WiiM Vibelink Amp Review

[Burnside]

The way Amir rates the power is not how any manufacturer rates power, so discrepancies are to be expected.

1% THD is a more typical way to rate power and does seem to be how Wiim did it (although I don't believe they actually specify that anywhere).

Here in the 4th reply?

WiiM Talks Vibelink Amp Continued

After last WiiM Talk’s deep dive into Vibelink, the response from our community has been incredible. The thoughtful questions keep rolling in, and we’re thrilled to continue the conversation. To ensure we’re addressing as many of your inquiries as possible, I’ve once again sat down with the...

forum.wiimhome.com

 

[kyuu]

Here in the 4th reply?

WiiM Talks Vibelink Amp Continued

After last WiiM Talk’s deep dive into Vibelink, the response from our community has been incredible. The thoughtful questions keep rolling in, and we’re thrilled to continue the conversation. To ensure we’re addressing as many of your inquiries as possible, I’ve once again sat down with the...

forum.wiimhome.com

I've never seen that interview. Wish they'd make that clear in the actual specs, but good to have confirmation that is indeed how they do their power rating.

 

[harkpabst]

I've never seen that interview. Wish they'd make that clear in the actual specs, but good to have confirmation that is indeed how they do their power rating.

This is true for the WiiM Vibelink Amp, but not necessarily for all their amplifier products.

As Amir has confirmed in his reviews, the original WiiM Amp and WiiM Amp Pro are designed so that the output signal never reaches 1% distortion, even using a 0 dBFS input signal and with volume control set to 100%:




The new WiiM Amp Ultra (which unlike the Vibelink Amp is an integrated streaming amplifier again, following the path of the original WiiM Amp) is explicitly rated at "THD = 0.08%, two channels driven" (no mention of noise):

WiiM Amp Ultra Specs

www.wiimhome.com

It also feature dual TI TPA3255 Chips.

 

[harkpabst]

Does the vibelink also feature dual chips?

No, it doesn't.

Is this likely to comply an audible improvement, or maybe in terms of reliability?

It should potentially bring more power (and stability) to low load speakers in the first place. Depending on your speakers this might or might not result in an audible improvement.

Power might still be limited by the PSU. We'll have to wait and see what measurements will reveal. It sounds pretty darn good, but you can say the same about the WiiM Vibelink Amp.

 

[somebodyelse]

Is this likely to comply an audible improvement, or maybe in terms of reliability?

Only if your speakers drop significantly below 4R. From 4R up the difference between BTL and PBTL modes is tiny - see TI's datasheet for details.

 

[Pritaudio]

Wiim amp ultra new product.
Listed sinad of 106db.
Slightly better than the vibelink?

 

[kyuu]

Wiim amp ultra new product.
Listed sinad of 106db.
Slightly better than the vibelink?

No, appears to be the same.

Vibelink:

Amp Ultra:

The 0.005% listed in the Amp Ultra description must be a typo, as that would be about 86dB SINAD I believe, not 106dB.

 

[F1Fan72]

A couple of questions ..

* Does the Vibelink out 200w at 4ohms?
* Via RCA, would there be any really noticeable difference between this and a Ncore / Purifi amp?

 

[somebodyelse]

* Does the Vibelink out 200w at 4ohms?

Yes, with caveats - distortion rises to -40dB at that power level, and not available at all frequencies. Details in post #1. If you need an amp that can deliver 200W at low distortion at all frequencies then look elsewhere.

* Via RCA, would there be any really noticeable difference between this and a Ncore / Purifi amp?

The usual one about power amps that are 'good enough' sounding the same when operated within their limits applies. More details about which nCore or Purify, which speakers and what volume at what distance in what room would be needed to say whether you were pushing any of them beyond their limits.

 

[rageworm]

So I've read quite a bit about vibelink and wiim ultra pairing(vs wiim amp ultra), and my understanding is that if I use wiim ultra+vibelink with a TV, I have to connect ultra with vibelink via RCA, and get less power output, because I want volume to be controlled with a TV remote only. My understanding is that if I connect ultra to vibelink via optical, yes, I'll get 100% power output using vibelink's dac, but will lose an ability to control the volume with a TV remote...
In that case I'd think I better get a new wiim amp ultra - single box, problem solved, however:
1. I already own wiim ultra, thus getting vibelink saves me $$$
2. Folks say that vibelink is actually sounds fuller/more powerful... But then what's the point of having dual TI chips in wiim amp ultra instead of one in vibelink? Wiim doesn't make it easy to understand...

