Wiim Ultra USB output to external DAC cannot adjust output voltage - volume too high

[NickC9]

Seasons greetings to all you helpful people on this forum…

I have a Wiim Ultra connected via USB to bypass the internal DAC and connected to a Chord Qutest external DAC. This is then connected via RCA to a Rega elex mk4 amplifier. All good, except the volume is far too high from my speakers (focal chorus 714s floorstanders). So I have lowered the output voltage on the Qutest to 1v and this does help reduce the volume but it is still very loud at 30% on volume dial. As I am using USB out from Ultra chang8ng voltage has no effect. I have volume set fixed at 100% for bit perfect sound but this seems to be sending too strong a signal and doesn’t give me the fine control of the volume control on the amp. If I reduce this volume it is fine but then I lose bit perfect.

I have been looking at inline attenuators (Russ Andrew’s) to help reduce the volume level but am I missing anything ? Surely this is not right? There is no further control on the line in of the Rega which is rated at 72w for 8ohms so powerful but not too powerful.

Hoping someone has experienced similar and found a way forward…. Many thanks

Nick

 

[slartibartfast]

Seasons greetings to all you helpful people on this forum…

I have a Wiim Ultra connected via USB to bypass the internal DAC and connected to a Chord Qutest external DAC. This is then connected via RCA to a Rega elex mk4 amplifier. All good, except the volume is far too high from my speakers (focal chorus 714s floorstanders). So I have lowered the output voltage on the Qutest to 1v and this does help reduce the volume but it is still very loud at 30% on volume dial. As I am using USB out from Ultra chang8ng voltage has no effect. I have volume set fixed at 100% for bit perfect sound but this seems to be sending too strong a signal and doesn’t give me the fine control of the volume control on the amp. If I reduce this volume it is fine but then I lose bit perfect.

I have been looking at inline attenuators (Russ Andrew’s) to help reduce the volume level but am I missing anything ? Surely this is not right? There is no further control on the line in of the Rega which is rated at 72w for 8ohms so powerful but not too powerful.

Hoping someone has experienced similar and found a way forward…. Many thanks

Nick

I think you have figured out the alternatives. Either use attenuators or use the Ultra volume control. Try the the Ultra volume control first.

 

[NickC9]

@slartibartfast thanks for the quick response, I guess so…

 

[Mr Ee]

If the specs I saw are correct the Rega has a very low input sensitivity, so even the 1v output from the chord is too much.
Digital volume control really isn't as bad as some think - if bit perfect is ruining your music enjoyment then it's far from perfect
As suggested, give the wiim volume a go. I'd be surprised if inline attenuators were any better.

 

[NickC9]

Thanks @Mr Ee, not sure which way I will go at he moment!

 

[Swann36]

Seasons greetings to all you helpful people on this forum…

I have a Wiim Ultra connected via USB to bypass the internal DAC and connected to a Chord Qutest external DAC. This is then connected via RCA to a Rega elex mk4 amplifier. All good, except the volume is far too high from my speakers (focal chorus 714s floorstanders). So I have lowered the output voltage on the Qutest to 1v and this does help reduce the volume but it is still very loud at 30% on volume dial. As I am using USB out from Ultra chang8ng voltage has no effect. I have volume set fixed at 100% for bit perfect sound but this seems to be sending too strong a signal and doesn’t give me the fine control of the volume control on the amp. If I reduce this volume it is fine but then I lose bit perfect.

I have been looking at inline attenuators (Russ Andrew’s) to help reduce the volume level but am I missing anything ? Surely this is not right? There is no further control on the line in of the Rega which is rated at 72w for 8ohms so powerful but not too powerful.

Hoping someone has experienced similar and found a way forward…. Many thanks

Nick

I’m newly running Wiim Pro Plus configured for bit perfect into Holo Cyan 2 dac and find I need to use 10 db Rothwell attenuators for my amp into Klipsch Quartets 97bd .. so wondering how you ended up ?

 

[NickC9]

I’m newly running Wiim Pro Plus configured for bit perfect into Holo Cyan 2 dac and find I need to use 10 db Rothwell attenuators for my amp into Klipsch Quartets 97bd .. so wondering how you ended up ?

Well, I tried the rothwell -15db attenuators and didn’t get on will them, they seemed to change the imagery and depth of sound so I then bought a Tisbury inline attenuator which was much better, fully adjustable from -0db to -20db and allowed you to fine tune settings to get the desired affect. I also compared with changing Ultra fixed volume from 100% bit perfect to 80% and this did help but also did affect the imagery. I finally solved the puzzle by upgrading my speakers. I had a demo with a set of new Focal Aria Evo speakers and same amp and took my DAC with me… so now even though the volume knob is still around 30-40% I still keep bit perfect and my new speakers sound amaz8ng with full imagery - before I seemed to be getting more noise at higher volume but this could be because my old speakers were 20 years old. I still leave the ultra on 1v output. I conclude that the amp could cope with the higher voltage but the signal to the old speakers was too much. I could only compromise on the sound I was getting by lowering quality either by loosing bit perfect or an attenuator that had some side effects. Hope this helps!

 

[NickC9]

Sorry can’t seem to edit my post above. I meant I leave my Qutest on 1v output not Wiim Ultra!

 

[slipthru]

Seasons greetings to all you helpful people on this forum…

I have a Wiim Ultra connected via USB to bypass the internal DAC and connected to a Chord Qutest external DAC. This is then connected via RCA to a Rega elex mk4 amplifier. All good, except the volume is far too high from my speakers (focal chorus 714s floorstanders). So I have lowered the output voltage on the Qutest to 1v and this does help reduce the volume but it is still very loud at 30% on volume dial. As I am using USB out from Ultra chang8ng voltage has no effect. I have volume set fixed at 100% for bit perfect sound but this seems to be sending too strong a signal and doesn’t give me the fine control of the volume control on the amp. If I reduce this volume it is fine but then I lose bit perfect.

I have been looking at inline attenuators (Russ Andrew’s) to help reduce the volume level but am I missing anything ? Surely this is not right? There is no further control on the line in of the Rega which is rated at 72w for 8ohms so powerful but not too powerful.

Hoping someone has experienced similar and found a way forward…. Many thanks

Nick

It's not clear if you changed the line out level from the audio settings on the Wiim?

 

[harkpabst]

It's not clear if you changed the line out level from the audio settings on the Wiim?

The line out level (in mV) does not apply to the USB or optical digital output.

The volume limit (in percent) under audio settings does.

 

[slipthru]

The line out level (in mV) does not apply to the USB or optical digital output.

The volume limit (in percent) under audio settings does.

Oh I see, It was my understanding that it did at least work with optical out as I was told to to use it with my mini when connecting to my ruark speakers as they distorted and changing that setting did the trick.

 

[harkpabst]

Oh I see, It was my understanding that it did at least work with optical out as I was told to to use it with my mini when connecting to my ruark speakers as they distorted and changing that setting did the trick.

Must have been something else then. Quite obviously, there's no such thing as an output voltage with an optical signal. A coaxial signal (not available on the Mini) does have a certain voltage swing but it doesn't influence the volume or distortion directly.

The volume limit on the other hand is applied in the digital domain and can indeed be used to avoid digital clipping even if positive EQ or pre-gain is used. It can also provide a safety margin against inter sample clipping.