So many options, i'm getting all fuzzy up top !!!

[CheekyBadger]

Hi all

Me head is fried so I just wanted to pick your brains on an issue / issues I am/was facing.

I have a huge collection of Hi-Res music, mainly 24/192, 24/96 or DSF files, which are stored on my laptop. By default, the laptop dispatches to a device at a max of 24/192.

I was trying to get the Wiim to find my laptop so I could use the Home App to utilize my library etc, but I failed at every chance, even when getting tips from Google etc with folder sharing bla bla - I followed all the steps (maybe not correctly granted) but to no avail; I also tried to add it manually in the Wiim Home App manually and whilst it could find my Laptop, it could only find 43 songs for some reason, maybe because they were FLAC and the rest (in that test folder) were DSF??
It was asking for host, folder location etc, and even though I put the path in numerous times it said "connection failed" every time

So, the questions I have are as follows

1) Can anyone offer me a good step by step guide to setting up folder sharing so that I can connect to the Wiim via WiFi?​

2) I currently use MusicBee and send the signal through Parrot 3 to the Wiim via Chromecast option, so that option works.​

3) I did have a lovely Audioquest cable, but for some reason it wasn't working from my laptop (even though it was a couple of weeks ago) so I'm wondering if the jack output it kaput - which is why I'm looking at other options.​

4) Is there any point in my having DSF files? and if yes then how do I get the best sound out of my system?​

5) Any other advice or options for configuring my system would be greatly appreciated.​

6) One particular thing is that when I'm not using the 3.5mm to RCA cable from my laptop to my "line in" on the Wiim, I'm not utilizing the internal DAC am I? In which case (barring fixing the jack output) if I have to go back to casting wireless, should I have a separate DAC between my laptop and my speakers? In which case the Wiim may become redundant which I certainly don't want as I love it.​

I guess really I just want the best sound that my system to can provide considering the quality of the content that I have to play with; volume I certainly have no issues, I just want the best quality of sound, however I obtain that I don't mind, open to anything ​

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I appreciate it's a lot of stuff, so I'm not expecting full replies in a speedy time-frame haha, so whenever anyone can spare some time it would be appreciated.​

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Just for info, this is my current set up (except no 3.5mm to RCA cable)​

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Laptop to Wiim Pro Plus via 3.5mm to RCA Cable to "Line In" - 3.5mm to RCA Cable via "line out" from Wiim to "Line In" on Q Acoustics M20 HD powered Speakers.​

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[CheekyBadger]

Oh, I meant to include this tiny audio file, this is Noise from laptop (safe link and only a 68kb file) when using the 3.5mm jack output on my laptop - it was fine a few weeks ago, so unsure if anyone knows what is wrong - this would solve all of my config dilemmas if I could sort this out

Cheers

 

[simbun]

There is a MusicBee plugin which I believe still works, allowing you to send audio wirelessly to the WiiM.

Alternatively you could install a server on your laptop and control playback from the WiiM Home App e.g. MinimServer.

 

[CheekyBadger]

There is a MusicBee plugin which I believe still works, allowing you to send audio wirelessly to the WiiM.

Alternatively you could install a server on your laptop and control playback from the WiiM Home App e.g. MinimServer.

Heya, thanks.... I can send it wirelessly now using MusicBee and Parrot 3, but I'm not utilizing the DAC in the Wiim because to do so you need to use the RCA line input..... I'll have a look into the Minimserver, sounds interesting.
Thanks again.

 

[harkpabst]

Let me try and just start with this one:

6) One particular thing is that when I'm not using the 3.5mm to RCA cable from my laptop to my "line in" on the Wiim, I'm not utilizing the internal DAC am I? In which case (barring fixing the jack output) if I have to go back to casting wireless, should I have a separate DAC between my laptop and my speakers?

If you are not using the 3.5 mm to RCA cable then you are not using your laptop's DAC. Why would you want to use that?

The analogue signal coming from your laptop will go through the Pro Plus' ADC first where it gets digitised again. After potential processing (EQ, volume control, ...) it will go through the built-in (excellent) DAC, being converted to analogue, because you are using the line output to your speakers.

Your speakers then digitise the analogue input signal again to feed it's digitally controlled class D amp (a topology also known as PowerDAC). That's a lot of conversion going on.

 

[simbun]

Heya, thanks.... I can send it wirelessly now using MusicBee and Parrot 3, but I'm not utilizing the DAC in the Wiim because to do so you need to use the RCA line input

If Parrot 3 uses Chromecast then you are using the DAC in the WiiM, just as you would be when using MinimServer through the WHA.

 

[CheekyBadger]

Let me try and just start with this one:

If you are not using the 3.5 mm to RCA cable then you are not using your laptop's DAC. Why would you want to use that?

The analogue signal coming from your laptop will go through the Pro Plus' ADC first where it gets digitised again. After potential processing (EQ, volume control, ...) it will go through the built-in (excellent) DAC, being converted to analogue, because you are using the line output to your speakers.

Your speakers then digitise the analogue input signal again to feed it's digitally controlled class D amp (a topology also known as PowerDAC). That's a lot of conversion going on.

Hey, thanks for the reply....

Sorry, what I meant to say was "If I'm not using the Line Out and Line In route via cable to the Wiim, I'm not using the "Wiim" internal DAC - not meaning laptop sorry, and yes, why would I want to when I have an excellent one in the Wiim - this is why whatever happens I still ideally want or need to use a cable to the Wiim Line In port, yes?

I agree with the amount of conversion, no wonder this thicko (points at self here) is getting confused lol

I just need someone, anyone, to tell the me the best way to get the best sound from my audio files to my ears

Cheers for your help and input.... much appreciated.

 

[CheekyBadger]

If Parrot 3 uses Chromecast then you are using the DAC in the WiiM, just as you would be when using MinimServer through the WHA.

Hey, thanks for the reply....

Ahhh, I didn't know that, I always assumed that wireless transmission and any other avenue to my DAC except the Line In option would not utilize the internal DAC of the Wiim.... every day is a school day In this case, I may not need to worry about the cable side of things???

Cheers

 

[d6jg]

There is still an unanswered question. Playback of DSF files. Are they supported? I don’t have any so have never tried.

 

[CheekyBadger]

There is still an unanswered question. Playback of DSF files. Are they supported? I don’t have any so have never tried.

Forutnately, yes

es, the WiiM Pro Plus supports DSD audio files. The Pro Plus can play DSD audio tracks in DFF format.

How does the WiiM Pro Plus support DSD files?

• The WiiM Pro Plus converts DSD content into PCM data for playback.
  
  
• The Pro Plus has a maximum sample rate handling of 768kHz PCM.
  
  
• The Pro Plus supports DSD up to DSD512.

I undoubtedly have more 24bit FLAC files than DSF, but, and it's a big BUT, the sound is even more immersive when listening to DSF over FLAC....

 

[d6jg]

Realistically can that work over WiFi?

 

[simbun]

Ahhh, I didn't know that, I always assumed that wireless transmission and any other avenue to my DAC except the Line In option would not utilize the internal DAC of the Wiim...

Chromecast, UPnP, AirPlay, Spotify Connect etc are all network protocols so need to be converted to analogue (by the WiiM) for playback (Digital to Analogue Conversion).

In this case, I may not need to worry about the cable side of things???

Only if you wanted to output the computer audio to the WiiM e.g. Watching a film on the computer.