Hi. Just wondering if anyone uses the Wiim ultra streamer with an ifi zen dac? If so, is there any improvement in sq please? I’m asking this is as whilst I do love the ultra, the sound through my system (Arcam avr550 and Spender s5e speakers) can sound a tad harsh and brittle. I use Tidal for streaming.
Wiim ultra with ifi zen dac
- Thread starter MartinB
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HansD-NL
Member
There will never be a "night and day" difference between modern DAC's from say the last 10+ years, so the harshness like you describe will stay the same. Look for other causes would be my advice.
Curious, wonder if the OP is using the Room Correction feature of the Ultra? This has made a bigger difference than any other change in electronics I've tried over the years. I had a well respected standalone DAC prior to the Ultra (Schiit Bifrost 2) which I ended up selling after getting the Ultra.
A few questions and thoughts. Can you confirm that you are using the Arcam AVR with a pair of Spendor speakers, no center speaker, surround speaker or subwoofer? Can you also confirm that the Arcam AVR is set to 2.0 or stereo output with full range speakers? Can you confirm that the Arcam does not support Tidal directly?
As a starting point, you should be able to compare the sound quality of the WiiM Ultra DAC to the sound quality of the Arcam AVR DAC.
To use the DAC in the WiiM Ultra, connect your WiiM to your Arcam using the WiiM's Analog Output and set the Arcam to Stereo Direct mode. From the manual:
Stereo Direct
To listen to a pure analogue stereo input, press the
DIRECT button. The Stereo Direct mode automatically
bypasses all processing and any surround functions. In
direct mode, digital processing is shut down to improve
the sound quality and reduces digital noise with the
Receiver to an absolute minimum.
When connected in this manner, you can select a number of different WiiM DAC filters to see if you notice any difference in sound quality.
To use the DAC in the Arcam, connect the WiiM to the Arcan using a digital optical cable or digital coaxial cable. When you do this you should confirm that all signal processing is turned off in the Arcam.
When performing comparisons it is critical that the output between the two setup are level matched as experiments using a sound meter. Otherwise you are likely to prefer the setup with the louder output.
I would then run the DIRAC room correction software that is in the Arcam AVR and repeat the WiiM DAC, Arcam DAC test.
YMMV.
As a starting point, you should be able to compare the sound quality of the WiiM Ultra DAC to the sound quality of the Arcam AVR DAC.
To use the DAC in the WiiM Ultra, connect your WiiM to your Arcam using the WiiM's Analog Output and set the Arcam to Stereo Direct mode. From the manual:
Stereo Direct
To listen to a pure analogue stereo input, press the
DIRECT button. The Stereo Direct mode automatically
bypasses all processing and any surround functions. In
direct mode, digital processing is shut down to improve
the sound quality and reduces digital noise with the
Receiver to an absolute minimum.
When connected in this manner, you can select a number of different WiiM DAC filters to see if you notice any difference in sound quality.
To use the DAC in the Arcam, connect the WiiM to the Arcan using a digital optical cable or digital coaxial cable. When you do this you should confirm that all signal processing is turned off in the Arcam.
When performing comparisons it is critical that the output between the two setup are level matched as experiments using a sound meter. Otherwise you are likely to prefer the setup with the louder output.
I would then run the DIRAC room correction software that is in the Arcam AVR and repeat the WiiM DAC, Arcam DAC test.
YMMV.
Thanks for the replies. Yes, I’ve done the room correction; the Arcam is connected as described using ‘stereo direct mode’ and line out rca from the Wiim, therefore using the Wiim’s dac. The Spendors are used in full range mode as the sole stereo speakers with no centre or sub in use with the Wiim. It (the Arcam) does not support Tidal directly. The slight harshness I’m experiencing is not present when using other sources such as cd. I’ve not yet tried using an optical connection to see if the problem disappears when using the Arcam’s dac; so presume that should be the next thing to check.
Forgot to add that I’ve tried the various digital filters in the Wiim. Tbh, I found the differences to be either very subtle or effectively inaudible to my old ears; slight preference for the apodizing one, though none of them removes the harshness I’m hearing. Re DIRAC, this was run and calibrated by my dealer when the Arcam was installed, and I only have that engaged when watching films via my Sony 4k Blu ray player. When time permits I’ll try using the streamer via optical connection thus using the Arcam’s dac and see what if that works better for me. That will have to wait until my son visits though as it will necessitate moving the whole equipment rack forward to reach the connections; and I can’t do that myself. Too dam heavy!
Trying the Arcam DAC by using an optical connection between the WiiM and the Arcam would be the next step.
In the meantime, since it is simple to do, you could switch off the Stereo Direct Mode on the Arcam and see if/how the sound changes. This would re-digitize the signal and have the Arcam 'process' it and convert it back to analog through the Arcam DAC.
You can also try sometimes simple to do tweaks like plugging the WiiM and/or the rest of your audio system into a differnt AC circuit, puttinng a weight on top of the WiiM (a John Darko favorite), and adding isolation feet under the WiiM.
Of course saying that you have tried any of these and you have heard a difference in sound will get you labelled as an AudioFool.
In the meantime, since it is simple to do, you could switch off the Stereo Direct Mode on the Arcam and see if/how the sound changes. This would re-digitize the signal and have the Arcam 'process' it and convert it back to analog through the Arcam DAC.
You can also try sometimes simple to do tweaks like plugging the WiiM and/or the rest of your audio system into a differnt AC circuit, puttinng a weight on top of the WiiM (a John Darko favorite), and adding isolation feet under the WiiM.
Of course saying that you have tried any of these and you have heard a difference in sound will get you labelled as an AudioFool.
Thanks for the reply. Switching off stereodirect mode on the Arcam doesn’t work as there is no sound unless it’s engaged! This had me stumped when I first bought the Wiim, and was solved by someone on this forum. I still don’t really understand why one needs to have stereo direct enabled, but no sound otherwise. I’ve ordered a good quality spdif lead and will try that next before, if necessary, exploring your other suggestions.
HansD-NL
Member
I assume the Arcam switches Dirac off in stereo direct mode so off course everything will sound completely different suddenly. There are a lot of variables and unknowns at play here. Bottom line is that the WiiM is not sounding harsh in any way (by itself) and putting an extra DAC in between will not change anything. Using the build in DAC in the Arcam (with Dirac enabled) will get you the back to what you are used to.
Whatever you decide to do, never stack RoomFit and Dirac on top of each other.
Whatever you decide to do, never stack RoomFit and Dirac on top of each other.
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