morejazzplease
New member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2025
- Messages
- 1
For some time now, I have been using my WiiM Ultra as a "digital pre-amp" for the digital sources in my system (streaming and CD transport). I have been controlling the volume on the WiiM directly but using a Fosi ZD3 DAC in bypass mode as an external DAC via optical. I don't want to get into the weeds on whether using an external DAC is better or not compared to the WiiM's DAC. For me, the sound was definitely improved using Optical out of the WiiM into the ZD3 than using the single-ended line out on the WiiM to the amps directly.
However, recently on a whim I switched the ZD3 out of bypass mode and set the Ultra to 100% fixed volume. I wanted to see if there were any differences using the ZD3 for volume control rather than the Ultra. To my surprise, the sound improvement was not minor and even my wife said, "this sounds amazing, what did you change?" Both streaming and CD transport via optical in on the WiiM sounded better controlling volume on the ZD3.
I know that on paper, it really should not matter, assuming 24 or 16bit audio. The attenuation of the digital signal when controlling volume on the WiiM shouldn't be an issue when passed on to the DAC. I normally had the WiiM's volume at 45-60%, perhaps it has something to do with the level of volume attenuation of the digital signal? I am also not sure if my DAC is just better when not in bypass mode. There are other variables of course, so YMMV! Perhaps the ZD3 does a better job converting a "pure" digital signal into analog than it does an attenuated one? Perhaps it has something to do with the levels in the DAC's preamp stage when in bypass mode (100%)? Regardless, it sounds much better to us now that we are controlling volume on the DAC rather than the WiiM. It is slightly annoying that I now can't use the volume controls in Connect apps or the WiiM app, but I can live with it considering the overall improvement in sound!
Just thought I would relay my experiences and perhaps it will help someone else too! The rest of my system if anyone is curious: 2x Monoblock Fosi ZA3 amps driving Wharfedale Linton 85th Aniv. full-range speakers.
However, recently on a whim I switched the ZD3 out of bypass mode and set the Ultra to 100% fixed volume. I wanted to see if there were any differences using the ZD3 for volume control rather than the Ultra. To my surprise, the sound improvement was not minor and even my wife said, "this sounds amazing, what did you change?" Both streaming and CD transport via optical in on the WiiM sounded better controlling volume on the ZD3.
I know that on paper, it really should not matter, assuming 24 or 16bit audio. The attenuation of the digital signal when controlling volume on the WiiM shouldn't be an issue when passed on to the DAC. I normally had the WiiM's volume at 45-60%, perhaps it has something to do with the level of volume attenuation of the digital signal? I am also not sure if my DAC is just better when not in bypass mode. There are other variables of course, so YMMV! Perhaps the ZD3 does a better job converting a "pure" digital signal into analog than it does an attenuated one? Perhaps it has something to do with the levels in the DAC's preamp stage when in bypass mode (100%)? Regardless, it sounds much better to us now that we are controlling volume on the DAC rather than the WiiM. It is slightly annoying that I now can't use the volume controls in Connect apps or the WiiM app, but I can live with it considering the overall improvement in sound!
Just thought I would relay my experiences and perhaps it will help someone else too! The rest of my system if anyone is curious: 2x Monoblock Fosi ZA3 amps driving Wharfedale Linton 85th Aniv. full-range speakers.
