WiiM Pro Plus the best choice for an amplifier without digital input?

[SoundWaves]

I'm strongly considering buying a WiiM Pro Plus, but I'm still unsure. I want to use the Pro Plus with a (relatively old) Yamaha AX 596 amplifier, which only has analog inputs (and therefore no DAC, right?). I will mainly be playing music via TIDL. Now I heard in a review that the sound quality is better via a digital connection, but it wasn't explained why this should be the case. So I'm wondering if the Pro Plus is the best option (maximum sound quality at minimum price) even if I don't have a digital input on my amplifier?

I'm not sure if I understand the technology correctly. TIDL streams with a quality of up to 24 bit, 192 kHz, which the WiiM Pro and even the Mini can do. Now, I have read that the difference lies in the DAC. I don't understand why the sound quality should change due to the type of output if the digital signal is already converted to analog in the WiiM anyway (and that's exactly what a DAC does, isn't it?). If I use the digital output and feed it into an amplifier, then the signal is passed directly from TIDL to the amplifier in digital form, so to speak, and only there is it converted into an analog signal, or is there a multiple conversion between analog and digital? Or is the statement “the digital output has a better sound quality” only correct if the amplifier has a better DAC than the WiiM? If I understand this correctly so far, then a Pro Plus should be worthwhile for my old amplifier in particular, as I want the best possible DAC if I don't have a (good) external DAC or a DAC in the amplifier, right?
Why would someone who has a DAC in their AVR or has an external DAC invest in anything other than a WiiM Mini?

And an additional question: If I have an old CD player with a mediocre DAC, but it has a digital output, I can run it through the WiiM Pro Plus and use it as an external DAC, so to speak, and the sound quality should benefit, right?

Many thanks for your help in advance

 

[MCG555]

I have a WiiM Pro+ too!
Now, to structure this a bit…

TIDAL > digital > WiiM Pro+ (DAC) > analog > Amp > analog (passiv Speakers)
or
TIDAL > digital > WiiM Pro+ > digital > DAC > analog > Amp > analog (passiv Speakers)

Both works. I use the first option, despite the fact that I would have a very good external ladder DAC. However, I find the Pro+ DAC really good too!

 

[Doublej]

...

And an additional question: If I have an old CD player with a mediocre DAC, but it has a digital output, I can run it through the WiiM Pro Plus and use it as an external DAC, so to speak, and the sound quality should benefit, right?

Many thanks for your help in advance

Yes if the digital output on your old CD player is optical. The WiiM Pro Plus does not have a digital coaxial input.

 

[taube Taube]

I'm wondering if the Pro Plus is the best option (maximum sound quality at minimum price)

I purposefully bought a fully analog amplifier on the secondary market after buying a WiiM plus. Of course, there are streamers with a better DAC than the WiiM, but they also cost five times more, and the difference will not be that great, if any. The Ultra is more interesting because of the display, but it has a DAC from Sabre, which I personally do not like.

 

[harkpabst]

I'm strongly considering buying a WiiM Pro Plus, but I'm still unsure. I want to use the Pro Plus with a (relatively old) Yamaha AX 596 amplifier, which only has analog inputs (and therefore no DAC, right?). I will mainly be playing music via TIDL. Now I heard in a review that the sound quality is better via a digital connection, but it wasn't explained why this should be the case. So I'm wondering if the Pro Plus is the best option (maximum sound quality at minimum price) even if I don't have a digital input on my amplifier?

I'm not sure if I understand the technology correctly. TIDL streams with a quality of up to 24 bit, 192 kHz, which the WiiM Pro and even the Mini can do. Now, I have read that the difference lies in the DAC. I don't understand why the sound quality should change due to the type of output if the digital signal is already converted to analog in the WiiM anyway (and that's exactly what a DAC does, isn't it?). If I use the digital output and feed it into an amplifier, then the signal is passed directly from TIDL to the amplifier in digital form, so to speak, and only there is it converted into an analog signal, or is there a multiple conversion between analog and digital? Or is the statement “the digital output has a better sound quality” only correct if the amplifier has a better DAC than the WiiM? If I understand this correctly so far, then a Pro Plus should be worthwhile for my old amplifier in particular, as I want the best possible DAC if I don't have a (good) external DAC or a DAC in the amplifier, right?
Why would someone who has a DAC in their AVR or has an external DAC invest in anything other than a WiiM Mini?

And an additional question: If I have an old CD player with a mediocre DAC, but it has a digital output, I can run it through the WiiM Pro Plus and use it as an external DAC, so to speak, and the sound quality should benefit, right?

Many thanks for your help in advance

Short answer: Your analysis is 100% correct. The WiiM Pro Plus uses a technically superior DAC compare to the Pro and the Mini. Go for it and you won't be disappointed.

Slightly longer answer: Yes, a DAC is a digital to analogue converter, so as long as the signal is still digital, it hasn't been fed through a DAC. The "opposite" of a DAC is an analogue to digital converter and many modern devices use one to instantly convert the signal.from the RCA inputs into the digital domain, so it can be further processed.

Example: If you connected the RCA output of your CD player (using its mediocre built-in DAC to the WiiM Pro Plus and then from its RCA outputs to your AX 596, the digital data stream from the CD would go to the CD player's DAC into the WiiM Pro Plus ADC to the WPP DAC to the Yamaha's analogue input. As you can imagine, there's nothing to be gained from this setup. If you can connect the CD players digital out to the WiiM Pro Plus' digital input, only one digital to analogue conversion would take place, using the WPP's high quality AKM DAC.

This DAC is not only technically good, the "golden ear" section of the High End club also loves it. The WiiM Ultra would be another option. It uses an equally good DAC implementation (maybe even slightly better), but it's build around an ESS chip and some of those golden ears are not into what they believe to be a characteristic ESS sound. For your use case the Ultra would probably be over the top, it offers a lot.more than just streamer functionality. The Pro Plus is probably best suited for you.

Which brings me back to the first paraz: You got it sorted before you even asked.