WiiM Amp Ultra vs WiiM Ultra + K11/K13 R2R + power amp

[d00]

Hello!
For some time I've wanted to try an external DAC but I currently have a WiiM Amp Ultra, where I can't use any external DAC.

I also have a WiiM Ultra in the closet and I'm thinking to myself if it wouldn't be worth using it instead of Amp Ultra and buying a DAC R2R + pure power amp (V3 Mono or Vibelink for example).

Will it give me a more pleasant and better sound? I play with CD, turntable and streaming. I also use TV. The whole play with the Dali Oberon 5.

What will play better? More like live playing band?
- WiiM Amp Ultra
- WiiM Ultra + FiiO K11/K13 R2R + Fosi V3 Mono 2x
- WiiM Ultra + FiiO K11/K13 R2R + WiiM Vibelink

 

[antcollinet]

Will it give me a more pleasant and better sound?

Short answer is "no”.

Longer answer is more complicated.

The R2R DAC you are proposing is objectively poor performance - it is a distortion generator - and according to the measurements here (for the K11) has a SINAD of only 72dB. It is possible that this level of distortion might be audible (but far from certain depending on your hearing age, the type of music you listen to, or your room’s ambient noise, etc.).

Fiio K11 R2R DAC/HPAMP measurements

This is a simple measurement of Fiio K11 R2R DAC and headphone amplifie. Some setup, 200kohm input impedance, 48khz sample rate, 20khz bandwidth. Balance ouput Dynamic range, No weighting 50mV SNR, 32ohm load, No weighting Linearity, 1khz sine, elliptic filter low and high pass from...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Some people claim to like the sound of distortion - I can't see why they would enjoy listening to poorly converted music - but they claim to. It is possible that if you are able to hear the distortion, you might like it too. But you probably won't be able to hear it - and if you do, you probably won't like it.

Personally, I wouldn't go near an R2R DAC.

What will play better? More like live playing band?
- WiiM Amp Ultra
- WiiM Ultra + FiiO K11/K13 R2R + Fosi V3 Mono 2x

Undoubtedly the Amp Ultra - given those two options.

It will more accurately reproduce the recording as created by the sound engineers without adding a bunch of distortion, and hence be closer to the intent of the artists.


If you feel you need more power than the Amp Ultra provides, then by all means connect the WiiM Ultra directly to an external amp. However, that will only provide an audible benefit if you are currently lacking power in the Amp Ultra, and driving it into clipping. And you'll need something much more powerful than the V3 mono, which is basically the same power output as the Amp Ultra.

There is no benefit to using any external DAC, since the one built into the Ultra is already audibly perfect.

 

[VintageFlanker]

Will it give me a more pleasant and better sound? I

No. The WiiM Amp Ultra already provides good enough DAC performance by itself, so any "upgrade" on that matter is irrelevant.

The only thing you can wish for is higher dBSPL at your listening position. Do you find this to be lacking ? The Oberon 5 are OK to drive small floorstanders, so the 100W/200W 8R/4R the Amp Ultra can deliver (not to mention before clipping) are more than adequate in my book.

WiiM Amp Ultra Streaming Amplifier Review

WiiM Amp Ultra Streaming Amplifier Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

 

[antcollinet]

Hello!
For some time I've wanted to try an external DAC but I currently have a WiiM Amp Ultra, where I can't use any external DAC.

I also have a WiiM Ultra in the closet and I'm thinking to myself if it wouldn't be worth using it instead of Amp Ultra and buying a DAC R2R + pure power amp (V3 Mono or Vibelink for example).

Will it give me a more pleasant and better sound? I play with CD, turntable and streaming. I also use TV. The whole play with the Dali Oberon 5.

What will play better? More like live playing band?
- WiiM Amp Ultra
- WiiM Ultra + FiiO K11/K13 R2R + Fosi V3 Mono 2x
- WiiM Ultra + FiiO K11/K13 R2R + WiiM Vibelink

A tip.

