WiiM Vibelink Amp Review

[harkpabst]

Good details to know.... thinking about the subwoofer level, I agree that it would be best to use the Ultra's volume control.

An alternative approach is to temporarily set the Ultra to 100% volume and then adjust the Vibelink Amp to the highest level you'll ever want to listen to. Mark this position of the volume knob and from then on, keep it at this. Finally, adjust the subwoofer level until it fits.

The idea behind this is to a) always operate the digital volume control in the highest possible range and b) retain some "analog safety measure" in case the digital volume control fails and goes to 100% unexpectedly.

This approach does have its charm, but obviously there are disadvantages, too. Keeping the volume knob at exactly the same position can be a bit of challenge, there are no steps and no numbers to go by. The cat or the kids might turn the knob and if you don't notice this, at least the sub level will be way off. Finally, there is probably little or nothing to gain in exchange for quite a bit of inconvenience. It's your choice.

...and well, I'll admit I'm a sucker for

VU METERS!!

assuming of course they're tied to volume level and not signal...

Both options are available.

 

[D700]

An alternative approach is to temporarily set the Ultra to 100% volume and then adjust the Vibelink Amp to the highest level you'll ever want to listen to. Mark this position of the volume knob and from then on, keep it at this. Finally, adjust the subwoofer level until it fits.

The idea behind this is to a) always operate the digital volume control in the highest possible range and b) retain some "analog safety measure" in case the digital volume control fails and goes to 100% unexpectedly.

This approach does have its charm, but obviously there are a disadvantages, too. Keeping the volume knob at exactly the same position can be a bit of challenge, there are no steps and no numbers to go by. The cat or the kids might turn the knob and if you don't notice this, at least the sub level will be way off. Finally, there is probably little or nothing to gain in exchange for quite a bit of inconvenience. It's your choice.


Both options are available.

Yep, this was what I proposed, you articulated it much more clearly. Does anyone know if the signal remains in the digital domain while it's processed in Ultra and passed to Vibelink via Optial/Coax? I would think so but just want to confirm there's not extra processing going on in this scenario.

 

[Deleted member 72219]

Yep, this was what I proposed, you articulated it much more clearly. Does anyone know if the signal remains in the digital domain while it's processed in Ultra and passed to Vibelink via Optial/Coax? I would think so but just want to confirm there's not extra processing going on in this scenario.

It remains digital, but it may still get touched. Anything that is not PCM (so stuff like DSD) will get converted to PCM, and anything higher than 192/24, such as DXD, will also get downsampled to 192/24, or something even lower if your DAC’s maximum is lower than 192/24 over S/PDIF.

-Ed

 

[D700]

It remains digital, but it may still get touched. Anything that is not PCM (so stuff like DSD) will get converted to PCM, and anything higher than 192/24, such as DXD, will also get downsampled to 192/24, or something even lower if your DAC’s maximum is lower than 192/24 over S/PDIF.

-Ed

thanks Ed. I will be using PEQ and bass management so as long as there's not an extra A/D occurring, that's best case.

 

[harkpabst]

thanks Ed. I will be using PEQ and bass management so as long as there's not an extra A/D occurring, that's best case.

Yep. Some people complain that there's no "pure direct analog path" even for the only RCA input. WiiM's design decision was to keep everything in the digital domain.

You could use the Ultra "bit perfect" for PCM up to 24-bit/192 kHz and adjust the volume on the Vibelink, only. But you'd be giving up all the goodies like e.g. PEQ, RC, bass management, of course.

 

[D700]

Yep. Some people complain that there's no "pure direct analog path" even for the only RCA input. WiiM's design decision was to keep everything in the digital domain.

You could use the Ultra "bit perfect" for PCM up to 24-bit/192 kHz and adjust the volume on the Vibelink, only. But you'd be giving up all the goodies like e.g. PEQ, RC, bass management,.of course.

I made that point to @amirm in the way back when he reviewed the HD-AMP1. I'd expect vast majority of folks here are in the digital domain for their content. Analog inputs seem more like a courtesy input than a primary use case. Even here for Wiim, surprised they bothered with it at all. Market is ready I think for digital only products, especially if that leads to improved performance/lower cost.

Now, if Apple would just put as much effort into expanding Apple Music Service as they have Apple TV, would be best of all worlds. if I weren't invested in the iPhone/watch I'd use a Wiim supported streaming service.

