Would adding a balanced DAC to the WiiM ultra make a noticeable improvement?

[stockquahog]

Currently using a WiiM ultra -> Topping B100 mono

I have a few questions.

1. Would adding the D50III and using its balanced outputs make audible improvements? I understand there’s a minor measurement improvement.

2. With that setup is it better to control the volume with the D50III or with the WiiM? The WiiM is more convenient.

3. The D50 does not have a trigger in. Does it sleep and wake automatically with the WiiM?

The WiiM is great but also not as polished as I’d like. I got it for ~$270, at that price it has a lot of value. I had hoped it would replace headless RPi 4 running Plexamp but it’s plex integration too basic to replace the RPi. It’s really only being used as convenient volume control and HDMI.

Or should I return the Ultra and pay up for the Minidsp flex. Losing the convenience of HDMI, automatic source switching, volume control and basic ease of use for family. I’m aware Minidsp has an option for hdmi but that device doesn’t have balanced outputs. Also don’t want to push the price too much.

Thanks in advance. ASR has taught me a lot and I really appreciate it.

 

[staticV3]

Hi @stockquahog! Welcome to ASR.

Would adding the D50III and using its balanced outputs make audible improvements?

Only if you're currently experiencing ground-loop related noise, and even then, the same improvement could be achieved with the WiiM's built-in DAC, using the right cable.

Besides this, no other improvement can be had.

2. With that setup is it better to control the volume with the D50III or with the WiiM? The WiiM is more convenient.

It wouldn't matter.

3. The D50 does not have a trigger in. Does it sleep and wake automatically with the WiiM?

The D50III can sleep and wake up with the input signal (BT, USB, SPDIF doesn't matter).

Bottom line:
unless you're currently struggling with mains hum and other ground-loop related noise, I would strongly suggest against buying an external DAC.

A UMIK-1 would be a much better investment.

 

[Guddu]

A UMIK-1 would be a much better investment.

Does it work with Wiim Ultra directly now?

 

[IngMishael]

Does it work with Wiim Ultra directly now?

By connecting the PC via the digital input.

You'd need to link your laptop to the Wiim with a SPDIF/USB adapter and then link the Adapter to the Wiim Ultra via the SPDIF input on the Wiim

 

[stockquahog]

Hi @stockquahog! Welcome to ASR.


Only if you're currently experiencing ground-loop related noise, and even then, the same improvement could be achieved with the WiiM's built-in DAC, using the right cable.

Besides this, no other improvement can be had.


It wouldn't matter.


The D50III can sleep and wake up with the input signal (BT, USB, SPDIF doesn't matter).

Bottom line:
unless you're currently struggling with mains hum and other ground-loop related noise, I would strongly suggest against buying an external DAC.

A UMIK-1 would be a much better investment.

Thanks for the info

I did order the microphone the other day

I have a topping e30 DAC as well. Any reason to use that in this setup?

 

[kyuu]

Does it work with Wiim Ultra directly now?

You would connect the UMIK-1 to your computer for taking measurements. If you're talking about using it for Wiim's room correction, supposedly you should be able to connect it to your smartphone and import the calibration file for the Wiim Home app to use.

 

[DVDdoug]

In order to make an "improvement" there has to be something wrong.

If you aren't hearing noise (hum, hiss, or whine in the background) it's probably better than human hearing.

With electronics, there is ONLY noise, frequency response, and distortion. Frequency response is usually flat over the audio range, and distortion is usually below audibility unless you overdrive an amplifier (or something) into clipping/distortion.

With speakers in a room it's mostly about frequency response and there are other acoustic interactions with the room.

Audiophoolery describes the characteristics of sound quality.

...Of course, boosting the bass with EQ (changing the frequency response) could be considered an "improvement", especially if a recording has weak bass, or if you are correcting room/speaker response, etc. Or up-mixing to surround sound, or adding reverb, or other intentional "effects" that you like .

 

[IngMishael]

Currently using a WiiM ultra -> Topping B100 mono

I have a few questions.

1. Would adding the D50III and using its balanced outputs make audible improvements? I understand there’s a minor measurement improvement.

2. With that setup is it better to control the volume with the D50III or with the WiiM? The WiiM is more convenient.

3. The D50 does not have a trigger in. Does it sleep and wake automatically with the WiiM?

The WiiM is great but also not as polished as I’d like. I got it for ~$270, at that price it has a lot of value. I had hoped it would replace headless RPi 4 running Plexamp but it’s plex integration too basic to replace the RPi. It’s really only being used as convenient volume control and HDMI.

Or should I return the Ultra and pay up for the Minidsp flex. Losing the convenience of HDMI, automatic source switching, volume control and basic ease of use for family. I’m aware Minidsp has an option for hdmi but that device doesn’t have balanced outputs. Also don’t want to push the price too much.

