Ultra upsampling from 44,1 to 176,4 kHz

[son]

Hello, this is my first post. I’m glad I bought the WiiM Ultra and I like the first experiences with the product, the company and the community.

Why did I buy the Ultra? Until now, I played my music from Tidal and local WAV files using my Android phone via USB Audio Player PRO via USB audio and a 3‑meter USB cable into my hi‑fi chain (Cyan). The cable annoyed me!

My chain consists of WIIM Ultra, DAC HOLO Cyan 2, the headphone amp Ferrum OOR, the power amp AUDIOPHONICS MPA‑S125NC and the speakers Elac Carina BS 243.4. Most of the time I listen through my headphones — Hifiman HE1000 V2 Stealth and ZMF Aeolus — directly connected to the OOR.

I simply wanted to get rid of the long USB cable and hoped that the Ultra would also bring an improvement in sound quality, due to a shorter USB-Kabel. And I wanted to use the Ultra as a switch for TV, Blueray- and CD-Player.

The Cyan 2 is a pure NOS R2R DAC, and my experience has shown (at least I believe it’s not just imagination) that an upsampled signal brings a bit more clarity, texture, and spatiality. On the smartphone, USB Audio Player PRO allowed me to upsample 44.1 kHz to 176.4 kHz (4×) without any issues. Tests with Foobar and HQPlayer also make this possible and show improvements (subjectively).

On the Ultra, I can only set a maximum resolution of 192 kHz, which isn’t ideal and doesn’t sound as good.

I’m not sure whether there’s another way to set a multiple of 44.1 kHz?
My Cyan shows 192 kHz that I set on the Ultra. I’ve now gone back to 44.1 because it sounds better.

I would like to understand how the Ultra ist working and if there ist a solution to upsample to excat 176,4. I hope this can be done by the Ultra and I do not need to buy a NuPrime Stream-9 or similar. Foobar or HQPlayer ist not an option, I want an easy Solution and like the comfort of the Ultra.

Any Idea?

 

[EddNog]

Hello, this is my first post. I’m glad I bought the WiiM Ultra and I like the first experiences with the product, the company and the community.

Why did I buy the Ultra? Until now, I played my music from Tidal and local WAV files using my Android phone via USB Audio Player PRO via USB audio and a 3‑meter USB cable into my hi‑fi chain (Cyan). The cable annoyed me!

My chain consists of WIIM Ultra, DAC HOLO Cyan 2, the headphone amp Ferrum OOR, the power amp AUDIOPHONICS MPA‑S125NC and the speakers Elac Carina BS 243.4. Most of the time I listen through my headphones — Hifiman HE1000 V2 Stealth and ZMF Aeolus — directly connected to the OOR.

I simply wanted to get rid of the long USB cable and hoped that the Ultra would also bring an improvement in sound quality, due to a shorter USB-Kabel. And I wanted to use the Ultra as a switch for TV, Blueray- and CD-Player.

The Cyan 2 is a pure NOS R2R DAC, and my experience has shown (at least I believe it’s not just imagination) that an upsampled signal brings a bit more clarity, texture, and spatiality. On the smartphone, USB Audio Player PRO allowed me to upsample 44.1 kHz to 176.4 kHz (4×) without any issues. Tests with Foobar and HQPlayer also make this possible and show improvements (subjectively).

On the Ultra, I can only set a maximum resolution of 192 kHz, which isn’t ideal and doesn’t sound as good.

I’m not sure whether there’s another way to set a multiple of 44.1 kHz?
My Cyan shows 192 kHz that I set on the Ultra. I’ve now gone back to 44.1 because it sounds better.

I would like to understand how the Ultra ist working and if there ist a solution to upsample to excat 176,4. I hope this can be done by the Ultra and I do not need to buy a NuPrime Stream-9 or similar. Foobar or HQPlayer ist not an option, I want an easy Solution and like the comfort of the Ultra.

Any Idea?

You’ll need to use Roon, which gives you precision control over the upsampling algorithm (manual selection or power of 2 for each source file sample rate and format). The WiiM Ultra is a Roon Ready bridge, though it does not go over 192KHz PCM and completely does not support native DSD output. Roon will also pull and resample Tidal or Qobuz streams for you.

-Ed

 

[son]

Thanks EddNog, I know the concept of Roon, but Roon has too much overhead for me and requires a laptop or server. I’m looking for something simple that performs the upsampling without me having to start a laptop first. Although I’ve already considered such a solution — but then I’d want to do it properly with HQPlayer and Roon together.

PCM ist ok, DSD is not needed. Another solution would be the Ferrum Wandla, but it is too much. My former solution on the smartphone did it quite well.

