Let me ask a question I am looking for a way to power 8 zones in my house with music. I already have speakers in the ceilings of each room and the wires are home runned into my theater room in my basement. Is the Wiim Ultra something I might want to consider in in providing music to each zone in my house?
what redzersaid, and also you could use the AirPlay or even the Mini to connect to separate rooms, as well cause it could talk to a separate amp that can power more than 2 speakers (unlike the Wiim amp which can only power 2 speakers and signal to a powered sub). But it doesn't have sub-out, so the amp is better in that regard.
Many reviews about this device and yet not a single install video. How do you connect this to (for instance) an AV receiver ? Is there a better DAC on board then the average AV receiver ?
It can be connected to any analogue line input or an external DAC. The DAC chip number doesn't tell the whole DAC story (as so many reviews seem to suggest), but the one in the Ultra will be at least as good as those in the average AV amp (and a few 2-channel audio amps).
The ultra is also a pre amp, so just look at it like a cd player , connect the line output of ultra to an available input ( aux, tape, cd ) on your av receiver...if your av amp/receiver is a newer version with no phono, then the ultra has its own phono so you can connect turntable to ultra and it would now work via the ultra. I recently got my ultra in the black Friday deals,..and yes, it sounds awesome which really surprised me as I'm using arcam av receiver which already sounded great .
@@Hottiger1818 Agreed, people poopooed the DAC but I'm quite happy with it. The sub-out has its own DAC (according to Kaamos Tech's teardown), so using sub-out might help improve the speaker DAC clarity a bit beyond what splitting frequency bands between multiple woofers already provides, pretty cool DSP improvement. I was also able to do some decent manual room correction, and I think I'm within 1db of flat from 23hz to 23Khz, with great soundstage. If I had single channel tracks of each I could tune each speaker individually, for even better manual room correction. Filters for decay, too. This thing is insanely cool.
Thanks for the review! I'm wondering whether there is a downside to connecting the RCA outs to the RCA ins on my integrated amplifier. It seems to me that you would then have 'chained' preamplifiers, and that can't be good? Is there a setting for just 'line out' level for the RCA outputs? Thanks again!
@mattwhite5377 - yes the wiim units can be fixed level out via RCA so the best option would be to select fixed out and control the volume via your integrated amplifier - sometimes though people take the slight signal degradation in favour of allowing the wiim app to control the volume - so try it out and see what you think however word of warning if you fix RCA level out on wiim that's effectively on 100% volume so make sure you turn your integrated amplifier down!
@@Paul-tw3yi Same deal, good times were had by all. I had to buy in a pinch cause my old DAC/amp died on me, so in a hurry I looked for something with sub out crossover, and this was what popped up, on sale. I've been looking into how it works now, and it's exactly where I wanted the market to go. This thing does everything and then some. I wonder what the Wiim Ultra pro/plus will have in store for us? Probably a better main DAC, maybe 2 more RCA outs for rear L and R, to make a 4.1 system and bite into the AV market for real? A better sub-DAC to enable subEQing/features? Who knows, but I'm sure it'll genuinely be useful for normal audio inputs and outputs.
So how would i go about getting music to olay at 32bit and most hrtz? I seen most vidoes ppl only get 24 bit or 16. Right now i stream music apps and tv apps on my xbox series x to my tv via hdmi and i send the sound from the tv to my home theater receiver with a optical cable. Now once i add this wiim ultra into the mix i assume i will have the wiim connected to my home theater receiver for music playback. Possibly send the tv arc port to the wiim arc port for tv sounds. Music from the optical or coaxial into the receiver. But i want the 32 bit highest, i have amazon unlimited music some songs are dolby atmos or ultra hd
1. Hi res is fake, created for masses without any basic knowledge regarding subject. 2. Tv and phones are performing resampling so there is no any hi res from such platform (on Android and Windows exclusive Mode is required) 3. Wiim is supporting full hi res, but there is basically no such content on streaming platforms. 24/192 is very rare, sometimes 24/96 can be found but also rare. 4. Which do not have totally any meaning. 5. Atmos is also in 90% pure fake.
