Ultra with AKM variant?

David Sydney

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Oct 18, 2024
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I have been thoroughly enjoying the Ultra experience since mid-July. I posted elsewhere about my Dac testing with Ultra, my A10 amp and the SU-1 which has the AKM AK4493S Dac which I think sounds more dynamic, punchier than the ES9038Q2M. I know audio preference is subjective and not every will agree, but what I would love is a AK4499/AK4191 version of the Ultra even a AK4493S version. Can WiiM follow Fiio's lead with K9 & K9-AKM different versions? ‐ I would buy one!!!

 
I have been thoroughly enjoying the Ultra experience since mid-July. I posted elsewhere about my Dac testing with Ultra, my A10 amp and the SU-1 which has the AKM AK4493S Dac which I think sounds more dynamic, punchier than the ES9038Q2M. I know audio preference is subjective and not every will agree, but what I would love is a AK4499/AK4191 version of the Ultra even a AK4493S version. Can WiiM follow Fiio's lead with K9 & K9-AKM different versions? ‐ I would buy one!!!

If you use PEQ with the ultra and use the shelving function at +1 dB from 400 Hz and below you will notice that the Ultra dac will sound much more fuller than the SU1 :).

Its small differences between dacs . If you use the room correction for the Ultra with a good measurement mic, the sound difference will be much greater than the difference between dacs. You can ofcourse still use the su1 dac together with the room correction in the ultra.

My Rega dac R sound much more colored than the one inside the ultra so I prefer the sound of the Rega. Use your ears.
 
If you use PEQ with the ultra and use the shelving function at +1 dB from 400 Hz and below you will notice that the Ultra dac will sound much more fuller than the SU1 :).

Its small differences between dacs . If you use the room correction for the Ultra with a good measurement mic, the sound difference will be much greater than the difference between dacs. You can ofcourse still use the su1 dac together with the room correction in the ultra.

My Rega dac R sound much more colored than the one inside the ultra so I prefer the sound of the Rega. Use your ears.
Thanks Musician,
Curious; Isn't boosting 1db below 400Hz on the Ultra with ES9038Q2M, isn't that just proving my point? Each to their own; I know not everyone will agree and I know the AKM are more expensive, but there is a reason I think. I am now looking at the Topping E70Velvet to use as external DAC. The Ultra/E70V combination still comes in cheaper and much easier to use than investing in an Eversolo DMP-A8 or a Geshelli J3.
 
Thanks Musician,
Curious; Isn't boosting 1db below 400Hz on the Ultra with ES9038Q2M, isn't that just proving my point? Each to their own; I know not everyone will agree and I know the AKM are more expensive, but there is a reason I think. I am now looking at the Topping E70Velvet to use as external DAC. The Ultra/E70V combination still comes in cheaper and much easier to use than investing in an Eversolo DMP-A8 or a Geshelli J3.
Akm sound signature strong bass and mid and smooth high. For older people who has ear problem akm may sound dull.
 
I have been thoroughly enjoying the Ultra experience since mid-July. I posted elsewhere about my Dac testing with Ultra, my A10 amp and the SU-1 which has the AKM AK4493S Dac which I think sounds more dynamic, punchier than the ES9038Q2M. I know audio preference is subjective and not every will agree, but what I would love is a AK4499/AK4191 version of the Ultra even a AK4493S version. Can WiiM follow Fiio's lead with K9 & K9-AKM different versions? ‐ I would buy one!!!

Get an external dac that has akm of your choice. Problem solve instead creating another variant of ultra. Ess is Goliath of chip that’s why they’re everywhere.
 
Thanks Musician,
Curious; Isn't boosting 1db below 400Hz on the Ultra with ES9038Q2M, isn't that just proving my point? Each to their own; I know not everyone will agree and I know the AKM are more expensive, but there is a reason I think. I am now looking at the Topping E70Velvet to use as external DAC. The Ultra/E70V combination still comes in cheaper and much easier to use than investing in an Eversolo DMP-A8 or a Geshelli J3.
What is proven is that you might like a more meatier sound . One way to do it is to use shelving. There are other options. You can play with the Ultras digital filter, try ”minimum phase, fast roll off ” - you might prefer that sound.
You will get a softer sound If you raise the output impedance of the Ultras analog output from 11 ohm to 1 Kohm, making it sound more like a bluesound.
The ES9038Q2M is only one part of the sound , the analog stage changes the sound even more.