To get a "better and more pleasant sound", learn how to use the built in room correction features of the wiim devices and add a sub.

 

[d00]

A tip.

To get a "better and more pleasant sound", learn how to use the built in room correction features of the wiim devices and add a sub.

Which sub you recommend? I would like something quiet and small because I live in an apartment and there are neighbours below me.

 

[somebodyelse]

Which sub you recommend? I would like something quiet and small because I live in an apartment and there are neighbours below me.

What's the floor made of, and do you know the neighbours well enough to have a rational conversation about whether the sub might be disturbing? If not I'd suggest skipping it.

 

[d00]

What's the floor made of, and do you know the neighbours well enough to have a rational conversation about whether the sub might be disturbing? If not I'd suggest skipping it.

These are classic wooden floor panels. I don't know what the ceiling is made of. I don't know neighbours well, they are new here but they have a small child. It can probably bother them. Probably the sub is a bad solution?

The question is, are there any small subs that will not emit sound waves into the floor?

 

[somebodyelse]

I'm talking about structurally, and standards vary - I don't know what's standard where you are. Reinforced concrete provides a pretty good barrier to sound and vibration, whereas a suspended wooden floor might resonate as subwoofer frequencies. People have talked about various ways you might isolate a subwoofer from the floor to lessen transmission. Some are commercial isolators. Others are DIY solutions like a concrete slab on rubber isolators. What works (if anything) will depend on the floor as well as the isolator since they end up as parts of the same mechanical system. And you'll only find out if it's effective by involving them in your testing, so it may be better to avoid the sub.

 

[antcollinet]

Which sub you recommend? I would like something quiet and small because I live in an apartment and there are neighbours below me.

You could look at the wiim sub pro - small - and only 200W - so probably won't be worse for the neighbours at your normal listening volume - but might just fill in the lower end of your music for you. It's also wireless to the wiim amp ultra. (I think)

But you could just start with the room correction - that will still make an improvement - with our without sub.

 

[TRC2]

Hello!
For some time I've wanted to try an external DAC but I currently have a WiiM Amp Ultra, where I can't use any external DAC.

I also have a WiiM Ultra in the closet and I'm thinking to myself if it wouldn't be worth using it instead of Amp Ultra and buying a DAC R2R + pure power amp (V3 Mono or Vibelink for example).

Will it give me a more pleasant and better sound? I play with CD, turntable and streaming. I also use TV. The whole play with the Dali Oberon 5.

What will play better? More like live playing band?
- WiiM Amp Ultra
- WiiM Ultra + FiiO K11/K13 R2R + Fosi V3 Mono 2x
- WiiM Ultra + FiiO K11/K13 R2R + WiiM Vibelink

I have the wiim ultra with a K13 R2R with Smsl po100, to PrimaLuna prologue premium preamp to parasound 2250v2 to Polk r700’s. It sounds great I get detail and warmth and deep tight bass. Could it get better? of course. I’m open to anything audio my next purchases will be AKM delta sigma DAC better amps. Haven’t decided what type yet. Do measurements matter? Yes! Does what I hear matter? Yes! I’m just open minded about my journey. But the wiim ultra and K13 sound great

 

[d00]

I have the wiim ultra with a K13 R2R with Smsl po100, to PrimaLuna prologue premium preamp to parasound 2250v2 to Polk r700’s. It sounds great I get detail and warmth and deep tight bass. Could it get better? of course. I’m open to anything audio my next purchases will be AKM delta sigma DAC better amps. Haven’t decided what type yet. Do measurements matter? Yes! Does what I hear matter? Yes! I’m just open minded about my journey. But the wiim ultra and K13 sound great

I went back to WiiM Ultra + Vibelink instead of Amp Ultra. Thanks to this, I can freely customise the DAC andd add other devices like buffers, etc. In addition, I have a turntable plugged in directly under the Ultra without an external preamplifier.

I also have Polk’s speakers but R500’s. I like Polk and their columns, as well as their appearance. They're great.