@@trekkis For a little bit Google's music streaming service offered 320k, now they're capped at 192k 24bit which is more than enough for 99% of audiophiles room's potential. Even open back cans need a low noise floor for it to genuinely matter, and of those people how many are actually that gifted/lucky to actually hear the difference in real resolution? You're 100% correct. The Wiim does everything anyone not doing home theater (multi speaker 7.2.4 style) could want, since it has both phono in and sub out. I'm not going to use half the features they've added, and I love that. They added more features literally yesterday.
Hi @anthonycruciani939 we'd recommend one of the Class D amps from Topping, like a PA3S or PA5 MKII. Depends on your budget but alternatively you could spend a little more on a Topping PA7 or Pro-Ject Amp Box DS2. Hope that helps
I don't believe the ultra has earc, just arc...also if your equipment including TV dvd player cables all must be minimum 2.1 or 4k standard and preferable any cable lengths under 10m .
The wiim definitely has hdmi arc. Originally, I connected my TV using its hdmi arc port to the wiims arc port. It initially didn't work. I had to select Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) from my tools option on my TV (Samsung smart). Now whenever I switch my TV on, the wiim powers up and auto selects the TV sound source.
For anyone that may be interested...I connected a USB stick featuring audio files, to the wiims USB port. I was expecting the USB to show up via the app on my phone. It didn't...I had to search for my USB device using the touch screen directly on the wiim. Only then was I able to view the contents of the USB stick, within the app. Hope this is useful info for some of you out there...
I just ordered my ultra Every review on the ultra has only nice things to say Slightly disappointed with 1. It could have had dual view meters which would make the ultra look even nicer 2. Airplay not included is rather strange after it has it in the lower models Thanks for the review 🙏🙏. Very informative
thank you so much for the response. Much appreciated 🙏🙏🙏🙏 I will use the hdmi arc and stream Apple Music. Not sure about the resolution The ultra has only one hdmi. I have the Apple TV hardware Would an hdmi to Toslink do the job from spoke Tv to ultra ? Thanks again ❤❤
@@grandmasterjo1 usually one of the hdmi's on the back of the TV says ARC next to it - that one can be connected to the ultra and then use any of the other hdmi's to connect your apple TV and it should send it back out to the ultra - alternatively optical out from the apple tv to the ultra optical in
Bought one on Sunday, Sending it back tomorrow. Sometimes it works. sometime not. I listen to a lot of independent internet radio stations. I can get the stream on my iPhone, and it sounds great. In as to artist.. album.track info, all there. Sounds great from the Ultra. But no art work. It did show art work with one of my Amazon playlists. And then that stopped. Very frustrating . Unless someone can guide me as to what I am doing wrong, and I'm sure it's on my end, back it goes.
This has a smartphone CPU in it, it runs Android (modded), they're rapidly developing the app and OS for the product. It could very well have been a stability issue on Wiim's end, and I imagine it's been sorted already, since they're back to adding features. I've had mine a month and had 2 updates with features, not bug fixes. 1 or 2 for big fixes, though. Had some issues with optical in being detected after the computer goes to sleep, but that hasn't happened in a couple weeks now. I like that they're updating it, and it's not a "dead" product, even though there's no subscription. That does come with stability issues, so it's not for everyone. I hope you found something that works for you.
Lots of theses now for sale on ebay etc. So many software glitches and incompatibility issues and the realisation it sounds no better than a chromecast
Can this be the Squeezebox Touch replacement finally? I have been looking for long since idiot Logitech ‘killed’ the SB support. One of their best acquired products. This may fit the bill it seems and then some more.
That’s what I have been looking for long since idiot Logitech ‘killed’ the SB support. One of their best acquired products. This may fit the bill it seems and then some more.
Oh God. Another thing with so many options. How about a knob. And a few sliders. I just want something simple. You don't have to say how easy it is to use if it's easy to use. And then you can update it. I got one for under 200. Super simple. And then then you still at have at the mercy of the recording quality of the streaming service.
