What external DAC to improve the Ultra?

[guy48065]

It would be the MiniDSP Flex Eight since the Ultra only has one DAC and my DSP controlled semi DIY speakers are four way.

"She said her stereo was 4-way
And I'd just love it in her room"

 

[guy48065]

Sorry... I was overcome by some Zappa in the moment.

 

[LennyBruce]

I really don't get it.. people buying the Ultra, a perfectly capable device which does it all, only to add an external DAC. If you're going to add an external DAC, why not just stick to a WiiM Pro?

I mean, if the internal DAC isn't enough for you or if you really think you need XLR's, you're probably not going to use the built-in phono input either? Only an external headphone amp seems to make sense after reading Amir's review.

I had a Wiim Pro and a Topping D30 DAC.

It sounded good.

When the Ultra came out, I really liked the look of it. I think the (pretty pointless) screen looks really good.

So I bought one and compared it to the Wiim Pro and DAC. Couldn't tell any difference, so sold the Pro and DAC on Ebay to offset the cost.

I then picked up an Audiolab M DAC on Ebay for a good price, which, IMO, produces a "better" sound than the Ultra on it's own.

I also like the look of the M-DAC.

The two of them sits on top of a hardwood TV/AV stand they looks great.

As they are a key feature of my room, how they look is very important to me.

 

[adias]

I really don't get it.. people buying the Ultra, a perfectly capable device which does it all, only to add an external DAC. If you're going to add an external DAC, why not just stick to a WiiM Pro?
...

The Ultra has a USB output, the Pro doesn’t.

 

[Musician]

I had a Wiim Pro and a Topping D30 DAC.

It sounded good.

When the Ultra came out, I really liked the look of it. I think the (pretty pointless) screen looks really good.

So I bought one and compared it to the Wiim Pro and DAC. Couldn't tell any difference, so sold the Pro and DAC on Ebay to offset the cost.

I then picked up an Audiolab M DAC on Ebay for a good price, which, IMO, produces a "better" sound than the Ultra on it's own.

I also like the look of the M-DAC.

The two of them sits on top of a hardwood TV/AV stand they looks great.

As they are a key feature of my room, how they look is very important to me.

Mdac has a SINAD of 101 dB - 14 dB worse than the ultra. You can have even better sound If you buy a Rega dac R with a SINAD of 84 dB - with more analog like sound, more earfriendly.

Vinyl records has a SINAD of 25 dB , many audiophiles love the sound from it

 

[slartibartfast]

Mdac has a SINAD of 101 dB - 14 dB worse than the ultra. You can have even better sound If you buy a Rega dac R with a SINAD of 84 dB - with more analog like sound, more earfriendly.

Vinyl records has a SINAD of 25 dB , many audiophiles love the sound from it

Where did you get the 25dB SINAD figure for vinyl?

 

[guy48065]

...
Vinyl records has a SINAD of 25 dB , many audiophiles love the sound from it.

This just shows there's as-yet-unmeasurable qualities to real music in real space. Digital has come a long way since it was "perfected" in 1982 but it still lacks the immediacy and reality of a good analog front end. Maybe it's a symmetry of coils translating wiggles into current that's then sent to more coils to create more wiggles (soundwaves).
I'll miss this when I move next year but my digital system is close enough to be involving & satisfying.

 

[Musician]

This just shows there's as-yet-unmeasurable qualities to real music in real space. Digital has come a long way since it was "perfected" in 1982 but it still lacks the immediacy and reality of a good analog front end. Maybe it's a symmetry of coils translating wiggles into current that's then sent to more coils to create more wiggles (soundwaves).
I'll miss this when I move next year but my digital system is close enough to be involving & satisfying.

View attachment 12486

Its the flawed stereo system thats in need for some nice coloration to make the perceived illusion greater .
One of the nicest colorations to be had for two channel playback are the analog compression artefacts from an open reel to reel recorder.

In a true 5.1 or 7.1 system, the digital sound wins over any analog system . But most good recordings of music is only for 2 channel playback.

