What external DAC to improve the Ultra?

[LennyBruce]

We've had that before, more than once.
I know Hans personally and I also know that his knowledge about the relevant things is superior to most people here and even more of the remaining YT Mafia.
But his fanbase wants to see him exactly the way he does it. Not grabbing a cup of coffee and so on. And THEY are important for him. Not the people with the empty pockets and high demands. It is simply business, nothing else. None of those YTers have a serious interest in really enlightening people or do it for a "Vergelt's Gott" and thanks heaven no one is forced to follow. And he thinks the never changing devices behind him are still a good decoration. And there I fear he is resistent for advice .
But they all have their target groups. The Cheap, the Glossy, the Boring and all the others. And your mentioning him here will create a few more clicks for him. Job done.

Fair enough.

So why doesn't he simply run the tests and show the results?

 

[Kampernaut]

Hans B. seems like a decent bloke. I’ve watched his videos where he asserts that audible differences between digital transport devices are not only present but may be clearly heard. He then follows up with what seems like a loose justification based on the fact that digital bits are represented in analogue transmissions, subject to noise and therefore sound data is susceptible to corruption/mistiming.

What he says about the sound may be true, but I haven’t heard it yet and I don’t find his explanations convincing.

 

[dangermouse]

What he says about the sound may be true, but I haven’t heard it yet and I don’t find his explanations convincing.

That's my problem with Hans also. He sounds convincing, but the substance just isn't there.

 

[Hobbit]

In answer to the original question I have hooked up the ultra to my deniafrips ares ii r2r dac via optical out, sounds bloody good to me ears, but they are my ears off course so subjective

 

[saberger1]

In answer to the original question I have hooked up the ultra to my deniafrips ares ii r2r dac via optical out, sounds bloody good to me ears, but they are my ears off course so subjective

Same combo here, although I'm running through the USB. Don't know if I can tell any difference between the optical and USB, but other's have indicated a preference for the latter.

 

[cheznous]

Same combo here, although I'm running through the USB. Don't know if I can tell any difference between the optical and USB, but other's have indicated a preference for the latter.

I can also recommend the Denafrips as well.
I have always used USB but for some reason I like the Coaxial digital better with the Ultra.
I also use balanced cables to my power amp as it eliminates all hisses which I did get with rca cables.

 

[Hobbit]

Same combo here, although I'm running through the USB. Don't know if I can tell any difference between the optical and USB, but other's have indicated a preference for the latter.

Thanks will have a play around myself using the usb to see, cheers

 

[rek2575]

Has anyone seen a review measuring the Ultra's DAC performance? I think a review is pending as ASR, but who knows when that will come out. (They did just very positively review the soon-to-be-released WiiM Amp Pro, fwiw.)

For me one of the main arguments in favor of an external DAC is the Ultra's lack of XLR analog output. However, I'd love to see how the Ultra's DAC fares with its RCA output in terms of measurements.

 

[henninggodske]

Why should XLR matter? There is no difference whatsoever compared to RCA unless you’re running it 100 meter in a noisy environment. But then there’s of cause the cool factor to consider.

 

[Smartplug]

Why should XLR matter? There is no difference whatsoever compared to RCA unless you’re running it 100 meter in a noisy environment. But then there’s of cause the cool factor to consider.

There’s so many are obsessed on xlr when they run their equipment 1 foot away from the rest which hardly any benefits.

 

[rek2575]

Well, I mean if the Ultra were built to output a balanced signal, XLR audio out would be preferable to RCA audio out. If the (theoretical) XLR outputs on a WiiM Ultra were just cosmetic, providing the same unbalanced output as RCA, then, yes, it'd make no difference.

 

[Smartplug]

Has anyone seen a review measuring the Ultra's DAC performance? I think a review is pending as ASR, but who knows when that will come out. (They did just very positively review the soon-to-be-released WiiM Amp Pro, fwiw.)

For me one of the main arguments in favor of an external DAC is the Ultra's lack of XLR analog output. However, I'd love to see how the Ultra's DAC fares with its RCA output in terms of measurements.

The dac on ultra and amp pro is the same. I see no reason why would not be on par aside from build in amp and additional connections.

 

[henninggodske]

It's not about XLR vs RCA in my opinion. It's about balanced vs unbalanced.

The balanced XLR only make sense in a noisy environment and with long cables as in a studio or a music scene.

In a normal home there is absolutely no difference.

And in case you really need the balanced transmission there are RCA to XLR adapters.

No need to make product more expensive for nothing.

 

[rek2575]

The dac on ultra and amp pro is the same. I see no reason why would not be on par aside from build in amp and additional connections.

Yes, I'm sure you're probably right. The Amp Pro measurements are already good (https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-pro-streaming-stereo-amplifier-review.57257/), and it stands to reason that the DAC performance of the Ultra exceeds the already decent performance of the Amp.

Still, I look forward to seeing the Ultra's measurements, independent of amplifier performance.

 

[audiobliss]

I am running my Ultra usb into a Topping D70 pro sabre dac, compared to the coax out, the sound is more smooth and relaxed. A nice improvement over the Pro also.

 

[Musician]

Has anyone seen a review measuring the Ultra's DAC performance? I think a review is pending as ASR, but who knows when that will come out. (They did just very positively review the soon-to-be-released WiiM Amp Pro, fwiw.)

For me one of the main arguments in favor of an external DAC is the Ultra's lack of XLR analog output. However, I'd love to see how the Ultra's DAC fares with its RCA output in terms of measurements.

WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the WiiM Ultra network streamer, DAC, phono stage and preamplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $329. Physical attribute are modern and attractive enough. Alas, I can't say the same thing about the graphical interface. Icons seem...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Amirm has tested the Ultra today.

 

[Burnside]

Has anyone seen a review measuring the Ultra's DAC performance? I think a review is pending as ASR, but who knows when that will come out. (They did just very positively review the soon-to-be-released WiiM Amp Pro, fwiw.)

For me one of the main arguments in favor of an external DAC is the Ultra's lack of XLR analog output. However, I'd love to see how the Ultra's DAC fares with its RCA output in terms of measurements.

In terms of measurements, the aforementioned new ASR review states “The WiiM Ultra easily makes way for itself among our very competent DACs, obviating the need to use an external one”

 

[rek2575]

Well, that answers the question pretty directly! Ultra's performance is impressive -- especially so at the very reasonable price-point of ~$330.

 

[Mustafa]

I purchased smsl do100pro so far so good. Clarity of sound moved to next level especially mids and instrument separation is nothing like before

 

[Smartplug]

I purchased smsl do100pro so far so good. Clarity of sound moved to next level especially mids and instrument separation is nothing like before

Do100 sound better than ultra dac? That’s interesting!