WiiM Vibelink Amp Review

[Romario]

So many posters are complaining

1. WiiM owners who connect to an external DAC (especially Ultra owners to a USB DAC) - as these users are loath to feed that output back into the ADC of either Amp or Amp Pro. So, VibeLink offers direct Analog-to-Amp RCA Inputs (per Amir's supposition of his test results - no ADC on RCA Inputs).
2. WiiM Mini / Pro / Pro Plus owners who desire a better DAC but wish to remain within the WiiM product line. Vibelink offers Digital-In to a (yet-to-be-identified) DAC - likely the same ESS9038Q2M as in Ultra and Amp Pro and near SOTA Amplification.

Wiim owners already own an amplifier ( or 2 or 3) and need to be convinced to buy a better product at a reasonable price. This vibelink is not it.

 

[harkpabst]

Wiim owners already own an amplifier ( or 2 or 3) and need to be convinced to buy a better product at a reasonable price. This vibelink is not it.

Future WiiM owners don't already own an amplifier.

Existing WiiM owners often own old integrated amps that don't make much sense and don't offer much WAF compared to the WiiM Vibelink Amp.

I really don't see anything wrong with what @s3igell posted.

 

[Romario]

Future WiiM owners don't already own an amplifier.

Existing WiiM owners often own old integrated amps that don't make much sense and don't offer much WAF compared to the WiiM Vibelink Amp.

I really don't see anything wrong with what @s3igell posted.

I'm just explaining why Wiim owners are complaining because the amp doesn't fit the needs for most. The form factor is for the Ultra but only the mini and Pro need an amp with a dac, and so on and so on.

 

[kyuu]

The form factor is for the Ultra but only the mini and Pro need an amp with a dac, and so on and so on.

Regardless of which Wiim streamer you have, you're best off using the digital inputs and therefore the Vibelink's DAC.

 

[harkpabst]

... because the amp doesn't fit the needs for most.

Who says so?

 

[Romario]

Regardless of which Wiim streamer you have, you're best off using the digital inputs and therefore the Vibelink's DAC.

Why is that?

 

[Romario]

Who says so?

It's in all the comments so far

 

[kyuu]

Why is that?

VS.

Plus ancillary benefits like galvanic isolation (if using TOSLINK). And no downsides that I can think of.

 

[Romario]

The DAC in the Ultra is more than enough. It just needs an amp, not another DAC

 

[kyuu]

View attachment 436155
The DAC in the Ultra is more than enough. It just needs an amp, not another DAC

Ok, but you need a DAC for digital inputs. Using the Vibelink's DAC instead doesn't hurt anything (and in fact, as the review showed, choosing to use the analog inputs on the Vibelink instead incurs a SINAD penalty). If you're really perturbed by the notion of not using the Ultra's DAC, then sure, get an amp that only has analog inputs.

 

[Romario]

Yes, and that is what wiim owners complain about in this thread. Who is it for? It's a nice little integrated chip amp dac, but it has too many features for the Ultra and besides the form factor, too little for the other Wiim products. At least, that's the way I see it.

 

[Deleted member 72219]

Ok, but you need a DAC for digital inputs. Using the Vibelink's DAC instead doesn't hurt anything (and in fact, as the review showed, choosing to use the analog inputs on the Vibelink instead incurs a SINAD penalty). If you're really perturbed by the notion of not using the Ultra's DAC, then sure, get an amp that only has analog inputs.

The digital input on the Vibelink is almost like a crutch because it’s necessary for the amp to get much higher measurements. Its performance with its analog input is poorer than cheaper competing analog-only amps such as a pair of V3 Monos or a 3e/SOYYIN A5.

-Ed

 

[kyuu]

Who is it for?

I don't understand the question. It's for people who want to pair their Wiim streamer (or other streamer/DAC) with an amp. In what way does it not do that just fine?

It's a nice little integrated chip amp dac, but it has too many features for the Ultra and besides the form factor, too little for the other Wiim products.

I really don't see how it has "too many features" for anything. It just has a DAC to utilize digital inputs. That's it. And what is it lacking for other Wiim products? I'm just not following your logic here at all.

 

[kyuu]

The digital input on the Vibelink is almost like a crutch because it’s necessary for the amp to get much higher measurements. Its performance with its analog input is poorer than cheaper competing analog-only amps such as a pair of V3 Monos or a 3e/SOYYIN A5.

-Ed

Ok. And? What's the issue with using digital inputs?

