What about all those Chinese DACs?

I haven't compared the Wiim directly with anything, but on its own, it sounds really good. I told my wife that an inexpensive piece of gear like the Wiim probably doesn't often get paired with a high quality amp like my conrad-johnson. 

I agree. And I posit that most who’ve tried a WiiM Ultra haven’t used one in a system with top tier speakers, which are the anchor of a high end system, because speakers dictate the level of audible distortion in modern systems.

Ever since building my Satori Helios speakers and making some slight tweaks to the design, my audiophile neurosis has been cured. I no longer yearn for the type of performance I’ve encountered from the likes of $50K^ systems, despite my total investment now amounting to ≈ $10K. 
 

I understand what is being discussed here when people talk about Chinese DACs, as far as how there weren't really any decent options but now there are quite a few worth looking at. As with many things, China has really stepped it up.

That said, it still feels weird to lump them all into one category. I would say something like Auralic (RIP), is quite different from Topping, which itself is very different than Denafrips, or SMSL, or Cen.Grand, you get the picture. That's sort of like talking about "Italian speakers" or "American amplifiers". Which ones? There are many, at wildly different prices, with very unique sounds. 

Now that Denafrips has a repair facility in TX

When Denafrips and Vinshine Audio went their separate ways this past year they took a number of stateside vendors with them. 

Todd King in Austin has represented Denafrips for several years. He is the only stateside contact left. He does respond quickly and provides a line of relief for those of us who have such products. 

It is important for those who buy Chinese audio equipment that there is a slippery slope at play here and it would be wise to not overplay your hand.

Denafrips has come out with a new brand (Garlubidor) which is likely the new path forward for new product offerings. While Denafrips is upgrading products (15th), they have not had any new offerings in their name-brand lineup for over 4 years.

China has really stepped it up.

You mean they have stolen intellectual property, copied designs, and have used forced labor to meet financial demands. China is not our friend, they have a plan for us here in the USA and it ain’t got nothing to do with audio.

If they do conquer Taiwan (which makes over 50% of audio products integrated circuits) then they will control pricing (China is number two in IC’s worldwide) which will bring the love affair of cheap Chinese electronics to an end. 

@goodlistening64 

You are over simplifying a huge complex country of people that are like us... folks that want to make a living, raise families and be happy. Just like us they are dealing with egomaniacal leaders and imperfect political systems. I have worked there for years, all over the county. I have seen there middle class swell from nearly non-existent over the lat 30 years to hundreds of millions. Not through slave labor, but free enterprise. Products run the gamut from cheap poor products and some of  the best in the world... think iPhone. Their own output includes output from copying to creating their own designs. The more hate mongering the darker and more dangerous the world becomes. 

@ghdprentice 

I would buy a BYD car tomorrow if they were made available here in the US. 

The difference in what our country can offer vs. China is vast. Capitalism cannot be stopped. So while others have bought their Tesla's and hybrids, I will wait. Better, cheaper, EV cars are coming and I will ignore the danger to the world in order to fulfill my own financial needs. 

While I have a Denafrips component, it is because of that same reason. The Gaia is the best DDC out there- probably by far- but I didn't go the route of running comparisons. I believe that the next best option would have been a Mutec, but they are made in Germany. Being who I am, that carries a ton of baggage in and of itself.

I would not buy a Porsche or a BMW. Both my wife and I own Mazda's, which can also be problematic because the United States car mfg conglomerate (most of which is now related and in consortium with other foreign mfg's) is compromised. The US has been creating poorly designed and engineered cars for about 40 years or more. Probably started with the K-cars, led by the vaunted Lee Iaccoca, who took advantage of those folks who were just making a living, raising families, and wanted to be happy. An American hero who sold sh+t to consumers. He is probably ideologically remembered via a statue somewhere. 

We likely have the same vision of humanity. We believe that people are generally well-intentioned, have the intellect to see through scams, double-talk, corruption, and whatnot. That held us together until the Iphone and Facebook were borne. Now, we are permanently divided and there are zero signs of that making a comeback. Technology has super-sized power and that minimizes the problems it creates because it's emphatic embrace suppresses its faults which are at the expense of our culture and planet. China is the best at that, as you did not even mention the atrocities because you don't see it when you are there because you don't have that option. It exists, just like the stein files. Well intentioned folks have been carved up, spit out, and minimized. I may yearn for hope the rest of my life, but my happiness no longer depends on it. I am a realist. If you can fix that and instill hope, by all means, tell me how to do it. I am all ears!

I believe that human cohesion has been dismantled, disassembled, and sabotaged by those who make their livings via the digital aged occupations that work against freedom and country. Influencers and pod-casters are just going to pivot to what provides them the most clicks and income. Those folks, not unlike the nazi's of old, are the ones who purposely move the hate mongering needle forward because it makes a living, feeds the family, and folks like Candace Owens seem to be happy? She's got a fresh face, nice smile, and is known for her conspiracy theories with about 20 million followers. Free speech is free speech, but it comes at a high cost and that cost is hope. 

Have a great day!