AVR / Processor recommendations 2ch pre-out + 12v trigger

[Esque]

should I haven gotten an AVR instead of Wiim ultra? Here's the use case: Living room setup for music, movies, shows, YouTube etc.

Equipment:

- Kef R3 on S3's.
- REL T9x SE / high level on the Yamaha / LFE input from the Wiim.
- Yamaha AS1200
- Wiim ultra > pre out into main in Wiim + 12v trigger out
- TV > arc to Wiim
- Sony BDP X800 > audio into Wiim ultra > video into TV
- Sony DVP S7700 > SMSL SU1
- Mac Mini > audio into SMSL SU1 > video into TV
- SMSL SU1 DAC into Yamaha as 1200
- Micro Seiki DD33 into Yamaha as 1200
- Chromecast > into TV

So basically, analog stays analog and goes to the Yamaha directly, other sources go through the Wiim or SMSL.

All is working however, all HDMI inputs are being used, all digital inputs are occupied, no lip-sync. So this has me wondering, would I have been better off with a AVR?

 

[Oddball]

Not sure what is the question though. If you are happy than no reason to change. If there is a reason to change what would that be?

 

[90sNintendoKid]

I have 2 Wiim Ultras and several Denon & Marantz AVRs.

I use the Wiim Ultras for music & stereo with subwoofers and the AVRs for movies with a Wiim Mini via optical into the AVR for music.

I would use the Wiim Ultras for Dolby Digital 5.1 and the last time I checked there is a problem with the .1 not being down mixed into stereo or added to the sub out.

 

[Esque]

Not sure what is the question though. If you are happy than no reason to change. If there is a reason to change what would that be?

- I occasionally want to connect different equipment with HDMI, like the playstation or the SLR after a trip.
- There also seems to be some debate, on the audio quality of streaming services regular stereo stream. With an AVR I could do my own downmix to 2.1.
- In hindsight, an AVR would also be way easier to hookup. Right now I've ran a total of 20 meters in thick HDMI cables to the TV..
- Most AVR's also support tidal connect and the likes.

 

[Oddball]

If you feel that AVR would be better for your use case, then you need to figure out the budget and features you need. AVRs are generally more user friendly and have many features and codecs.

Denon 3800H is considered as the best value as it has many features at $1K if shopping wisely. Or even less for used unit. Top Denon AVR A1H would be more like $7K, and probably overkill for many. Onkyo would have RZ line, but based on my experience on forums, there have been more complaints about Onkyo than Denon. Not sure there is need to venture into more exotic and expensive brands.

Another plus for Denon is that it will get Dirac ART update late this year. The latest and greatest, apparently, bass EQ system. But Dirac full package with ART will run another almost $1K as optional on Denon.

 

[DVDdoug]

I would use the Wiim Ultras for Dolby Digital 5.1 and the last time I checked there is a problem with the .1 not being down mixed into stereo or added to the sub out.

The LFE is not supposed to be included in the stereo downmix. It ONLY goes to the sub, if you have one and if you have a surround decoder. "Bass management" in an AVR works the other way around, optionally re-routing the bass from the other channels to the sub.

 

[Inertiaman]

The LFE is not supposed to be included in the stereo downmix. It ONLY goes to the sub, if you have one and if you have a surround decoder. "Bass management" in an AVR works the other way around, optionally re-routing the bass from the other channels to the sub.

Just to clarify for others, in a single Wiim device scenario (Ultra, Amp Pro, Amp Ultra) with Dolby over ARC downmix to two channels, the .1 LFE content is discarded, regardless if there is a subwoofer utilized or not.

 

[meesbaker]

Just to clarify for others, in a single Wiim device scenario (Ultra, Amp Pro, Amp Ultra) with Dolby over ARC downmix to two channels, the .1 LFE content is discarded, regardless if there is a subwoofer utilized or not.

Is that because it is "only" ARC instead of earc? I

 

[Inertiaman]

Is that because it is "only" ARC instead of earc? I

No. eARC's additional bandwidth is necessary to support Atmos and DTS:X, but "normal" ARC is more than sufficient for standard Dolby Digital.

The loss of the LFE content is essentially a decision by Wiim in their downmix algorithm (a poor decision, imho), which they justify based on interpretation of Dolby "rules". One quickly gets into a quagmire of what a Dolby downmix can do vs should do. See here and here for further discussion in the Wiim forums.