Is the Ultra capable of performing upsampling? As far as I know, yes but only to a fixed rate of 192 instead 176,4 kHZ

 

[EddNog]

Thanks EddNog, I know the concept of Roon, but Roon has too much overhead for me and requires a laptop or server. I’m looking for something simple that performs the upsampling without me having to start a laptop first. Although I’ve already considered such a solution — but then I’d want to do it properly with HQPlayer and Roon together.

PCM ist ok, DSD is not needed. Another solution would be the Ferrum Wandla, but it is too much. My former solution on the smartphone did it quite well.

Is the Ultra capable of performing upsampling? As far as I know, yes but only to a fixed rate of 192 instead 176,4 kHZ

WiiM does not give sufficiently fine control. Ideally, 48KHz and 96KHz material gets upsampled to 192KHz, and 44.1KHz and 88.2KHz material gets upsampled to 176.4KHz. WiiM does not have this granularity.

Yes, I only started using Roon once I set up a Mac Mini M1 that I bought refurb as an AirPrint and Plex server. As that machine is up 24/7, it made Roon quite viable for me. I also did not wish to set it up on my MacBook Air M1 for the same reason, I don’t want to have to keep my laptop up 24/7; it’s meant to be mobile. I wanted to take advantage of AirPrint and my printer (an HP color laser multifunction with Ethernet and USB but not AirPrint) was too expensive to replace, so having a computer be AirPrint server was the only option to be able to print directly from our iPhones or iPad. It naturally made sense to use the same computer for music serving.

-Ed

 

[son]

yes, another 24/7 system is not the solution. Do you see a chance for a feature request for this topic. PCM at 176,4 kHz "nativ" for 44,1 kHz Input would be my solution. WIIM already got the UI and similar funktions, and as a experienced IT-guy I am shure it should not be too much expense for an enhancement.

But it seems they have already another issue with upsampling, seems they have problems to recognize whether it is 44.1 or 48 kHz Input rate in another topic

I will ask for a feature request. If they accept, I will save a lot of money and the Ultra will satisfy all my requirements.

 

[son]

btw: why are you using Roon, Is upscaling an issue for you?

 

[EddNog]

btw: why are you using Roon, Is upscaling an issue for you?

I’m using Roon because I love how well it integrates my local library plus Qobuz, and gives me particularly useful features for my headphone chain (adjustable crossfeed, preset EQ profile for my Dan Clark Æon 2 Closed w/Perforated Pads, etc.) plus native DSD support. I don’t currently use a WiiM in my speaker or my headphone chains.

-Ed

 

[son]

Oh OK, you like this powerful Roon UI and you spent 150 $ per year for Luxus Nice! When I decide to use Roon I need to use HQPlayer too and a powerful PC/server, lol.
Just now I am playing around and checking out what "endgame" solution would be suitable for me.

That why I choosed the WIIM, I hab 50 old CDs in Stock already in WAV-format on my smartphone and the rest of the world's music is provided by Tidal. And the Ultra is used as a switch for Incoming signals and centers everything on a USB output. On the first step a cheap solution.

I am using die WIIM PEQ, better I testet it, works fine so far but I do not need it. I'd rather change the headphones or Pads. I tried crossfeed with foobar2000 as well, but my HE 1000 v2 steath has already a extrem wide and deep stage. Or I am still not used to croosfeed. What I need is upscaling, I think you are using a Delta‑Sigma DAC, tho external upscaling is not a issue.

Dan Clark Headphones I should test sometime.

 

[EddNog]

Oh OK, you like this powerful Roon UI and you spent 150 $ per year for Luxus Nice! When I decide to use Roon I need to use HQPlayer too and a powerful PC/server, lol.
Just now I am playing around and checking out what "endgame" solution would be suitable for me.

That why I choosed the WIIM, I hab 50 old CDs in Stock already in WAV-format on my smartphone and the rest of the world's music is provided by Tidal. And the Ultra is used as a switch for Incoming signals and centers everything on a USB output. On the first step a cheap solution.

I am using die WIIM PEQ, better I testet it, works fine so far but I do not need it. I'd rather change the headphones or Pads. I tried crossfeed with foobar2000 as well, but my HE 1000 v2 steath has already a extrem wide and deep stage. Or I am still not used to croosfeed. What I need is upscaling, I think you are using a Delta‑Sigma DAC, tho external upscaling is not a issue.

Dan Clark Headphones I should test sometime.

Roon does have a weakness in that the PEQ is combined and they don’t do separate left/right PEQ in Roon DSP, so there’s that. In this way it is useless for room correction.

-Ed