What external DAC to improve the Ultra?

[Valentino]

The Ultras onboard DAC is very good, but I would be tempted to play around with it. Analogue, Toslink and usb into the Yamaha. Just make sure that the differences you maybe hear are not a playback level thing.
The Yamaha uses an ES9010K2M DAC.

 

[Hiphiman]

A Chord Mojo 2 is relatively affordable and is so good it will never be the weakest link in your audio chain unless you spend ludicrous amounts of money. I agree that other components are likely to have a larger effect on the sound but from a ‘front end first’ philosophy it means you can concentrate future purchases elsewhere.

 

[freaknout]

A Chord Mojo 2 is relatively affordable and is so good it will never be the weakest link in your audio chain unless you spend ludicrous amounts of money. I agree that other components are likely to have a larger effect on the sound but from a ‘front end first’ philosophy it means you can concentrate future purchases elsewhere.

Completely agree with that. My Ultra/Mojo2 via USB works absolutely brilliantly.

 

[GusGusNFT]

Before I bought the Ultra, I had a Wiim Pro connected to a Topping D30 DAC.

I didn't expect the Ultra onboard DAC to sound equal to the external Topping DAC.

It did, I could not tell the difference between the 2.

I know the Topping D30 was a "budget" option but I was wondering what options would offer a decent upgrade?

Your expectations were too high for a $329 device. If you’ve got a WiiM + external DAC I wouldn’t recommend buying the ultra. Only reason to buy the ultra is for the subwoofer output.

 

[slartibartfast]

Your expectations were too high for a $329 device. If you’ve got a WiiM + external DAC I wouldn’t recommend buying the ultra. Only reason to buy the ultra is for the subwoofer output.

If he didn't expect the Ultra to sound equal to the Topping and it did, how could expectations be too high?

 

[GusGusNFT]

If he didn't expect the Ultra to sound equal to the Topping and it did, how could expectations be too high?

By reading his post, that’s what I understood.if that’s not the case, my answer still the same.

 

[slartibartfast]

By reading his post, that’s what I understood.if that’s not the case, my answer still the same.

His expectations were actually too low

 

[Bozzz]

Your expectations were too high for a $329 device. If you’ve got a WiiM + external DAC I wouldn’t recommend buying the ultra. Only reason to buy the ultra is for the subwoofer output.

That’s why I bought the Ultra. My Willsenton r8 doesn’t have a sub out. Bought the Ultra added a RSL 10s mkii sub to my Wharfdale speakers. Sounds sublime Honestly the Pro Plus was an amazing streamer loved the AKM dac. Minus the sub out it did pretty much everything I needed.

 

[adias]

Your expectations were too high for a $329 device. If you’ve got a WiiM + external DAC I wouldn’t recommend buying the ultra. Only reason to buy the ultra is for the subwoofer output.

For others… the reason to buy the Ultra is its USB out.

 

[Bill Mac]

For others… the reason to buy the Ultra is its USB out.

This is why I bought the Ultra. To be able to connect a USB hard drive to a WiiM streamer and sync it with my Pro in another system.

 

[adias]

This is why I bought the Ultra. To be able to connect a USB hard drive to a WiiM streamer and sync it with my Pro in another system.

Sure, that is an input source application and it does that. But for many others it is the USB out to connect the Ultra as a streamer transport to an external DAC. The DAC (presumed higher-end with precision clocks) receives the asynchronous connection and re-clocks the stream.

 

[Bill Mac]

Sure, that is an input source application and it does that. But for many others it is the USB out to connect thee Ultra as a streamers transport to an external DAC. The DAC (presumed higher-end with precision clocks) receives the asynchronous connection and re-clocks the stream.

I should have added that I also use the USB out to a Denafrips Pontus 15th DAC. I'm using a USB hub to facilitate both the input (USB hard drive) and output (Pontus 15th).