Yamaha WXC-50 bypass internal DAC?

[hchrist]

Hi all,

I was just wondering, does anyone know if you can use the WXC-50 strictly as a streamer/pre amp and bypass the DAC, so that I can connect to another external DAC?

I have a WXC-50 and am using it in pre-amp/streamer mode so I basically have the pre-amp out RCA’s going straight into a 2 channel power amp. I can use the volume knob or remote or the app to control volume and tone. But as it is now, it basically converts the music I’m streaming to it, and then outputs it to the speakers. Therefore it’s obviously using the internal DAC of the WXC-50 to convert the digital signal to analogue - but I want to bypass the DAC in the Yamaha as I’m planning on buying a new DAC (which will have XLR balanced outs since my power amp has XLR balanced ins).

Will it bypass the DAC in the Yamaha and if so, does anyone know what settings I need to set the switches on the back of the WXC-50 to?

Currently it’s set to pre-amp instead of player.

I also have a question regarding the Bluetooth/wifi switch at the back. It’s currently set to WiFi but what is that switch for? If it’s not set on WiFi, does that mean it won’t connect to WiFi in my home to be discoverable in order to stream to it? And if I set it to Bluetooth instead, does that mean I need to connect my Bluetooth on my phone to the WXC-50 to stream music to it via Bluetooth?

Thank you in advance.

 

[staticV3]

The WXC-50 has Coax and Toslink output.

Using either of these will bypass the internal DAC.

The switches on the back are unrelated.
You can bypass the DAC regardless of switch position.

 

[hchrist]

The WXC-50 has Coax and Toslink output.

Using either of these will bypass the internal DAC.

The switches on the back are unrelated.
You can bypass the DAC regardless of switch position.

Ah great. Thank you so much for your reply.

So just to clarify, I would basically connect the output of the Yamaha WXC-50 with either a Toslink or coax cable to the input of the DAC which would send the signal from the music I’m streaming, directly through the Yamaha, bypassing internal DAC, which flows into the stand alone DAC to convert it from digital to analogue - then it needs to go back into the Yamaha (which is essentially the pre-amp) that then sends the analogue converted signal to the power amps and then onto the speakers, right?

Doesn’t that mean, the output of the external DAC has to then go back into the Yamaha WMC-50 pre-amp inputs?

Because the path would be:

Yamaha WMC-50 (as a streamer) into DAC into Pre amp (which is the Yamaha WMC-50) into power amp into speakers - have I understood this correctly?

Thanks again.

 

[staticV3]

So just to clarify, I would basically connect the output of the Yamaha WXC-50 with either a Toslink or coax cable to the input of the DAC which would send the signal from the music I’m streaming, directly through the Yamaha, bypassing internal DAC, which flows into the stand alone DAC to convert it from digital to analogue

So far correct.

- then it needs to go back into the Yamaha (which is essentially the pre-amp) that then sends the analogue converted signal to the power amps and then onto the speakers, right?

No.

It's Yamaha WXC-50->SPDIF->External DAC->Analog->External Amp->Speakers

 

[hchrist]

Ah that’s great. Thank you again. Because one of the main reasons for getting the Fosi Audio ZA3’s is because they have XLR inputs and the Yamaha doesn’t - and I’m planning on buying a DAC that has XLR outs to connect to the Fosi Audio XLR ins just.

Thank you so much.
BTW - I’ve just finished installing the Fosi ZA3’s with new Sparkos Labs SS3602 op amps and hooked it all up to the Yamaha via RCA’s for now - Wow what a difference. I’ve never heard these speakers sound so amazing!

I’m running DIY Jeff Bagby Kairos that I built in 2020 with 2 Fosi Audio ZA3’s in mono with upgraded op amps. Then I’ve connected the bass cabinets to my 2 channel Emotiva XPA200 power amp.

Blown away and I know they can be even better with a better DAC connected via XLR and running lossless - right now just testing with Spotify and it’s still amazing.

Thank you again.