The issue with the $329 WiiM Ultra is its internal clock is only "so-so" according to some reviewers. So, if you use it to feed an external DAC, make sure you are doing so in such a way that the presumably better clock in the more expensive DAC is doing the "driving" otherwise you are leaving performance that you paid for on the table. Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I think the "best" way to do this is via USB, not optical or coax.
I know the Bluesound Nodes specifically have a "clock trim" function to turn on in software when feeding an external DAC.
Sound quality differences in streamers
Can there be sonic differences between moderate and high priced streamers when used for streaming only. I will not use or engage an onboard DAC or any other feature, just stream from Tidal or Amazon to DAC. If the unit is just transferring zeros and ones to a DAC can there be differences in say a $300 WiiM and a $3000 dSC streamer? Thanks