WiiM Vibelink Amp Review

[anonyless]

Hello everyone. Currently, my system consists of a Wiim Ultra and a 3E Audio A5. Should I replace the A5 with a WiiM Vibelink?

when you write "replace", do you mean "upgrade" ?
because it's only an upgrade aesthetically wise IMHO, when you already own an Ultra, as it fits perfectly on top of it and carries the same WiiM design language.
audio wise? i couldn't tell the difference. maybe the A5 carries more "power" , but that's a big maybe. the included DAC in the Vibelink is a nice addition and means no RCAs between the two units when you use toslink out (get a really short toslink cable from AE..totally worth the 2$ ).

Also, see my messages here from 2 weeks ago https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...s/wiim-vibelink-amp-review.61343/post-2357279
to cut short - the Vibelink has a low sounding click in the speakers when you turn it off / goes into standby. some members here say "it's normal" . i think it's really not

just to be clear - i didn't buy the Vibelink as a replacement or an upgrade for the A5 - i just needed another amp, and moved the A5 to a second system

 

[Mario_Primo]

when you write "replace", do you mean "upgrade" ?
because it's only an upgrade aesthetically wise IMHO, when you already own an Ultra, as it fits perfectly on top of it and carries the same WiiM design language.
audio wise? i couldn't tell the difference. maybe the A5 carries more "power" , but that's a big maybe. the included DAC in the Vibelink is a nice addition and means no RCAs between the two units when you use toslink out (get a really short toslink cable from AE..totally worth the 2$ ).

Also, see my messages here from 2 weeks ago https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...s/wiim-vibelink-amp-review.61343/post-2357279
to cut short - the Vibelink has a low sounding click in the speakers when you turn it off / goes into standby. some members here say "it's normal" . i think it's really not

just to be clear - i didn't buy the Vibelink as a replacement or an upgrade for the A5 - i just needed another amp, and moved the A5 to a second system

Thank you for your detailed response. I also think that this replacement will bring me more aesthetic pleasure, and there won't be much difference in sound.The only question is, Vibelink. has a 9039Q2M DAC. I assume this is better than the DAC in the Ultra ?

 

[anonyless]

Thank you for your detailed response. I also think that this replacement will bring me more aesthetic pleasure, and there won't be much difference in sound.The only question is, Vibelink. has a 9039Q2M DAC. I assume this is better than the DAC in the Ultra ?

it's a slightly higher model number than the 9038Q2M DAC in the Ultra. better? maybe. the question is, is it audioable, and i seriously doubt any of us can tell the difference. personally i switched from SU1 DAC connected to the Ultra and A5 , to the internal DAC in the Vibelink. couldn't tell the difference. i wouldn't add "better DAC" as a reason why to get the Vibelink

 

[mlsstl]

Hello everyone. Currently, my system consists of a Wiim Ultra and a 3E Audio A5. Should I replace the A5 with a WiiM Vibelink?

I previously had an Aiyima 70 and was pleased with how it sounded. I moved on to a Vibelink for the sole reason of a better cosmetic match with my Ultra. The Vibelink is ostensibly a bit more powerful but I can't honestly say that it sounds any better.

 

[Paffi]

I replaced my much more expensive Apollon Purifi 1ET400 mini amplifier with the vibelink. Sound isn't worse or better, simply a nice small amp.

 

[harkpabst]

Hello everyone. Currently, my system consists of a Wiim Ultra and a 3E Audio A5. Should I replace the A5 with a WiiM Vibelink?

The difference in power output (into 8 ohm or 4 ohm) is absolutely negligible, when measured under identical conditions. See Amir's reviews. Remember that even twice the power only means a 3 dB difference in sound pressure level. There's on thing the A5 can definitely do better: Driving low impedance speakers where the actual value drops below 3 ohms at certain frequencies.

According to the data sheets the ESS 9039Q2M (WiiM Vibelink Amp) is not just simply one number up from the 9038Q2M (WiiM Ultra), it's quite a different beast, technically. If all this is audible ... hard to tell. Personally, I prefer the optical connection between Ultra and Vibelink Amp simply because of the optical connection itself. And for sure, this combination does sound fabulous.

