Hi would adding a external DAC to the wiim ultra streamer make a difference/improve sound?

[Chrispy]

Do R2R DACs sound the same?

If they're doing their jobs properly, why wouldn't they?

 

[Chrispy]

I think I read a post here that explained how audyssey lesser than xt32 does more harm than good. Most of the seasoned experts here recommend to correct mainly/only the bass region and I had good luck with that with my wiim. I have profiles for 20-200/20-500/20-4000/full range and the 2 low profiles sound considerably better. Between the 2 I prefer the 20-500 it has absolutely pristine Bass. In the mids and highs I just let the speakers fly and do their thing.

Apparently only XT32 even corrects the bass region at all and the blend into the subwoofer. The lesser versions only correct the high stuff which you dont even want. Id try to experiment with the frequency range that you want the Denon to correct, I have very nice results with the wiim fixing only lower end.

Audyssey still works on lower frequencies even with the lower versions, just not as much resolution. With XT32 and an app with most of the last few years models, you can limit Audyssey to schroeder if you want.....

 

[techsamurai]

I think I read a post here that explained how audyssey lesser than xt32 does more harm than good. Most of the seasoned experts here recommend to correct mainly/only the bass region and I had good luck with that with my wiim. I have profiles for 20-200/20-500/20-4000/full range and the 2 low profiles sound considerably better. Between the 2 I prefer the 20-500 it has absolutely pristine Bass. In the mids and highs I just let the speakers fly and do their thing.

Apparently only XT32 even corrects the bass region at all and the blend into the subwoofer. The lesser versions only correct the high stuff which you dont even want. Id try to experiment with the frequency range that you want the Denon to correct, I have very nice results with the wiim fixing only lower end.

I should do that. Do you use the Audyssey iPad App to do that?

I think I've always had to go hot in the bass especially the sub. I was +10db on my old AVR. I was up a few db with XT32 but I just added 4-5 db to it and I'm banging my head for not having done that day 1 but there's a redeeming factor below. I'll have to look but I think my curve also bumps up the bass.

I generally dislike bass particularly movie theaters and constant booms but sound can apparently be quite hollow without it.

It should also be noted that this happened with FLAC level music, not 320kbps. They say 320kbps is transparent, but I never needed to bump up bass by 4-5db. Also, FLAC did boost the 4800h closer to the 8002.

 

[Mnyb]

Yeah but I've owned the Denon 4800h for 2 years now and I've custom EQ and while it sounds fantastic, it has never moved me like my old Marantz SR8002 which was an emotional roller coaster.


I just did a search using Gemini which took minutes asking about the DAC chip differences. Apparently, the 8002 had the flagship Cirrus/Crystal CS4398 for the front stereo speakers.

The 4800h uses TI's PCM5102.

The Sound character of each:

8002 Warm, Smooth, Refined

4800H Clean, Neutral, Thin

I have 1,000s of hours on both (10,000s on the 8002) and it's spot on. In fact, the difference between them is probably the same as FLAC vs 320kbps. I think the 4800h comes close to the 8002 with FLAC while the 8002 can match the 4800h with 320kbps.

There is no such thing as sound character in functional ( properly designed) DAC’s AI is of no help in HiFi , as most ”information” out there is nonsense due to subjective audiophiles , TAS et al so LLM”s just compile the nonsense in this case .

You need better written and more specific prompts to the AI and also get knowledgeable yourself otherwise you vant weed out the nonsense answers and rephrase your AI query

Edit : some terrible spelling, don’t post on your phone with the wrong glasses while waiting at the car mechanic ( service time )

 

[voodooless]

I think I've always had to go hot in the bass especially the sub.

Without using the app, the bass is very flat. Boosting the sub works if you don't have full-range speakers. But much better is to just dial in your house curve in the app. Mine looks like this:

Roughly matching:

Seems to work very well.

 

[techsamurai]

There is no such thing as sound character iin function DAC’s AI is of no help in HiFi as most ”information” out there is nonsense due to subjective audiophiles , TAS et al so LLM”s just compile the nonsense in this case .
You need better written and more specific prompts tonthe AI and also get knowledgeable yourself otherwise you vant weed out the nonsense answers and reprase your AI query

Fair enough, I should be able to test how the Pre-amp sections of each in Pure Direct mode even though that will not sound great. At least I should be able to hear differences without being able to tell which one is better.

 

[Sturker]

There is no such thing as sound character in functional ( properly designed) DAC’s AI is of no help in HiFi , as most ”information” out there is nonsense due to subjective audiophiles , TAS et al so LLM”s just compile the nonsense in this case .

You need better written and more specific prompts to the AI and also get knowledgeable yourself otherwise you vant weed out the nonsense answers and rephrase your AI query

Edit : some terrible spelling, don’t post on your phone with the wrong glasses while waiting at the car mechanic ( service time )

Been lurking and learning. Joined to say i wasted so much time with all the LLM's and had to correct them so many times that even a newb like me felt like an expert in comparison to them. Grok is the worst. He acts like he's smoking weed half the time and the other half he is a suck up to my inputs.

 

[Rit]

Hi so going for 2 SVS subs will improve the music than an external DAC?

I’m using two RSL 10s subwoofers, very happy.

 

[Buckchester]

Hi would adding a external DAC to the wiim ultra streamer make a difference? Like will it improve the music/sound to worth spending on a external DAC?

The DAC I'm looking at is the topping D90 111 sabre listed at £899.

Set up will be -

Speaker - Wharfedale Linton, Amp - 2×Topping B200, Streamer - wiim ultra, Subwoofer - SVS PB2000 Pro or SVS SB2000 pro

Do I need to add an external DAC to the setup?

No.

 

[emw2net]

What's your budget? And again, what's your room size? Cos if you havennt set up anything yet, people here will love giving you advice from the ground up. Lintons are great, topping b200x2 too, but really that's not what most people would choose here as a combo for that kind of money, there are better solutions imo.
Cos right now your budget seems to be around 3500-4500€, you can get some end game stuff with that kind of money.

what is end game territory with that budget for you? Could you give me an example?

 

[Karmacoma]

what is end game territory with that budget for you? Could you give me an example?

You'll find examples in the Ascilab line-up, one of the best cost/performance ratio available. Can't add too many examples because I don't know where you live, and that plays a role on the price.

 

[emw2net]

You'll find examples in the Ascilab line-up, one of the best cost/performance ratio available. Can't add too many examples because I don't know where you live, and that plays a role on the price.

I live in Berlin.

 

[Karmacoma]

I live in Berlin.

Audiophonics is the official retailer of Ascilab in the EU, you can start there. In your room a Neumann or Genelec system could also do the trick. These 3 brands deliver pretty much end game performance, by that I mean state of the art. You can find all these brand's products reviews in here and you can also try erin's audio corner Youtube reviews if you want a second educated advice. There are other brands like mesanovic which can deliver top tier performance as well as cardioid technology at 5000€, so a bit more expensive.

 

[davmol]

Just my two cents on the budget, I have wiim ultra, 2x Sabaj A20a (2022), sabaj A20d dac / headphone amp, and a pair of Linton 85th. I spent £1520 total, by purchasing open box from retail stores. The combination is fantastic so no need for a £5k budget if that's the sort of gear someone is after for their own "end game" setup.