NuForce WDC200 Wireless DAC

zingo

The price has dropped significantly on the NuForce WDC200 Wireless DAC recently since it was discontinued ($800 -> $200) , so I thought I'd give it a try as possibly something to replace my Squeezebox Touch. Not only does the WDC200 add wireless connectivity to phones and wifi audio from a PC or server that supports 24/96 playback, but it also has an optical input allowing it to switch and process a separate digital source.





The few reviews on-line say the unit sounds as good as advertised, so I hope that's the case!

Clipdat

Do you think there's any performance left on the table, or other forms of audible degradation due to the fact that it's wireless?

For some reason I can't help but thinking that when going wireless, you're making some sort of sacrifice in terms of the audio performance. Even if this is completely illogical, I still feel like this for some reason.

Maybe it's just a symptom of the negative reputation that BT has.

Also, I suppose it has a lot to do with the way you listen, but for me I would rather spend more on a traditional DAC versus one with the "feature" of being wireless.

Anyway, just some random thoughts. Looking forward to your review of it!

zingo

I think that’s one thing that interests me is that it’s not traditional bluetooth, it’s a wifi connection which can be high bandwidth; and I do have a high quality router.

I hope it’s worth a try!

heiney9

I've been running a wireless Squeezebox for about 10 years, no issues with degraded sound. It's not Bluetooth. I do use an upgraded linear power supply for the SQB Touch and that made a marked improvement. But I've never had any "quality" issues running wireless.

H9

Clipdat

heiney9 wrote: »

I've been running a wireless Squeezebox for about 10 years, no issues with degraded sound. It's not Bluetooth. I do use an upgraded linear power supply for the SQB Touch and that made a marked improvement. But I've never had any "quality" issues running wireless.

H9

Thanks Brock for sharing your experience. Like I said, it's just a weird irrational fear/feeling that I have.

zingo

I second the Squeezebox experience and hope to have audio quality as good with this wireless DAC. Plus, it will have the added benefit of the control being on your device, not on the Squeezebox.

mdaudioguy

zingo wrote: »

I second the Squeezebox experience and hope to have audio quality as good with this wireless DAC. Plus, it will have the added benefit of the control being on your device, not on the Squeezebox.

I hope you have a great experience with your new device, but I've never controlled my Squeezebox Touch by touch. Always from my phone or tablet.

mdaudioguy

Clipdat wrote: »

heiney9 wrote: »

I've been running a wireless Squeezebox for about 10 years, no issues with degraded sound. It's not Bluetooth. I do use an upgraded linear power supply for the SQB Touch and that made a marked improvement. But I've never had any "quality" issues running wireless.

H9

Thanks Brock for sharing your experience. Like I said, it's just a weird irrational fear/feeling that I have.

Streaming via WiFi and Bluetooth are very different. I only stream via BT out of convenience to my headphones while running or in my car.

zingo

mdaudioguy wrote: »

I hope you have a great experience with your new device, but I've never controlled my Squeezebox Touch by touch. Always from my phone or tablet.

I used to control mine with my iPhone 6, but it says the app isn’t supported anymore, so I gave up.

rooftop59

zingo wrote: »

mdaudioguy wrote: »

I hope you have a great experience with your new device, but I've never controlled my Squeezebox Touch by touch. Always from my phone or tablet.

I used to control mine with my iPhone 6, but it says the app isn’t supported anymore, so I gave up.

U just have to pay for iPeng or another app like that. Like 5 bucks...

zingo

Hmmm... I never would have associated that app with the Squeezebox, but thanks!

rooftop59

zingo wrote: »

Hmmm... I never would have associated that app with the Squeezebox, but thanks!

Well now it’s 9 bucks, but sill well worth it imho...

codycatalist

This is interesting as I have been trying to think of ways to stream outside of my 3.5mm to rca connection. I might have to drop a couple hundy on this device and see how it goes.

I do wish it didn't have it's own volume control as I do like my preamp but i'll figure it out.

DaveHo

A chromecast audio connect to a god DAC will accomplish the same thing.

codycatalist

DaveHo wrote: »

A chromecast audio connect to a god DAC will accomplish the same thing.

I have heard good things about Chromecast Audio. I remember almost picking one up a year or so ago but passed for the time being. I may go that route after all although this piece is still interesting.

zingo

I also didn’t need the digital preamp function, but set to full volume it should have zero effect on the sound quality. Althought I will be interested to test it without my preamp.

mdaudioguy

Hmmm, I just realized that NuForce is a line of Optoma products. I'm much more familiar with their projector line. Interesting! https://www.optoma.com/us/product-category/home-audio/

zingo

Yes they were purchased a while back, but I still have a pre Optoma pair of bluetooth headphones that are my favorite. They were always an innovative and unique company if their products, so I’m glad a lot of that was kept with the purchase. Their pre-Optoma class-D amps still fetch good money used.

zingo

I'm playing around with the DAC this morning. Accessing it with any digital device or computer is through wifi as it creates its own hotspot that's at least 100ft; not only better SQ than bluetooth, but much wider range, and just as easy to use.

An interesting note that the digital volume control only works with the SPDIF input, not the wifi audio, which works fine for me as I was planning on not using it beyond SQ testing.

zingo

It’s a nice looking unit with an aluminum case and the tube is for scale for size.