Poll: Ultra with external DAC

[MonoMariop]

Stopping now.

 

[dangermouse]

Can we stop this nonsense for once!!!!!

If only...but this is a Hi-Fi forum, so dream on.

 

[MonoMariop]

If only...but this is a Hi-Fi forum, so dream on.

Indeed

 

[Bozzz]

That is just silly and you will NEVER pass a blind test to prove such bogus claims. The Ultra dac is transparent beyond what ANY human can hear already except for the overactive imagination of some people lol
Can we stop this nonsense for once!!!!!

Perfect answer. Well said

 

[Zap Rekowski]

Wiim Ultra DAC: Good enough for background or casual listening. Once you compare side-by-side, you’ll hear the flatness.

Modi E: Noticeable upgrade — more presence, space, and warmth.

Mojo 2: Big leap — more depth, realism and exceptional detail retrieval.

Listening on a pair of Genelec 8040B + Rel T/5x sub and also on the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro. The jump from Wiim Ultra to Modi E is worth it. Mojo 2, though, is the way to go in my case. Having a great time with this setup

“I used to jog but the ice cubes kept falling out of my glass.”
Dave Lee Roth, Van Halen

 

[d00]

I ordered SU-1 from S.M.S.L. and I want to test my Ultra with it and see how it will sound. I know that the DAC in the centre is different. I'm curious how it will sound. My current set is Fosi P3 + Fosi V3 monoblock.

 

[BowsAndArrows]

Stopping now.

ah, mate that's nonsense! the other forum members don't have a right to stop you from continuing a discussion...

in fact if there are so many people that can't handle somebody having a different opinion to their own - then maybe they should be the ones to leave?? we get it, you think we're wrong, audiofools, or whatever...

instead of letting that get under your skin so much, and just repeating the same boring lines that don't add to the discussion, maybe just take a chill pill and relax? this is just a friendly reminder to everyone - you don't have to respond to EVERYTHING!!

 

[BowsAndArrows]

Wiim Ultra DAC: Good enough for background or casual listening. Once you compare side-by-side, you’ll hear the flatness.

Modi E: Noticeable upgrade — more presence, space, and warmth.

Mojo 2: Big leap — more depth, realism and exceptional detail retrieval.

Listening on a pair of Genelec 8040B + Rel T/5x sub and also on the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro. The jump from Wiim Ultra to Modi E is worth it. Mojo 2, though, is the way to go in my case. Having a great time with this setup

thanks for sharing. it may or may not help anyone, but i've had similar listening impressions comparing the WiiM Pro and Mini analogue outputs to the Mojo 2.

even with DSP enabled in my active speaker setup on the analogue inputs (and thus an extra A>D conversion before playback), there is still enough of a difference for me to prefer the Mojo 2 sound overall... i wouldn't say it's worth it just for that difference in price - since the setup still sounds pretty good to me using the digital inputs on the speakers. but if you appreciate the features, portability, and headphone amp - then the Mojo 2 is a worthy companion to your WiiM setup.

 

[MonoMariop]

ah, mate that's nonsense! the other forum members don't have a right to stop you from continuing a discussion...

in fact if there are so many people that can't handle somebody having a different opinion to their own - then maybe they should be the ones to leave?? we get it, you think we're wrong, audiofools, or whatever...

instead of letting that get under your skin so much, and just repeating the same boring lines that don't add to the discussion, maybe just take a chill pill and relax? this is just a friendly reminder to everyone - you don't have to respond to EVERYTHING!!

Opinions are things that can be argued about...I prefer this type of music over that one..or that singer over that one...Pepsi vs Coca-Cola..etc

On the other hand, the ones you are referring to as "opinions" those are absurd claims for which there is ZERO evidence, in fact, there is plenty of evidence and proof against them that is undeniable.
In a case like this, that is no longer an "opinion" but blind faith stubbornness
And indeed you don't have to respond to everything either
This hobby has been tainted by snake oil and absurd claims for too long. Its time people wake up and stop giving money to those preying on the gullible.

 

[BowsAndArrows]

Opinions are things that can be argued about...I prefer this type of music over that one..or that singer over that one...Pepsi vs Coca-Cola..etc

On the other hand, the ones you are referring to as "opinions" those are absurd claims for which there is ZERO evidence, in fact, there is plenty of evidence and proof against them that is undeniable.
In a case like this, that is no longer an "opinion" but blind faith stubbornness
And indeed you don't have to respond to everything either
This hobby has been tainted by snake oil and absurd claims for too long. Its time people wake up and stop giving money to those preying on the gullible.

like i said, call anyone whatever you want. and think whatever you want. crazy thought - maybe add to the discussion even?

but you don't have the right to tell others to stop sharing on the forums. that's against the community guidelines...

 

[MonoMariop]

like i said, call anyone whatever you want. and think whatever you want. crazy thought - maybe add to the discussion even?

but you don't have the right to tell others to stop sharing on the forums. that's against the community guidelines...

And you dont have the right to tell me what I dont have the right to tell others...we can play this game forever
Is about stopping the nonsense. Show me the evidence or zip it.
As always, when people have no FACTS to argue with, this is where we end...

