This may sound odd again, but as I see it the so called cutting edge in audio technology becomes a bit dated in about 2yrs and by about 5yrs practically obsolete…
I am just looking at my RPI streaming hardware here and wondering what else to do with it? Fortunately, just one unit for evaluation. Happy to give it away for free just to avoid the landfill. Others got a whole stack and many other related bits
Maybe you want to trade up your EverSolo A6 to the A10 and let us know if it is worth the price?
I am just looking at my RPI streaming hardware here and wondering what else to do with it? Fortunately, just one unit for evaluation. Happy to give it away for free just to avoid the landfill. Others got a whole stack and many other related bits
Maybe you want to trade up your EverSolo A6 to the A10 and let us know if it is worth the price?
Perhaps unplug the display (cable) for lower RF. Not sure if the unit will still work? Then the Bluetooth stuff …
I am still somewhat puzzled by what really draws people to buy these streamers compared to a, let's say, little NUC running an optimised bare-bone OS and a high-quality player like HQPlayer Pro. Pair the NUC with a nice low-noise power supply; do not connect anything to it apart from the USB digital audio out (NUC controlled by RDP from anywhere/any device), and you get a very nice package that can sound very good for as low as $500-600. For this money, you can get a very fast processor to play with DSD modulators / HQPlayer Pro, as well. That HQPlayer Pro can do pretty good stuff with dither options - PCM upsampling/word lengths... that could seriously improve the sound reproduction.
If you are into Bluetooth streaming, you can choose any recent NUC internal WiFi card with Bluetooth 5.2 and above and pair it with an A2DP Driver, which will also give you the best Bluetooth sound (highest LDAC settings/aptX HD sound). You can also remove the WiFi module altogether for a purist approach to digital audio streaming via USB (but you drop the RDP remote login feasibility...)
Then, experiment with various NVMe hard drives... (those with very good power management that draw very little current do sound different from... those most hyped ones), dual vs. single rank RAM sticks..., and underclocking (or starving, as I call it...) the CPU. Planty to play with whilst obtaining a very high-quality streaming platform by default.
If you are into Bluetooth streaming, you can choose any recent NUC internal WiFi card with Bluetooth 5.2 and above and pair it with an A2DP Driver, which will also give you the best Bluetooth sound (highest LDAC settings/aptX HD sound). You can also remove the WiFi module altogether for a purist approach to digital audio streaming via USB (but you drop the RDP remote login feasibility...)
Then, experiment with various NVMe hard drives... (those with very good power management that draw very little current do sound different from... those most hyped ones), dual vs. single rank RAM sticks..., and underclocking (or starving, as I call it...) the CPU. Planty to play with whilst obtaining a very high-quality streaming platform by default.
I mainly use Amazon music unlimited, I don’t think HQplayer runs with Amazons apps ? Main reason I got the Wiim ultra , it runs Amazon and has usb out so seemed ideal to use with my Marcel FIRDAC and reclocker for £279 . The remote app has been working great on my phone .
The dac , reclocker , jlsounds i2soverusb , pcm2dsd all have separate regged psu’s so the USB out power from the ultra is not used . Would a NUC still offer better performance if using Amazon mainly for streaming music ? If I mainly started using HQplayer I think NUC definitely be a better choice . The Wiim was cheap enough I’d use it in the bedroom if I went with a better option later
The dac , reclocker , jlsounds i2soverusb , pcm2dsd all have separate regged psu’s so the USB out power from the ultra is not used . Would a NUC still offer better performance if using Amazon mainly for streaming music ? If I mainly started using HQplayer I think NUC definitely be a better choice . The Wiim was cheap enough I’d use it in the bedroom if I went with a better option later
For the WiiM, piping out the digital audio signals to a separate DAC is best for overall interference reduction. Trying to filter the smps will only solve some line borne noise but RF from all the other sources within the box could be difficult to suppress effectively.
Btw, just reading about the new EverSolo A10 looks like they have moved over to linear supplies
Btw, just reading about the new EverSolo A10 looks like they have moved over to linear supplies
I think most newer devices are using internal SMPS now , the Wiim pro has external psu but it doesn’t have usb out .
If it’s worth the effort I may hack the ultras internal smps.
If it’s worth the effort I may hack the ultras internal smps.
That Wimm Ultra powers up the USB receiver section + 1/2 of isolator IC's, on that i2soverusb card (assuming the card provides galvanic isolation; it seems that it does). The blue section.