I own the Ultra, the Vibelink Amp and the A5 and I'm actually using the A5 with the Ultra. However, the reason is mostly due to the fact that the much criticized auto-sensing of the A5 works just perfect in my setup, whereas the WiiM Vibelink Amp needs an additional trigger cable to wake it up after going into its deep sleep state (after 60 minutes). The power amp is hidden out of sight, so I don't mind the looks of the need for an external power brick. Subjectively, I had a tiny preference for the A5 but I didn't even try to do a fair comparison. Both amps, the A5 and the Viblelink Amp are incredibly high quality implementations of the TI TPA325x chips.

Conclusion:
As long as you don't expect better sound quality, the WiiM Vibelink Amp might absolutely be worth it for you.

 

[Mario_Primo]

The difference in power output (into 8 ohm or 4 ohm) is absolutely negligible, when measured under identical conditions. See Amir's reviews. Remember that even twice the power only means a 3 dB difference in sound pressure level. There's on thing the A5 can definitely do better: Driving low impedance speakers where the actual value drops below 3 ohms at certain frequencies.

According to the data sheets the ESS 9039Q2M (WiiM Vibelink Amp) is not just simply one number up from the 9038Q2M (WiiM Ultra), it's quite a different beast, technically. If all this is audible ... hard to tell. Personally, I prefer the optical connection between Ultra and Vibelink Amp simply because of the optical connection itself. And for sure, this combination does sound fabulous.

I own the Ultra, the Vibelink Amp and the A5 and I'm actually using the A5 with the Ultra. However, the reason is mostly due to the fact that the much criticized auto-sensing of the A5 works just perfect in my setup, whereas the WiiM Vibelink Amp needs an additional trigger cable to wake it up after going into its deep sleep state (after 60 minutes). The power amp is hidden out of sight, so I don't mind the looks of the need for an external power brick. Subjectively, I had a tiny preference for the A5 but I didn't even try to do a fair comparison. Both amps, the A5 and the Viblelink Amp are incredibly high quality implementations of the TI TPA325x chips.

Conclusion:
As long as you don't expect better sound quality, the WiiM Vibelink Amp might absolutely be worth it for you.

Yes, thank you. I get that I won't get anything other than aesthetic pleasure. Of course, Vibelink would look great here.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Interesting review.

WiiM Amp Ultra Review, Back to Back Comparison with Ultra+Vibelink Amp​

 

[kenorb]

I just bought this unit - after reading this review The sound is really amazing - when there is not popping sound added. And there is - if I use the internal DAC via optical cable. Using RCA - no issues. Using optical - pop sounds every now and then. Updated software - didn't help. Got another unit thinking I may have got a faulty one - it's the same. When I use a cheap 20$ no-name DAC I have no issues (other than the quality and limited power) - when I use the unit's DAC - I hear popping. Anyone had similar issues ? I hope the manufacturer will resolve the issue cause I really like the sound - they answered my quickly but let's see what happens next. It's really strange that nobody of the people who were making reviews didn't have the same issue. Maybe it's a matter of my European 230V - most of the reviews I've seen were done in the USA .

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

I just bought this unit - after reading this review The sound is really amazing - when there is not popping sound added. And there is - if I use the internal DAC via optical cable. Using RCA - no issues. Using optical - pop sounds every now and then. Updated software - didn't help. Got another unit thinking I may have got a faulty one - it's the same. When I use a cheap 20$ no-name DAC I have no issues (other than the quality and limited power) - when I use the unit's DAC - I hear popping. Anyone had similar issues ? I hope the manufacturer will resolve the issue cause I really like the sound - they answered my quickly but let's see what happens next. It's really strange that nobody of the people who were making reviews didn't have the same issue. Maybe it's a matter of my European 230V - most of the reviews I've seen were done in the USA .

Have you tried using coaxial digital from the streamer to the amp instead of Toslink to see if it still does it?

 

[kyuu]

I just bought this unit - after reading this review The sound is really amazing - when there is not popping sound added. And there is - if I use the internal DAC via optical cable. Using RCA - no issues. Using optical - pop sounds every now and then. Updated software - didn't help. Got another unit thinking I may have got a faulty one - it's the same.

Intermittent popping on the toslink connection sounds like it's continually resyncing. What is the source? This other "cheap $20 DAC" that has no issues, are you also feeding it from the same source via toslink?

 

[kenorb]

Intermittent popping on the toslink connection sounds like it's continually resyncing. What is the source? This other "cheap $20 DAC" that has no issues, are you also feeding it from the same source via toslink?

