Streamer w/EQ recommendations

[gallionetech]

Hey all,

I've noticed some slowness from my RBP 4 Model B 2GB with Volumio on it. It takes really long to switch tracks. My old Aurender N150 (returned) was near instantaneous when switching tracks on Tidal Connect.

Anyone know of a good streamer than has EQ abilities and isn't in the snake oily price range of the Aurender? I only use Tidal so don't need any server functionality. Id prefer it to be a simple transport as I have a Topping A90/D90SE for my stack and don't want to pay extra for a DAC/amp thats built in if I'm not using it.

Thanks in advance!

 

[staticV3]

The WiiM Mini and WiiM Pro both support EQ, including parametric

 

[gallionetech]

The WiiM Mini and WiiM Pro both support EQ, including parametric

Thanks I did check those out. I saw they don't have USB out which was my preferred connection. Is there any difference in quality in optical input vs USB?

 

[gallionetech]

The WiiM Mini and WiiM Pro both support EQ, including parametric

Also do you know the difference between the Pro and Mini?

Thanks

 

[staticV3]

Also do you know the difference between the Pro and Mini?

Thanks

Take a look at the website: https://wiimhome.com/WiiMMini/Overview
There's a section only to answer that question:

 

[gallionetech]

Take a look at the website: https://wiimhome.com/WiiMMini/Overview
There's a section only to answer that question:
View attachment 259992

Thanks! I Probably should have went to their site before asking that lol my bad

I got the Pro as I'd like Ethernet

 

[Veri]

The WiiM Mini and WiiM Pro both support EQ, including parametric

I was looking into these, can anyone confirm the PEQ is not just a toy and works actually well on these WiiM products?
If I can use my 9-band EQ on a Wiim it would be a great budget contender for sure.

 

[morillon]

no peq for the moment..only a bad eq with a drc...
rather to forget for the moment...

 

[Veri]

no peq for the moment..only a bad eq with a drc...
rather to forget for the moment...

Well okay. I think I'm gonna pre-order the PRO one just for the streaming part then. And hope for proper (P)EQ profiles some time in the future.
It still seems like a nice enough product, just for the digital output...

 

[AdamG]

FYI according to the linked review by @VintageFlanker using the EQ function seems to create a great deal of added distortion and noise. I believe it is currently recommended to not use the EQ function.

WiiM Pro - Review & Measurements (Streamer)

WiiM Pro - Review & Measurements Hey folks, It is time for my first review of 2023... This one is about a complete objective analysis of the new WiiM Pro streamer. The aforementioned has been recently announced, back in November 2022, and I can see quite a strong hype around it since. That...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Veri]

FYI according to the linked review by @VintageFlanker using the EQ function seems to create a great deal of added distortion and noise. I believe it is currently recommended to not use the EQ function.

WiiM Pro - Review & Measurements (Streamer)

WiiM Pro - Review & Measurements Hey folks, It is time for my first review of 2023... This one is about a complete objective analysis of the new WiiM Pro streamer. The aforementioned has been recently announced, back in November 2022, and I can see quite a strong hype around it since. That...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I did spot that, but on the other hand it's said that after lowering output by -1.2 dBFS it is safe?

 

[morillon]

unfortunately it is more complicated than that....
so in many cases lowering the general output level by a few percent will not be enough...
not safe

 

[VintageFlanker]

I believe it is currently recommended to not use the EQ function.

In fact, it starts to become transparent (Flat setting) from ≈95% Volume and below...

At fixed volume, it clipps, so barely usable at all.

I did spot that, but on the other hand it's said that after lowering output by -1.2 dBFS it is safe?

Right.

 

[morillon]

excuse me but you misunderstood the situation

 

[Veri]

In fact, it starts to become transparent (Flat setting) from ≈95% Volume and below...

At fixed volume, it clipps, so barely usable at all.

-1,26dBFS then Got it. I only just got my pre-order in so it'll probably not be before end of next month that I can play around with it....

excuse me but you misunderstood the situation

Yes just the very 'simple' EQ present now. I know proper PEQ is not available at this time. We'll see if WiiM delivers on their promise on have such a thing eventually.

 

[morillon]

-1,26dBFS then Got it.

that s a error

 

[VintageFlanker]

that s a error

How so?.....

 

[morillon]

you have to understand the origin of the eq problem and the principle of the drc that wiim used to try to camouflage it (very clumsily)

"""
if you increase somes frequencies in eq mode, you will have to lower the output level proportionally...and add the few percent less to move away from the drc threshold..
we would have almost been able to manually realize it... without this drc and its impact! to avoid digital saturation
this drc from texas was not designed to compensate for an idiotic eq mode....
the situation therefore remains destitute over the months...(after months of digital clippings)
"""
"""
the drc is for never have digital clippings.
the irony... is that by performing your correction "in negative" starting from 0db... you could even do without the small volume reduction to avoid the drc...! but it is not disengageable ( for the moment?)....
"""
yes if the general level does not exceed -1.2dbfs the drc will not engage
but no, lowering the general level by 5 percent in mode eq may not be enough to avoid its commitment...
will depend on the correction and positive values applied

 

[onlyoneme]

It's rather simple with WiiM and EQ mode actually - any signal which exceeds -1.1x dBFS for a time period long enough to activate DRC limiter, will introduce distortions as shown on the graphs above.

 

[morillon]

Of course
but that's why just lowering the genre level to 5% of the general level will not be enough to ensure that the drc will never engage, in many cases if the eq mode is used and the level of certain frequencies is increased ...
that's all
will have to adapt the general level to the positive correction + the 1.2dbfs..
(what you have experienced for example with the +12dbfs..)
stop for me...
;-)