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WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review
- Thread starter amirm
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This is one reason I went standalone DAC for my music listening. SMSL is affordable and the SU-1 and RAW MDA-1 can handle any stereo format you send them including DSD ripped from a SACD. I have been buying Blu-ray Audio and prefer to just rip the stereo tracks for ease of listening and those are frequently in 24/192.
I tried optical output into a two inexpensive DACs (Schiit Modi Multibit 2 and a Topping E30) and had no problem getting 192K. That said, I have heard that sometimes people have to try more than one optical cable to get to 192K, but the 4 cables I have -- all rather generic -- work fine at that speed.
The Ultra plays my DSD music from DLNA server and Tidal connect works well with both internal and external (USB out) DAC. I think most of these DACs will support DSD with USB input, not optical, as far as I know.
for music it works really well. TV is tricky since only AC3 support on ARC input. I tell Plex to transcode my DTS to AC3 and that works. all other movie streaming no problem.
Since the system is only 2.0, I am just wondering if the optical out from the TV would do just as good of a job as the TV ARC output? I only have 2) HDMI 2.1 ports and would like 2) streaming boxes on those, so thinking maybe optical out to Ultra. Only disadvantage might be the ultra not coming out of standby with optical?
I'll have to test it, I would imagine the AC3 decoder in Ultra will work with optical or ARC input?
for music it works really well. TV is tricky since only AC3 support on ARC input. I tell Plex to transcode my DTS to AC3 and that works. all other movie streaming no problem.
Since the system is only 2.0, I am just wondering if the optical out from the TV would do just as good of a job as the TV ARC output? I only have 2) HDMI 2.1 ports and would like 2) streaming boxes on those, so thinking maybe optical out to Ultra. Only disadvantage might be the ultra not coming out of standby with optical?
I'll have to test it, I would imagine the AC3 decoder in Ultra will work with optical or ARC input?
Have you tried the USB out to your DACs? seems to work well.
No, I haven't. The optical example noted above was with my headphone setup in a different room. The Ultra is in my main system and I use its internal DAC/preamp into my power amp. Hope you don't mind that I don't feel like moving a bunch of gear around just to check the USB-out feature of the Ultra -- also haven't tried its phono/line inputs either. (I have used RPi USB out to other gear in the past. Have to confess that I don't hear a difference between USB/Coax/Optical when everything is set up correctly.)
This is good to know. I don't have a ton of ripped SACDs, but my one gripe with the Schitt Modi + is it won't play DSD files over USB. I use that with a headphone amp in one room and can't play those albums on it. WiiM Ultra supporting them is a plus though certainly not a must at its price point since few people have DSD files to play.
Yeah, Schiit doesn't support DSD, should be a way to convert to DoP (DSD over PCM) I think? that might be what is happening on mine anyway. as long as I can play them!
strange because I remember seeing 88/24 from my ripped SACDs (DSD64) once, now seems to be 192/24.
I'll check it when back from the islands.
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It's all good, I don't think much difference it's just most DACs will support DSD only from USB input.
Chester
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But the Wiim is converting any DSD content into PCM anyway right, so you don’t need a DAC that supports DSD.
Or have you found a way to get your DSD rips out of the Wiim untouched via DoP?
I ask as I haven’t
I'll have to mess with it when I get home, at some point I did see 88/24, and the Wiim screen said DSD., I see your point though!But the Wiim is converting any DSD content into PCM anyway right, so you don’t need a DAC that supports DSD.
Or have you found a way to get your DSD rips out of the Wiim untouched via DoP?
I ask as I haven’t
I think I was just talking about DACs in general only supporting DSD from the USB input. If trying to pass native DSD through to external DAC, it would need DSD support it seems.
D
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Is there a way to add a crossover for a sub in the RME?
billou5767
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Question : wiiamp can be the better in the world ... but the music its throuth ... the amp .. if you have bad amp or bad wire , its no good ?
Ralph_Cramden
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I use JBL Pro monitors with mine. If I felt I needed more bass, I’d get the JBL sub, which has the crossovers built in.
No, is the simple answer.
Got a Ultra today , for the bedroom system , hooked it up and as soon as I connected the HDMI cable from TV’s hdmi arc port to
the Ultra’s HDMI input I got a humming noise …. Ground loop . The noise goes away when the hdmi cable is disconnected. Any suggestions ? Possible faulty hdmi input on the Ultra?
I tried 3 different cables.
All equipment is plugged in to the same outlet. PS Audio S300 amp , Salk speakers , Sony TV , Dish Network.
My Eversolo DMP A8 doesn’t have this issue , although it is in a different room / system.
Thanks
Bk
the Ultra’s HDMI input I got a humming noise …. Ground loop . The noise goes away when the hdmi cable is disconnected. Any suggestions ? Possible faulty hdmi input on the Ultra?
I tried 3 different cables.
All equipment is plugged in to the same outlet. PS Audio S300 amp , Salk speakers , Sony TV , Dish Network.
My Eversolo DMP A8 doesn’t have this issue , although it is in a different room / system.
Thanks
Bk
harkpabst
Addicted to Fun and Learning
If it's a ground loop, it's a ground loop, not a faulty device. You'll need to find the one place to break it without losing functionality.
Swap the WiiM Ultra and the A8 around to see if it really is a ground loop or something different.
Swap the WiiM Ultra and the A8 around to see if it really is a ground loop or something different.
I can’t swap with the A8 easily due to the A8’s location- it’s deeply embedded in a cabinet that’s not easily accessible…
I sent it back to Amazon and ordered another one .
If the new one behaves the same , I’ll try using the ground pin on the unit and flipping the plug.
It’s definitely the HDMI . Happens even when TV is unplugged. So could possibly be from the satellite coax cable , but none of my other setups do it and they’re all using HDMI ARC and all are on same Dish system. Didn’t have this problem when a AVR was in use .
I’ve never had a ground loop this loud before in the last 40 years … makes me suspect the unit. As a matter of fact , I’ve never had a ground loop at all.
Appreciate the sage words everyone….
I’ll update in the next day or two - new one will be here tomorrow.
Bk
I sent it back to Amazon and ordered another one .
If the new one behaves the same , I’ll try using the ground pin on the unit and flipping the plug.
It’s definitely the HDMI . Happens even when TV is unplugged. So could possibly be from the satellite coax cable , but none of my other setups do it and they’re all using HDMI ARC and all are on same Dish system. Didn’t have this problem when a AVR was in use .
I’ve never had a ground loop this loud before in the last 40 years … makes me suspect the unit. As a matter of fact , I’ve never had a ground loop at all.
Appreciate the sage words everyone….
I’ll update in the next day or two - new one will be here tomorrow.
Bk
Right, I think.
Since 1974 (when I started playing with separate components, I have never had a ground loop in my personal gear).
But I have helped others find their ground loops.
And in pro PA systems, I have occasionally had a ground loop and/or a feedback loop (as I used to run sound for local & regional bands).
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