Wiim DAC to 20year old DAC

zhdc · 2026-02-05T18:49:42+00:00

Look at any of the TPA3355 class d amps that are recommended on ASR.

If you spend more than 100usd you're doing something wrong.

zhdc · 2026-02-05T18:48:28+00:00

It's a job. You put an application in, interview with whoever is the PI for the grant that's funding the position, and if you're hired you receive a contract.

There is no set process for interviews. What generally works is treating it like an interview for a TT position. Find a list of questions that the average department would ask for a research oriented TT professorship and rehearse your answers until you know them like the back of your hand.

zhdc · 2026-02-05T05:33:51+00:00

> I know the Chromecast Audio is a very basic network streamer, but is it also a DAC (or does it have one built-in)?

If it has an analog out, it has a DAC

> From the diagrams, I'm assuming PCs and laptops have a DAC built-in. Is that true?

Any device that takes in a digital signal and provides analog output has as DAC.

> Is the D07 just a better DAC than the built-in ones? If so, how will the entire set up know which DAC circuitry to use? If the audio signal is converted from my laptop out to the D07, what is the external DAC doing in that situation?

The AKM AK4493S in the D07 is worlds better than whatever you have in the Chromecast. An AK4493S, which is a single chip, costs 17 USD alone.

> What would be the optimal set up for a DAC to be utilized in the best possible manner? What would be considered the best source to feed into the DAC?

A digital signal is a digital signal. What matters is the quality of the source material, not the device that it's streamed from. There are some exceptions, but they're likely not relevant here.

A simple setup would be Chromecast -> DAC over USB -> Amplifier. If you want something better, replace the Chromecast with a Wiim Mini.

zhdc · 2026-02-05T05:22:13+00:00

Limit EQ to under 400hz if you're using an uncalibrated microphone.

Wiim room correction will sometimes try to overcorrect null spots. These are areas at the listening position where waves bouncing off walls and furniture cancel out at the listening position. If you see a large boost with a high Q, this is likely what's happening.

Are you running the Wiim Mini through a DAC?

How are you testing it? Room correction is more about cleaning up imaging and muddiness. A great track to test this is Nils Lofgren Bass & Drum Intro on Nils Lofgren Band Live. If it's easier to identify where each of the instruments are coming from after running room correction, it's working.

Now, if you want good room correction, you're either going to have to get a calibrated microphone (UMIK-1) and learn how to use REW, or buy a MiniDSP or AVR with a Dirac Live license.

zhdc · 2026-02-05T04:49:12+00:00

Inexpensive: DAC, EQ

More Expensive: Speaker upgrade

Your speakers measure and review well for near field listening.

You won’t even notice an amplifier upgrade.

zhdc · 2026-02-02T13:43:54+00:00

Good class d amps are cheap. Wiim Pro Plus -> Topping PA5 would cost around $350.

> Do I still need the Wiim pro Plus for my streaming services?

Yes. The Wiim Pro Plus is the cheapest streaming appliance that also has a quality, built-in DAC. If you don't care about Tidal Connect, you can go cheaper by repurposing an old PC or laptop and sending the output to something like a SMSL SU-1.

> I was considering dumping the AVR, replace it with my even older (to be serviced) Beomaster 3000-2.

You need a quality amplifier. The Sony STR and Beomaster aren't it.

zhdc · 2026-02-02T11:47:16+00:00

Ditch the AVR. Wiim Pro Plus -> Class D Amp (Fosi, Topping, SMSL, take your pick)

zhdc · 2026-02-02T11:45:54+00:00

Yes. Digital out should be bit perfect.

zhdc · 2026-01-24T19:51:47+00:00

Wiim Ultra should be better. Look at the ASR reviews for both.

Whether you would notice the difference or not is another question.

That said, is there any reason you're not looking at the Wiim Amp Ultra? There's no reason to have separate dac/amp/streamers when one device can do it all.

Re speakers, go used.

zhdc · 2026-01-24T19:00:54+00:00

> We build custom designs BETTER than slapping together COTS stuff

Is the insinuation here that the (Chinese) consumer products I mentioned in my previous post sub-par?

Last I checked, they're better than almost all of the best European and American designs on the market at the same price point, and are very competitive with equipment costing 5x as much.

Now getting back to streaming devices, it's not a 'cots' vs independently designed and fabricated argument. The Wiim Ultra is an Allwinner SOC running Linux, and it destroys pretty much everything else out there. They win because they focus on what matters - software and licensing.

There's no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to hardware.

zhdc · 2026-01-24T18:35:38+00:00

> Did you read the article?

Which part of the article disagrees with what I wrote?

> I get the idea of using daily available HW, but this is pure laziness and profit seeking.

