WiiM Ultra... Am I missing something?

[sthaus]

Hi guys, I didn't find the information in the forum and I wanted to ask someone if I can send a digital data to dac via the USB port. If possible, can I use the same port as a pen drive reader?

If your DAC has an USB “OTG” port which is unusual, then that usb port can act like a storage reader and control by a software from that unit , it can read data directly. We usually see that port on integrated amplifiers, media players or streamers ! Otherwise, usb type C or B from a normal DAC won’t do anything with your portable usb drive, therefore it designs to connect to your PC (data transfer from PC). Please check your DAC manual for the connection ports. However, you can use your phone .. connect to DAC via usb and play music from phone to DAC, because your phone acts like a controller/media player.

 

[staticV3]

Hi guys, I didn't find the information in the forum and I wanted to ask someone if I can send a digital data to dac via the USB port. If possible, can I use the same port as a pen drive reader?

I hope Wiim “Ultra Plus” can add I2S out port or usb out like A8 .. it will be a legend. ^^, …

The Ultra supports both reading from USB storage, and sending audio to USB DACs.

IIRC, it can do both simultaneously using an external USB hub.

 

[gwing]

No, accuracy to the source is entirely objective.

Ha, ha. Just try getting a consensus of what the source actually is , or what accuracy is, before we even start talking about measuremen

Ah, moving the goalposts.

What goalpost have I removed?

That is one of the professions which I believed to be full.

So just to recap on where we are, a WiiM Ultra is a waste of time and money if you already have a PC…

Not at all. I actually recommended a Wiim.

…except you won’t be able to play Amazon music but perfect with a PC,

So you claim so absolutely and with perfect conviction. Yet there do seem to be solutions which may be able to do that if you are prepared to go to the trouble of compiling and running the code - not something I'm going to do myself because I have no interest in Amazon music and can already play it on my Wiim or echo devices if I want to.

and you’ll have to buy an extra 5.1 sound card and two DACs for the latter,

Of course not, a single USB DAC with however many channels you need would be sufficient.

and you won’t be able to control it from your phone.

Don't be ridiculous.

Now I think about, it’s because I don’t want to buy and install a sound card and more DACs, and I want to leave my PC on my desk, and I want Amazon music bit perfect, and I want a really easy user interface on my phone, that I’m getting an Ultra.

This long list of exceptions really is starting to sound familiar.

I mean what did the Romans WiiM ever do for us?

I'll leave you the last word on this if you want. I'm outa here.

 

[sthaus]

The Ultra supports both reading from USB storage, and sending audio to USB DACs.

IIRC, it can do both simultaneously using an external USB hub.

If you have media player/streamer Yes but if in case just DAC only with usb at the back (PC connect) zz I don’t think it work.

 

[staticV3]

If you have media player/streamer Yes but if in case just DAC only with usb at the back (PC connect) zz I don’t think it work.

You can plug a DAC like the SMSL SU-1 into the WiiM Ultra via USB.

 

[sthaus]

You can plug a DAC like the SMSL SU-1 into the WiiM Ultra via USB.

Again from Wiim Ultra, Yes ! Output can access from RCA, coaxial, digital, usb. But there is no point to plug SMSL-SU1 lol unless you wanna hear a different sound signature! I used SU1 in my sunroom for outdoor’s speakers, it’s a great bargain product as well. If I don’t have Eversolo DMP A8, Wiim Ultra is a great choice !

 

[GiFi]

If your DAC has an USB “OTG” port which is unusual, then that usb port can act like a storage reader and control by a software from that unit , it can read data directly. We usually see that port on integrated amplifiers, media players or streamers ! Otherwise, usb type C or B from a normal DAC won’t do anything with your portable usb drive, therefore it designs to connect to your PC (data transfer from PC). Please check your DAC manual for the connection ports. However, you can use your phone .. connect to DAC via usb and play music from phone to DAC, because your phone acts like a controller/media play

I meant data flow from the wiim ultra to the DAC via USB

 

[sthaus]

I meant data flow from the wiim ultra to the DAC via USB

Then nothing you worry about .. Ultra has multiple audio outputs including USB

 

[GiFi]

The Ultra supports both reading from USB storage, and sending audio to USB DACs.

IIRC, it can do both simultaneously using an external USB hub.

Would a product like this be good?

https://amzn.eu/d/055bjlBE

 

[gwing]

Would a product like this be good?

https://amzn.eu/d/055bjlBE

Good for what ?

If you are planning to use it as described above i.e. from Ultra to both DAC and storage I guess it would probably be OK but nobody here has yet got the Ultra to check if it can actually work like this, in particular that product doesn't seem to be a powered hub so it would need power from the Ultra and I don't know if it will do that.

My suggestion is to keep it simple and just start with the internal DAC on the Ultra, use the USB just for storage and see how it goes. If you have a DAC already that you want to try by all means do that and see if it is worth having more boxes and connections in your system but I wouldn't rush out and buy DAC, storage or Hub if you haven't already got these - let folks who already have the bits and pieces get some hands on experience and check out what works and what doesn't.

But it *probably* will work although I prefer hubs that can optionally have their own power supply myself. I've use other 'ugreen' branded bits before and they have all worked fine so I'd assume the hub you are looking at most likely isn't complete junk.

 

[stringer]

Yes, you will need that stuff and also the software of your choice to drive it as well. If you are interested mainly in listening to music rather than spend a lot of time learning and fiddling then I strongly recommend the Wiim route rather than a PC|.

