WiiM Ultra with Fosi : 2x mono or 1 stereo ?

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

I am hesitating. Should I buy 2 Fosi mono amps or one Fosi stereo
to work with my WiiM Ultra ?

And also, if I buy the WiiM Ultra with AMP (to be used out of home)
would this lead to any inconveniences on the sound or usage
when I use the WiiM Ultra (with an AMP) while using it with Fosi or Tube amps ?

In other words, will an internal amp with WiiM interfer for sound or usage
with the use of external amps ?

Thank you. Raymond

 

[rolfrander]

Fosi has several stereo amps in their portfolio, but I suspect you are considering V3 mono vs V3 stereo.

The mono-version has balanced XLR input (in addition to RCA), the stereo has volume control. Neither of which makes any difference if you are connecting to the Wiim Ultra.

The mono has a bit better SINAD (94 vs 88) which probably won't matter much, and quite a bit more power, which might be relevant depending on your speakers and preferred listening volume. The wiim ultra amp has similar performance. I doubt you will notice any difference between the three.

 

[delta76]

no, go with amp ultra, simpler, cheaper in long run.

 

[staticV3]

In other words, will an internal amp with WiiM interfer for sound or usage
with the use of external amps ?

All WiiMs with internal Amp lack Line out entirely.

To use them with an external Amp, you'd have to do WiiM->external DAC->external Amp.

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

Thank you.

What about using a Single State Tube Amplifier
with about 2-10 watts for open baffles
with the WiiM Ultra AMP
versa
the WiiM Ultra without an AMP ?

Or should I simply avoid the streaming and buy a CD player like Onkyo C30
when using a tube amplifier of this kind and open baffles for best results ?

 

[rolfrander]

If you want an external amp with wiim, you cannot get the wiim ultra amp, as that does not have pre-out.

If you have CD-s you want to play, you need a CD-player, if you want to stream you need a streamer (or similar, many options here, you can connect your phone or a laptop for instance). Whether the source is a streamer or a CD-player has really nothing to do with the choice of amplification.

The signal chain is like this:

digital source --> DAC --> volume control --> amp --> speakers

There are many combinations of products giving you this chain:

• wiim ultra amp is source + dac + volume control + amp,
• wiim ultra (not amp) is source + dac + volume control
  • wiim ultra can also be used exclusively as a source, without anything else, but that would be a huge waste
• Onkyo C30 is source + dac (but the dac is optional, you can also connect it to an external dac, for example a wiim)
• fosi mono is amp
• fosi stereo is volume control + amp

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

Thank you. Then i will buy the ultra without an amp, seems more flexible for the futur.

Whether the amp is 2x mono or a stereo does not seem to matter much ?

Thank you

 

[rolfrander]

Whether the amp is 2x mono or a stereo does not seem to matter much ?

No it doesn't. I have the mono and it works fine. They have been marketed with different powersupplies, but looking at audiophonics, it seems that choice is gone. If you find different versions, I would buy the bigger one just for added headroom, but depending on your speakers, room and prefered listining volume it might not matter much.

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

Thank you Rolfrander and yes, I think I understand you.
With the Wiim Ultra already being a preamp/DAC/streamer,
what I need is a power amplifier only, not an integrated one.

But when you say BIGGER one, I only see one at adiophonics ?
that I would then need two of :

FOSI AUDIO V3 MONO Amplificateur Class D TPA3255 240W 4 Ohm

Le Fosi Audio V3 MONO est un amplificateur 1 voie se reposant sur une puce d'amplification TI TPA3255 et pouvant déployer une puissance de 240W sous 4Ω.

www.audiophonics.fr

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

like this bundle :

FOSI AUDIO V3 MONO COMBO Pack 2x Amplificateurs Mono + Réducteur de Bruit d'alimentation + Adaptateur Secteur

Avec le Mono Combo Pack, Fosi Audio propose un pack de produit taillé sur mesure pour une installation double mono.

www.audiophonics.fr

 

[rolfrander]

Yes, there seems to be only one version available now, at the bottom of the page: 1x Bloc d'alimentation 48V/5A

When the mono was announced (through kickstarter), they also had a 48V/10A version, I don't know if this is still available.

Similarly for the stereo-version, they had both a 32V version and a 48V version, but on audiophonics I only find the 48V

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

I can also buy this for only 90 euros extra :

3E AUDIO A7 Amplificateur

3E Audio, acteur reconnu dans le monde du DIY, propose le A7, un amplificateur classe D stéréo, conçu avec des composants Hi-Fi audiophiles. En effet, l'amplificateur A7 repose sur deux puces TI TPA3255 en configuration PBTL...

www.audiophonics.fr

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

to match with the WiiM Ultra

 

[delta76]

to match with the WiiM Ultra

that should work. I would prefer that over Fosi (generally higher performance, and assuming you're from France, good support from audiophonics)
but as I said, could probably just sell your WiiM Ultra and buy Will Amp Ultra

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

Thank you Delta. I have not bought anything yet and yes, I live in France.

If I buy the WiiM Amp Ultra,
that has no Line-Out, if I understand rightly ?,
then I cannot use a different amp like
a single ended triode tube amp for my future open baffles, and so on ?

Or did I get something wrong ?

 

[staticV3]

If I buy the WiiM Amp Ultra,
that has no Line-Out, if I understand rightly ?,
then I cannot use a different amp like
a single ended triode tube amp for my future open baffles, and so on ?

Or did I get something wrong ?

Already answered:

All WiiMs with internal Amp lack Line out entirely.

To use them with an external Amp, you'd have to do WiiM->external DAC->external Amp.

You can do e.g. WiiM Amp Ultra -> USB -> SMSL SU-1 (or similar) -> RCA -> single ended triode tube Amp.

 

[Ruediger]

I can also buy this for only 90 euros extra :

3E AUDIO A7 Amplificateur

3E Audio, acteur reconnu dans le monde du DIY, propose le A7, un amplificateur classe D stéréo, conçu avec des composants Hi-Fi audiophiles. En effet, l'amplificateur A7 repose sur deux puces TI TPA3255 en configuration PBTL...

www.audiophonics.fr

I would chose that one. Especially with the 48v/10a psu bundled by audiophonics.

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

thank you Static,

So what to do ?

WiiM Amp Ultra ->
USB (I suppose this is a cable) ->
SMSL SU-1 (so I add another DAC to the DAC in the WiiM Amp Ultra) ->
RCA cable towards the -> single ended triode tube Amp

So the above solution for a WiiM with Amp
would be the solution that gives me as much freedom
as with an WiiM Ultra without an Amp.

But what about the signal ? Would not this degrade the sound ?

And what about the WiiM sub outlet ?
With the WiiM Amp Ultra, would I have to do the same
thing again, adding another DAC like the SMSL SU-1

 

[Ruediger]

The amp in the WiiM Ultra amp is about as "good" as the others mentioned. The power is different though.
Do you need the 2x250w of the 3e a7?

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

thank you.

If the below will not detoriate the signal,
I will buy the WiiM with an Amp :

WiiM Amp Ultra ->
USB câble ->
SMSL SU-1 ->
RCA cable towards the ->
single ended triode tube Amp