Possible to combine a WiiM Ultra with tube amps ?

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

"Get a tube amp for the Wiim Ultra because Wiim EQ can help with its flaws"

 

[Ruediger]

I just saw a Jolida JD707A for 750€

23W max. at 0.5% distortion. You really have to like it to accept the harsh practical limitations of 70 years old tech.

Also be mindful of where you put it. Room size, speaker sensitivity, desired output levels.

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

Yes, you are right. I will buy a wiim ultra.

 

[dtaylo1066]

You can run the Ultra into about any amp you want to. I have a WiiM Ultra and it connects to a DIY Hypex amp. Wonderful sound. On the other hand, my EL34 tube amp has been in drydock for several years, but I admit I enjoyed its sound. I confess that my brain must like second and third harmonic distortion, and can tolerate a lower SINAD.

I am not nostaligic. A few years ago I bought a TT due to my old multi-crate collection of 1970s to 1980s LPs. When I run the TT into my Ultra and Hypex amps it pales in comparison to a CD or streaming. So my ears tell me not to buy into the vinyl is the bomb craze.

I listened to a mega-buck McIntosh integrated amp with tube preamp section a few months ago, running into very expensive B&W two-way, large standmounts. I think it was a 30K set up fed by a digital streamer. Sound was magnificent, and had nothing to do in my mind with the price tag. I also listened that day to Kef Koda and LS60 speakers, which were also a great hit to my ears, the Koda blowing me away for $900 per pair.

You can count on the WiiM Ultra to deliver, and it measures as transparent. I would not spend a lot of money on a tube amp until you determine if you like what some describe as the "tube" sound.

 

[john61ct]

Best way to play with tubes to start with is a Schiit Buf for $99, insert before the power amp.

Shut it off, 100% bypassed.

 

[Chrispy]

While you can, should you? Tube amps are just odd.

 

[john61ct]

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."
– Helen Keller

A cook who always uses the same recipe will never discover the joy of a new taste.

 

[kemmler3D]

I agree with the Buf recommendation... Probably the most practical and affordable way I've seen to get tubes into a system and the distortion level is just high enough to hear something but not high enough to be problematic (imo)

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

Thank you for these inputs. I finally bought from Paul7777 recommendations a Lyngdorf TDAI 1200 and discover that the small wattage amp is well beyond my needs for my PhonoPhone speakers of 87db.
I have not yet used the room correction system and my room is totally naked, I am going away working for a month so I will take care of the room getting home again. To solve the problem with a harsh naked room I placed the speakers very close to me and whaooo, amazing how the sound opened up, on some recordings I could almost "see" the singer in front of me. Amazing.

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

Here is my TEMPORARY set up

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

as I said, this was just a temporary setup until I return home again june 22nd.

about the tube amps, my inspiration comes from the website : glowinginthedark
with open baffles one driver. The Lyngdorf will handle this without any
problems, but as John61 says :

A cook who always uses the same recipe will never discover the joy of a new taste

but for the moment I will simply enjoy my Phonophones G1
with new woofers for some weeks once I get back home.

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

and I am amazed how much power this Lyngdord TDAI 1120 delivers.
Even before setting the speakers up so close, it delivers lots of power
in spite of the few wattageq, I never used more than 3/4 of the power.

 

[MaxxC]

There is no way I am going to find out here, although I fully appreciate
all the feedback and help from you all, but what sounds good to me,
and even with REW, the final judge will be my ears.

So the only way is to compare myself,
trying to find a used amps or
to buy a tube amp on Aliexpress.

I just saw a Jolida JD707A for 750€
and a Jolida EL34, both not far away from where I live.
But since one has to replace tubes with tube amps,
perhaps it is better to buy new from AliExpress ?

I was going to buy the WiiM Ultra with a Fosi 3V Mono Amps and still will
but I hear such marvels about tube amps so I obviously have to get one
to try with my vintage speakers, my line array speakers
and my futur open baffle Lii Song F18.

I was going to get the Lii Hifi, original, but they
do not make the F18 anymore, or at least it is not in stock and the
Lii Song F18 is in stock only a few hours away from me, in northern spain.

It does not make any difference if its tube or solid state. Since the input sensitivity between solid state and tube does not vary
much, if any.
I had a Jolida 202A tube amp. Your golden.

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

I will see when I compare but as Jim Smith writes, comparing is indeed not so easy, so many variables. It is probably like between a good beef steak and a piece of cod, both are great.