 

[Kiddwad57]

As audio electronics become more refined and commodified, enthusiasts, including myself, are left with fewer needs. This can result in more sideway moves and needless expenditures: cables, external dacs, etc., just to feel a sense of control and the creative satisfaction hobbies can bring. Choosing speakers and understanding the acoustical properties of our rooms seem to be the richest vein of exploration available to us. After that it’s all about the music!
PS: Unless you’re into vinyl, which is a different story altogether. Or, multichannel, that’s a new twist.

 

[redwards]

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

Sounds great have geshelli j3

 

[Musician]

Sounds great have geshelli j3

Is the sound better than using the internal dac of the ultra ? In what way ?
Amirm has tested j2 :

Geshelli JNOG2 Review (Balanced DAC)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Geshelli Labs JNOG2 (J2) balanced stereo DAC. It was kindly drop shipped to me by a member and costs US $299.99. Strangely in this day and age, USB as an option ($50). The look is typical of Geshelli products with use of plexiglass. I am not a...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[alpha_zulu]

As audio electronics become more refined and commodified, enthusiasts, including myself, are left with fewer needs. This can result in more sideway moves and needless expenditures: cables, external dacs, etc., just to feel a sense of control and the creative satisfaction hobbies can bring. Choosing speakers and understanding the acoustical properties of our rooms seem to be the richest vein of exploration available to us. After that it’s all about the music!

One of the best and most coherent explanations of this phenomenon that I have ever read.

 

[JaccoW]

I like Schiit Audio DACs (preferably multibit R/2R designs). Those connected via USB (with Schiit’s Unison port) will be better than anything internal to a WiiM unit. Better in the sense of close to reality, not color preference. Start with a Modi Multibit 2. IMHO, YMMV.

Schiit Multibit 2 review

Conclusions
There is no doubt whatsoever whether you use the older version or new, the Schiit Multibit produces a much less faithful analog output of the digital samples we feed it. This shows up in every measurement and is in full agreement with what Schiit itself publishes. No way can you step on audio samples and destroy them yet have some claim to better accuracy. The Schiit Modi 3 easily and by a huge margin outperforms the Modi Multibit. So if it is accuracy and faithfulness to the recording is concerned, then the Modi 3 by far is your best bet from Schiit.

EDIT: Not relevant. Review not about this device.

 

[Aquarius]

Is the sound better than using the internal dac of the ultra ? In what way ?
Amirm has tested j2 :

Geshelli JNOG2 Review (Balanced DAC)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Geshelli Labs JNOG2 (J2) balanced stereo DAC. It was kindly drop shipped to me by a member and costs US $299.99. Strangely in this day and age, USB as an option ($50). The look is typical of Geshelli products with use of plexiglass. I am not a...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Amirs measurements can ensure that its a technical well design product thats low on distortion, jitter, etc. But you cant compare graphs from two product-reviews and determine wich of them that sounds the best. For that you need to listen to both and see wich one you prefer.

 

[timfrommass]

Amirs measurements can ensure that its a technical well design product thats low on distortion, jitter, etc. But you cant compare graphs from two product-reviews and determine wich of them that sounds the best. For that you need to listen to both and see wich one you prefer.

Yea you can

 

[adias]

Schiit Multibit 2 review

I do not want to be involved in an argument about this, just to note that that post is from late 2018. My post referred to MMB2 introduced in very late 2022. In all cases… you do you, I do me.

 

[Kiddwad57]

A timeless subject!

 

[redwards]

Is the sound better than using the internal dac of the ultra ? In what way ?
Amirm has tested j2 :

Geshelli JNOG2 Review (Balanced DAC)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Geshelli Labs JNOG2 (J2) balanced stereo DAC. It was kindly drop shipped to me by a member and costs US $299.99. Strangely in this day and age, USB as an option ($50). The look is typical of Geshelli products with use of plexiglass. I am not a...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I have the j2 and j3 won't know never listen to them without geshelli had both before wiim

 

[JaccoW]

I do not want to be involved in an argument about this, just to note that that post is from late 2018. My post referred to MMB2 introduced in very late 2022. In all cases… you do you, I do me.

Oh no, that's definitely a fair comment. I'll go and correct it.

Personally I'm running mine with a Topping E50.

 

[onlyoneme]

Yea you can

Not really.