What external DAC to improve the Ultra?

[freaknout]

hi, sorry for my English but I use Google Translate, I was also thinking of getting a mojo2, I ask you have you tried both USB and SPDIF? Does it change anything? Also how do you find it? Have you noticed an improvement in some department or is it really insignificant to be able to use only the Wiim Ultra dac? Thanks

Hi Neoark

The Mojo2 is very good and versatile.

The user interface has a bit of a learning curve and frustrates some people.

I have tried all inputs on the Mojo2 and the differences between them is subtle. I would choose which to use depending on the system.

For example.

Use USB if the clocking in the Mojo2 is clearly going to be better than the streamer/server (reduces jitter).

Use optical if the streamer/server is likely to be electrically noisey (like a PC for example).

I hope that helps. My advice is to get the Ultra and listen to it for a while. I found it to be very good by itself.

If you have other ways you could use the Mojo2 (like I do) then a Mojo2 is a nice upgrade but it's not a necessity.

 

[MonoMariop]

hi, sorry for my English but I use Google Translate, I was also thinking of getting a mojo2, I ask you have you tried both USB and SPDIF? Does it change anything? Also how do you find it? Have you noticed an improvement in some department or is it really insignificant to be able to use only the Wiim Ultra dac? Thanks

You wont notice any difference but the usual imagination from some people

 

[Heat11]

I had an old cambridge DacMagic 100 laying around (ahhh the beginning of the covid pandemic days) and the other week I saw that old guy hifi / cheapaudioman video about the SMSL dac. Since I have a ultra and a vibe I decided to try out the DacMagic. I feel "better" with it playing. I also have a DacMagic200m that i lent to a female friend so she could dust off her old system and bring it into the 21st century. might ask for it back. or i might grab a cheap SMSL or splurge and pick out a nice Topping option. man does ASR rave about them and Wiim!

I know the audiophile guys scoff at it but i dont. i believe there are subtle differences from the straight wiim. one thing that is super annoying is amazonmusicHD refuses to push the full bitrate for some songs. i bought a f'ing ethernet cable to eliminate the wifi issues and it still does whatever it wants. i know damn well this gary clark jr music is in 1700+ kbps and its playing at 261 kbps as i am sitting here

 

[Burnside]

I had an old cambridge DacMagic 100 laying around (ahhh the beginning of the covid pandemic days) and the other week I saw that old guy hifi / cheapaudioman video about the SMSL dac. Since I have a ultra and a vibe I decided to try out the DacMagic. I feel "better" with it playing. I also have a DacMagic200m that i lent to a female friend so she could dust off her old system and bring it into the 21st century. might ask for it back. or i might grab a cheap SMSL or splurge and pick out a nice Topping option. man does ASR rave about them and Wiim!

I know the audiophile guys scoff at it but i dont. i believe there are subtle differences from the straight wiim. one thing that is super annoying is amazonmusicHD refuses to push the full bitrate for some songs. i bought a f'ing ethernet cable to eliminate the wifi issues and it still does whatever it wants. i know damn well this gary clark jr music is in 1700+ kbps and its playing at 261 kbps as i am sitting here

Let’s continue the thread over here rather than in three separate places

Post in thread 'Amazon Music playback via Alexa to a WiiM Mini only showing 24/44.1 for 24/192 track'
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/...ing-24-44-1-for-24-192-track.6303/post-127587

 

[Felix_hawk]

I purchased the Schiit Bifrost 2 used it for the trial 15 day period and kept it. It is not a big change to use it with the WiiM Ultra, but it was enough for me to keep it. For my case the USB connection was the best. I use Tidal. I will describe why I kept it with a few examples.

Celine Dion’s “Magic of Christmas Day”. Her high notes sound smooth and not harsh (non-fatiguing) with the Bifrost. By comparison the WiiM Ultra sounded the opposite. Key words are BY COMPARISON. I am not calling the WiiM Ultra harsh

AC/DC’s “Hells Bells”. I have never heard the intro bells sound so realistic than with the Bifrost

Pop Evil’s “Flawed”. The separation of instruments was better with the Bifrost

Shinedown’s “I’ll Follow You”. The piano sounded more rich and full with the Bifrost

Metallica “Enter Sandman”. The bass sounded deeper with the Bifrost

Those are my impressions.