Currently I use wiim ultra connected to the TV via HDMI, and paired with emotiva a2 in my living room, would like to move out that big emotiva box from the living room. However this configuration works like a charm volume control and output power wise...
I also stream music using tidal connect.
The speakers - Revel F36.
Am I overthinking this considering it's important for me to use TV remote to control the volume down the chain? Can I win???

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

So I've read quite a bit about vibelink and wiim ultra pairing(vs wiim amp ultra), and my understanding is that if I use wiim ultra+vibelink with a TV, I have to connect ultra with vibelink via RCA, and get less power output, because I want volume to be controlled with a TV remote only. My understanding is that if I connect ultra to vibelink via optical, yes, I'll get 100% power output using vibelink's dac, but will lose an ability to control the volume with a TV remote...
In that case I'd think I better get a new wiim amp ultra - single box, problem solved, however:
1. I already own wiim ultra, thus getting vibelink saves me $$$
2. Folks say that vibelink is actually sounds fuller/more powerful... But then what's the point of having dual TI chips in wiim amp ultra instead of one in vibelink? Wiim doesn't make it easy to understand...

Currently I use wiim ultra connected to the TV via HDMI, and paired with emotiva a2 in my living room, would like to move out that big emotiva box from the living room. However this configuration works like a charm volume control and output power wise...
I also stream music using tidal connect.
The speakers - Revel F36.
Am I overthinking this considering it's important for me to use TV remote to control the volume down the chain? Can I win???

This is inaccurate. As long as you’re using ARC output from your TV to the WiiM Ultra, it does not matter what output you use from the WiiM Ultra to the VibeLink, so you can use the optical or coax S/PDIF output from the WiiM Ultra to the VibeLink and still control volume via ARC, which will adjust the volume in the WiiM through ARC.

 

[rageworm]

This is inaccurate. As long as you’re using ARC output from your TV to the WiiM Ultra, it does not matter what output you use from the WiiM Ultra to the VibeLink, so you can use the optical or coax S/PDIF output from the WiiM Ultra to the VibeLink and still control volume via ARC, which will adjust the volume in the WiiM through ARC.

Unthinkable! So somehow wiim ultra controls vibelink's volume via optical? Kinda like what LG does with their soundbars I guess.
Oh wow, thank you!

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Unthinkable! So somehow wiim ultra controls vibelink's volume via optical? Kinda like what LG does with their soundbars I guess.
Oh wow, thank you!

No, WiiM Ultra controls its own volume (digitally), based on signals from your TV sent via ARC, before sending the signal to the VibeLink. The VibeLink’s volume control will remain fixed at whatever level you dial it to. You’ll likely get the best result by leaving volume maxed out on the VibeLink.

 

[Burnside]

Folks say that vibelink is actually sounds fuller/more powerful... But then what's the point of having dual TI chips in wiim amp ultra instead of one in vibelink? Wiim doesn't make it easy to understand...

Whereas folks like me and others who have both the Ultra/Vibelink and Amp Ultra can’t hear any difference between them. See this and similar posts in the WiiM forum:

https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/wiim-amp-ultra-performance-meets-precision.7167/post-133221

Get the vibelink, keep your Ultra and save some cash

 

[rageworm]

Whereas folks like me and others who have both the Ultra/Vibelink and Amp Ultra can’t hear any difference between them. See this and similar posts in the WiiM forum:

https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/wiim-amp-ultra-performance-meets-precision.7167/post-133221

Get the vibelink, keep your Ultra and save some cash

Thank you very much!
@SoySalsaPicante thank you very much as well!

 

[anonyless]

Thank you very much!
@SoySalsaPicante thank you very much as well!

make sure to get a short remote cable

 

[rageworm]

make sure to get a short remote cable

"Remote cable?"

 

[anonyless]

"Remote cable?"

yes, remote trigger cable, as the Vibelink doesn't "wake up" after going into standby, on its own

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

yes, remote trigger cable, as the Vibelink doesn't "wake up" after going into standby, on its own

The 3.5mm 12V trigger cable?

 

[rageworm]

yes, remote trigger cable, as the Vibelink doesn't "wake up" after going into standby, on its own

Ah, a trigger cable - I have a few of them... Thanks