@jrareform
I can offer a comparison of the WiiM Ultra vs Holo Red outputting via USB to a Singxer SU6 into a Pontus 15th.
The Ultra sounds a bit recessed. Everything is a little mushed together. The stage isn’t as high nor as deep. The transients and seperation are not clearly presented.
The Red sounds more dynamic, more detail, taller stage, more depth of stage. Transients and details as well as tonal accuracy is much better.
However the WiiM Ultra is warmer and tube like in the way that tubes kind of add a little body/thickness to the music or seem to harmonize things. The Red is more finely detailed which can be considered an effect of a good tube amp but lacks the warmth. Monet vs Rembrandt.
Right now I’m running everything through a tube pre known for its clinical character and into a Buckeye Hypex. It will be interesting to compare again once I connect an Orchard Audio Starkrimson as while I believe it’s still Hypex based the implementation with more caps lends itself to a warmer more lush and musical presentation. So far I’ve only tried it with the Ultra and not the Red. I’m anticipating audio nirvana once I connect the Red and Starkrimson. I’ll try again to eliminate the SU6 but have a feeling it will continue to add a necessary flourish for a more natural effect as it does now. To me, digital can feel overly clinical and cool even with decent mid-fi gear. Crazy what this stuff costs to get into once you develop the ear for it.
Speakers are Wharfedale Linton 85th and so far they’ve been great- musical but able to reveal enough detail as my system grows.
edit: Listening again I have to add something: the Ultra is a little distorted in the highs compared to the Red. Otherwise I would probably be satisfied with it for streamer duty. But as such it’s a bit rough or crunchy to my ears. I loathe roughness in high notes but much more tolerant in the mids of distortion. Up top it is too fatiguing to me.