I just bought my WIIM ultra and pretty amazed for another reason. Before buying the WIIM ultra I was using a matchbox sized DAC from Amazon for under $10 I connected the optical Out from my TV to the optical In of the DAC and fed the RCA analog out to my preamp and powered speakers. I was listening to Hi Res on Utube and Spotify. Nice I needed a better DAC and after debating settled for the Ultra. Doing an AB test I had the same Spotify track going into 1. my Amazon DAC, and 2. into my Ultra via HDMI Arc Surprisingly I could not tell any difference in sound from either, levels being identical, after many trials Am I doing anything wrong ? How can both DACs sound similar when the Ultra has the same DAC chip also in the expensive Audiolab 7000A I expected much better from the Ultra compared to the $10 DAC Infact I’m amazed and disappointed Can anyone give me some answer *. The $10 DAC has no name except Made in China Thanks in advance 🙏🙏
1. Signal from tv is resampled = low quality. 2. Spotify and yt are compressed = even worse quality. 3. Powered speakers are always using their own dac, can not be avoided. External dac do not have any meaning. 4. There is huge difference between wiim and cheap dac, but peq adaptation is far more important. Still, both are 1bit sigma dacs. Dacs with real value are not based on sigma chips. But, as above- without meaning in case of active speakers. And in case of tv. And in case of spotify and yt. And you are using combo all of this.
. Thank you so much for your response and educating me on active speakers having their own inbuilt dac Something that I was never aware of despite using active speakers for many years. Last night after a long time I played a track from utube ( Tv optical out ) through the cheap dac Then I played the same track through the WIIM The results sounded same Same with Spotify. If I use the app on Tv and play a hi res track through cheap dac Then use my iPhone and stream the same track on my WIIM the difference is very marginal That’s where the confusion is Maybe I expected a lot more between the two But thanks for your inputs 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Internal dac is core component of active speakers. This is the reason why they sound far better than passive ones from the same price range. Internal Dsp allows to perform very precise FR dsp corrections - exactly as are needed. And far better internal cross. As this is core component, is always in use, even analog input is fully digitized. So quality is far, far better in low cost models than passive versions, but external dac simply do not work. For external dac, passive system is needed, without any internal dac / dsp, without second digitization step. But only multibit external dac have real sense - not anything integrated. Anything like wiim, eversolo, and anything from ever best integrated amps from 10k$ price range - their dacs are still simply cheap and poor. All are 1bit Sigmas. Price do not matter. Sigma is sigma. 1bit is 1bit, despite price. All ale on the same level $10 and $1000. Any fancy akm / ess models, do not have meaning. Wiim should be used with external multibit dac. As DDC - digital digital transport and dsp. With wiims own peq and room adaptation, and with wiims bas management and lfe output. This is wiim role. Not dac. Wiim as DDC and dsp is pure miracle, far better than many more priced models like far worse eversolo. As I noted, peq, room adaptation is far more important than dac. Active speakers are performing hardware adaptation (spectrum range correction needed by components), but not room adaptation. Wiim can perform room adaptation and this should have huge positive effect, even in case of active speakers. Far more important than influence of any dac. Also, as I mentioned, signal from tv is resampled (from 44khz to 48khz - this is destructive operation). Signal from wiim is not. It's pure bit perfect. This means, spotify and yt are better quality from wiim than from tv. Apps on TV shouldn't be used. But still, both are highly compressed, and can not be used for dac comparison. Only lossless sources can be used - for example, tidal. As I mentioned, there is no any hi res from tv, never and in any case, also when tidal on TV would be used. There is also no any hi res from spotify and yt. But hi res do not have any meaning - hi res is fake, it's pure snake oil. 16/44 is more than enough. What has meaning is lossless quality. No any compression and no any conversion (eg from 44 to 48) Source must be lossless, without compression and conversions. Yt and spotify are not lossless. Tidal is. Also, it is important to be aware than in case of iphone air play can not be used - air play is also lossy and destructive. Connect protocols needs to be used instead - like tidal connect. Then room adaptation needs to be performed. Also, speakers and amplification needs to be on level in pair with good quality source and dac. All components must be in balance and calibrated. Whole system is working with quality of the worst used element in chain. Started from source, ended on speakers.
Good Review, now im interested on this, could you please give me some advice? My current set up is: AIYIMA D03 DAC Amplifier ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 Bookshelf Speakers Monoprice 60-Watt Powered Subwoofer LG C1 48 OLED TV With this current set up is it worth to Purchase any additional device to get a better Hi Fi Experience?
