I suspect different masters. To my ear, and I have sampled Qobuz and Apple for a long time, Apple sounds better, but of course it is a personal preference. I use Apple even when that makes plyaback harder as my WiiiM streamers do not work with it directly. In addition, Apple has one of the best metadata support systems, in particular its Classical app.

Re Amazom Music. I was a subscriber to AMU for over a year. Be careful as it often transcodes all tracks depending on what app/device/OS being used. In other words one may not be getting original bit-perfect playback with Amazon.
 
adias said:
I do hear diffs between Qobuz and Apple on the tracks posted on that article. And yes, all playback settings are correct. I suspect different masters. To my ear, and I have sampled Qobuz and Apple for a long time, Apple sounds better, but of course it is a personal preference. I use Apple even when that makes plyaback harder as my WiiiM streamers do not work with it directly. In addition, Apple has one of the best metadata support systems, in particular its Classical app.

Re Amazom Music. I was a subscriber to AMU for over a year. Be careful as it often transcodes all tracks depending on what app/device/OS being used. In other words one may not be getting original bit-perfect playback with Amazon.
Click to expand...
Cannot agree more.
I bought wiim ultra only for its Room Correction, Toslink Denoise Buffer, USB output capability, VU Metre Display, Digital Volume Preamp.

No Airplay, not a problem.
There's a better way for streaming Apple Muisc Hi-Res Lossless.
iPad > Cubilux Type C to Toslink Converter > Wiim Ultra > Matrix Audio X-SPDIF3 USB DDC > I2S to SMSL M400 DAC
 
Last edited:
adias said:
Re Amazom Music. I was a subscriber to AMU for over a year. Be careful as it often transcodes all tracks depending on what app/device/OS being used. In other words one may not be getting original bit-perfect playback with Amazon.
Click to expand...
Yeah, aware that it plays everything at the resolution of the device it’s connected to using its apps, but it’s bit perfect on WiiM devices.
 
manyung1987 said:
Cannot agree more.
I bought wiim ultra only for its Room Correction, Toslink Denoise Buffer, USB output capability, VU Metre Display, Digital Volume Preamp.

No Airplay, not a problem.
There's a better way for streaming Apple Muisc Hi-Res Lossless.
iPad > Cubilux Type C to Toslink Converter > Wiim Ultra > Matrix Audio X-SPDIF3 USB DDC > I2S to SMSL M400 DAC
Click to expand...

Sure, but if using a wired iPad (as I do) why don't you connect it to the DAC directly? Assuming the DAC has a USB input as many today do.

Also for an AirPlay remote control experience.... for tracks up to CD quality (the majority), an iPad/iPhone can Airplay 1 to an Airport Express connected via toslink to Urd. And even higher res tracks are transcoded quite well. Apple does a good job at that, better than others.
 
adias said:
I do hear diffs between Qobuz and Apple on the tracks posted on that article. And yes, all playback settings are correct. I suspect different masters. To my ear, and I have sampled Qobuz and Apple for a long time, Apple sounds better, but of course it is a personal preference. I use Apple even when that makes plyaback harder as my WiiiM streamers do not work with it directly. In addition, Apple has one of the best metadata support systems, in particular its Classical app.

Re Amazom Music. I was a subscriber to AMU for over a year. Be careful as it often transcodes all tracks depending on what app/device/OS being used. In other words one may not be getting original bit-perfect playback with Amazon.
Click to expand...

Can I use Chromecast for lossless playback when using Apple music on my Android phone and WiiM?
 
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