 
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If you want a WiiM with AKM DAC, there's always the Pro Plus - same'ish AK4493SEQ as the SU1 AK4493S.
The ultras internal dac sounds slightly better though ( than the pro+ ) . Probably because of the ne5532 used in the pro+ analog stage. Opa1611 is better sounding.
 
Thanks Muscian, I will give the different filter settings a try. Must admit I haven't played with these. It's it an instantaneous change or does the playing now queue have to be cleared. On the fly I couldn't pick pick much change or maybe the tracks I was listening to at the time?
 
Thanks Muscian, I will give the different filter settings a try. Must admit I haven't played with these. It's it an instantaneous change or does the playing now queue have to be cleared. On the fly I couldn't pick pick much change or maybe the tracks I was listening to at the time?
A small difference indeed but in the right direction If you ask me. The SINAD goes down probably more than 5 dB, from 115 ( verified audiosciencereview ) to probably below 110 or more .

But that is what we want Isnt it - a more earfriendly sound ? The 1 Kohm mod in the RCA cables is even more audible .
Use two carbon resistors for this, more flowing and musical .
 
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I still find it remarkable that people rate the SU-1 as a better DAC while the Ultra's DAC section is very similar to the SU-6 actually. It's using the same DAC chip and opamps. The measurements are in the same ballpark as well.

I was very happy with the SU-6 so I hope to be able to say the same thing of the Ultra. Black Friday better come soon 😌
 
I still find it remarkable that people rate the SU-1 as a better DAC while the Ultra's DAC section is very similar to the SU-6 actually. It's using the same DAC chip and opamps. The measurements are in the same ballpark as well.

I was very happy with the SU-6 so I hope to be able to say the same thing of the Ultra. Black Friday better come soon 😌
The output impedance of Ultra is very low , 11 Ohm so there is a possible difference .
The voltage feeding the opa1611 in su6 and Ultra might be different to .

Those differences might be audible bigger than having the same SINAD .
 
Output impedance of the SU-6 was also <10Ω apparently. Anyways, my WiiM Pro + SU-6 were running through a preamp while the Ultra will probably connect directly to my poweramp so I expect there's going to be an improvement even. Whether I'm going to notice it is a whole different question ;)
 
I have been thoroughly enjoying the Ultra experience since mid-July. I posted elsewhere about my Dac testing with Ultra, my A10 amp and the SU-1 which has the AKM AK4493S Dac which I think sounds more dynamic, punchier than the ES9038Q2M. I know audio preference is subjective and not every will agree, but what I would love is a AK4499/AK4191 version of the Ultra even a AK4493S version. Can WiiM follow Fiio's lead with K9 & K9-AKM different versions? ‐ I would buy one!!!

I agree fully with you about the smsl su-1 dac..its just a great sounding dac with the akm chip which i will take over the wiim ultra saber chip any day..i returned a smsl su-10 at $1,300 and a smsl do400 and kept the su-1 dac..great sounding little dac with lots of punch..I run it through a cambridge azur 851a..great sound
 
It appears it is not just me as CheapAudioMan has posted a vio about using USB out to go through an XMOS XU-316 on a different SMSL device, but the SU-1 has the same XMOS XU-316 clock chip. I have no idea the significance of clock chip but there is a correlation here.
 
I won't buy a es dac dac again,they sound to clinical to me,my burr brown 1792a in my bel canto sounds more warm and musical even though on paper/spec it's not as good
 
I won't buy a es dac dac again,they sound to clinical to me,my burr brown 1792a in my bel canto sounds more warm and musical even though on paper/spec it's not as good
I agree with you, many would say they sound same based on measurements. Akm has indeed sound warm with strong bass, mid and smooth treble. Ess has tons of detail like the treble dominating sound spectrum despite being flat response. I have 6 dacs connected on ultra 3akm 3ess via usb hub.
 
I agree with you, many would say they sound same based on measurements. Akm has indeed sound warm with strong bass, mid and smooth treble. Ess has tons of detail like the treble dominating sound spectrum despite being flat response. I have 6 dacs connected on ultra 3akm 3ess via usb hub.
To much treble if you ask me,ye sure it sounds detailed but not anymore than my burr brown or the akm 4493 in my smsl,I jst don't the enjoy music the same way when listening to my gustard x16 with ESS 9068AS compared to my other dac,s ,il be sticking with akm or burr brown from now on
 
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