Wiim itself will be huge upgrade for quality due to dsp/peq and bass management. Room adaptation can now be implemented. Then sub could be changed for better one - especially closed one - like svs sb1000. Then better dac can be used like fiio k11 r2r. Tube preamp can be added like xduoo ta-66. Then amp can be replaced as is quite old when this year there was huge leap in quality on case of cheap class D amp. Aiyima can be replaced to newer 07 max (upgradable opamps, mono mode, very cheap), or fosi v3, mc101 or za3. Or maybe something class AB like Cambridge axa35.
Not had too much experience with the Aiyima and monoprice units personally so can't really comment. But subs wise we love SVS and REL - suspect any model from them would be a big upgrade. The WiiM Ultra would slot in nicely to the system you have and take care of the front end of your system if you want to start there. With regards to your Elac's, we love those speakers, punch well above their weight!
It's not an amplifier. It can act as a pre-amp or line level component, and, as you know, power output in those two use cases is rated in milliwatts. It outputs a max of 2vrms. Completely standard, and expected by any amp or power amp on the market. unless you're talking about it using a switched mode power supply. Yes, I'd have preferred linear myself, but given the higher heat wastage, and lower efficiency levels of such power supplies this is an acceptable trade-off. Especially considering what this thing offers at a price significantly less than other budget competitors.
Great review.nice job 👌
That USB Port serves as an input but ALSO as a USB DAC connection!
Without lfe support - useless.
Let me ask a question I am looking for a way to power 8 zones in my house with music. I already have speakers in the ceilings of each room and the wires are home runned into my theater room in my basement. Is the Wiim Ultra something I might want to consider in in providing music to each zone in my house?
No but wiim.amp in each zone will do it
what redzersaid, and also you could use the AirPlay or even the Mini to connect to separate rooms, as well cause it could talk to a separate amp that can power more than 2 speakers (unlike the Wiim amp which can only power 2 speakers and signal to a powered sub). But it doesn't have sub-out, so the amp is better in that regard.
Thx I enjoyed listening to your review.
thanks for the positive comments!
Many reviews about this device and yet not a single install video. How do you connect this to (for instance) an AV receiver ? Is there a better DAC on board then the average AV receiver ?
It can be connected to any analogue line input or an external DAC.
The DAC chip number doesn't tell the whole DAC story (as so many reviews seem to suggest), but the one in the Ultra will be at least as good as those in the average AV amp (and a few 2-channel audio amps).
The ultra is also a pre amp, so just look at it like a cd player , connect the line output of ultra to an available input ( aux, tape, cd ) on your av receiver...if your av amp/receiver is a newer version with no phono, then the ultra has its own phono so you can connect turntable to ultra and it would now work via the ultra.
I recently got my ultra in the black Friday deals,..and yes, it sounds awesome which really surprised me as I'm using arcam av receiver which already sounded great .
@@Hottiger1818 Agreed, people poopooed the DAC but I'm quite happy with it. The sub-out has its own DAC (according to Kaamos Tech's teardown), so using sub-out might help improve the speaker DAC clarity a bit beyond what splitting frequency bands between multiple woofers already provides, pretty cool DSP improvement. I was also able to do some decent manual room correction, and I think I'm within 1db of flat from 23hz to 23Khz, with great soundstage. If I had single channel tracks of each I could tune each speaker individually, for even better manual room correction. Filters for decay, too. This thing is insanely cool.
Thanks for the review! I'm wondering whether there is a downside to connecting the RCA outs to the RCA ins on my integrated amplifier. It seems to me that you would then have 'chained' preamplifiers, and that can't be good? Is there a setting for just 'line out' level for the RCA outputs?
Thanks again!
@mattwhite5377 - yes the wiim units can be fixed level out via RCA so the best option would be to select fixed out and control the volume via your integrated amplifier - sometimes though people take the slight signal degradation in favour of allowing the wiim app to control the volume - so try it out and see what you think however word of warning if you fix RCA level out on wiim that's effectively on 100% volume so make sure you turn your integrated amplifier down!
I want this for Xmas.
On sale for 263 on Amazon, at least thru yesterday, maybe also for cyber Monday
I got it. Haven't opened it yet, but I'm having a hard time waiting till Xmas. I'm gonna set it up this week.
