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WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review
- Thread starter amirm
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Pretty simple -- use the RCA line output from the Ultra to the preamp. Then, in your WiiM app, set the output to fixed level. You can choose fixed output levels of 2 volts, 1 volt, 800 mv, 500 mv or 200 mv. Choose the one that is the best match for volume level compared to the other sources hooked into the preamp. The fixed level output bypasses the Ultra's volume control (knob, remote and app.)
56suited
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I've owned an Ultra for a couple of months now, and the Ultra is spectacular. No real significant complaints. I think I hear what Amir is talking about with noise on the phono input though. Here's my set-up:
I enjoy listening to vinyl, but I find the need to boost the low and high end of the room correction occasionally to get things sounding close to digital quality--and I often get there. Although I think the quality of the pressing matters greatly, I do hear some fuzziness at low volume (I suppose that is the 'noise')...but I also hear a bit of that when I am streaming.
Curious if that is dirty power, and I am better off getting a power conditioner rather than a phono stage...although I'm likely going to purchase an external phono stage anyway to up-level the sound quality of vinyl and have more control of gain and other settings, but also so I can eventually upgrade to a MC cartridge.
- Technics SL-1210GR with Nagaoka MP-200 cartridge
- WiiM Ultra
- Neumann KH 120 II monitors
I enjoy listening to vinyl, but I find the need to boost the low and high end of the room correction occasionally to get things sounding close to digital quality--and I often get there. Although I think the quality of the pressing matters greatly, I do hear some fuzziness at low volume (I suppose that is the 'noise')...but I also hear a bit of that when I am streaming.
Curious if that is dirty power, and I am better off getting a power conditioner rather than a phono stage...although I'm likely going to purchase an external phono stage anyway to up-level the sound quality of vinyl and have more control of gain and other settings, but also so I can eventually upgrade to a MC cartridge.
Emlin
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Leave the so-called upgrades alone and sit back and enjoy the music.
Nice product, and it has EQ for my 2.1 system !! I'd like to simplify and all-digital my filter and equalizer. I'm done for DIY and active systems, need simple things now...
I have actually SMSL D6 => Behringer FBQ3102hd => Topping PA5II via xlr and a mono Aiyima A3001 for my sub. The FBQ has a basic SW output, but it's really poor.
I have a few sources but I 'm now mainly listening threw my windows PC over USB dac, a soundcard in fact. Can I use the USB port like any external DAC for my PC ? What other options ? Toslink input seems not perfect... I'm afraid it lacks good bluetooth and Xmos interface for my personnal needs :/
I have actually SMSL D6 => Behringer FBQ3102hd => Topping PA5II via xlr and a mono Aiyima A3001 for my sub. The FBQ has a basic SW output, but it's really poor.
I have a few sources but I 'm now mainly listening threw my windows PC over USB dac, a soundcard in fact. Can I use the USB port like any external DAC for my PC ? What other options ? Toslink input seems not perfect... I'm afraid it lacks good bluetooth and Xmos interface for my personnal needs :/
No, the USB on WiiM Ultra is only output. I think you can organize your files in a cloud drive and WiiM get access to them.
Other way can be line input but you’ll have redundant DA-AD conversion. I don’t think have an audible impact, but I can try and tell my subjective impression.
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That's how I connect my PC, which happens to have a Toslink output but a USB to toslink adapter is cheap if yours doesn't.
Not yet
In what way?
Can be changed without hardware modifications?
Are you saying Wiim can't stream from a DLNA Server?
Or just not from the likes of google drive/dropbox etc.
Ah, I thought he was talking about my first sentence, “USB is only output”. I was happy to hope that can be reversed to a USB input or output but this can only be done in USB 3 devices I remember. Am I wrong?
No idea.
The latter
The Ultra supports USB audio out or USB media support like an external drive or thumb drive, but not USB Audio in.
Yes, so not for me... I've just found this https://www.streamwhatyouhear.com/ but it's old and probably not optimal...
somebodyelse
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It depends what you mean by 'USB input'
Support for a class compliant USB ADC or digital inputs like the Hifime UR23 could be added in future firmware.
A device mode input is a lot less likely, but might be possible depending on the hardware. USB2 OTG capable ports like the one on the Pi Zero or the Pi 4's USB-C port can switch between host and device mode. Usually they use mini-B, micro-B or C sockets, with autodetection of the OTG adapter to switch mode. That's how it's designed to work, and is safe. Using a Type A port and an A to A cable would be a standard violation, and would need manual switching between host and device mode. That's why I doubt they would do it, even if the port has the capability.
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I use a Wiim Ultra direct into a power amp. I run the amp on its lowest gain setting and have the Ultra line out set at 2Vrms (small room, lowish listening levels). I have limited the Wiim volume to 90% to provide plenty of headroom for intersample peaks and my max PEQ boost of 3db. I'm regularly listening between 30 and 65 on the Wiim volume control, rarely highly.
So here's the question for those more knowledgeable that I: Theoretically, would I be better off switching to 1Vrms output and shifting the volume control up further towards maximum? In practise I can't hear any difference in SQ, but would like to understand what is technically superior and why, and to operate my devices accordingly!
So here's the question for those more knowledgeable that I: Theoretically, would I be better off switching to 1Vrms output and shifting the volume control up further towards maximum? In practise I can't hear any difference in SQ, but would like to understand what is technically superior and why, and to operate my devices accordingly!
I’m not technically superior of nobody but I posted the same question before, because theoretically is better to have higher digital volumes.
But as many DACs, WiiM operates at 32 bits depth and specifies its volume in 8 bit format, the digital noise of the signal introduced by low volumes will be under the intrinsic noise of the DAC itself.
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