WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

[dtaylo1066]

Why not? 192 brings nothing audible to the table that isn't already in 96. Or 48 come to that.

True. And not too much content at 192.

 

[Paffi]

What is the source? Where are you controlling the volume? If you are controlling the volume by turning down the source, and keeping the Wiim and Amp at higher volume settings, you might want to reverse that.

Source is a multichannel PreAV, I configured an HT Bypass in the WIIM for that to avoid an separate switcher and make use of the eq and sub also for multichannel.

it's the auto detect, that is on to toslink or other input, just turn it off, it does that, when i listen music and watch some tv, when the music mute, it goes ont tv and i have to switch back.

Unfortunately the autodetect isn´t the issue - it changes nothing.

When the Wiim pauses, I can get it to work with:

- simply pushing the play button on the front or the play button in the app
- change the input in the wiim forth and back or turn autodetect off and on (so simply "pushing" the wiim to detec a signal)
- mute and unmute the analog source (the preav)

what´s interesting: the problem only occurs while watching tv, while streaming netflix / amazon I´ve never the issue. But the devices are always the same: tv - preaav - wiim - amp. So the TV is source for TV shows as well as streaming netflix and Co. totally strange...

 

[antcollinet]

Source is a multichannel PreAV, I configured an HT Bypass in the WIIM for that to avoid an separate switcher and make use of the eq and sub also for multichannel.

So again - where is the volume controlled? (and what are the different volume controls of the different devices set to?)

 

[Deleted member 78499]

seems, like something batching the signal! but what is it, the TV?

 

[Paffi]

So again - where is the volume controlled? (and what are the different volume controls of the different devices set to?)

as I said - the WIIM ist configured as HT Bypass with 100% volume, so volume is controlled from the preav / tv via hdmi earc.

 

[antcollinet]

as I said - the WIIM ist configured as HT Bypass with 100% volume, so volume is controlled from the preav / tv via hdmi earc.

OK - so what I'm wondering is if the analogue signal into the Wiim is so low that the auto switch off is activating. Can you change things so that the PreAV is close to maximum, but turn down the volume on the Wiim to check?

 

[Deleted member 72219]

@Paffi There may also be an issue where auto detect on another input is, “stealing,” or, “barging in,” on the unit over the TV input. I have a feeling if using ARC input, best to turn off auto detect other inputs. Like this:

-Ed

 

[Paffi]

OK - so what I'm wondering is if the analogue signal into the Wiim is so low that the auto switch off is activating. Can you change things so that the PreAV is close to maximum, but turn down the volume on the Wiim to check?

I thought also about that - but the level doesn´t change anything ;( Out of curiousity, yesterday was fine again. It´s completely strange and I´m on the fence to ship it back

 

[antcollinet]

but the level doesn´t change anything

have you tried increasing it significantly?

 

[Deleted member 78499]

I thought also about that - but the level doesn´t change anything ;( Out of curiousity, yesterday was fine again. It´s completely strange and I´m on the fence to ship it back

turn off pre-source and test it, maybe one setup per entry too much for it, bye

 

[Russ_L]

To connect to active speakers with coax input is a need.
Preferable than going through the DAC only to feed back into an ADC.
It’s one of the features, along with room correction that is critical for my use case.

And some of us only have an all digital preamp (Oppo 205) so coax output is quite useful as is the USB output.

 

[Neekomax]

Yeah, my frustrations with dropouts continues: It's ONLY when using ARC input, my Oppo disc player, and my MiniDisc deck. The Bluetooth and Wifi streaming sources never have dropouts, and the subwoofer out continues to give signal during the dropouts. I've bought a used Marantz AVR and am considering swapping the Wiim for the AVR, and just using the Wiim for wifi streaming, and letting the AVR be the system hub. I don't really want to lose the room correction that the Wiim does quite well IMO, but maybe I can get Audyssey to do the PEQ and delay settings under 200 Hz the way I have it set up with the Ultra.

 

[Deleted member 78499]

Yeah, my frustrations with dropouts continues: It's ONLY when using ARC input, my Oppo disc player, and my MiniDisc deck. The Bluetooth and Wifi streaming sources never have dropouts, and the subwoofer out continues to give signal during the dropouts. I've bought a used Marantz AVR and am considering swapping the Wiim for the AVR, and just using the Wiim for wifi streaming, and letting the AVR be the system hub. I don't really want to lose the room correction that the Wiim does quite well IMO, but maybe I can get Audyssey to do the PEQ and delay settings under 200 Hz the way I have it set up with the Ultra.

try turning bluetooth off, mine got bogged, by wafe bluetooth, it try connect and discard, when i turn it off, no problemo!

 

[Neekomax]

try turning bluetooth off, mine got bogged, by wafe bluetooth, it try connect and discard, when i turn it off, no problemo!

There is no issue when I'm connected via Bluetooth or Wifi, just when using physical connections. Are you saying that you had the same problem and turning Bluetooth off fixed it? Were your dropouts only when using physical connections, as I've described?

 

[antcollinet]

my Oppo disc player, and my MiniDisc deck.

How are they connecting?

 

[VanTechMag]

Analog out from a CD player. Analog out from my 24 track digital recorder. Analog out from a DAP. Analog out from another DAC since the Ultra didn't provide coax or USB C inputs.

Lots of possibilities.

You need a high quality input selector, then... Sadly is it very hard to find anything like that... I use actually a PreAmp from Denon (and before that a Luxman amplifier) just to get "direkt key selection" for 6 inputs and a really fine turntable amp.

 

[Deleted member 78499]

There is no issue when I'm connected via Bluetooth or Wifi, just when using physical connections. Are you saying that you had the same problem and turning Bluetooth off fixed it? Were your dropouts only when using physical connections, as I've described?

one was the mouse of computer, the other was the wafe phone, the third, was kid neighboor bugging me!

 

[Matt_Holland]

I’m after some technical advice please. How does the Ultra perform as a pre-amp? Is there anything in the measurements that tells us how the variable analogue output performs? Are we fine using it to drive a power amp or can performance be bettered using a dedicated pre-amplifier?

 

[Deleted member 72219]

I’m after some technical advice please. How does the Ultra perform as a pre-amp? Is there anything in the measurements that tells us how the variable analogue output performs? Are we fine using it to drive a power amp or can performance be bettered using a dedicated pre-amplifier?

It’s not analog volume control, it’s digital and it’s part of the core DSP preprocessing. That’s why there’s a separate voltage setting for the analog out.

-Ed

 

[antcollinet]

Are we fine using it to drive a power amp

Yes**

or can performance be bettered using a dedicated pre-amplifier?

Not normally. Digital volume control is normally much better at channel balance.


**some people are concerned that digital volume controls might "forget" and output full volume unexpectedly sending fulll power to the speakers. I've never experienced that on any device with digital volume control but it has been (rarely) reported.

If that is a worry for you, then the risk can be mitigated using attenuators at the amp input, so that full volume is dangerous neither to the speakers, nor your ears.