@@Paul-tw3yi
Same here, except Christmas came instantly ;)
@@34332funny
@@Paul-tw3yi Same deal, good times were had by all. I had to buy in a pinch cause my old DAC/amp died on me, so in a hurry I looked for something with sub out crossover, and this was what popped up, on sale. I've been looking into how it works now, and it's exactly where I wanted the market to go. This thing does everything and then some. I wonder what the Wiim Ultra pro/plus will have in store for us? Probably a better main DAC, maybe 2 more RCA outs for rear L and R, to make a 4.1 system and bite into the AV market for real? A better sub-DAC to enable subEQing/features? Who knows, but I'm sure it'll genuinely be useful for normal audio inputs and outputs.
So how would i go about getting music to olay at 32bit and most hrtz? I seen most vidoes ppl only get 24 bit or 16.
Right now i stream music apps and tv apps on my xbox series x to my tv via hdmi and i send the sound from the tv to my home theater receiver with a optical cable. Now once i add this wiim ultra into the mix i assume i will have the wiim connected to my home theater receiver for music playback.
Possibly send the tv arc port to the wiim arc port for tv sounds. Music from the optical or coaxial into the receiver. But i want the 32 bit highest, i have amazon unlimited music some songs are dolby atmos or ultra hd
1. Hi res is fake, created for masses without any basic knowledge regarding subject.
2. Tv and phones are performing resampling so there is no any hi res from such platform (on Android and Windows exclusive Mode is required)
3. Wiim is supporting full hi res, but there is basically no such content on streaming platforms. 24/192 is very rare, sometimes 24/96 can be found but also rare.
4. Which do not have totally any meaning.
5. Atmos is also in 90% pure fake.
@@trekkis For a little bit Google's music streaming service offered 320k, now they're capped at 192k 24bit which is more than enough for 99% of audiophiles room's potential. Even open back cans need a low noise floor for it to genuinely matter, and of those people how many are actually that gifted/lucky to actually hear the difference in real resolution? You're 100% correct. The Wiim does everything anyone not doing home theater (multi speaker 7.2.4 style) could want, since it has both phono in and sub out. I'm not going to use half the features they've added, and I love that. They added more features literally yesterday.
Can u recomnend a decent class D amp to use with it?
Hi @anthonycruciani939 we'd recommend one of the Class D amps from Topping, like a PA3S or PA5 MKII. Depends on your budget but alternatively you could spend a little more on a Topping PA7 or Pro-Ject Amp Box DS2. Hope that helps
@AVHifiCinema Thank you!
I can use TH-cam music on this device ? Thanks !
Yes, by Chromecast.
Tried connecting ultra to my panasonic tv using HDMI eARC and also optical cable but both ways dint work
I don't believe the ultra has earc, just arc...also if your equipment including TV dvd player cables all must be minimum 2.1 or 4k standard and preferable any cable lengths under 10m .
The wiim definitely has hdmi arc. Originally, I connected my TV using its hdmi arc port to the wiims arc port. It initially didn't work. I had to select Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) from my tools option on my TV (Samsung smart). Now whenever I switch my TV on, the wiim powers up and auto selects the TV sound source.
For anyone that may be interested...I connected a USB stick featuring audio files, to the wiims USB port. I was expecting the USB to show up via the app on my phone. It didn't...I had to search for my USB device using the touch screen directly on the wiim. Only then was I able to view the contents of the USB stick, within the app. Hope this is useful info for some of you out there...
Hi great review. Does the unit show album art work from files on a usb drive?
certainly with our flac files it did!
Is it possible to download music to the USB stick in addition to playing it?
No
I just ordered my ultra
Every review on the ultra has only nice things to say
Slightly disappointed with
1. It could have had dual view meters which would make the ultra look even nicer
2. Airplay not included is rather strange after it has it in the lower models
Thanks for the review 🙏🙏. Very informative
Air play is blocked by apple. And is so bad that the less of it is on the market the better for the market.
Good shout - we think number 1 could happen and number 2 wont sadly!
thank you so much for the response. Much appreciated 🙏🙏🙏🙏
I will use the hdmi arc and stream Apple Music. Not sure about the resolution
The ultra has only one hdmi. I have the Apple TV hardware
Would an hdmi to Toslink do the job from spoke Tv to ultra ?