 

[Deleted member 72219]

I don't understand the question. It's for people who want to pair their Wiim streamer (or other streamer/DAC) with an amp. In what way does it not do that just fine?

I really don't see how it has "too many features" for anything. It just has a DAC to utilize digital inputs. That's it. And what is it lacking for other Wiim products? I'm just not following your logic here at all.

I think it’s a double-edged sword. For, “lesser,” models like WiiM Mini, the VibeLink’s DAC is an upgrade, so it’s worth the added cost, but for owners of WiiM Ultra, many would prefer to not have to pay for the extra DAC when the one in the Ultra is equal or better than the one in the VibeLink.

As in rather than $300-400 US for this power DAC, Ultra owners would rather spend $50-100 less for just a power amp.

-Ed

 

[kyuu]

I think it’s a double-edged sword. For, “lesser,” models like WiiM Mini, the VibeLink’s DAC is an upgrade, so it’s worth the added cost, but for owners of WiiM Ultra, many would prefer to not have to pay for the extra DAC when the one in the Ultra is equal or better than the one in the VibeLink.

As in rather than $300-400 US for this power DAC, Ultra owners would rather spend $50-100 less for just a power amp.

-Ed

Ok I kinda get that. But I would argue that anyone who bought an Ultra for its DAC wasn't really thinking clearly. You don't need to spend that much for a definitively transparent DAC. You can get that with the Pro Plus, for example. Choosing the Ultra would be about other things; you're spending Ultra money for everything around the DAC.

But yeah, I'm not going to argue that the Vibelink is the only game in town or that there aren't other good options playing in that space these days. I just don't think an argument revolving around "I don't want to bypass my DAC and use the Vibelink's" carries much weight.

 

[Deleted member 72219]

Ok I kinda get that. But I would argue that anyone who bought an Ultra for its DAC wasn't really thinking clearly. You don't need to spend that much for a definitively transparent DAC. You can get that with the Pro Plus, for example. Choosing the Ultra would be about other things; you're spending Ultra money for everything around the DAC.

But yeah, I'm not going to argue that the Vibelink is the only game in town or that there aren't other good options playing in that space these days. I just don't think an argument revolving around "I don't want to bypass my DAC and use the Vibelink's" carries much weight.

I don’t think that does either. I think, “I spent the money on the Ultra for all of the extras including the suped-up DAC, why should I pay again for it with the VibeLink?”

And the answer is…you probably shouldn’t. Hah!

But I don’t speak for myself either way. I use external room correction that demands an external DAC, and my DAC costs more than a VibeLink. Plus I already have power amps I love. So my interest is really more for if friends ask me for a recommendation, or even specifically about the VibeLink:

-Ed

 

[Romario]

I don't understand the question. It's for people who want to pair their Wiim streamer (or other streamer/DAC) with an amp. In what way does it not do that just fine?

I really don't see how it has "too many features" for anything. It just has a DAC to utilize digital inputs. That's it. And what is it lacking for other Wiim products? I'm just not following your logic here at all.

If you want the many features of the Ultra, pairing the vibelink to a mini or pro wont get you there.( hdmi, sub out, usb, phono)

If you add up the cost of the Ultra with a Vibelink, in Europe at least, you'll be looking at €800 - €900,- . The competition will be fierce from the big brands all in one streamer/dac/ amps or AVR's that pack more features are better looking but maybe lacks a bit of performance. ( or get the Wiim amp pro)

If I want high performance I'll just add a hypex poweramp to the Ultra.

So my question is, why would I want to replace my amp or add the vibelink if It's not for cost savings, not for features, not for performance, not for looks

 

[harkpabst]

So my question is, why would I want to replace my amp or add the vibelink if It's not for cost savings, not for features, not for performance, not for looks

Why don't we just meet again in a year and see if nobody bought the WiiM Vibelink Amp as you predicted and they stopped making them?

Nobody needs it, everybody complains in the comments, the case should be clear.

 

[morillon]

Why don't we just meet again in a year and see if nobody bought the WiiM Vibelink Amp as you predicted and they stopped making them?

Nobody needs it, everybody complains in the comments, the case should be clear.

The only thing to clarify is this problem, doubt, on the abnormal analog input...
(It won't be the first time that Wiim has hardware problems on these first series)

for the rest the market will do its work...

(*sorry....remains to clarify again now, the type of ana input, type of DAC, approach of the potentiometer?)
;-)