I’m looking at moving (would this be an upgrade?) from my Bluesound Node + Parasound Halo P5 preamp + Parasound A23 amp to a system based around either a Wiim Ultra or a Wiim Pro Amp.
Here are the other parts of the system:
- Kef LS50 Meta speakers
- SVS 1000 sub
- Pro-ject X2 turntable MM cartridge
System 1: Wiim Mini based. Swap the Bluesound Node (2022 version) with a Wiim Mini. Keep the Parasound Halo P5 preamp and A23 amp. Can the P5 preamp could be bettered on both the digital side as well as its built in turntable preamp? Hard to get apples-to-apples comparisons of the P5 vs. Wiim. Seems like the Wiim UI is an upgrade compared to Bluesound.
System 2: Wiim Pro Amp based. The Wiim Pro Amp would need a phono pre amp. Looking at either the Fosi Audio Box 5 or the Cambridge Duo phono preamp. This system would use the internal amps which have 100db of SINAD and 117 watts @ 4 ohms / 59 watts @ 8 ohms. Analog inputs @ 89db SINAD should be good enough for the turntable preamp. Total cost $379 for the Wiim Pro Amp and $150 for Fosi Box 5 Phono preamp. So $529 total.
System 3: Wiim Ultra based: The Wiim Ultra would need amp(s) (or I could use the A23 amps although I was looking forward to reducing physical system size (nice but not mandatory)). I could use two Fosi V3 mono blocks (2 x $126 = $252). Because the Ultra does not have XLR outputs, the best SINAD is 93db. Power is 240w @ 4 ohms and 120w @ 8 ohms. Seems to me that if the Ultra had XLR outputs, (and maybe a better phono preamp) the decision would more easily favor the Ultra over the other approaches. Total cost $329 + $252 so $581.
First decision: Do I make the jump from Parasound to Wiim Ultra or Amp Pro?
Second decision: Ultra or Pro Amp. Could most people notice a difference between a SINAD of 100 vs 93 db?
I’d welcome your thoughts.
Here are the other parts of the system:
- Kef LS50 Meta speakers
- SVS 1000 sub
- Pro-ject X2 turntable MM cartridge
System 1: Wiim Mini based. Swap the Bluesound Node (2022 version) with a Wiim Mini. Keep the Parasound Halo P5 preamp and A23 amp. Can the P5 preamp could be bettered on both the digital side as well as its built in turntable preamp? Hard to get apples-to-apples comparisons of the P5 vs. Wiim. Seems like the Wiim UI is an upgrade compared to Bluesound.
System 2: Wiim Pro Amp based. The Wiim Pro Amp would need a phono pre amp. Looking at either the Fosi Audio Box 5 or the Cambridge Duo phono preamp. This system would use the internal amps which have 100db of SINAD and 117 watts @ 4 ohms / 59 watts @ 8 ohms. Analog inputs @ 89db SINAD should be good enough for the turntable preamp. Total cost $379 for the Wiim Pro Amp and $150 for Fosi Box 5 Phono preamp. So $529 total.
System 3: Wiim Ultra based: The Wiim Ultra would need amp(s) (or I could use the A23 amps although I was looking forward to reducing physical system size (nice but not mandatory)). I could use two Fosi V3 mono blocks (2 x $126 = $252). Because the Ultra does not have XLR outputs, the best SINAD is 93db. Power is 240w @ 4 ohms and 120w @ 8 ohms. Seems to me that if the Ultra had XLR outputs, (and maybe a better phono preamp) the decision would more easily favor the Ultra over the other approaches. Total cost $329 + $252 so $581.
First decision: Do I make the jump from Parasound to Wiim Ultra or Amp Pro?
Second decision: Ultra or Pro Amp. Could most people notice a difference between a SINAD of 100 vs 93 db?
I’d welcome your thoughts.
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