So far I'm using SMSL SU-1, but it's possible that I'll try K13 R2R. I also saw a new FiiO Warmer.

 

[davmol]

I don't have the Amp Ultra but I do have the WiiM Ultra and thought I would give my view for any others considering external DACs. I've used the WiiM Ultra's internal ESS DAC, and also (via USB and optical out) the Fiio K11 R2R, Topping DX5II, Topping D50III, SMSL SU-1, Chord Mojo 2, and Fosi ZD3 DACs, and amplified them all with Fosi V3 Monos, MFA1 (Clone class A) and Topping A50III (headphone amp). I use an RCA switching box and Neohipo ET30 amp and speaker switching boxes, so I can so quick back and forth listening. Once level matched with a multi-meter I've never heard any audible differences between any of these combos. I probably will still compare other DACs in future, just because I enjoy the process, but I really now just buy for aesthetics and functionality.

Evidence of my testing process:
Most recent DAC comparisons:

Previous run of DACs, this time compared using headphones (as a true audiophile, I always burn in products before listening tests):

And, if you still doubt my claims, here is a final confirmation of my problem addiction dedication:

I supply you with my Spotify Wrap top "song" of 2025:

 

[gasolin75]

usb on a wiim ultra amp is usb out

 

[bravomail]

I don't have the Amp Ultra but I do have the WiiM Ultra and thought I would give my view for any others considering external DACs. I've used the WiiM Ultra's internal ESS DAC, and also (via USB and optical out) the Fiio K11 R2R, Topping DX5II, Topping D50III, SMSL SU-1, Chord Mojo 2, and Fosi ZD3 DACs, and amplified them all with Fosi V3 Monos, MFA1 (Clone class A) and Topping A50III (headphone amp). I use an RCA switching box and Neohipo ET30 amp and speaker switching boxes, so I can so quick back and forth listening. Once level matched with a multi-meter I've never heard any audible differences between any of these combos. I probably will still compare other DACs in future, just because I enjoy the process, but I really now just buy for aesthetics and functionality.

Evidence of my testing process:
Most recent DAC comparisons:
View attachment 495740

Previous run of DACs, this time compared using headphones (as a true audiophile, I always burn in products before listening tests):
View attachment 495741

And, if you still doubt my claims, here is a final confirmation of my problem addiction dedication:

I supply you with my Spotify Wrap top "song" of 2025:
View attachment 495742

you wanna buy a cheap Fosi stand for your right stack of gizmos.

 

[Cbdb2]

usb on a wiim ultra amp is usb out

Usb is in and/or out.
From the manual: Note: Use a USB hub to connect both USB IN and
USB OUT simultaneously.

 

[gasolin75]

Usb om an wiim amp ultra you can't use for sound from a pc

 

[somebodyelse]

Usb is in and/or out.
From the manual: Note: Use a USB hub to connect both USB IN and
USB OUT simultaneously.

USB In is currently limited to accessing a USB drive and playing files from it. It won't let you use input channels from a USB audio interface (possible with the current hardware if they decide to implement it in a firmware update) and it won't let you connect it to a computer and use it like an audio interface (almost certainly not possible with existing hardware.)

 

[gasolin75]

That is one thing i miss from wiim units with usb

That you can use a usb cable from your pc to get sound to the amp/streamer

Not all have spdif on there pc but all have usb, make it in or out put in the wiim app

Then you can have hdmi arc from your tv, pc usb and optical for your cdplayer + a couple of analog units, tape deck or real to real and a turntable

As i remember usb have never ment to be used for an easy way of getting sound from a pc into a wiim unit

 

[Cbdb2]

USB In is currently limited to accessing a USB drive and playing files from it. It won't let you use input channels from a USB audio interface (possible with the current hardware if they decide to implement it in a firmware update) and it won't let you connect it to a computer and use it like an audio interface (almost certainly not possible with existing hardware.)

Ok, I was just answering he question.