 

[DazST]

I have a couple of questions from the initial review. I could well be completely misunderstanding both of these points, however:
- the review says toslink does not support 192 kHz, however WiiMs own site says "The WiiM Vibelink Amp delivers bit-perfect 192kHz/24-bit playback via Optical and Coax inputs"?
- the test seems to show max power of 73w @ 8 ohm, which seems a fair bit short of WiiM's stated 100w @8ohm?

 

[Burnside]

I have a couple of questions from the initial review. I could well be completely misunderstanding both of these points, however:
- the review says toslink does not support 192 kHz, however WiiMs own site says "The WiiM Vibelink Amp delivers bit-perfect 192kHz/24-bit playback via Optical and Coax inputs"?

See comment #270 above

 

[DazST]

See comment #270 above

Thanks, I do recall reading that previous post now.
What about the max power @8ohm?

 

[morillon]

Thanks, I do recall reading that previous post now.
What about the max power @8ohm?

if 73w
same protocol ...
59w for amp pro...
62w 3e a5 ,
it remains within a fairly comparable value range..
98wfosi v3 mono
etc

WiiM Amp Pro Streaming Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the WiiM Amp Pro networked streaming stereo class D amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $379. The package is minimalistic in nature and matches the "non-pro" version of the amplifier. The volume indicator is that set of LEDs...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[DazST]

Sorry mate, I don't follow because the amp pro is officially rated at 60w @ 8ohm and amirm's test seems to show 59w @ 8ohm, so basically exactly as claimed. However, the vibelink is supposed to be more powerful at 100w/8ohm, yet the test seems to show max power of only 73w/8ohm, which is a fair bit lower than official specs.
Or am I misunderstanding or missing something?

 

[morillon]

Sorry mate, I don't follow because the amp pro is officially rated at 60w @ 8ohm and amirm's test seems to show 59w @ 8ohm, so basically exactly as claimed. However, the vibelink is supposed to be more powerful at 100w/8ohm, yet the test seems to show max power of only 73w/8ohm, which is a fair bit lower than official specs.
Or am I misunderstanding or missing something?

rather take the measures here with constant protocol ;-)
(We must be careful about the enthusiasm of marketing teams who will seek out measures that suit them ;-) )

 

[DazST]

I appreciate your reply mate, but I don't understand what you mean about "constant protocol" and how it relates to my question about the big gap between official max power and measured max power?

 

[morillon]

Just stick to the measurements here to give you an idea...that's all...
here in this range of ""watts ""are not really the subject...rather ask about the" quality", behavior under load etc.
;-)
but " ask" wiim for explains... ;-)

 

[DazST]

But I am interested in watts, particularly if it measures well below official output. For someone like me who already has a wiim ultra paired with a lowish-powered amp, but who is considering 'upgrading' to a vibelink, the extra claimed power matters quite a lot to the decision. WiiM is also making a big deal of the extra power in its marketing, so I'm keen to know if it's a valid and reliable claim. Particularly given we don't have other reviews to consider as yet either.

 

[morillon]

So forget about the Wiim marketing department's info... you have the necessary info here... "by comparisons"
(but you can ask them for their measurement conditions...proof of these etc. ....)

("les promesses n engagent que ceux qui les ecoutent " ;-) )

 

[Burnside]

I’ll probably get shot down for this guess (I don’t pretend to understand the numbers) but is one quoting RMS values and the other not given 73*1.1414 is just over 100?

 

[morillon]

I’ll probably get shot down for this guess (I don’t pretend to understand the numbers) but is one quoting RMS values and the other not given 73*1.1414 is just over 100?

what seems to be disturbing daszt...is that in the case of the amp pro...corresponded wiim and here...but not here ;-)
(gives the impression via wiim of a strong increase in power...while..)

 

[Burnside]

But I am interested in watts, particularly if it measures well below official output. For someone like me who already has a wiim ultra paired with a lowish-powered amp, but who is considering 'upgrading' to a vibelink, the extra claimed power matters quite a lot to the decision. WiiM is also making a big deal of the extra power in its marketing, so I'm keen to know if it's a valid and reliable claim. Particularly given we don't have other reviews to consider as yet either.

See this perhaps?

https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/my-thoughts-on-the-vibelink-amp.6811/post-117808

 

[DazST]

See this perhaps?

https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/my-thoughts-on-the-vibelink-amp.6811/post-117808

Thanks, that's helpful.