Thanks again ❤❤
@@grandmasterjo1 usually one of the hdmi's on the back of the TV says ARC next to it - that one can be connected to the ultra and then use any of the other hdmi's to connect your apple TV and it should send it back out to the ultra - alternatively optical out from the apple tv to the ultra optical in
Bought one on Sunday, Sending it back tomorrow. Sometimes it works. sometime not. I listen to a lot of independent internet radio stations. I can get the stream on my iPhone, and it sounds great. In as to artist.. album.track info, all there. Sounds great from the Ultra. But no art work. It did show art work with one of my Amazon playlists. And then that stopped. Very frustrating . Unless someone can guide me as to what I am doing wrong, and I'm sure it's on my end,
back it goes.
This has a smartphone CPU in it, it runs Android (modded), they're rapidly developing the app and OS for the product. It could very well have been a stability issue on Wiim's end, and I imagine it's been sorted already, since they're back to adding features. I've had mine a month and had 2 updates with features, not bug fixes. 1 or 2 for big fixes, though. Had some issues with optical in being detected after the computer goes to sleep, but that hasn't happened in a couple weeks now. I like that they're updating it, and it's not a "dead" product, even though there's no subscription. That does come with stability issues, so it's not for everyone. I hope you found something that works for you.
Is coax output any better than wiim pro?
Analog slighty Yes, digital, no.
Very decent DAC, leaves the Bluesound Node N130 far behind. Technically that is, taste is a subjective matter of course.
Good point - also the Wiim desktop app is in Beta too so that is on the way by the look of things - another string to the bow!
Modded BS Node N130 😮
Will smoke average streamer
Lots of theses now for sale on ebay etc. So many software glitches and incompatibility issues and the realisation it sounds no better than a chromecast
Can this be the Squeezebox Touch replacement finally? I have been looking for long since idiot Logitech ‘killed’ the SB support. One of their best acquired products. This may fit the bill it seems and then some more.
Can I use this to replace a Squeezebox Touch?
That’s what I have been looking for long since idiot Logitech ‘killed’ the SB support. One of their best acquired products. This may fit the bill it seems and then some more.
Oh God. Another thing with so many options. How about a knob. And a few sliders. I just want something simple. You don't have to say how easy it is to use if it's easy to use. And then you can update it. I got one for under 200. Super simple. And then then you still at have at the mercy of the recording quality of the streaming service.
I just bought my WIIM ultra and pretty amazed for another reason.
Before buying the WIIM ultra I was using a matchbox sized DAC from Amazon for under $10
I connected the optical Out from my TV to the optical In of the DAC and fed the RCA analog out to my preamp and powered speakers.
I was listening to Hi Res on Utube and Spotify. Nice
I needed a better DAC and after debating settled for the Ultra.
Doing an AB test I had the same Spotify track going into
1. my Amazon DAC, and
2. into my Ultra via HDMI Arc
Surprisingly I could not tell any difference in sound from either, levels being identical, after many trials
Am I doing anything wrong ?
How can both DACs sound similar when the Ultra has the same DAC chip also in the expensive Audiolab 7000A
I expected much better from the Ultra compared to the $10 DAC
Infact I’m amazed and disappointed
Can anyone give me some answer
*. The $10 DAC has no name except
Made in China
Thanks in advance 🙏🙏
1. Signal from tv is resampled = low quality.
2. Spotify and yt are compressed = even worse quality.
3. Powered speakers are always using their own dac, can not be avoided. External dac do not have any meaning.
4. There is huge difference between wiim and cheap dac, but peq adaptation is far more important. Still, both are 1bit sigma dacs. Dacs with real value are not based on sigma chips. But, as above- without meaning in case of active speakers. And in case of tv. And in case of spotify and yt. And you are using combo all of this.
. Thank you so much for your response and educating me on active speakers having their own inbuilt dac
Something that I was never aware of despite using active speakers for many years.
