WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

[harkpabst]

My setup with the WiiM Ultra, Topping E50 II DAC and Cymax stereo power amplifier with Purifi 1ET6525SA Class D-modules that work very well. I have set the filter to no. 6 in the Topping E50 II since I imagine (could be pure psychoacoustics) some less sibilants from compressed audio via streaming services like Netflix.
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Why wouldn't you want to use RoomFit to further improve the quality of your system in your room? Forget about "bit perfect".

You're using the (excellent) digital volume control of the WiiM Ultra. => No longer bit perfect anyway.

You're using the volume limiter at 95% to safely avoid inter sample clipping. => No longer bit perfect anyway.

 

[antcollinet]

Why wouldn't you want to use RoomFit to further improve the quality of your system in your room? Forget about "bit perfect".

You're using the (excellent) digital volume control of the WiiM Ultra. => No longer bit perfect anyway.

You're using the volume limiter at 95% to safely avoid inter sample clipping. => No longer bit perfect anyway.

Exactly - Bit perfection is a vastly over-rated concept. I've even put it in my sig

Room EQ improves the sound. It doesn't degrade it in any way (when correctly implemented)

 

[Audionaut]

My setup with the WiiM Ultra, Topping E50 II DAC and Cymax stereo power amplifier with Purifi 1ET6525SA

Do you hear any Difference between the implemented DAC in WiiM Ultra and the Topping E50?

 

[Pausi]

Do you hear any Difference between the implemented DAC in WiiM Ultra and the Topping E50?

Hard to say other than my perception that the so called AKM implemented "Velvet Sound" make sibilants a tad less apparent. Main advantage is the higher output level at 11.3 Vrms being able to "feed" the Purifi-modules the needed level without using op amps for amplification.

 

[Audionaut]

Pretty cool device for the $, but I prefer my 23 year old DEQ2496 WRT PEQ and it's many, many other facilities.

In my opinion, this isn't about preferring one device over the other, because they are completely different devices with just a few overlapping features.
I own both and sometimes use them at the same time.

 

[Mnyb]

Do you hear any Difference between the implemented DAC in WiiM Ultra and the Topping E50?

I think the D50 provides balanced out , why not use that to the power amps . If you already owns it why not .
And its slightly ( but inaudible ) better get some more dB snr at the amp when used balanced.

However I think your your right , I would think about my priorities about a new DAC to complement a WiiM Ultra I would just likely buy an rca to xlr cable ?
But you can get some inaudible dB sinad there fomo ?

 

[john61ct]

Using another DAC on Wiim output as DDC for extra voltage or to change transport media change is fine.

Also to get better quality HPamp.

Otherwise Ultra DAC is excellent quality output, IMO won't hear an improvement

 

[Corporall_Clegg]

I have a custom EQ preset provided by the manufacture that is installed on the device the speaker designer recommended for use with my speakers, a MiniDSP.
I would prefer to use only the DAC of the Wiim Ultra, the MiniDSP being the last in the chain before the preamp is altering the DAC output from the WiiM Ultra.
Is there a way to copy or recreate the same exact EQ settings on my WiiM Ultra so I can remove the MiniDSP from my setup?

 

[harkpabst]

I have a custom EQ preset provided by the manufacture that is installed on the device the speaker designer recommended for use with my speakers, a MiniDSP.
I would prefer to use only the DAC of the Wiim Ultra, the MiniDSP being the last in the chain before the preamp is altering the DAC output from the WiiM Ultra.
Is there a way to copy or recreate the same exact EQ settings on my WiiM Ultra so I can remove the MiniDSP from my setup?

There's currently no import feature for EQ settings, but you can recreate the EQ manually.

So far PEQ is limited to:

• Up to 10 bands of PEQ filters
• Filter types: peak, low shelf, high shelf, low pass, high pass
• Freely selectable center frequency between 10 Hz and 22 kHz
• Minimum/maximum gain per filter: +/-12 dB
• Minimum/maximum Q per filter: 0.1/24

Multiple EQ profiles can be saved. Different EQ profiles can be assigned to different inputs, if required. There's also a GEQ feature, but this is not what you want.

EQ comes on top of the EQ used by the room correction system RoomFit.

 

[Pausi]

Well, after some testing and gain level matching I have also removed the Topping E50 II external DAC and gone back to the internal ESS ES9038Q2M with Brick Wall filter in the WiiM Ultra. Using EQ at 1 kHz with +1.5dB for my Wharfedale Lintons. The Lintons need that little extra boost especially for snare drums. Pregain set to -4.5dB to prevent ISP and EQ-clipping. Gain setting for my Purifi 1ET6525SA power amp set to max at 29.3dB. It has a buffer board with an independent power supply and dual OPA828 op-amps. I must admit that I can't heard any difference with this combination through RCA compared to the Topping via XLR with 11.3 Vrms high output level and the amplifier gain set at the default Purfi level at 12.3dB with bypassed op-amps. I guess both solutions have so low THD and SNR that it doesn't matter for our human ears.

 

[Pritaudio]

Latest Wiim firmware means Spotify lossless only works through Spotify connect.
Not through Wiim app.

 

[Burnside]

Latest Wiim firmware means Spotify lossless only works through Spotify connect.
Not through Wiim app.

Spotify has never worked through the WiiM app, all that's ever been in the WiiM app is a shortcut to the Spotify app from where Spotify Connect casts to the WiiM.

If you're alluding to issues around Spotify Connect and Google/chromecast, that's all Spotify's doing viz. https://community.spotify.com/t5/An...Cast-and-Spotify-Connect/td-p/7163965/page/10

 

[Burnside]

Latest Wiim firmware means Spotify lossless only works through Spotify connect.
Not through Wiim app.

Reading the latest firmware notes, I see WiiM have implemented "Spotify Smart Play" viz. https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support...mart-play-resume-spotify-on-wiim-with-a-press . Is that what you're referring to? If so and you find that it doesn't resume lossless playback, then it could well be a bug and should be reported to WiiM via the more/feedback section in the WiiM app.

Edit: a google search suggests that lossless playback should be supported by Spotify Tap/Smart Play is used: "When you use Spotify Tap on a supported speaker or headphone (like Bose, Sony, Samsung, Sennheiser), it will play in lossless quality if you have enabled the "Lossless" option in the Media Quality settings for that device.".
As suggested, raise a ticket to WiiM if it doesn't resume lossless playback if you have enabled lossless for the Ultra in the Spotify app. Also, it only works on a WiiM remote or the play button on your WiiM device, again not thru the WiiM app.

 

[Soniclife]

Spotify has never worked through the WiiM app, all that's ever been in the WiiM app is a shortcut to the Spotify app from where Spotify Connect casts to the WiiM.

If you're alluding to issues around Spotify Connect and Google/chromecast, that's all Spotify's doing viz. https://community.spotify.com/t5/An...Cast-and-Spotify-Connect/td-p/7163965/page/10

What happens if you disable Google cast on the wiim, assuming you don't need it for something else.

 

[Burnside]

What happens if you disable Google cast on the wiim, assuming you don't need it for something else.

Does this help?
Post in thread 'Spotify connect issue'
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/spotify-connect-issue.9492/post-178395

 

[pieterv1]

What happens if you disable Google cast on the wiim, assuming you don't need it for something else.

The WiiM will be listed as a Spotify Connect target, as expected.