SQ Comparison of 3 streamers

lanx0003 OP

@mihorn  This Wiim reproduces the closest to the original music and the most accurate audio streamer +DAC+amp. This is an only natural sound audio system in the world and this reduces your Tinnitus and brain fog.

Please articulate and itemize the modifications. I’m curious. The YouTube recordings sound good—it seems you’ve improved your recording technique. I am a bit concerned about placing your own brand label on a WiiM product.

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Many companies are in mod biz.

Technology marches on. This WT ultra sounds better than my other reference system (modded Bakoon + modded Oppo = $30k system).

Many parts in power and signal chains are upgraded. Also, Wavetouch power cable comes (permanently attached) with WT ultra. I won’t itemize upgrades. It’s the trade secret.

My recording technique is nothing special. I just use the best microphone (Wavetouch mic). The best mic won’t improve the sound of audio system. It just records accurately.

WT ultra reduces Tinnitus and brain fog. It is a natural sound system and easy to human ears. All other audio systems sound/behave like the left speaker below. Listening natural sound reduces aggressive Tinnitus and brainfog. You’ll agree hearing the left speaker all our lives won’t good for our ears.

  https://youtu.be/IHf_FSa8amE?si=pdmwc7kG_x0c77fH

Test your system. Whisper "hello" repeat with your speaker sounds and listen to it

Ex.) https://youtube.com/shorts/z_5WyV1qaMM?si=PZBnjCHylkqbrvSr

It’s easy to setup a good sound system now. There is no chance to make the audio mistake with WT ultra (all-in-one). Just connect speakers to WT ultra. Simple and affordable.  Alex/Wavetouch audio

Regarding the WT Amp Ultra from Wavetouch Audio. I exchanged multiple emails with Alex regarding both the WT Amp Ultra and his very interesting Antero speakers, and he was very responsive.

In asking about the specific content of his modifications to the Wiim Amp Ultra, I used the specificity Eric Schultz, of EVS/Tweak Audio, shares about his upgrades to Class D and Digital Amps as an example of what I was hoping for. After an initially nebulous response, he did share with me that the extent of his upgrade was removing the Wiim's rear-panel power connector and hot-wiring his $2200 power cable directly to the Wiim's PSU.

he did share with me that the extent of his upgrade was removing the Wiim’s rear-panel power connector and hot-wiring his $2200 power cable directly to the Wiim’s PSU.

And he just charge less than half ($1300) the price (527+2200 = $2727) for the mod.  Unbelievable deal.

Thanks so much for the responses here, folks. I kind of expected many more replies from Zen 3 owners, but it turns out only one owner responded. His comments, however, seem consistent with the outside reviews available. I’m planning to get a used one (4 yrs old, single owner) if the seller accepts my offer.

@lanx0003 keep in mind the sound quality differences between streaming using a native streamer app, Roon, or Qobuz / Tidal Connect. Each streamer in your list may give you multiple different sonic signatures just by changing the streaming method. 

@lanx0003 

I just noticed that HiFI News recently reviewed thevLumin U2x, so there are Paul Miller measurements of this £9k device to compare to the Volumio.  As a reminder, his approach is to compare the jitter from a streamer using several different quality DACs, a cheap Audiquest Dragonfly, an iFi Neo, and a Mytek Brooklyn. Since the DACs have varying levels of jitter reduction engineered into their designs, you can infer how much jitter the streamer adds compared to his baseline, which is a high jitter pc setup (usb).  So here are the comparisons, in the following order, AQ, iFi, Mytek;

PC:  300/550/8  (psec)

volumio:  135/18/10

Lumin:  124/10/8

So the takeaway is that obviously the AQ has the highest level of jitter, but the level is shockingly low, and the iFi, though having lower jitter than the AQ, does the worst job of rejecting jitter from a streamer.  Finally, the Volumio and Lumin have vanishingly low levels of jitter, with such tiny differences between them that any difference you might hear in their sound almost certainly has nothing to do with jitter.

Hope that helps.  Good luck.