To be clear I only started discussing PC systems so as not to leave the incorrect statement hanging that "you can't do this on a PC you need the Wiim". A PC or other computer driven system is ultimately more flexible and capable of doing more than a prebuilt product like the Wiim, but it is likely to be at least one order of magnitude more time consuming and complex to build, and likely more expensive as well, so it it is *not* the best solution for most folks. Actually that perhaps isn't fair - you can have a simple uncomplicated PC based system that is pretty easy but you can easily drift towards the whole hog with DSP, active speakers, multi channel and room correction and that is a very different place.

Thank you for clarifying. That makes a ton of sense. I think I will still buy a Wiim Ultra. Right now for my main system I do REW with my laptop running through Wiim Pro into my integrated amp's DAC out to the speakers. I figure out my PEQ settings and plug those into the Wiim Pro. Then I run my HDMI sources (blueray/cd/home theater/networked server) through my TV to the Wiim for DSP to my amp's DAC. Currently I use my amp's phono input, the Wiim Ultra would allow me to DSP my vinyl as well. If I do then I will move my Wiim Pro to my office setup so that I can stop using my monitor DAC to connect to my vintage amp. I think that makes more sense than upgrading the motherboard and sound card of my office desktop for my secondary system, which doesn't have any subwoofers or 5.1 channel or anything like that anyway.

 

[DudeAnon]

I am sure many here will argue tying yourself to Amazon Music is ignorant. You do you, just don't pretend you are getting better sound quality with that particular combination of components.

I think he is just saying that it is not worse.

 

[sthaus]

Another product has everything that Wiim Ultra "missed" for the hardware in my case? Shanling Sm 1.3 .. However, I'm not sure about their software, reliability, after sales support!

Shanling SM1.3 New Streamer Transport & DAC Announced

Shanling has announced the Shanling SM1.3 streamer transport and DAC to be launched at the Munich High-End exhibition, along with the much anticipated WiiM Ultra.

www.audiosciencereview.com

Should we wait to watch the show .. !!

 

[sthaus]

Thank you for clarifying. That makes a ton of sense. I think I will still buy a Wiim Ultra. Right now for my main system I do REW with my laptop running through Wiim Pro into my integrated amp's DAC out to the speakers. I figure out my PEQ settings and plug those into the Wiim Pro. Then I run my HDMI sources (blueray/cd/home theater/networked server) through my TV to the Wiim for DSP to my amp's DAC. Currently I use my amp's phono input, the Wiim Ultra would allow me to DSP my vinyl as well. If I do then I will move my Wiim Pro to my office setup so that I can stop using my monitor DAC to connect to my vintage amp. I think that makes more sense than upgrading the motherboard and sound card of my office desktop for my secondary system, which doesn't have any subwoofers or 5.1 channel or anything like that anyway.

In your case, why would you want a sound card 5.1, 7.1 or 2 to your motherboard? it seems doesn't make sense for me either. If all you want is just a bass management!!! In that case, an active small subwoofer would help ... lol but will you like to shake your office with those setups ?? 2.0 setup is fine or 4.0

Nowadays, I just use PC, Laptop to manage my music and control all the devices. Back to my time 20-25 years ago, I would recommend you buying a sound card to improve the digital sound quality (wav, mp3 era), !!!. But these days, it's outdated, compared to our modern DACs. I still prefer wav (over lossless flac). I think Wim is fine and great choice for your case and purposes.

 

[RoA]

Another product has everything that Wiim Ultra "missed" for the hardware in my case? Shanling Sm 1.3 .. However, I'm not sure about their software, reliability, after sales support!

Shanling SM1.3 New Streamer Transport & DAC Announced

Shanling has announced the Shanling SM1.3 streamer transport and DAC to be launched at the Munich High-End exhibition, along with the much anticipated WiiM Ultra.

www.audiosciencereview.com

Should we wait to watch the show .. !!

Roon certified?

 

[RoA]

The Wiim Ultra is a streamer, a dac, a preamp, an EQ and a headphone amp. I'm getting one as soon as Amazon has them available. It will replace several separate pieces of equipment in my office setup. The Wiim Amp was almost there but didn't include a headphone amp.

No Roon cert is the main reason I will wait

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

Another product has everything that Wiim Ultra "missed" for the hardware in my case? Shanling Sm 1.3 .. However, I'm not sure about their software, reliability, after sales support!

Shanling SM1.3 New Streamer Transport & DAC Announced

Shanling has announced the Shanling SM1.3 streamer transport and DAC to be launched at the Munich High-End exhibition, along with the much anticipated WiiM Ultra.

www.audiosciencereview.com

Should we wait to watch the show .. !!

I think it’s going to be pricey - maybe 3x the WiiM.

 

[TonyJZX]

I think it’s going to be pricey - maybe 3x the WiiM.

post sale support will be 3x worse than the Wiim... at least

even if the Shanling was the same price as the Wiim you'd take the wiim... you cannot be taking them seriously as far as streaming goes and that goes for any China company

 

[Cal_Cobra]

I think it’s going to be pricey - maybe 3x the WiiM.

Purportedly will retail for ~$1100, and it's massive compared to the WiiM.

 

[Bleedingears]

I have ordered a unit from Crutchfield. I am trying to eliminate a laptop in my system. The WiiM will serve as my streamer and DAC. I have a NAS with 5TB of music on it. How would I connect the NAS to the WiiM? Also, I want to pull music randomly off of the NAS. I do this currently using the Laptop, and FooBar2000 through my third party DAC. Is this possible with the wIIm?