 

[harkpabst]

This starred out as a poll.

So far, 62 out of 178 voters noted a clear improvement. 116 did not or did not bother trying it.

The sample size surely does not allow for statistical relevance, so make if that what you want.

 

[Eoin]

Lots better. DACs used were:

Beresford Caiman SEG (about £150 worth). Co-Ax (USB didn’t work). Excellent. Just sounded a bit more of everything- likely less accurate but sounded less flat. More enjoyable. Clear difference but not quite ‘my wife could hear it from the next room’ level.

Topping D70S. (About £350-500 worth used) USB worked perfectly as did co-ax no real difference heard. Better than the Caiman. Full and rich with superb stereo image

Weiss DAC202. (Ok a bit silly but this was a £6000 DAC when new, still worth about £1500-2500 used depending). Really good result on this. Now getting lots of texture and what people call timbre- especially on bass notes. Lots and lots more of everything. That’s on Co-Ax. Weirdly on USB a slightly more controlled bass on a friends system (that struggles with lively bottom end)

By comparison the Wiim’s own output while worthy and perfectly acceptable is noticeably veiled and a bit flat.

A comparison with a modified Bluesound Node and an Innuos unit (the Innuos being a lot more expensive). The Bluesound was very marked as having an etched or bright sound. I’d say etched, sharp almost. The Innuos my friend preferred but I got 0 difference between it and the Wiim.

My preference- Wiim Ultra with a DAC.

I very much wish I could plug a USB cd drive into the Wiim and rip FLAC to a USB stick or SD drive. That would be the killer feature..

 

[MonoMariop]

Lots better. DACs used were:

Beresford Caiman SEG (about £150 worth). Co-Ax (USB didn’t work). Excellent. Just sounded a bit more of everything- likely less accurate but sounded less flat. More enjoyable. Clear difference but not quite ‘my wife could hear it from the next room’ level.

Topping D70S. (About £350-500 worth used) USB worked perfectly as did co-ax no real difference heard. Better than the Caiman. Full and rich with superb stereo image

Weiss DAC202. (Ok a bit silly but this was a £6000 DAC when new, still worth about £1500-2500 used depending). Really good result on this. Now getting lots of texture and what people call timbre- especially on bass notes. Lots and lots more of everything. That’s on Co-Ax. Weirdly on USB a slightly more controlled bass on a friends system (that struggles with lively bottom end)

By comparison the Wiim’s own output while worthy and perfectly acceptable is noticeably veiled and a bit flat.

A comparison with a modified Bluesound Node and an Innuos unit (the Innuos being a lot more expensive). The Bluesound was very marked as having an etched or bright sound. I’d say etched, sharp almost. The Innuos my friend preferred but I got 0 difference between it and the Wiim.

My preference- Wiim Ultra with a DAC.

I very much wish I could plug a USB cd drive into the Wiim and rip FLAC to a USB stick or SD drive. That would be the killer feature..

Now try the same on a blind test and all the differences, unless the DACs are heavily colored thus not properly doing what a DAC is supposed to do only, will disappear.

 

[Eoin]

Yes, that was done. The Weiss vs the D70S. Sorry to say, completely different presentation.

Into active ATC SCM40.



Not at all what I was expecting, expectation was the Topping and the Weiss would be identical or close to it. Not at all (sadly).

All the best.

 

[Maurizio]

Topping D70 ProSabre. Definitely superior in all respects. Timbre, soundstage, dynamics.
Fiio K11r2r in nos mode.
Even this is far above the Ultra's DAC.
What I said about Topping applies. I would also add that the Fiio, while costing 4 times less than the Topping, is just a hair below the latter. This for me.
The Ultra's main ‘flaw’ is that it is not very holographic. Mainly the soundstage lacks depth.
With the other two I have voices in the middle of the room. With Ultra I don't.
The voices are backwards

 

[MonoMariop]

Topping D70 ProSabre. Definitely superior in all respects. Timbre, soundstage, dynamics.
Fiio K11r2r in nos mode.
Even this is far above the Ultra's DAC.
What I said about Topping applies. I would also add that the Fiio, while costing 4 times less than the Topping, is just a hair below the latter. This for me.
The Ultra's main ‘flaw’ is that it is not very holographic. Mainly the soundstage lacks depth.
With the other two I have voices in the middle of the room. With Ultra I don't.
The voices are backwards

Sure.... Lol

 

[canard]

Sure.... Lol

Did you make this same comparison too?

 

[onlyoneme]

The Ultra's main ‘flaw’ is that it is not very holographic. Mainly the soundstage lacks depth.
With the other two I have voices in the middle of the room. With Ultra I don't.
The voices are backwards

Start to be serious please.

 

[WeeBee]

Today I compared a CD ("The Famous Sound of Three Blind Mice Vol 1") playing on my Oppo 83SE (which uses 2x4:ESS 9016 DAC chips in parallel) with my CD rip of that extremely well mastered (make that "audiophile") album playing via USB SSD on my Ultra (EQ flat, of course), both volume-matched into my Luxman amp/B&W 702 rig. I heard no difference.