Advice On Streamer/DAC Combination

[Bleedingears]

Greetings all. I am coming to the well for some guidance. I am seeking to replace my old TEAC UD-501 DAC and a laptop that has served as my streamer and server for several years now running Foobar2000. I am experiencing intermittent dropouts when playing files from my NAS, and suspect the 8 yr old ACER laptop as the likely offending party (although the TEAC could be the cause as well). I am looking at one of several RME ADI-2 DACS, to be paired with the upcoming WiiM Ultra Audio Streamer. I am also considering the Eversolo Z8 DAC for this chore. I am assuming, hoping, that the WiiM streamer will continue the performance quality of its predecessors. Would this be a wise course of action? The package cost would come in at just over $1,000 USD. The alternative would be to bite the bullet and buy an Eversolo A8 at $900 more. Thoughts, or suggestions?

 

[Purité Audio]

Save $900, do you even need the RME?
Unless there is a feature on the A-8 you need, personally I want the Ultra to have XLRs out.
Keith

 

[Miser_Audioman]

I have the SMSL SU-1 and wiim mini. Bit perfect, sounds great, ~$200 bucks. No features though, feeding into an AVR for bass management etc. i have one bass resonance to correct, so the new 10 band para eq is 9 bands more than I need.

 

[Bleedingears]

Save $900, do you even need the RME?
Unless there is a feature on the A-8 you need, personally I want the Ultra to have XLRs out.
Keith

I always enjoy your posts. Thanks.

 

[DVDdoug]

and suspect the 8 yr old ACER laptop

Usually, something is "interrupting". The operating system is ALWAYS multitasking and interrupting even if you're only running one application. There are buffers to smooth-out the playback but if something "hogs" the system for a few milliseconds too long, you get buffer underflow and a glitch.

A Windows update may have fouled-up something... There is a FREE online book about optimizing your computer for audio.

BUT, it could also be something in the NAS, or in the (wireless?) streaming.

 

[Bleedingears]

Save $900, do you even need the RME?
Unless there is a feature on the A-8 you need, personally I want the Ultra to have XLRs out.
Keith

That was a concern as well. I've read that there is not much advantage to XLR connectivity if your interconnect runs are short, as in 12" to associated equipment. Is this true?

 

[Bleedingears]

Usually, something is "interrupting". The operating system is ALWAYS multitasking and interrupting even if you're only running one application. There are buffers to smooth-out the playback but if something "hogs" the system for a few milliseconds too long, you get buffer underflow and a glitch.

A Windows update may have fouled-up something... There is a FREE online book about optimizing your computer for audio.

BUT, it could also be something in the NAS, or in the (wireless?) streaming.

Thanks. I was hoping to just get the laptop out of the chain. I'll study the book.

 

[Purité Audio]

That was a concern as well. I've read that there is not much advantage to XLR connectivity if your interconnect runs are short, as in 12" to associated equipment. Is this true?

Almost certainly, mostly it’s because all the stuff I have is XLR. there are actual benefits making the earth before signal, locking etc.
Keith

 

[amper42]

I use the RME ADI-2 DAC FS with a Wiim mini via optical and XLR out to Purifi amp. That combination offers significant gain options over RCA connections. I have also used less expensive DAC's like the Topping D90SE and the FLEX and each time I really miss the "Loudness" option provided by the RME ADI-2. The beauty of the RME "Loudness" feature is you can configure the exact amount of Bass and Treble desired while listening to your favorite tunes on your particular speaker in your room. You also set what volume you want this feature to kick in and it automatically decreases within a 15dB range of that level. What this offers is a kicking, beautiful sound at any volume level that I can't replicate with any other gear. I have really nice speakers but without the "loudness" feature they don't sound anywhere near as nice. Can't imagine paying thousands for speakers and then not have the ability to tweak the sound for the room like the ADI-2 can. It's not just EQ but adaptive EQ based on volume levels. It's an awesome tool for audio lovers that can be easily dialed in with the RME app.

So yes, you can spend less on another DAC but if you know how to setup the RME "Loudness" feature for your speakers you won't want to use another DAC. It's that great! I have three ADI-2's now. One at each listening station. Wouldn't change them out for any other DAC.

 

[Rja4000]

I use quite a few Bluesound Node N100 (first generation) as streamers and multiroom with Qobuz, with a good DAC connected to each with Toslink SPDIF.
They go for 130€ or so nowadays (second hand, of course).

That works fine for me.
Application is good and regularly updated.

Add an RME ADI-2 DAC if that fits your budget and you'd have an excellent system, IMO.
(Avoid to use the Node for tone control, though.)

 

[somebodyelse]

That was a concern as well. I've read that there is not much advantage to XLR connectivity if your interconnect runs are short, as in 12" to associated equipment. Is this true?

The main advantage of balanced interconnects in a home setting is immunity to ground-related noise issues (hum from ground loops, 'USB noise' with computers). Assuming everything's designed correctly of course (no 'pin 1 problem'). Some don't think this is worth the extra expense or limited choice, especially if they've never had a ground-related noise problem.

 

[Middle Earth]

I would get the Eversolo DMP A8
It is really nice and worth the price of admission

 

[Bleedingears]

The main advantage of balanced interconnects in a home setting is immunity to ground-related noise issues (hum from ground loops, 'USB noise' with computers). Assuming everything's designed correctly of course (no 'pin 1 problem'). Some don't think this is worth the extra expense or limited choice, especially if they've never had a ground-related noise problem.

So far, my system is all XLR, so the Wiim would be a departure.

 

[amper42]

I would get the Eversolo DMP A8
It is really nice and worth the price of admission

I would disagree on the A8. Streaming to any decent DAC you already have on hand with the $89 Wiim mini via optical will sound just as good as the $1980 Eversolo A8. And if you have the RME ADI-2 "Loudness" feature setup for your speakers it will sound better than an A8 configuration for a fraction of the cost.

You could go with the $859 Eversolo A6 but the Wiim can once again do the job just as well for much less. The only group I would suggest the Eversolo to is someone who has a large ripped music collection and don't want to use a streaming service. Even then, a computer can do the job easier and better on many levels.

 

[amper42]

So far, my system is all XLR, so the Wiim would be a departure.

That's not a concern or an issue. If you are using the Wiim with an XLR DAC you connect it via the optical port. Your XLR runs to the amp. No need for XLR to the Wiim.