WiiM Ultra

[Joffy1780]

I have a Wiim Ultra setup and a Wiim Pro Plus setup in two adjoining rooms. I can stand in the doorway when they are playing sync'd, and move my head between them, and the difference I hear is the difference between the speakers tonality / room response. I can't hear any delay or jarring overlap. Wiim seems to have done their homework on this one, I was impressed.

Both are hard-wired ethernet setups.

I have two Pros, one upstairs and one down, and they sync up perfectly. Ran the auto sync once when I got the second Pro and have never touched it since and still works perfectly some 18 months or so later.

 

[Brian Hall]

New update this morning:

 

[Brian Hall]

Wiim does a better job than Eversolo at getting updates and bug fixes out.

 

[Romario]

It's not strictly 2.2, since you cannot have stereo subs from a monophonic output, of course. But you are aware of that, so that's OK.

You'll have to restrict yourself to a rather low crossover frequency, but if your main target is bass extension and reduction of room modes, not relieving the mains from bass duties that's also not a real issue.

Or add and sync a Wiim mini to the second sub , making it wireless from the ultra

 

[ehabheikal]

Khadas' Balanced RCA might actually be a good fit for the WiiM Ultra if they're shying away from balanced output due to size constraints.
Three RCA jacks would give them Sub out + Bal/Unbal Line out.

If anyone's active on their forum and would be willing to suggest it, I'd love to hear what WiiM think

If i understood from the product page this requires wiim or whichever source to have balanced rca which is not common?

 

[ehabheikal]

Balanced outputs?
My professional monitors only have XLR.
I currently own a €200 DAC (XLR output) which replaces a Mytek from many years ago which cost €1600.
With a USB output I might add a USB to AES/EBU converter for when I switch to Genelec.

Would not a good rca to xlr cable with only a 3db drop in loudness?

 

[staticV3]

If i understood from the product page this requires wiim or whichever source to have balanced rca which is not common?

Correct. It's a new plug standard licensed by Khadas.

It's backwards compatible with regular RCA and can be converted to XLR or TRS using adapter cables.

 

[Esprit]

Would not a good rca to xlr cable with only a 3db drop in loudness?

Why should I give up a balanced connection?

 

[Joffy1780]

Or add and sync a Wiim mini to the second sub , making it wireless from the ultra

Only issue with this approach is you lose the bass management on that wireless sub.
There was a mention a while ago on the Wiim forum that they may release a Wiim Sub which would be a Wiim Mini repurposed as wireless sub output with bass management, PEQ etc. I actually think that would be a good idea, as it would enable the Mini/Pro/ProPlus to add a subwoofer output with all the trimmings as well.

 

[NTK]

Correct. It's a new plug standard licensed by Khadas.

It's backwards compatible with regular RCA and can be converted to XLR or TRS using adapter cables.

The problem with the Khadas design, IMHO, is that devices that have the outputs on the balanced RCA connectors will have to work with both balanced and unbalanced connections, as many users will connect them to RCA inputs.

For that to work, the +ve and -ve signals will have to be symmetrical to ground (and therefore ground referenced). A simply differential output for "balanced" connections will no longer work, because ground referencing the +ve is needed for unbalanced to work.

 

[antcollinet]

For that to work, the +ve and -ve signals will have to be symmetrical to ground (and therefore ground referenced).

I think most currently are. These days I think it would only be transformer coupled balanced outputs that would not be earth referenced.

Certainly anyone installing the connectors in their gear could make the hot/cold ground referenced.

 

[Romario]

Only issue with this approach is you lose the bass management on that wireless sub.
There was a mention a while ago on the Wiim forum that they may release a Wiim Sub which would be a Wiim Mini repurposed as wireless sub output with bass management, PEQ etc. I actually think that would be a good idea, as it would enable the Mini/Pro/ProPlus to add a subwoofer output with all the trimmings as well.

There is a PEQ on the mini nowadays, but I get your point about the bass managment. Either way, both 2 subs on one line output and the wireless option on the second sub is hard to measure correctly with just one RC option, I think.

 

[NTK]

I think most currently are. These days I think it would only be transformer coupled balanced outputs that would not be earth referenced.

Certainly anyone installing the connectors in their gear could make the hot/cold ground referenced.

If that's the case, then most balanced outputs can be connected to unbalanced inputs simply by using the +ve out and ground from the XLR output. That, however, is not the usual recommendation.

 

[antcollinet]

If that's the case, then most balanced outputs can be connected to unbalanced inputs simply by using the +ve out and ground from the XLR output. That, however, is not the usual recommendation.

Yes they can - but then of course you lose any benefits of a balanced connection. Hence not recommended. And when going FROM balanced to unbalanced, there is no way to make a pseudo balanced connection (which requires a balanced reciever) as you can when going in the other direction.

 

[Joffy1780]

There is a PEQ on the mini nowadays, but I get your point about the bass managment. Either way, both 2 subs on one line output and the wireless option on the second sub is hard to measure correctly with just one RC option, I think.

The room correction as it stands wouldn't be able to EQ the wireless sub at all, but you could do it manually, as you say.
I'd rather use the splitter option currently, as it is cheaper and likely to be less problematic, to be honest.
When you group Wiim devices, they are then limited to 16bit/48k, if that is of concern as well.

 

[James240]

So its recommended to use the Wiim variable volume and just set a fixed volume on the amp?

At the moment i have the Wiim fixed at 100% and just control the volume on the amp.

Im kinda nervous maxing out the volume on the amp and relying on the Wiim to not reset to 100% and blow everything up

 

[Dr. Noooooo]

The subwoofer output seems to be gone broken in my unit a few days back. It does not reproduce lowest notes anymore, only above 150Hz or something and it just doesn’t sound right anymore. Checked it with my AVR and changed cables and nothing wrong with the subwoofer itself, it’s definately the Sub Out of the Ultra. To me it sounds like defect in the OpAmp. I have contacted the Wiim Support but no reply so far. Just curios whether anyone else has experienced similar issue with the device?

 

[somebodyelse]

So its recommended to use the Wiim variable volume and just set a fixed volume on the amp?

At the moment i have the Wiim fixed at 100% and just control the volume on the amp.

Im kinda nervous maxing out the volume on the amp and relying on the Wiim to not reset to 100% and blow everything up

The fixed volume on the amp doesn't need to be maximum, just loud enough for your loudest listening. That way if the Wiim goes to maximum you just get something you would listen to anyway.

 

[rgruber]

Seems like if you really want balanced from WIIM for whatever advantages true balanced outs might have (not just the proper cable end), you are best off going optical out to a DAC that has balanced outs.

Would not a good rca to xlr cable with only a 3db drop in loudness?

 

[staticV3]

Im kinda nervous maxing out the volume on the amp and relying on the Wiim to not reset to 100% and blow everything up

Then don't.

Set the amp volume so that 100% on the WiiM gives you about as much loudness as you'll need during day-to-day use.

Then, leave the amp volume there and use the WiiM to control volume.

That way, even if you accidentally max out the WiiM, you won't damage anything.