Wiim Ultra vs Wiim Ultra + External Dac (Blind Test Results)

[Mr.A]

might be fun to try some other types of DAC, along with the improved controls, as long as you enjoy doing it.

That’s exactly what I’m doing. The process of testing and experimenting is a significant part of what makes the hobby enjoyable for me.

 

[Brian Hall]

Still waiting for an explanation as to what the reasoning would be for the 50% probability that the WiiM’s volume level was higher, yet listeners still preferred the Topping DAC 72% of the time.

Simple. If the Wiim's volume was louder it would have been preferred by the majority.

 

[Lautreamont]

Simple. If the Wiim's volume was louder it would have been preferred by the majority.

Another variable is if the volume of the louder dac is above someone's preferred volume for listening to music, and the quieter dac more closely apporximates the volume level they prefer, they may pick the quieter dac and not realize why. I enjoy louder music, so I would prefer a louder dac, but my wife does not, and she might lean towards a quieter dac.

 

[Purité Audio]

Generally the louder unit is preferred and it only has to be the tiniest bit louder, why level matching is so important.
Keith

 

[Connor1a]

It's interesting how some people get upset or try to lecture you just for sharing a personal experience. In the end, I'm not trying to convince anyone or impose an opinion, just sharing what I've experienced. Everyone is free to draw their own conclusions, or not.

I’m new to this hobby as well. I found your experience valuable to read.

 

[C0mbat]

I really welcome what @Mr.A has attempted to do here. I also agree that, without proper controls, it could reinforce a biased view that spending more on DACs improves the sound quality, without the science necessarily confirming that. I hope we've not put him off doing it again as I find it fascinating.

 

[haen]

That’s exactly what I’m doing. The process of testing and experimenting is a significant part of what makes the hobby enjoyable for me.

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I can see that you are using https://doukaudio.com/collections/a...io-converter-stereo-passive-selector-switcher to switch between DACs. Do you have any channels bleed when both DACs are playing at the same time? I think I remember someone saying that these Douk switches may have tendency to do that, but I can't find the thread about it now.

I'm personally looking for some switchbox for simplify blind testing, and Douk has a wide range of those - https://doukaudio.com/collections/audio-switcher-splitter. I just wonder about quality.

 

[Ollie99021]

lol - really enjoy reading this - so many factors involved. IMO best you can do is try to control the things you can and see which sounds better for your system chain. The synergy between components, the room and personal preference have a lot of influence. People tend to believe measurements are the be all end all but that only applies to the dimension being measured and nothing more. It may be possible that two speakers have same FR but sound different due to phase slope, step response, radiation, room or a whole myriad of measurements and could match but one measurement doesn’t and changes the character of the sound or the possibility that a measurements does not yet exist. My preference is get something that measures really well, sounds good on my setup and has flexibility to tailor to my liking but others prefer tubes etc.that don’t necessarily measure as well but love them and who am I to say they are wrong.

 

[ah-ra]

Hmm.... Interesting, but you tested two Sabre based DACs here. Maybe it would have been even more interesting to teata different kind of DAC against the Wiim. That would also be the reason for me to return the topping in this case.

 

[Travis]

Still waiting for an explanation as to what the reasoning would be for the 50% probability that the WiiM’s volume level was higher, yet listeners still preferred the Topping DAC 72% of the time.

I think it’s one of those Yogi Berra things.