England FR…. why do you ask?
I wonder, though. I have streamers from Auralic, Linn, Naim and WiiM in the house. We have a fairly basic WiFi setup with a single ISP-supplied router in the hall. Internal walls are solid, and WiFi can be a bit weak in some rooms, so I’ve cabled the downstairs streamers, but the others are just WiFi. And no fiddling with Bluetooth switching off WiFi bands … it “just works”.
I strongly suspect that’s also true of the majority of users. Folk post a lot more when they have problems than when they’re just enjoying the music.
Roger
Just curious, as you repeat that you want a product made and assembled in the UK.
Shop local, support the economy.
I understood already. But repeat it a dozen times, not sure.
Ha ha, yes. I can read a thousand times that a £350 streamer is a good match with ATC 19s and it won’t stop me thinking that it isn’t.
Well HH, read one more time coz it is. Mine runs into a pair of ProAc D2rs a is great match. Maybe think again?
I can be told a thousand times that Jam Shed is drinkable but I still won’t believe it.
And some like The Smiths but that doesn’t make them better than [fill in your preference here].
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He won’t believe anything until he’s heard it with his own ear. ![]()
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I’m afraid a lot of people haven’t realised just how far digital audio has come in the recent past.
The rules concerning what percentage of budget should be spent on front end just doesn’t apply anymore. Well not when it comes to digital.
You are right, Jam Shed is indeed liquid filth… you’re right not to believe those who are telling you this and here are thousands of reviews confirming it’s awful. Perhaps form your own opinions from experience in this case?
So those of us that have purchased numerous low level streamers to compare directly against an ND5XS2 are just delusional? I’ve heard the immense delta in sound quality a quality streamer can make. The cheap stuff sounds fine, but a higher quality streamer isn’t wasted money.
A low (quality) level streamer is a low quality level streamer.
But there are some very high quality streaming bridges available at very low prices.
Bruce has added a £500 streaming bridge to the front of his system that contains a £27k (552) pre amp, and is very pleased with the SQ improvement.
Not convinced…
Recent review by Whathifi on the Wim Ultra:
“ There is a fair sense of scale and authority, though the Amp Ultra does sound a touch lean and lacking in body, in absolute terms. Given its price, we are happy to overlook this.
It is harder to ignore the slightly restrained dynamic expression, though.
This streaming amp, like its cheaper siblings, isn’t great at communicating subtle shifts in intensity or conveying dynamic contrasts. The result is that the sound, while perfectly listenable, doesn’t convey the emotional impact of the music as it should.
It doesn’t help that rhythmic precision is also lacking, so that when we play recordings as varied as Get Lucky by Daft Punk or A.R. Rahman’s Chaiyya Chaiyya, there is an element of musical propulsion and engagement missing. The sound remains pleasant, crisp and decently refined, but we can’t help wanting a little more.”
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Have you listened to the Wiim so that you can decide if the WHF review is accurate?
The words quoted from What HiFi refer to a review of the WiiM Amp Ultra. A slight older review of the WiiM Ultra (streamer only) has a different, much more positive verdict.
I am not convinced = I have doubts = not certitude.
A magazine that decreed the Beyerdynamic T1 V3 ( universally considered a dog) to be “The best Audiophile Headphone” buy, is not a source to be treated seriously at all. I trust the Beano more on Hi Fi matters.
I love the Beyerdynamic T1 V2 BTW
