Popping in speakers when starting Wiim Ultra

[chito.limson]

Here’s my setup:

The Wiim Ultra is connected to the Fosi Audio ZD3 preamp/DAC via USB. Trigger out from Wiim to ZD3.

The ZD3 is connected to two Fosi Audio V3 Mono via XLR.

In the ZD3, volume control is BYPASSED. I control volume using the Wiim Ultra on the app or on its remote control.

When I turn on the Wiim Ultra, everything else turns on too as they should. However, two pops come out of the speakers: one soft and one louder than the first pop. Even if I start the Ultra with the volume set at ZERO, the pops still happen. I removed the trigger cable between the Ultra and the ZD3, and turned on the ZD3 a little later after starting the Ultra, but the pops still happen.

To experiment, I removed the USB connection between the Ultra and the ZD3, and switched to coaxial connection between the two. I put back the trigger cable between the two units and the start up pops disappeared.

Why is this happening?

 

[hgo58]

I tried to modify a USB cable and remove first the +5V wire with no success and then the ground wire and still the same behavior.

That is not what I write about.

The DAC startup sequence on USB may be the cause of the popping. This is not needed for optical or coax inputs.

 

[F1 Fan]

That is not what I write about.

The DAC startup sequence on USB may be the cause of the popping. This is not needed for optical or coax inputs.

Same issue here.. Shame this can’t be sorted..

 

[Yes]

Same set up - same pops with usb starting up/waking up Wiim.
Wiim Ultra > USB > ZD3
Not happy - want to use usb rather than toslink

 

[hgo58]

Same set up - same pops with usb starting up/waking up Wiim.
Wiim Ultra > USB > ZD3

Did you try with another DAC brand?
This is a DAC issue, nothing WiiM can do about it.

Not happy - want to use usb rather than toslink

Why not use Toslink if you can? It's giving you the best electric isolation.

 

[F1 Fan]

I’ve given up and selling my ZD3.. just brought a Topping D70

 

[Yes]

Did you try with another DAC brand?
This is a DAC issue, nothing WiiM can do about it.

ZD3 is my first and only external dac. Any suggestion of other DAC models connected to the Ultra’s USB with no pops? ZD3 seems not to be the only DAC giving this issue.
Post in thread 'Loud Popping Sounds With External DAC When Sample Rate Changes or Wakes from Standby – Anyone Else?'
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/...es-from-standby-–-anyone-else.4948/post-85349

Why not use Toslink if you can? It's giving you the best electric isolation.

Correct, but I would like to bypass the internal clock of the Wiim Ultra without bying an additional reclocking unit.
If pops are caused by bad electric isolation how can we be sure it is the DAC to blame and not an issue coming from the Ultra?
ZD3 connected with USB into a Macbook Pro has no issues which makes me believe the issue is with the Ultra activating the USB out.

 

[EddNog]

ZD3 is my first and only external dac. Any suggestion of other DAC models connected to the Ultra’s USB with no pops? ZD3 seems not to be the only DAC giving this issue.
Post in thread 'Loud Popping Sounds With External DAC When Sample Rate Changes or Wakes from Standby – Anyone Else?'
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/loud-popping-sounds-with-external-dac-when-sample-rate-changes-or-wakes-from-standby-–-anyone-else.4948/post-85349

Correct, but I would like to bypass the internal clock of the Wiim Ultra without bying an additional reclocking unit.
If pops are caused by bad electric isolation how can we be sure it is the DAC to blame and not an issue coming from the Ultra?
ZD3 connected with USB into a Macbook Pro has no issues which makes me believe the issue is with the Ultra activating the USB out.

Well, in my own testing, I had artifacting/pops with the coax and optical outs but not the USB out on my WiiM Ultra. I inserted a USB DDC between the WiiM and the DAC and the artifacting stopped with coax and optical, so I know it's the WiiM's optical and coax outputs that is the problem and not the optical or coax inputs on my DAC.