Last night after a long time I played a track from utube ( Tv optical out ) through the cheap dac
Then I played the same track through the WIIM
The results sounded same
Same with Spotify. If I use the app on Tv and play a hi res track through cheap dac
Then use my iPhone and stream the same track on my WIIM the difference is very marginal
That’s where the confusion is
Maybe I expected a lot more between the two
But thanks for your inputs 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Internal dac is core component of active speakers. This is the reason why they sound far better than passive ones from the same price range. Internal Dsp allows to perform very precise FR dsp corrections - exactly as are needed. And far better internal cross. As this is core component, is always in use, even analog input is fully digitized. So quality is far, far better in low cost models than passive versions, but external dac simply do not work. For external dac, passive system is needed, without any internal dac / dsp, without second digitization step.
But only multibit external dac have real sense - not anything integrated. Anything like wiim, eversolo, and anything from ever best integrated amps from 10k$ price range - their dacs are still simply cheap and poor. All are 1bit Sigmas. Price do not matter. Sigma is sigma. 1bit is 1bit, despite price. All ale on the same level $10 and $1000. Any fancy akm / ess models, do not have meaning.
Wiim should be used with external multibit dac. As DDC - digital digital transport and dsp. With wiims own peq and room adaptation, and with wiims bas management and lfe output. This is wiim role. Not dac. Wiim as DDC and dsp is pure miracle, far better than many more priced models like far worse eversolo.
As I noted, peq, room adaptation is far more important than dac. Active speakers are performing hardware adaptation (spectrum range correction needed by components), but not room adaptation. Wiim can perform room adaptation and this should have huge positive effect, even in case of active speakers. Far more important than influence of any dac.
Also, as I mentioned, signal from tv is resampled (from 44khz to 48khz - this is destructive operation). Signal from wiim is not. It's pure bit perfect. This means, spotify and yt are better quality from wiim than from tv. Apps on TV shouldn't be used. But still, both are highly compressed, and can not be used for dac comparison. Only lossless sources can be used - for example, tidal.
As I mentioned, there is no any hi res from tv, never and in any case, also when tidal on TV would be used. There is also no any hi res from spotify and yt.
But hi res do not have any meaning - hi res is fake, it's pure snake oil. 16/44 is more than enough.
What has meaning is lossless quality. No any compression and no any conversion (eg from 44 to 48) Source must be lossless, without compression and conversions. Yt and spotify are not lossless. Tidal is.
Also, it is important to be aware than in case of iphone air play can not be used - air play is also lossy and destructive. Connect protocols needs to be used instead - like tidal connect.
Then room adaptation needs to be performed. Also, speakers and amplification needs to be on level in pair with good quality source and dac. All components must be in balance and calibrated. Whole system is working with quality of the worst used element in chain. Started from source, ended on speakers.
Good Review, now im interested on this, could you please give me some advice? My current set up is:
AIYIMA D03 DAC Amplifier
ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 Bookshelf Speakers
Monoprice 60-Watt Powered Subwoofer
LG C1 48 OLED TV
With this current set up is it worth to Purchase any additional device to get a better Hi Fi Experience?
Wiim itself will be huge upgrade for quality due to dsp/peq and bass management. Room adaptation can now be implemented.
Then sub could be changed for better one - especially closed one - like svs sb1000.
Then better dac can be used like fiio k11 r2r.
Tube preamp can be added like xduoo ta-66.
Then amp can be replaced as is quite old when this year there was huge leap in quality on case of cheap class D amp. Aiyima can be replaced to newer 07 max (upgradable opamps, mono mode, very cheap), or fosi v3, mc101 or za3. Or maybe something class AB like Cambridge axa35.
Not had too much experience with the Aiyima and monoprice units personally so can't really comment. But subs wise we love SVS and REL - suspect any model from them would be a big upgrade. The WiiM Ultra would slot in nicely to the system you have and take care of the front end of your system if you want to start there. With regards to your Elac's, we love those speakers, punch well above their weight!
If you like your DAC, wiim pro is perfect add on on any system :)
Insufficient power 🔋 supply
It's another average streamer
It's not an amplifier. It can act as a pre-amp or line level component, and, as you know, power output in those two use cases is rated in milliwatts. It outputs a max of 2vrms. Completely standard, and expected by any amp or power amp on the market.
unless you're talking about it using a switched mode power supply. Yes, I'd have preferred linear myself, but given the higher heat wastage, and lower efficiency levels of such power supplies this is an acceptable trade-off. Especially considering what this thing offers at a price significantly less than other budget competitors.