Wiim Ultra to DAC - USB sounds better than coaxial

[ClaudeJazz]

After having had Wiim devices in my secondary audio systems (Pro Plus in the bedroom, Amp in the fitness room), I finally bought an Ultra for my living room system:

- DAC: T+A DAC8 DSD
- Preamp: Linn Klimax Kontrol
- Power amp: Linn Klimax Twin
- Speakers: Dynaudio Confidence C2

My main digital source before the Wiim arrival has been a laptop attached to the USB input of the DAC. As I sometimes want to use the laptop on my lap while listening to music sitting in front of the speakers, I wanted a seperate playback device, which would sounds as good as the laptop/USB/DAC combo.

I got the Ultra during Prime Day. I connected it via USB and coaxial output to the DAC. I can easily switch between the two connections by selecting the output in the Wiim app and the DAC input on it's remote, while the music is playing.

With various files (16/44 to 24/192 PCM, mostly jazz and classical), the USB connection sounds quite better than the coaxial connection. The mid range and treble are more refined and the stereo image is sharper. The output level is nearly identical.

I still have to do a shootout between the Wiim/USB and the laptop, which is more complicated as I need to switch the USB cable between the two, then restart the playback.

Even if the Wiim sounds as good or better than the laptop, I still need the latter to play DSD files without PCM conversion and to play SACD ISO files (foobar2000 with SACD plugin), since my SACD collection has been ripped to ISO files.

 

[EddNog]

...I still have to do a shootout between the Wiim/USB and the laptop, which is more complicated as I need to switch the USB cable between the two, then restart the playback.

Even if the Wiim sounds as good or better than the laptop, I still need the latter to play DSD files without PCM conversion and to play SACD ISO files (foobar2000 with SACD plugin), since my SACD collection has been ripped to ISO files.

Have you tried Audirvana instead of foobar2000?

-Ed

 

[ClaudeJazz]

Thanks, I will check it out.

 

[dtc]

Have you tried Audirvana instead of foobar2000?

-Ed

Why? Foobar is a well respected player with lots of features. The player would not effect the coax versus usb connections from the Ultra to the DAC or the DSD issue? Foobar is free. Audiovarna is not.

 

[EddNog]

Why? Foobar is a well respected player with lots of features. The player would not effect the coax versus usb connections from the Ultra to the DAC or the DSD issue? Foobar is free. Audiovarna is not.

I was more being curious than I was specifically recommending it. I wanted to see if they noticed a difference between them in quality, in usability, in reliability, etc. I haven’t used foobar2000 in over 20 years, and back when I last used it, it was an ugly and difficult to work with UI (but it was the only thing in town other than WinAmp back then).

-Ed

 

[dtc]

I was more being curious than I was specifically recommending it. I wanted to see if they noticed a difference between them in quality, in usability, in reliability, etc. I haven’t used foobar2000 in over 20 years, and back when I last used it, it was an ugly and difficult to work with UI (but it was the only thing in town other than WinAmp back then).

-Ed

I use JRIver. It has a very flexible and has a large number of features. It is not something you just pick up and use, but something to think about if you are willing to spend some time.

 

[ClaudeJazz]

I've been using Foobar2000 for practical reasons.

It has many very specific plugins with functions that are not standard, such as SACD ISO playback, DSD upsampling or DR measuring.

It looks ugly after installation but the interface can be fully customized.

 

[adias]

After having had Wiim devices in my secondary audio systems (Pro Plus in the bedroom, Amp in the fitness room), I finally bought an Ultra for my living room system:

- DAC: T+A DAC8 DSD
- Preamp: Linn Klimax Kontrol
- Power amp: Linn Klimax Twin
- Speakers: Dynaudio Confidence C2

My main digital source before the Wiim arrival has been a laptop attached to the USB input of the DAC. As I sometimes want to use the laptop on my lap while listening to music sitting in front of the speakers, I wanted a seperate playback device, which would sounds as good as the laptop/USB/DAC combo.

I got the Ultra during Prime Day. I connected it via USB and coaxial output to the DAC. I can easily switch between the two connections by selecting the output in the Wiim app and the DAC input on it's remote, while the music is playing.

With various files (16/44 to 24/192 PCM, mostly jazz and classical), the USB connection sounds quite better than the coaxial connection. The mid range and treble are more refined and the stereo image is sharper. The output level is nearly identical.

I still have to do a shootout between the Wiim/USB and the laptop, which is more complicated as I need to switch the USB cable between the two, then restart the playback.

Even if the Wiim sounds as good or better than the laptop, I still need the latter to play DSD files without PCM conversion and to play SACD ISO files (foobar2000 with SACD plugin), since my SACD collection has been ripped to ISO files.

USB asynchronous allows a DAC (with better clocks) to reconstitute the stream.

 

[hgo58]

USB asynchronous allows a DAC (with better clocks) to reconstitute the stream.

Better clock than what?

Digital jitter is a thing of the past. Was as an issue in the 1980's, not now.

 

[Smartplug]

Better clock than what?

Digital jitter is a thing of the past. Was as an issue in the 1980's, not now.

Agree, even an entry level dac their measurement are exceedingly clean. If anything changes in sounds more of coloration. Smsl for instance has many different sound coloring of user choice. Vacuum tubes sounds the most depth and pleasing sound but loaded with noise and distortion. For some other transparent is just too polite lifeless sound. No sound signature fit all listeners preference.

 

[hgo58]

Agree, even an entry level dac their measurement are exceedingly clean. If anything changes in sounds more of coloration. Smsl for instance has many different sound coloring of user choice. Vacuum tubes sounds the most depth and pleasing sound but loaded with noise and distortion. For some other transparent is just too polite lifeless sound. No sound signature fit all listeners preference.

In many cases "bit perfect" sounds too clean. What looks good on paper do not always sound good. That is probably why people prefer to add and experiment with DAC's with different coloring of the sound.

In most cases I can get what I want just using the EQ.