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

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SoundWaves

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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
 
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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!
 
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SoundWaves said:
...

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
Click to expand...
Yes if the digital output on your old CD player is optical. The WiiM Pro Plus does not have a digital coaxial input.
 
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SoundWaves said:
I'm wondering if the Pro Plus is the best option (maximum sound quality at minimum price)
Click to expand...
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.
 
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SoundWaves said:
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
Click to expand...
Short answer: Your analysis is 100% correct. The WiiM Pro Plus uses a technically superior DAC compared 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 (ADC) 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 WiiM Pro Plus 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 player's 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 paragraph: You got it sorted before you even asked. :)
 
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SoundWaves said:
...
Or is the statement “the digital output has a better sound quality” only correct if the amplifier has a better DAC than the WiiM?
Click to expand...
That is correct.
SoundWaves said:
Why would someone who has a DAC in their AVR or has an external DAC invest in anything other than a WiiM Mini?
Click to expand...
You're right they can stream equal quality digital signals to an external DAC. WiiM Pro has more features than the Mini, such as an ethernet port, digital optical input, and trigger output. For some applications those could be important. (Ethernet depending on WiFi stability; trigger depending on amp; digital optical input can be useful , e.g., if you want to calculate PEQ for room correction using REW on a laptop with a digital optical out). But you're right -- no need to pay for the Plus version if you already have a quality external DAC.

SoundWaves said:
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?
Click to expand...
Yes if it is has optical output to match the WiiM Pro/Plus input. Lots of old CD players have coax SPDIF digital out. Not so many have optical out.
 
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Ivan said:
One of the major faults of the Wiim Ultra is the lack of a digital coaxial in, that, as you said, is 99% on all the old cd players around.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure what you class as an old cd player, but my Pioneer PDR-609 from 2000 has Optical, Coaxial, and Line outputs.

If that’s not old enough, my Philips CD 960 from 1987 also has Optical, Coaxial, and Line outputs.
 
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I believe that the more "commercial" brands already had optical outputs, while the more hi-fi oriented brands at the beginning often only had analogue outputs (obviously to take advantage of the internal converter), or coaxial digital ones, and I'm thinking of Rega, Linn, Quad, Micromega, etc.
 
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Ivan said:
One of the major faults of the Wiim Ultra is the lack of a digital coaxial in, that, as you said, is 99% on all the old cd players around.
Click to expand...

I think more disc players have optical than coaxial outputs. Especially DVD players.

Usually, CD players above entry level have both.

Wiim probably did their market research when they chose to include an optical input only.

If this is an obstacle, one could always get a coaxial/optical converter.
 
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ClaudeJazz said:
I think more disc players have optical than coaxial outputs. Especially DVD players.

Usually, CD players above entry level have both.

Wiim probably did their market research when they chose to include an optical input only.

If this is an obstacle, one could always get a coaxial/optical converter.
Click to expand...
Can you provide make and model numbers of DVD players you know of with Optical outputs cause I can't find any.
 
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