WiiM Amp Ultra with external DAC?

[mattultrahifi]

How can it be that? Doubling DAC noise and distortion plus the ADC.

No noise or distortion

 

[slartibartfast]

No noise or distortion

It can't be less noise and distortion than not using the DACMagic.

 

[hgo58]

No noise or distortion

Of cause there is more but probably still below what is audible?

I wonder why you do this instead of using the SPDIF input of the Amp directly.

 

[Shotgun Rico]

Yew. It's two different outputs. You will have to select the one or the other.

I think @mattultrahifi are maybe using the external DAC output as analog input to the WiiM Amp Ultra?

In that case the CD is going through DAC - ADC - DAC - Amp.

That’s too much conversion for my liking. I would just use one dac. Two dacs seem like overkill.

 

[slartibartfast]

Have been very happy with my Denafrips Ares II. But I got a good deal on a used Douk U8 along with the latest version of the Douk U2 Pro DDC, and since I'd never had a chance to try an I2s connection before, I took advantage of it. I'm glad I did.

Bottom line is that sticking with the Ultra's DAC is going to be more then fine for many as it should be. But if one has the means, experimenting is fun and might provide a sound different then what the Ultra provides, and to some ears preferable.

This is about the Amp Ultra though.

 

[Deleted member 29741]

If workers are already at hand: They have to work! (Book of Economic Rules §34,4)

 

[EddNog]

That’s too much conversion for my liking. I would just use one dac. Two dacs seem like overkill.

I know, right? Here I am deciding to go literally the opposite way and to completely eliminate any and all DACs from my chain entirely (Marantz M1 is a direct PCM -> PWM digital amplifier, no analog stage anywhere in my entire chain!

-Ed

 

[saberger1]

This is about the Amp Ultra though.

Ah sorry thought it was just the Ultra. My bad. Just deleted.

 

[mattultrahifi]

Of cause there is more but probably still below what is audible?

I wonder why you do this instead of using the SPDIF input of the Amp direct

 

[mattultrahifi]

Only have a coax output on the cd deck' no optical

 

[hgo58]

Only have a coax output on the cd deck' no optical

I would then suggest this

https://www.amazon.com/coaxial-optical-converter/s?k=coaxial+to+optical+converter

The DAC - ADC - DAC signal path is not optimal no matter how good the DAC is.

 

[Shotgun Rico]

I know, right? Here I am deciding to go literally the opposite way and to completely eliminate any and all DACs from my chain entirely (Marantz M1 is a direct PCM -> PWM digital amplifier, no analog stage anywhere in my entire chain!

-Ed

Cool tech inside that amp.

 

[mattultrahifi]

Hey! Is it possible to connect an external DAC with WiiM Amp Ultra. Does it make any sense? I'm asking because I'm tempted to try DAC R2R from FiiO - K11 or K13. I wonder if there is any option to combine this? Or is it necessary to switch to WiiM Ultra and a separate amp, e.g. Vibelink?

I use a dacmagic 200m with my amp ultra & there is an improvement in the sound but still have to also use the internal dac of the wiim

 

[mattultrahifi]

This is not possible with any integrated streaming amplifier that I have ever seen. Your only option is use USB out from the Amp Ultra to the FiiO DAC and then attach the DAC's output to another amplifier, or, as you suggested, switch to a different streamer that has no amplifier built in.

-Ed

Is it possible to disable the internal dac of the amp ultra?

 

[Aquaman]

Is it possible to disable the internal dac of the amp ultra?

Your quote already answers your question. No.
You cannot deactivate the DAC, only bypass it via USB out.

 

[Shotgun Rico]

Is it possible to disable the internal dac of the amp ultra?

Once you use usb out on the amp ultra the dac inside is disabled as well as the amp section.

 

[mattultrahifi]

Your quote already answers your question. No.
You cannot deactivate the DAC, only bypass it via USB out.

Appreciate the direct answer

 

[slartibartfast]

I use a dacmagic 200m with my amp ultra & there is an improvement in the sound but still have to also use the internal dac of the wiim

Does the DACmagic output connect to the line in of the Amp Ultra?

 

[mattultrahifi]

Does the DACmagic output connect to the line in of the Amp Ultra?

Yes

 

[EddNog]

Does the DACmagic output connect to the line in of the Amp Ultra?

You need to know: the analog input of WiiM Amp Ultra passes through an ADC. This is unavoidable.

-Ed