WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

[mags65]

Spoke to Sipko at IOM and he can do XLR-only for 10EUR extra, or both, RCA and XLR for 35EUR extra.

He can't do Space Gray though, only Silver. My WiiM is Space Gray, so I suppose I will instead seek out Purifi options since it's not going to be proper match regardless.

-Ed

Space Grey is now on the menu, for an additional EUR 10 (due to paintjob). And the NC252MP seems now to be the only module on offer. Just ordered one for my daughter for xmas, to match her WiiM

 

[EddNog]

Space Grey is now on the menu, for an additional EUR 10 (due to paintjob). And the NC252MP seems now to be the only module on offer. Just ordered one for my daughter for xmas, to match her WiiM

Thanks so much for the heads up, @mags65 ! I’ve emailed Sipko back to order one in space gray with both, XLR and RCA inputs. So exciting!!!

-Ed

 

[Saponetto]

Thanks all, I can actually feel the lair of the audio-damnation just opening under my wallet...

 

[LuckyLyndy]

Thanks to everyone in assisting me with this WiiM Ultra.

Now, I have to deal with a speaker driver on my ProAc Response 2.5 clones. They don't make that Scan-Speak driver anymore, so...a search for NOS, and probably a call to Madisound to see if a newer model will come close to the specs.
Just got an email from Troels. He agreed and I'm ordering the newer model from Madisound.
One friend said to replace all the drivers, and another friend jokingly sent the link for Troels Gravesen's newest speaker build with Purifi drivers and Hypex bass modules. Nice, but $$$

Purifi-6661

 

[Paffi]

Space Grey is now on the menu, for an additional EUR 10 (due to paintjob). And the NC252MP seems now to be the only module on offer. Just ordered one for my daughter for xmas, to match her WiiM

Wow, that looks gread - now with Purifi oder NXC500 insteat of the old NC252 and I would be tempted to replace my Lux Purifiamp from Apollon....

 

[EddNog]

Wow, that looks gread - now with Purifi oder NXC500 insteat of the old NC252 and I would be tempted to replace my Lux Purifiamp from Apollon....

Was thinking the same at first, but then the more I thought about it, the more I realized that pushing mere LS50 Metas, I probably would not be able to hear any difference between nCore 252 and the nCoreX 500 or Purifi, especially since I run a subwoofer and high-pass filter the signal to my standmounts.

-Ed

 

[Paffi]

Was thinking the same at first, but then the more I thought about it, the more I realized that pushing mere LS50 Metas, I probably would not be able to hear any difference between nCore 252 and the nCoreX 500 or Purifi, especially since I run a subwoofer and high-pass filter the signal to my standmounts.

-Ed

Same for me - LS50metas crossed at 140hz to subs. But I simply don´t like that old technology - it´s the inner monk. And I have already the Purifi, which was expensive

 

[Pritaudio]

Can I use rca out to xlr adaptor to connect my active speakers.
Will there be problems with compatibility or signal fidelity if I then try to change voltage output accordingly.

 

[Pritaudio]

Was thinking the same at first, but then the more I thought about it, the more I realized that pushing mere LS50 Metas, I probably would not be able to hear any difference between nCore 252 and the nCoreX 500 or Purifi, especially since I run a subwoofer and high-pass filter the signal to my standmounts.

-Ed

What sort of speakers would make use of the newer improved amps then.

 

[EddNog]

What sort of speakers would make use of the newer improved amps then.

Maybe something with a sensitivity below 84dB. Really not as much the speaker design as listening level, room size, and seated distance from the speakers. I don’t listen that loud, I only sit about 3 meters away, and my room is perhaps medium sized. Furthermore, I am not even driving my speakers full range since I’m high-pass filtering the signal to them and using a subwoofer for the bottom end, where the real power is needed.

A passive subwoofer would make great use of something like the nCoreX 500 or bigger modules, actually.

-Ed

 

[Pritaudio]

Maybe something with a sensitivity below 84dB. Really not as much the speaker design as listening level, room size, and seated distance from the speakers. I don’t listen that loud, I only sit about 3 meters away, and my room is perhaps medium sized. Furthermore, I am not even driving my speakers full range since I’m high-pass filtering the signal to them and using a subwoofer for the bottom end, where the real power is needed.

A passive subwoofer would make great use of something like the nCoreX 500 or bigger modules, actually.

-Ed

Are you using dual subs. What is your sub roll off frequency.

 

[EddNog]

Are you using dual subs. What is your sub roll off frequency.

One sub, placed precisely midway between the two loudspeakers, crossed at 100Hz.

-Ed

 

[Pritaudio]

One sub, placed precisely midway between the two loudspeakers, crossed at 100Hz.

-Ed

Is it the same distance from you as the mains.
How about time alignment with the mains.
Do you use the Wiim ultra for this. Or does the sub have dsp features.

 

[EddNog]

Is it the same distance from you as the mains.
How about time alignment with the mains.
Do you use the Wiim ultra for this. Or does the sub have dsp features.

The leading edge of the speaker driver surround of the subwoofer and the mid/bass drivers of the LS50 Metas is the same distance from the listening position within 1/4" (arc measurement, although loudspeakers are only partially toed-in).

I use the WiiM Ultra's bass management and automatic sync function for time alignment; the subwoofer is an SVS SB-3000, so it has DSP functionality, but I mostly use the volume control for level matching to the speakers, PEQ, and room gain compensation (high-pass filter for bottom roll-off).

-Ed

 

[Pritaudio]

Can I use rca out to xlr adaptor to connect my active speakers.
Will there be problems with compatibility or signal fidelity if I then try to change voltage output accordingly.

Is there any difference between the preamp rca outputs and using my rme adi 2 dac with preouts instead.
Both seem to have similar sinad. both can vary output voltage. But rme has xlr choice also.

Wiim has 10 band eq while rme only has 5 band.

 

[EddNog]

Is there any difference between the preamp rca outputs and using my rme adi 2 dac with preouts instead.
Both seem to have similar sinad. both can vary output voltage. But rme has xlr choice also.

Wiim has 10 band eq while rme only has 5 band.

The EQ of the WiiM still works even when using external DAC. It applies PEQ adjustments to the digital signal before sending it to the external DAC.

-Ed

 

[Pritaudio]

The EQ of the WiiM still works even when using external DAC. It applies PEQ adjustments to the digital signal before sending it to the external DAC.

-Ed

It doesn’t answer the rest of the question. Comparing dac sinad, voltage output, preamp quality.

 

[antcollinet]

It doesn’t answer the rest of the question. Comparing dac sinad, voltage output, preamp quality.

The audio quality difference between the built in DAC, and the external DAC will not be audible. In the unlikely event you have audible ground loop noise with RCA on the Wiim, then the XLR outputs of the RME should eliminate that.

 

[pogo]

The audio quality difference between the built in DAC, and the external DAC will not be audible.

Is there any evidence?

 

[Brian Hall]

Is there any evidence?

The first post in this thread. This is the review thread for the Ultra.