However, my pops/artifacts were mid-song/during playback, and not between songs/during sample rate change.

-Ed

 

[Yes]

I’ve given up and selling my ZD3.. just brought a Topping D70

Not the same issue with the Topping D70?

 

[Yes]

Well, in my own testing, I had artifacting/pops with the coax and optical outs but not the USB out on my WiiM Ultra. I inserted a USB DDC between the WiiM and the DAC and the artifacting stopped with coax and optical, so I know it's the WiiM's optical and coax outputs that is the problem and not the optical or coax inputs on my DAC.

However, my pops/artifacts were mid-song/during playback, and not between songs/during sample rate change.

-Ed

My Ultra is rock solid during playback both with Toslink and USB. Pop only happens starting up. Two pops - second one clearly louder than the first. What DAC worked so well for you with USB?

 

[EddNog]

My Ultra is rock solid during playback both with Toslink and USB. Pop only happens starting up. Two pops - second one clearly louder than the first. What DAC worked so well for you with USB?

I’ve had multiple devices all work fine with USB output directly from WiiM Ultra:
Topping D90 III Discrete
Topping E70 Velvet
Geshelli JNOG3 (J3 Pro)
Topping D70 Pro Octo
FiiO Q15
FiiO K9 AKM
SMSL D400 Pro
DSPeaker Anti-Mode X2D (this is the device that I had artifacts/noise issues with going directly from WiiM Ultra with coax and optical, but not with USB, and then inserting the PO100 Pro between the WiiM and this presented flawless operation with coax as well as optical input, in case you’re not familiar with it, the PO100 Pro only has USB input, and has only coax, optical, or I2S output)
SMSL PO100 Pro

-Ed

 

[bruno]

I’ve had multiple devices all work fine with USB output directly from WiiM Ultra:
Topping D90 III Discrete
Topping E70 Velvet
Geshelli JNOG3 (J3 Pro)
Topping D70 Pro Octo
FiiO Q15
FiiO K9 AKM
SMSL D400 Pro
DSPeaker Anti-Mode X2D (this is the device that I had artifacts/noise issues with going directly from WiiM Ultra with coax and optical, but not with USB, and then inserting the PO100 Pro between the WiiM and this presented flawless operation with coax as well as optical input, in case you’re not familiar with it, the PO100 Pro only has USB input, and has only coax, optical, or I2S output)
SMSL PO100 Pro

-Ed

I've the same
Wiim Ultra -> Fiio k11 R2R -> Fosi ZA3

My Ultra is rock solid during playback both with Toslink and USB. Pop only happens starting up. Two pops - second one clearly louder than the first. What DAC worked so well for you with USB?

 

[bruno]

I've the same
Wiim Ultra -> USB -> Fiio k11 R2R -> RCA -> Fosi ZA3

 

[F1 Fan]

Wiim Ultra > USB > Topping D70 Pro Opto .. No issues. No pops / cracks

 

[robstrong]

Sounds like a ground loop problem. Use the same power line from the same outlet for everything is check number one. If this is not fixing the problem, theres probably bad isolation in the ZD3 on the USB input. If this is the case, the fix is using toslink , its a better transmission link than USB offering galvanic isolation with just as low jitter.

Resolved the popping issue by adding dedicated power outlets and removing power strip. Ultra and ZD3 connected via USB - all issues resolved.
Definitely a ground loop issue in my situation.

 

[Yes]

Resolved the popping issue by adding dedicated power outlets and removing power strip. Ultra and ZD3 connected via USB - all issues resolved.
Definitely a ground loop issue in my situation.

Congrats!
Dedicated mains is not an option for me. I now have nothing connected to ground and latest firmware in ZD3 1.08. Been sorting cables left and right if interference is causing this.
Still pops when resolution is being handled between units. Fixed resolution doesn’t do any difference.
Wiim Ultra with Genelecs in different house makes loud pop when turning the light on.
Not happening with Naim with grounded power chord. Is Wiim Ultra a very sensitive device regarding power?