Thanks in advance. ASR has taught me a lot and I really appreciate it.

Your Wiim Ultra has a DAC onboard that is pretty great so unless you're having some humming issues or voltage delivery issues to your power amp, it's pretty useless to get another DAC

 

[davmol]

Currently using a WiiM ultra -> Topping B100 mono

I have a few questions.

1. Would adding the D50III and using its balanced outputs make audible improvements? I understand there’s a minor measurement improvement.

I have the D50III and didn't hear any difference vs the dac in the Ultra, which is not surprising, they're both good DACs (the e30 won't sound any different either).

Maybe keep the ultra, run the pi through it for Plex services, and pick up the umik for room correction? I found the auto room correction in the WiiM to be very effective, even without a calibrated mic. Also possible over time that WiiM will improve the Plex integration, they seem good with their updates. Start by heading over to the WiiM forum to request (or vote) for the missing plex features you would like to see

 

[staticV3]

I have a topping e30 DAC as well. Any reason to use that in this setup?

If you have ground-loop related noise then you could try doing WiiM->Optical->E30 and phone charger->USB->E30.

Otherwise, none.

 

[Guddu]

If you have ground-loop related noise then you could try doing WiiM->Optical->E30 and phone charger->USB->E30.

Otherwise, none.

You might have quoted me mistakenly.

 

[Guddu]

By connecting the PC via the digital input.

You'd need to link your laptop to the Wiim with a SPDIF/USB adapter and then link the Adapter to the Wiim Ultra via the SPDIF input on the Wiim

Thanks but doesn’t make sense to me. I asked this with Wiim support as well and they responded that external mics aren’t supported yet.

You would connect the UMIK-1 to your computer for taking measurements. If you're talking about using it for Wiim's room correction, supposedly you should be able to connect it to your smartphone and import the calibration file for the Wiim Home app to use.

I was asking about using external calibrated mic with Wiim Room Correction.
I don’t think there’s any option to use external mic and calibration file, so thought something new might have got developed after seeing that comment.

 

[kyuu]

I was asking about using external calibrated mic with Wiim Room Correction.
I don’t think there’s any option to use external mic and calibration file, so thought something new might have got developed after seeing that comment.

You can use an external mic and import a calibration file, at least according to Wiim:

Optimizing Your Audio Experience: A Comprehensive Guide to RoomFit™ Room Correction

TABLE OF CONTENTS What's Room Correction The Benefits of Room Correction Room Correction vs. EQ Preparations for Room Correction Step-by-Step Guide to Room Correction Tips What's Room Correction Room correction is a process that inv...

faq.wiimhome.com

Tutorial: Microphone Calibration File Import in WiiM Home

The WiiM's Room Correction feature improves your listening experience by adjusting the audio output to match your room's acoustics. The feature has now been enhanced to support the import of a calibration file for an external microphone. This cal...

faq.wiimhome.com

 

[Guddu]

You can use an external mic and import a calibration file, at least according to Wiim:

Optimizing Your Audio Experience: A Comprehensive Guide to RoomFit™ Room Correction

TABLE OF CONTENTS What's Room Correction The Benefits of Room Correction Room Correction vs. EQ Preparations for Room Correction Step-by-Step Guide to Room Correction Tips What's Room Correction Room correction is a process that inv...

faq.wiimhome.com

Tutorial: Microphone Calibration File Import in WiiM Home

The WiiM's Room Correction feature improves your listening experience by adjusting the audio output to match your room's acoustics. The feature has now been enhanced to support the import of a calibration file for an external microphone. This cal...

faq.wiimhome.com

This is new to me, will give it a try.

 

[Guddu]

This is new to me, will give it a try.

Just found that my Wiim Home App doesn’t have External Microphone option.

 

[davmol]

You won't see anything until the external usb mic is plugged into your phone. So first plug the mic into your phone and then run the room correction process from the wiim app (RoomFit as it now seems to be called). If the mic is recognised by your phone then should see an option in Wiim room correction settings to add calibration file if you have one (no problem if not). When you get to the point where you are choosing stereo or l/r correction it should confirm /show on screen which mic you are using (i.e. external mic shows if connected to your phone, otherwise will say phone mic is in use).

 

[Guddu]

You won't see anything until the external usb mic is plugged into your phone. So first plug the mic into your phone and then run the room correction process from the wiim app (RoomFit as it now seems to be called). If the mic is recognised by your phone then should see an option in Wiim room correction settings to add calibration file if you have one (no problem if not). When you get to the point where you are choosing stereo or l/r correction it should confirm /show on screen which mic you are using (i.e. external mic shows if connected to your phone, otherwise will say phone mic is in use).

It’s rather strange but it works this way. It shows external mic option when connected otherwise option won’t be seen.