Recommended output and gain settings - Wiim Pro Plus -> Buckeye Purifi 2-channel -> KEF R3 Meta

[Hazenhart]

Hello.
Could anyone recommend a likely configuration of output voltage and gain when using a Wiim Pro Plus to drive a Buckeye 2-channel Purifi amp into a pair of KEF R3 Metas?
I will obviously try and experiment with various combinations, but it would be good to start in a theoretically correct place.

The Pro Plus can output at 2V, suggesting the high gain setting on the Buckeye would be correct. That said, assuming reasonable volume levels with the R3s (~260 ft2 room), I would like to find an optimal balance of preserving digital headroom and range in the Pro Plus, while utilizing the best of the Purifi power.

Thanks for your time and wisdom.

 

[staticV3]

Hi @Hazenhart!

This is fairly simple:

Set the WiiM to 2V output and 100% volume limit, but turn the volume all the way down.

The Buckeye should first be set to its lowest gain.

Then start playing some music and slowly turn up the WiiM's volume.

If you reach 100% volume on the WiiM and it's still not loud enough, set it back to 0, bump up the Buckeye's gain one notch, and repeat the exercise.

Once you've found an amplifier gain that enables satisfying playback levels, you can set a Volume limit in the WiiM Home App to protect from any fat finger accidents, if you'd like.

Setting the WiiM's Aux Out Level to anything other than 2Vrms does not make much sense, see here:

Guide for Managing Volume and Headroom on the WiiM Mini (Measurements)

This is a small excursion into volume and EQ headroom on the WiiM Mini (and by extension, likely other WiiM products). WiiM Mini Firmware: 4.6.805929 WiiM Home Version: 3.5.1 For all tests, I used a -1dBFS Measurement Sweep, exported from REW and played back directly via the WiiM Home App...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Hazenhart]

Hi @Hazenhart!

This is fairly simple:

Set the WiiM to 2V output and 100% volume limit, but turn the volume all the way down.

The Buckeye should first be set to its lowest gain.

Then start playing some music and slowly turn up the WiiM's volume.

If you reach 100% volume on the WiiM and it's still not loud enough, set it back to 0, bump up the Buckeye's gain one notch, and repeat the exercise.

Once you've found an amplifier gain that enables satisfying playback levels, you can set a Volume limit in the WiiM Home App to protect from any fat finger accidents, if you'd like.

Setting the WiiM's Aux Out Level to anything other than 2Vrms does not make much sense, see here:

Guide for Managing Volume and Headroom on the WiiM Mini (Measurements)

This is a small excursion into volume and EQ headroom on the WiiM Mini (and by extension, likely other WiiM products). WiiM Mini Firmware: 4.6.805929 WiiM Home Version: 3.5.1 For all tests, I used a -1dBFS Measurement Sweep, exported from REW and played back directly via the WiiM Home App...

www.audiosciencereview.com

This makes sense. Thank you.
Looks like I need to refresh on the Pro Plus range and headroom. I recall reading back when I got my first Pro Plus that 800mV had better SNR(?)

 

[Ropeburn]

This makes sense. Thank you.
Looks like I need to refresh on the Pro Plus range and headroom. I recall reading back when I got my first Pro Plus that 800mV had better SNR(?)

Test with your ears: if you can't hear the noise, it doesn't matter.

 

[Hazenhart]

Hi @Hazenhart!

This is fairly simple:

Set the WiiM to 2V output and 100% volume limit, but turn the volume all the way down.

The Buckeye should first be set to its lowest gain.

Then start playing some music and slowly turn up the WiiM's volume.

If you reach 100% volume on the WiiM and it's still not loud enough, set it back to 0, bump up the Buckeye's gain one notch, and repeat the exercise.

Once you've found an amplifier gain that enables satisfying playback levels, you can set a Volume limit in the WiiM Home App to protect from any fat finger accidents, if you'd like.

Setting the WiiM's Aux Out Level to anything other than 2Vrms does not make much sense, see here:

Guide for Managing Volume and Headroom on the WiiM Mini (Measurements)

This is a small excursion into volume and EQ headroom on the WiiM Mini (and by extension, likely other WiiM products). WiiM Mini Firmware: 4.6.805929 WiiM Home Version: 3.5.1 For all tests, I used a -1dBFS Measurement Sweep, exported from REW and played back directly via the WiiM Home App...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Hey last night I connected the Buckeye to my Pro Plus and did some listening at the low gain setting. For active listening the Pro Plus at 85-90% volume was perfect, and 100% volume was great when I really wanted to crank it or with a few quieter tracks. Probably won't ever want any more volume, but this is with the Pro Plus set at 2V and no volume limits or source gain adjustments. Is there any risk here? I am not using any positive PEQ values, and probably won't need to. Should I just keep with low gain on the amp and enjoy the full dynamic range of the Pro Plus? Or should I bump to medium and dial back the Pro Plus output to preserve some headroom there?

Thanks for your time.

 

[Ruediger]

You are fine this way.

But if you want to use positive gain on the WiiM, you need to create headroom or accept DRC handling it. See the thread linked above.

Personally I set max. volume to account for whatever my PEQ might add.

 

[Matias]

Then keep the Buckeye low gain and use the WiiM volume only and you are fine this way.

 

[staticV3]

Hey last night I connected the Buckeye to my Pro Plus and did some listening at the low gain setting. For active listening the Pro Plus at 85-90% volume was perfect, and 100% volume was great when I really wanted to crank it or with a few quieter tracks. Probably won't ever want any more volume, but this is with the Pro Plus set at 2V and no volume limits or source gain adjustments. Is there any risk here? I am not using any positive PEQ values, and probably won't need to. Should I just keep with low gain on the amp and enjoy the full dynamic range of the Pro Plus? Or should I bump to medium and dial back the Pro Plus output to preserve some headroom there?

Thanks for your time.

Headroom alone serves no appreciable purpose.