Streaming SQ Advice Connecting to AVR to Amp to Speaker Selector

[StreamingDanes]

Hello Wiim Family. New to Wiim, but not new to streaming, however the Wiim Pro Plus has given me almost too many options to consider so I would greatly appreciate advice on best connections for best SQ from my current configuration. I feel like I am creating more potential connection issues than I should be.
Previously, before installing the Wiim Pro Plus, I streaming music via HEOS to both my inside 5.1 Def Tech Speakers and also OUT via Zone 2 to Russound Amp, then to Niles. I recently removed Russound Amp & added the Crown XLS Amp and added Wiim Pro Plus yesterday. June 27th.

Current Equipment and Configuration:
Equipment:
Denon AVR-X2700H
5.1 Def Tech Theater Speakers (Family Room)
Samsung QN55QN85 Smart TV
Wiim Pro Plus
Crown XLS 1002 350 Watt Amplifier
Niles SVL-4 Speaker Selector (Passive) 4 Zones.

Configuration (As on June 27, 2025)
Wiim Pro Plus RCA OUT to Denon AVR RCA IN (CD Input)
Wiim Pro Plus Optical IN from Samsung TV
Wiim Pro Plus Optical OUT to Denon AVR Optical IN (TV Audio Input)

Denon AVR RCA Zone-2 OUT to Crown XLS 1002 RCA IN
Crown XLS 1002 OUT Binding Posts to Niles Amplifier IN

So what's the issue? This all works. I streamed TIDAL, Amazon, Spotify & Pandora (192) to both the 5.1 Theater System and also to Zone-2 and everything worked.
HOWEVER, not sure if it's the Denon AVR converting or overriding the Wiim Pro Plus DAC or some other anomaly, but the music just did not seem to have "presence" and the deeper sound as before.

Main Question: Should I remove RCA OUT to Denon AVR and instead use OPTICAL OUT to Denon AVR? I could then take RCA OUT from Wiim Pro and connect directly to the Crown XLS Amplifier. By doing this I would assume that the Wiim Pro Plus takes the Stream Signal (once) and then supplies my Amp the feed without other conversions. I'm assuming that by having OPTICAL OUT to Denon AVR, I could still stream music to my 5.1 System in the Family Room. I would lose Zone-2 OUT to Amp since the RCA IN input was already being used.

Secondary Idea/Question: Should I ONLY output OPTICAL OUT from Wiim Pro Plus to Denon AVR OPTICAL IN and then use same Analog Out via RCA connectors to my Crown XLS Amp? I am ok losing the Samsung TV connection since the Samsung is already connected to the Denon AVR via e-ARC.

I'm sorry this was a lot to read, however I wanted anyone reading this with experience to know exactly how I have this currently configured.
Thanks in advance for reading and any advice or suggestions. Images attached.

Michael

 

[StreamingDanes]

S.O.S.
I’m having to reply to my own thread since no one in the Wiim community had any suggestions after a couple of weeks which is a little frustrating.

What I’ve learned with current configuration: Wiim Pro Plus to Denon X2700H via RCA Out then to Zone 2 RCA Out to Crown Amplifier is that with the exception of TIDAL streaming, every other streaming service (e.g. Amazon Ultra, Pandora Premium, Spotify, Apple Music) sounds like it’s not clean & has a gritty sound even using PURE mode via Denon. I think Heos may actually sound better than using Wiim.

So now wondering if the reason is going RCA Out of Wiim Pro Plus instead of using Optical Out. Granted, Wiim App interface is 5 times better than Heos, but at what cost?
Right now it seems the cost is SQ cost. If someone can reply, would I be better off using an external DAC & if so is that after coming out of my Denon, but before going into my Crown Amplifier? Thanks for reading.

 

[DariuszP]

I didn't have Pro Plus but in my system I have Wiim Ultra that I connected more or less as you suggested - via optical to the TV (so I could route TV audio further), via optical to AVR (in my case Denon 4300) - just as a backup if for whatever reason I do not want to fire up my main amp, and via RCA to my main stereo amp (Accuphase E470). The sound while routing via AVR is obviously tiny (as I do not have good speakers hooked to this - just some small Focals, but also - in this scenario relatively old and weak AVR's DAC is used - WiiM acts just as a pure transport). But: when played via RCA to the main amp and with good speakers (here: B&W 803) it sounds really very good. Not as good as via really good DAC though, thus I also connected WiiM via Coax to a DAC input in my CD player (Ayon CD-35 connected to Accuphase via XLR) and this produces absolutely perfect sound. But I must say that the difference vs. direct connection via RCA is not that great and most of the time I play this way. I do not know if this helps you in your considerations, but the main point is: if you have a good amp you should rather use the DAC built in the WiiM (which is very good AKM) than the one in AVR (which is significantly worse), so I would connect your amp via RCA and treat the optical connection to AVR only as a secondary signal path (useful for convenience). And yes: in such setup it can sound really good (and I believe that sonically your Pro Plus is probably at par with Ultra). And while playing via optical to AVR you should not have any sound degradation vs. using built in HEOS (WiiM would act as a transport, all the work would be done by Denon).

 

[DariuszP]

And also please make sure that: (i) when using with AVR via optical make the volume of WiiM at 100% (so you would not have double attenuation) and probably turn off any signal processing such as room correction, EQ, etc in WiiM - you probably already have this setup in your AVR (Audyssey, etc), (ii) if your amp is a power amp (vs. integrated) than you would need to use WiiM as a preamp - make sure that you will not fire it with 100% volume.

 

[Mr Ee]

I'm sorry this was a lot to read

You're right
I skim read your post the first time and thought "I'll come back to that...' and didn't!

Did you try your suggestion of wiim rca directly to crown amp?

Edit: seems the crown is a power amp with selectable input sensitivity.
So ensure the wiim volume isn't fixed or at 100% when starting.
Also check the amp sensitivity setting and wiim output setting. Have a play with different pairings to see which, if any, you like better.