Topping E70 Velvet to WiiM Pro

[hybridauth_Facebook_10154086561718989]

Hi everyone. I was planning to buy the DAC mentioned above second-hand, and when I called a friend of mine about it, he had a pretty strong reaction. His exact words were: “don’t buy that Chinese S***.” I’m still going to listen to it before deciding, but I’d love to hear your thoughts. Is it actually a poor DAC? From what I can tell, the reviews look very positive.

 

[nopiano]

Hi everyone. I was planning to buy the DAC mentioned above second-hand, and when I called a friend of mine about it, he had a pretty strong reaction. His exact words were: “don’t buy that Chinese S***.” I’m still going to listen to it before deciding, but I’d love to hear your thoughts. Is it actually a poor DAC? From what I can tell, the reviews look very positive.

Maybe he doesn’t know where Wiim is made? 🙃

Has he any useful suggestions for a DAC not made in the PRC. (I suppose you could find a used Meridian 203 on eBay)

 

[Jasonovich]

Hi everyone. I was planning to buy the DAC mentioned above second-hand, and when I called a friend of mine about it, he had a pretty strong reaction. His exact words were: “don’t buy that Chinese S***.” I’m still going to listen to it before deciding, but I’d love to hear your thoughts. Is it actually a poor DAC? From what I can tell, the reviews look very positive.

Chi-fi is here to stay, some of the best DACs are made in the PRC.
Topping, Gustard, Denafrips, Eversolo, WiiM, SMSL so many...
Are excellent products, not to overlook those from Blighty, such as Cambridge, Rega, NAIM, Arcam etc are also worth considering.

 

[Al ears]

Chi-fi is here to stay, some of the best DACs are made in the PRC.
Topping, Gustard, Denafrips, Eversolo, WiiM, SMSL so many...
Are excellent products, not to overlook those from Blighty, such as Cambridge, Rega, NAIM, Arcam etc are also worth considering.

And the internal components of those British ones are probably made in China.....
I would suggest the OPs friend has an opinion not based on having heard any Chinese DACs

 

[SteveH72]

Adding a DAC to the Wiim will make next to no difference. Save your money, and educate your friend.

 

[Jasonovich]

And the internal components of those British ones are probably made in China.....
I would suggest the OPs friend has an opinion not based on having heard any Chinese DACs

I had deduced that, or he's just throwing out there to guage the consensus?
Hifi truly is a global phenomenon, stuff from US, Singapore (aka,Laiv), Korea, Germany, Japan, Poland, Norway, Denmark, France, every where.
With singular purpose to make the best sounding Hifi.

 

[JoelSim]

If I were in your position and wanted to improve the sound quality I'd sell the Wiim and buy a Bluesound Node Icon or a Cambridge Audio.

 

[jjbomber]

Hi everyone. I was planning to buy the DAC mentioned above second-hand, and when I called a friend of mine about it, he had a pretty strong reaction. His exact words were: “don’t buy that Chinese S***.” I’m still going to listen to it before deciding, but I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Get a new friend!

 

[record_spot]

Adding a DAC to the Wiim will make next to no difference. Save your money, and educate your friend.

Adding a DAC to the Wiim Pro Plus made a significant difference, it being the Cambridge 200M. Take it out the loop and the Pro Plus is underwhelming.

 

[Jasonovich]

Adding a DAC to the Wiim Pro Plus made a significant difference, it being the Cambridge 200M. Take it out the loop and the Pro Plus is underwhelming.

A good DAC will make a real difference, how much really depends on the other participants in the chain, quality of amp, quality of speakers, source format, headphones, headphone amp, room positioning etc.

 

[matthewpianist]

Chi-fi is here to stay, some of the best DACs are made in the PRC.
Topping, Gustard, Denafrips, Eversolo, WiiM, SMSL so many...
Are excellent products, not to overlook those from Blighty, such as Cambridge, Rega, NAIM, Arcam etc are also worth considering.

...and the Cambridge and Arcam products aren't made in the UK either, despite making a big play on being 'British'. British manufacture means Naim, Linn, Rega, Cyrus or a little boutique brand, and even those are full of parts sourced from the Far East.

 

[Jasonovich]

...and the Cambridge and Arcam products aren't made in the UK either, despite making a big play on being 'British'. British manufacture means Naim, Linn, Rega, Cyrus or a little boutique brand, and even those are full of parts sourced from the Far East.

So much grey, so true, British branding doesn't necessarily endorse its authenticity. So much of the components are Chinese sourced these days.

 

[record_spot]

A good DAC will make a real difference, how much really depends on the other participants in the chain, quality of amp, quality of speakers, source format, headphones, headphone amp, room positioning etc.

I'd normally say the differences are slight, but with this particular Wiim, I found that on its on, it really didn't meet the blurb I'd read elsewhere. I haven't tried it with the new DM5 actives on its' own yet, so those speakers might yield a different outcome, but I haven't the time (or the inclination) for now. In any case, I might be buying a new preamp, partly to reduce the box count, but time will tell.