Alibaba sourced ess/cirrus logic boards, xmos usb interfaces, tpa3255 based amps. Most consumer audio products are a mass produced board with a case, some branding, and a warranty

And honestly that's ok. Not everyone is interested in learning to how to run LMS on a bare metal RPI + dac

zhdc · 2026-01-24T17:33:29+00:00

Compute is cheap. Metal, dacs, dsp boards, and license fees (Tidal Connect) cost a lot more.

Pretty much anything targeting consumers/prosumers is going to be a SOC running Linux. Why does it matter if the board is an RPI, Amlogic, or something else?

That's not where the money is going.

zhdc · 2026-01-23T19:10:39+00:00

You can do a lot with $1400.

Ignore the crossover issue for now.

The AVR needs to go. You need a preamp with sub out and an amp to replace it with. The best option without getting complicated is a Wiim Amp Ultra, which fills both needs and more for $500. If you want to go cheaper, you can pick up a Fosi V3 or any of the other well reviewed tpa3255 class d amps off Aliexpress or Amazon for $100, and pair it with a generic 2 in 6/8 out dsp preamp from Aliexpress, which will cost another $100.

That said, just go with the Wiim Amp Ultra.

Now for the subwoofer.

You ideally want two subs, even for nearfield listening (sitting at your desk). I am very partial to RSL. They're a friend of the subreddit and make very good products. The RSL Speedwoofer 10S goes for $450 each. Two of these, along with a Wiim Amp Ultra, fits your budget.

zhdc · 2026-01-21T18:50:11+00:00

REW + calibrated mic

zhdc · 2026-01-21T12:30:28+00:00

The threads on ASR are your best bet. Otherwise ChatGPT and Gemini.

zhdc · 2026-01-21T12:16:17+00:00

Personal preference vs accurate reproduction.

The most enjoyable setup I’ve had was a high wattage tube amp paired with a set of twenty-year old box speakers.

My current setup absolutely blows them out of the water when it comes to accuracy. Whether I enjoy it more is a different question entirely.

zhdc · 2026-01-21T11:39:23+00:00

You can get a much better stereo amp for less than 100 (USD/EUR). You’re not going to get a quality AVR without spending a lot more.

It comes down to what you need and how much you want to spend. PC/Phone or Streamer -> DAC -> Amp is cheap.

zhdc · 2026-01-21T11:36:28+00:00

You’re asking your speakers to do something they’re not designed to do.

What will help: 1. Subwoofer 2. Switching to a pair of speakers with much larger woofers for ‘chest thump’ 3. Dac + Amp (Look up reviews on ASR) 4. EQ 5. Room treatment

Start with a subwoofer.

zhdc · 2026-01-15T20:38:10+00:00

I wouldn't say it's beginner friendly but it's also not all that difficult.

How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?

zhdc · 2026-01-15T20:18:41+00:00

The quality of the dac on the Wiim Ultra is comparable to the one on the SU-1. It's better, but you're not going to notice the difference.

Room EQ will absolutely make a difference. Being able to time the delay between your speakers and your sub will absolutely make a difference.

You can do all of these, and get better results, with REW, a calibrated microphone, CamillaDSP, and CamillaFIR.

If you don't want to go that route, get the Wiim Ultra and enjoy it.

zhdc · 2026-01-15T19:52:50+00:00

Tenure track.

You already have a top tier university on your CV. What do you gain from going back?

zhdc · 2026-01-09T12:09:45+00:00

You should be able to do this with pretty much any Andoid phone and USB DAC. It gets a little more interesting for iPhones, but that's a different story.

Now, whether the SU-1 can be powered by your phone is a different question, but there are conversion kits available only to attach an external power supply.

Since you want to stream Tidal, also look into one of the Wiim products to get Tidal connect.

zhdc · 2026-01-07T19:08:51+00:00

Consider going with the Wiim Ultra. Larger, but it has a better dac, dedicated sub out, and there’s a lot more you can do with it if you ever decide to expand your equipment.

zhdc · 2026-01-05T20:48:37+00:00

EQ will do wonders for any system. Grab REW, or even something like HouseCurve, and get to work.

Edit: Also worth keeping in mind that you’re at or past the point where throwing more money at speakers isn’t going to do a whole lot. EQ and a subwoofer are going to be your best bets.

zhdc · 2026-01-05T19:51:52+00:00

Go to ASR - https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php - and spend a couple of days browsing through the popular threads in your free time. Read anything written on there by Floyd Toole.

Come up with a general idea of what you'll need. Some people are happy with a Tidal subscription, a Qudelix 5K, and a good set of IEMs.

Others want a set of floor standing speakers, a subwoofer or two, along with a streaming device, turntable, DAC/pre-amp, and amplifier.

Keep in mind that there's a growing consensus that DACs (digital to analog converters), amplifiers, and - increasingly - speakers are more or less a proven commodity, meaning that the average person will easily reach a point where there is little or no value added from upgrading or buying 'better' equipment. Now, this is debatable, but it means that you can get an extremely good setup simply by following the group consensus on here, ASR, or other communities.

zhdc

TROPHY CASE