Your observations are interesting and helpful, thanks. Just to be clear, are you saying even when you used WiiM's own internal DAC, there was no significant audible difference vs the other connections you mentioned (such as Wiim with optical out to D30 Pro)?External DAC - Topping D30 Pro. I honestly don't think there is a noticeable difference. I had the Node doing RCA out to my speakers, also did optical out to a MiniDSP. I think the only audible difference (to me) is when I turned Dirac on. I don't recall any noticeable difference between Wiim, Node 2i DAC, Node 2i --> MiniDSP DAC, and even my current Wiim --> ML Unison (ARC) --> Topping D30 Pro chain, other than when room correction is turned on (and at that point, it's no longer the DAC that is making the audible difference)
I think there is no way that wiim mini cheap dac will sound even close to good external dac. But if it digital out will be close to most popular streamers like Node 2i, aries mini etc. It will be the hotest device in audiophile world in recent years. Really…Your observations are interesting and helpful, thanks. Just to be clear, are you saying even when you used WiiM's own internal DAC, there was no significant audible difference vs the other connections you mentioned (such as Wiim with optical out to D30 Pro)?
Please give us an update once you do the comparison, thanks!Preliminary listening I find the onboard DAC just fine. I should have my topping DAC tomorrow for comparison.
Love that I can cast from Amazon app
And then there are those that had to work very hard to hear a slight difference between a $10 and $1,500 DAC (in another thread). And even then it wasn't conclusive. Just saying...I have no strong view either way.I think there is no way that wiim mini cheap dac will sound even close to good external dac. But if it digital out will be close to most popular streamers like Node 2i, aries mini etc. It will be the hotest device in audiophile world in recent years. Really…
Is it just coincidence that redbook CD's dynamic range is limited to 96 db?Analog out specs:
Line in to Line out:
Power Output=2Vrms
THD+N Ratio=0.009%
SNR=102dB
Crosstalk=-106dB
Dynamic Range=96dB
Those specs are for analog line in. ADC may well be 16-bit.Is it just coincidence that redbook CD's dynamic range is limited to 96 db?
The comments to that video are very interesting as many asked about the quality of the optical out. Hans replied many times and suggested even the Wiim's optical out was of inferior quality. Something about using cheap "clock crystals". Even more interesting - WiiM Support replied to one of the comments and said "Regarding the crystal we used, it's under +/- 10 ppm."His reviews are full of silly subjectivism but Hans Beekhuyzen reviewed the Wiim. His measurements at 2:45 in show a potentially audible jump in frequency response and distortion in high frequencies using the analog output.
Thankfully that is what measurements will show us. No doubt there will be a difference, but maybe it will still be good enough for most. I’m really hoping for the internal DAC to be good so things like volume control works. Losing that by using the optical out defeats the purpose of using the Wiim (for me.) Neither my external DAC or amp have remote control.I think there is no way that wiim mini cheap dac will sound even close to good external dac.
Hans is a subjectivist that believes in all sorts of audio apparitians. Amir's testing will show us the truth.The comments to that video are very interesting as many asked about the quality of the optical out. Hans replied many times and suggested even the Wiim's optical out was of inferior quality. Something about using cheap "clock crystals". Even more interesting - WiiM Support replied to one of the comments and said "Regarding the crystal we used, it's under +/- 10 ppm."
Yep. We still waiting for it.Hans is a subjectivist that believes in all sorts of audio apparitians. Amir's testing will show us the truth.
Thats interesting. I tested few dac’s in my system in 100-600$ range and They make bigger difference in sound quality than different ampsAnd then there are those that had to work very hard to hear a slight difference between a $10 and $1,500 DAC (in another thread). And even then it wasn't conclusive. Just saying...I have no strong view either way.
As much as I respect the old man I had to unsubscribe from his channel when he started talking about audiophile switches etc. He is very subjective although he has a lot of measuring gear. He talks about noticing sound quality differences amongst different filters on DAC etc.Hans is a subjectivist that believes in all sorts of audio apparitians. Amir's testing will show us the truth.
For those of you who already have this device and are using the optical out, are you using the supplied optical cable or some other optical cable? If something else, is it for aesthetic/build quality (of the cable) reasons or you think you can hear a difference between different optical cables?