Valid question but unfortunately I don't know technical details of your DAC.
What external DAC to improve the Ultra?
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Grossmeister_T
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Same for me and I did not find anything. Maybe someone else does.
BR
Grossmeister_T
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I only know 2x Texas Instruments PCM1792 and 1x Texas Instruments PCM5102 with a tube and a transistor mode.
I found this for example:
PCM1792 Datenblatt, Produktinformationen und Support | TI.com
TI-Produkt PCM1792 ist ein(e) Stereo-DAC mit 132 dB Rauschabstand mit höchster Leistung (SW-Steuerung). Parameter-, Bestell- und Qualitätsinformationen finden
www.ti.com
BR
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If you can’t hear the difference between high end dac over entry level just enjoy what you have since it won’t cost you anything. This topic are for people who has working ear that can differentiate the difference. I have 3 dac connected to ultra that include r2r, ess and akm. They don’t sound the same despite their high end specs.
The only way I got the excellent sound that various reviewers describe when populating the Geshelli J3 with Sparkos 2590s op amps was to connect my WiiM Pro Plus to the Geshelli J3 via a Toslink Optical cable. For whatever reason, COAX produced inferior sound, regardless of the coax cable that I tested. Beats me why.
Thanks. Already ordered one just in case with a USB option, because many suggest that USB will reclock the signal which is superior to the clock of the Ultra - if that makes sense))
The digital outputs of the WiiM ultra cant technically be bettered. Extremely low jitter with toslink.
At Diyaudio they have found one thing that might better the analog output of the Ultra. The opamps are sota ( opa1611 ) and the output impedance ( as already shown by onlyoneme ) is only 11 ohms.
The characteristic impedance of a normal RCA cable are something between 50-300 ohms. If you solder 100 Ohm resistors in series at each L and R + inside the RCA contact on the cable , that connects nearest the Ultras analog output, the sound might be slightly improved.
The characteristic impedance of a normal RCA cable are something between 50-300 ohms. If you solder 100 Ohm resistors in series at each L and R + inside the RCA contact on the cable , that connects nearest the Ultras analog output, the sound might be slightly improved.
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Correct, no guaranty for better perceived sound. The difference if any, will be small
slartibartfast
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Characteristic impedance doesn't matter for analogy RCA interconnects at audio frequencies though. It only applies to transmission lines.
Above is unrelated to jitter on the digital outputs. Shame on you.
Extremely low output impedance without characteristic impedance matching can make opa1611 and many other opamps oscillate .
Now, I’m not saying that this is happening in this case though.
It’s good practice with 100 ohm at the output of opamps with rca connection to a cable.
Ok - I was wrong then . The internal dac has very low jitter .
Ah your still a baby , I’m 65
Just my two bits: I have several setups. My main one has the Wiim Ultra feeding a Don Sachs tube preamp with KEF 105/3 speakers. In between is a pair of custom tube monoblocks (EL84) and/or fully Hoppe's Brain reburbished Adcom 565 monoblocs. I also plug the Wiim into an integrated 811 tube amp, single-ended direct coupled, etc. etc. My secondary system has another Wiim ultra going into another Don Sachs pre going into pair of custom tube monoblocks (KT88) and/or an Adcom 555 (same Hoppe's Brain treatment) with Cornwalls.
I was at Audio Advice listening to an awesome McIntosh system playing into Sonus Fabers (I think Sonetto's with subwoofers) as well as a Naim playing into Focals. I preferred (by quite a bit) the McIntosh/Sonus Faber pairing (I preferred the transparency and soundstage). And sure, both systems had LOADS of power, much more power than I would ever, ever need and sounded just as good at moderate sound levels as they did going past really loud into rock concert levels. But I found both my systems within shouting distance at most volumes I play inside the house (even really loud). I'd have to compare side-by-side to really get a feel for the differences.
My way of saying I'd invest in a great preamp, amp and speakers before going past the Wiim Ultra. I've been tempted to get a Stellar Strata Mk2 just to try out and see what difference it would make (and maybe I will). But I've been thinking that for over a year now, which tells you I'm in no rush because of what I have. And my system is what I think fairly practical in terms of price for what it does (under $10k). I notice a big difference using the Wiim Ultra as a preamp vs. going through the Don Sachs (much better through the preamp).
I was at Audio Advice listening to an awesome McIntosh system playing into Sonus Fabers (I think Sonetto's with subwoofers) as well as a Naim playing into Focals. I preferred (by quite a bit) the McIntosh/Sonus Faber pairing (I preferred the transparency and soundstage). And sure, both systems had LOADS of power, much more power than I would ever, ever need and sounded just as good at moderate sound levels as they did going past really loud into rock concert levels. But I found both my systems within shouting distance at most volumes I play inside the house (even really loud). I'd have to compare side-by-side to really get a feel for the differences.
My way of saying I'd invest in a great preamp, amp and speakers before going past the Wiim Ultra. I've been tempted to get a Stellar Strata Mk2 just to try out and see what difference it would make (and maybe I will). But I've been thinking that for over a year now, which tells you I'm in no rush because of what I have. And my system is what I think fairly practical in terms of price for what it does (under $10k). I notice a big difference using the Wiim Ultra as a preamp vs. going through the Don Sachs (much better through the preamp).