The question is: Do you believe that Wimm Ultra's use of an internal SMPS, its layout, other functional sections (like that LCD...), and the regulation of the internal DC rails are better than Intel-made NUC11, powered by an external low-noise linear power supply, powering the same USB card??
The question is: Do you believe that Wimm Ultra's use of an internal SMPS, its layout, other functional sections (like that LCD...), and the regulation of the internal DC rails are better than Intel-made NUC11, powered by an external low-noise linear power supply, powering the same USB card??
No all parts of the jlsound is powered by separate external regged supplies , even the usb lead from the Wiim ultra has the power cable disconnected. The jlsound I’m using also has the link on bottom of board cut so the usb power isn’t used
The USB digital audio data transmission requires the shield... the rubbish coming from Wimm Ultra will be fed to the rest of your DAC ground fill...
The designer provided an isolation option -> use it; just make sure the transport's DC is nice and clean... you'll like the overall sound/result better.
The designer provided an isolation option -> use it; just make sure the transport's DC is nice and clean... you'll like the overall sound/result better.
Can the bass management be used when using USB out? So, is the USB out HP filtered and in sync with the analog sub out? That would allow a DAC upgrade if required and still be able to use the nice features of the Wiim Ultra.
On a different topic, no one has mentioned the sqeezelight implementation which works perfectly on my Wiim amp and allows me to stay with my squeezbox system. I have the Wiim amp on my TV set-up, connected via HDMI and using CEC to control the volume via the TV remote. Plus the Bass management and PEQ and sqeezebox implemention. Perfect.
On a different topic, no one has mentioned the sqeezelight implementation which works perfectly on my Wiim amp and allows me to stay with my squeezbox system. I have the Wiim amp on my TV set-up, connected via HDMI and using CEC to control the volume via the TV remote. Plus the Bass management and PEQ and sqeezebox implemention. Perfect.
One thing is for sure, you have to do allot of tinkering and spend a good amount more using a Mini Computer to get what the Ultra is able to do.
On my dedicated computer rig there was always something not working to my liking.
Then there is the urge to try anything out that others report as sounding better than......
It will never be good enough.
On my dedicated computer rig there was always something not working to my liking.
Then there is the urge to try anything out that others report as sounding better than......
It will never be good enough.
Anyone measure the usb out ? Any idea how noisy it is ?
I have the ultras screen and play light disabled , it’s not something I use because it’s all on the app on my phone .
Suppose we can hack it and feed it a decent linear regged +\-12v supply if it’s smps is too noisy
I have the ultras screen and play light disabled , it’s not something I use because it’s all on the app on my phone .
Suppose we can hack it and feed it a decent linear regged +\-12v supply if it’s smps is too noisy
I’d only do it if worthwhile, using it only as a streamer to feed my external dac by usb its sounding pretty good . I’ve not used a NUC so no idea how it compares .
I did try the ultras analog and spdif out again , I still definitely much prefer the usb output though
I did try the ultras analog and spdif out again , I still definitely much prefer the usb output though
Linear does not always mean better. Jan Didden's silent switcher is mighty good.
It's always half baked to only replace the internal smps with something better, since most internal chips are regulated by close by mediocre LDOs. I usually leave the smps in place and use LT3045 modules for the DACs supplies and the clock. Since I got the 1 ampere ones that have paralleled chips I cut one trace and solder a separate wire to one output so to have 2 separate equal outputs for the price of 28 Euros.
To beat the LT3045 in performance it takes either allot of money or effort and time.
DAC designers will say it needs an external DAC. PSU designers will say it needs a better PSU. Tinkerers will say it needs tinkering. Discrete opamp people will say it needs discrete opamps. ESS hat0rz will say it needs AKM. Simple.
Endeavours in that direction by suddenly converted low budget lovers will likely will be more expensive than the device itself 😀 The nearly perfect device measuring just as well as very expensive stuff however still will need improvements….
Maybe simply accept it is a beautiful low budget baby and just use it 😉
Endeavours in that direction by suddenly converted low budget lovers will likely will be more expensive than the device itself 😀 The nearly perfect device measuring just as well as very expensive stuff however still will need improvements….
Maybe simply accept it is a beautiful low budget baby and just use it 😉
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Some people are allergic to external devices so they have to be content with the budget shortcuts within the device if they are frugal and not willing to apply their expertise.
It replaces a computer for me, gets rid of a nasty roommode that hinders proper soundstageing and it let's me try many DAC boards. Can I ask for more?
It replaces a computer for me, gets rid of a nasty roommode that hinders proper soundstageing and it let's me try many DAC boards. Can I ask for more?