 

[Felix_hawk]

Oops. Forgot to mention.
WiiM Ultra as streamer and pre-amp. USB out to Bifrost
Bifrost rca out to Yamaha RN-803 in PureDirect mode using as power amp.
Super Linton speakers

 

[Hiphiman]

Hi Neoark

The Mojo2 is very good and versatile.

The user interface has a bit of a learning curve and frustrates some people.

I have tried all inputs on the Mojo2 and the differences between them is subtle. I would choose which to use depending on the system.

For example.

Use USB if the clocking in the Mojo2 is clearly going to be better than the streamer/server (reduces jitter).

Use optical if the streamer/server is likely to be electrically noisey (like a PC for example).

I hope that helps. My advice is to get the Ultra and listen to it for a while. I found it to be very good by itself.

If you have other ways you could use the Mojo2 (like I do) then a Mojo2 is a nice upgrade but it's not a necessity.

I would agree with these sentiments. In addition, the Mojo2 has lossless DSP tone controls which can be used should you not wish to use WiiM’s own room correction. In fact, I have used the curves suggested by WiiM RC to help inform my Mojo2 tone control settings.

 

[Horsey]

I wonder how a system would sound connecting the Wiim Ultra to a geshelli labs dac..

People need to understand while there is nothing wrong with an excellent external DAC like Geshelli Labs, the entire system is going to be reflected in the final output.

That's why you don't see the outcome you anticipate. Most midfi systems are not going to get any dynamic jump by adding an external DAC without a better amplifier as but one example.

 

[EddNog]

I wonder how a system would sound connecting the Wiim Ultra to a geshelli labs dac..

Sounded great for me when I was using Geshelli's JNOG3 with my WiiM Ultra and a pair of Topping B100 monoblocs.

Since I use a DSPeaker Anti-Mode X2D for room correction, I am required to use an external DAC anyway.

-Ed

 

[F1 Fan]

Ultra to D90 III D ..

 

[pjorgenunes]

My experience with WiiM:

(Always with RC - stick to one of several tries of WiiM autocorrection with 35-250 Hz correction and after that sub out on (with no sub) at 42 Hz to match my speaker response and not forcing speakers to work where they physically not made for )

Speakers B&W 805S
Amps - Fosi Amp V3 mono

WiiM internal DAC - very very good
With topping D10S - very very+ good (the plus being maybe just psychologically)
With Topping E70 - WOW! Using balanced outputs into Amps.
Much more detail with absolut not harshness. Didn’t expect that upgrade (I was with upgraditis and try balanced into Amps) but it is awesome.

 

[MonoMariop]

My experience with WiiM:


With topping D10S - very very+ good (the plus being maybe just psychologically)

100% placebo

With Topping E70 - WOW! Using balanced outputs into Amps.

Balanced won't magically make things better. It will oftwn clean noise/hum if for some reason your rca is terrible like very long runs ..doubtful.
It will sound louder giving the impression of better
You need to use a multimeter to measure the voltage outputs for a proper comparison especially as many toppings can do a hotter output giving the impression of better sound. SPL meter won't be good for such test

 

[pjorgenunes]

100% placebo

Balanced won't magically make things better. It will oftwn clean noise/hum if for some reason your rca is terrible like very long runs ..doubtful.
It will sound louder giving the impression of better
You need to use a multimeter to measure the voltage outputs for a proper comparison especially as many toppings can do a hotter output giving the impression of better sound. SPL meter won't be good for such test

Reading the Armir audio science review on Fosi Amp it measured better on balanced inputs (not that unbalanced measured much worse. The DAC has the choice of 4v or 5V output but I’m using the 4V setting.
It plays a bit louder than with unbalanced but the I reduced volume so I listening more or less in same volume output.
The thing is that with the E90 it plays better even on low volume levels.
I believe the DAC implementation is just better resulting on a perceived better sound (to me).
Both the E90 DAC and the Fosi mono amps where well regarded on Armir’s technical review.

 

[betisbalompie]

I completely agree. I connected the Wiim Ultra to the Topping E70 Velvet DAC via USB, and I'm using the DAC's balanced output. To my ear, at equal volume, the sound is better, more cohesive, and clearer than via RCA. I value this at a low listening volume.

 

[F1 Fan]

My Wiim to D90 III Discreate setup sounds fantastic!