Sound quality issues using input from PC vs Spotify Connect/Qobuz/Tidal

[aparpreet]

Hello, fellow Wiim users, i have been tinkering around to use my pc as a source connected to the Wiim Ultra, i have used the rca input as well as a usb to toslink adapter-https://www.cubilux.com/products/usb-to-s-pdif-transmitter, however there is a very noticeable difference in sound quality. The sound using the spotify connect or qobuz is far more dynamic and better than using it directly from my pc, i have checked all the settings and the eq's are the same on both sources but still can't get the pc to sound better than the ultra's built in apps. Is there any solution to this?, Would a dac connected to pc solve this? I believe if i am using the optical input on the wiim it still uses wiim's dac but the sound quality is quite different vs pc. Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

[hgo58]

Hello, fellow Wiim users, i have been tinkering around to use my pc as a source connected to the Wiim Ultra,

What do you want to play from the PC?

i have used the rca input as well as a usb to toslink adapter-https://www.cubilux.com/products/usb-to-s-pdif-transmitter, however there is a very noticeable difference in sound quality. The sound using the spotify connect or qobuz is far more dynamic and better than using it directly from my pc,

The "Connect" services streams directly from the servers to the WiiM with max quality.

i have checked all the settings and the eq's are the same on both sources

The EQ on the WiiM is always applied (if turned on), so it must be off, on the PC, to compare.

but still can't get the pc to sound better than the ultra's built in apps.

The WiiM Home App is just a controller. There is no Apps on the WiiM device, just services. The PC probably do its own audio handling and probably on low resolution audio.

Is there any solution to this?, Would a dac connected to pc solve this?

No

I believe if i am using the optical input on the wiim it still uses wiim's dac but the sound quality is quite different vs pc.

The WiiM DAC is used whenever you use the analog RCA output on the WiiM.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Depends on what you want to play from the PC.

 

[aparpreet]

What do you want to play from the PC?- I was comparing the sound quality from Spotify via pc vs the spotify connect but i usually play my own personal music collection stored on the pc

The "Connect" services streams directly from the servers to the WiiM with max quality.- Makes Sense

The EQ on the WiiM is always applied (if turned on), so it must be off, on the PC, to compare.- Yes both inputs have the same eq

The WiiM Home App is just a controller. There is no Apps on the WiiM device, just services. The PC probably do its own audio handling and probably on low resolution audio.-i have it set to the max output 24 bit-192K

No

The WiiM DAC is used whenever you use the analog RCA output on the WiiM.- I have the fosi ZA3 connected to the analog output running to my speakers

Depends on what you want to play from the PC.- Personal music,Youtube