The same source used for cheap DAC. It's just an LG TV, sometimes with a PC connected via hdmi (with both PCM optical output or pass through from the PC settings), sometimes with just running Spotify/YouTubeNetflix apps on the TV. Another amplifier and cheap DAC - no issues, Vibelink and cheap DAC - no issues, internal DAC - issues. Tested even with different cables

Have you tried using coaxial digital from the streamer to the amp instead of Toslink to see if it still does it?

I don't have a coax source at home.

 

[kyuu]

It's just an LG TV

LG TVs are well-known to have issues with certain DACs. Their optical implementation is garbage, basically. Ironically, yes, often lower quality devices have fewer issues due having lower tolerances for their optical input.

Besides getting a TV that has a proper optical implementation, you'll have to address this by either putting another device in the chain or using a different input method. There are converters to go from optical to coaxial spdif (such as this Monoprice one).

 

[kenorb]

LG TVs are well-known to have issues with certain DACs. Their optical implementation is garbage, basically. Ironically, yes, often lower quality devices have fewer issues due having lower tolerances for their optical input.

Besides getting a TV that has a proper optical implementation, you'll have to address this by either putting another device in the chain or using a different input method. There are converters to go from optical to coaxial spdif (such as this Monoprice one).

Thanks a lot for the advice - I'll try another optical source and if that works I'll get a converter like you wrote. LGs having issues doesn't surprise me (if that's the case) - their webOs is buggy as hell

 

[mlsstl]

And there is - if I use the internal DAC via optical cable. Using RCA - no issues. Using optical - pop sounds every now and then.

Would you clarify you comments? Are you using the optical cable for input to the Ultra, or for output from it? If optical in to the Ultra, what's the source?

I've had an Ultra for a year now with no popping issues. I feed the Ultra's optical output into the optical in of my Vibelink. With my prior amp, I ran RCA out from the Ultra to the amp. Zero extraneous noises in either case.

 

[kenorb]

Would you clarify you comments? Are you using the optical cable for input to the Ultra, or for output from it? If optical in to the Ultra, what's the source?

I've had an Ultra for a year now with no popping issues. I feed the Ultra's optical output into the optical in of my Vibelink. With my prior amp, I ran RCA out from the Ultra to the amp. Zero extraneous noises in either case.

I'm taking about Vibelink Amp, not Ultra. I described the source (lg TV). I'll check another source as @kyuu suggested it may be the LG TV issue.

 

[mlsstl]

I'm taking about Vibelink Amp, not Ultra. I described the source (lg TV). I'll check another source as @kyuu suggested it may be the LG TV issue.

Thanks. As noted, I've got optical in to my Vibelink amp and have no issues, but I'm not using a TV, LG or otherwise as a source.

 

[telemike]

No pops from Ultra to Vibelink via Optical

 

[Good Vibes]

I am considering buying either the Vibelink, Topping PA5 ii or the 3e audio A7. My speakers are 90db sensitivity, 4-8 ohms. I will be pairing with a WiiM Ultra, the aesthetics and form factor make the Vibelink very appealing however, I will be making my decision based purely on sound. Is there likely to be any sonic improvements with the PA5 or the A7?

Thank you.

 

[kenorb]

LG TVs are well-known to have issues with certain DACs. Their optical implementation is garbage, basically. Ironically, yes, often lower quality devices have fewer issues due having lower tolerances for their optical input.

Besides getting a TV that has a proper optical implementation, you'll have to address this by either putting another device in the chain or using a different input method. There are converters to go from optical to coaxial spdif (such as this Monoprice one).

Hi,
Looks like some major compatibility issues between LG and Vibelink. I used an ARC extractor (marmitek SE14 - not a Chinese no name) to coax or toslink - same issues. Hdmi cable is a brand new, hdmi 2.1b certified. But if I connect it (extractor) to a PC/Mac, then I have no issues. When I connect a PS4 toslink to Vibeamp - no issues. Still no issues with other/cheap DAC and Lg Tv toslink. Looks like not only toslink but other digital formats being output from Lg TV are not understood well by Vibelink. I'd have to go into LG implementation details to see who's to blame (I'm a programmer, I also work with embedded stuff, so I have skills needed but don't know if I really wanna do it ). The fact that a cheap DAC doesn't have issues tells something - it is possible to sync with an LG TV, the Arc issues tell that it's not just LG bad optical implementation.