WiiM Vibelink Amp Review

[kyuu]

Probably because the various DACs perform fewer conversions???

Nope.

But I can confirm that the Vibelink connected to the Wii U Ultra via RCA sounds better.

Try it and you'll see; it's not true that it sounds the same through the optical input.

I'm guessing you aren't level matching when doing this comparison.

 

[Jole]

I also prefer the sound through the RCA input.

Probably because the various DACs perform fewer conversions???

But I can confirm that the Vibelink connected to the Wii U Ultra via RCA sounds better.

Try it and you'll see; it's not true that it sounds the same through the optical input.
See you soon.

Hi Alex thank you ...idea was blue Ray player to rca input on cibelink that is the same thing, but if you don't have ground loop like Amir mention it's OK. I have option to try in shop any piece of equipment with rca out to rca in at vibelink and so I will be sure. Thanks again.

 

[Jole]

Nope.

I'm guessing you aren't level matching when doing this comparison.

Kyuu measurement show better data on digital input no dillema about that. Not clear yet does rca on vibelink works correctly..

 

[Alexx]

In fact, the strange thing is that the measurements indicate that the digital input is better.

Can't electrical measurements always correspond to reality?

Wim himself told me that there could be differences between the various inputs, even if minimal, but they are there.

On Amazon, all the users confirm that they get more detail on the RCA input.

Who's right?

I don't know, but I and many others continue to prefer RCA.

It could be a simple matter of personal taste...

I also want to try the coaxial one.

In any case, I think the Vibelink amplifier is exceptional, especially considering the price (now on sale on Amazon Italy for 10% off), so I'll send it home for €330!

It doesn't get any better than this -

 

[Grovkalle]

In fact, the strange thing is that the measurements indicate that the digital input is better.

Can't electrical measurements always correspond to reality?

Wim himself told me that there could be differences between the various inputs, even if minimal, but they are there.

On Amazon, all the users confirm that they get more detail on the RCA input.

Who's right?

I don't know, but I and many others continue to prefer RCA.

It could be a simple matter of personal taste...

I also want to try the coaxial one.

In any case, I think the Vibelink amplifier is exceptional, especially considering the price (now on sale on Amazon Italy for 10% off), so I'll send it home for €330!

It doesn't get any better than this -

For me running Ultra via optical input sounds slightly better than via RCA. When I have some time over I will do a shootout between Wiim Ultra via optical and Wiim Pro + SMSL SU1 via RCA. That should be a fun test

 

[Alexx]

Thank you.

The advantage of the optical/coaxial input is that it has more power, which is an important factor; otherwise, 60 watts on RCA isn't enough...
See you soon.

 

[telemike]

I was happy to see that using HDMI ARC on the Ultra and optical to the Vibellink still passes Dolby 5.1

 

[Grovkalle]

I was happy to see that using HDMI ARC on the Ultra and optical to the Vibellink still passes Dolby 5.1

Has anyone tried 5.1 using Wiim Ultra? And if so how does your setup look like for surround, center and sub?

 

[Grovkalle]

Has anyone tried 5.1 using Wiim Ultra? And if so how does your setup look like for surround, center and sub?

I am thinking of the following setup... Wiim Ultra using a Marantz PM7003 as amp for my front speakers and then a sub directly to the Ultra.
For surround speakers my Wiim Pro + the Vibelink. Skipping the center to start with

 

[kenorb]

I wrote here before about an issue with LG TV and periodic sound pops (from reconnecting the S/PDiF connection caused by the noisy signal).
I wrote about the issue also to WiiM - created a ticket and hoped that maybe in a year they'll do something. I've also linked to JDLabs statement about the same issue and a description of how they updated their dac software.
Today I got a software update to test. The issue is gone. So - LG / Samsung TV with poor digital connection users (I got it on Toslink and HDMI Arc) can be happy now. And I'm happy with their response time - 17 days since my complaining about it till I got a solution. So - not only the equipment seems great for the price, also the way they react to complaints is great

 

[kyuu]

Today I got a software update to test. The issue is gone. So - LG / Samsung TV with poor digital connection users (I got it on Toslink and HDMI Arc) can be happy now. And I'm happy with their response time - 17 days since my complaining about it till I got a solution. So - not only the equipment seems great for the price, also the way they react to complaints is great

Yes, Wiim is excellent at responding to user feedback and updating their software. Just another reason to love 'em.

 

[Petrushka]

Yes, Wiim is excellent at responding to user feedback and updating their software. Just another reason to love 'em.

It is risky to review their room correction system, because it continuously gets better. I’m wondering if they will eventually give the big guys some competition.

Does anyone know if their DSP chip has significant limitations?

 

[Keane16]

I’m looking to replace my kitchen/diner sound setup and the Vibelink looks a good fit.

Currently have an AirPort Express 2nd Gen connected to a B&W Zeppelin Air.

- Listen to Apple Music via AirPlay on iOS devices (AirPlay 2 is important so I can do multiroom).
- Zeppelin is in standby until it receives input via AirPlay and goes back into standby shortly after playback is stopped (would like the future setup to do this).

Replacing the Zeppelin with ceiling speakers (possibly MA 380-IDC - 90db, 6 ohm, rated 150w) and repurposing the Airport.

Thinking:

Wiim Mini > optical > Wiim Vibelink Amp > speakers.

Post #432 and #435 worry me slightly RE my requirement for signal sensing. I’ve scanned this whole thread and may have missed an update to resolve this? If not I guess I could swap the Mini for the Pro (or something else with 12v trigger)?

The Mini and Vibelink Wiim products come to £408 (£468 if switching to the Pro).

The alternative path to this would be to have a streamer with a decent DAC and then connect via RCA to amplification:

Bluesound Node Nano (ES9039Q2M) > RCA > Fosi v3 monos/Nord NC252 etc. > speakers.

The Nano and a pair of Fosi v3s would come to £597. But I imagine the analogue stage of the Nano could be the weak link (no ASR review to confirm)? Not to mention more cables, heat and boxes.

The all in one units (AirPlay in and amplification) from the likes of Sonos (Amp), Bluesound (Powernode 2025), BluOS NADs etc. cost a lot more (not much gained for my use case). I don’t need any bells and whistles - screens, sub outs, remote - 99% of the time this will be for low to medium listening whilst cooking and the occasional party playing loud.

Anything else I should be considering?

 

[kyuu]

Anything else I should be considering?

If you get the Wiim Amp (not Pro/Ultra), it will do everything you want in one unit.

 

[anonyless]

Thinking:

Wiim Mini > optical > Wiim Vibelink Amp > speakers.

Post #432 and #435 worry me slightly RE my requirement for signal sensing. I’ve scanned this whole thread and may have missed an update to resolve this? If not I guess I could swap the Mini for the Pro (or something else with 12v trigger)?

The Mini and Vibelink Wiim products come to £408 (£468 if switching to the Pro).

i have updated Vibelink connected with toslink to Ultra. lemme disconnect its trigger cable and test signal sensing for you. be right back

so with the trigger cable disconnected, the Vibelink turned itself on when I started playing on the Ultra (meaning optical sensing on its optical input works fine). BUT -
when i turned it off from the app into "deeper standby" (led turned off completely) , it would not turn on by itself when playing on the Ultra

 

[Grovkalle]

It is risky to review their room correction system, because it continuously gets better. I’m wondering if they will eventually give the big guys some competition.

Does anyone know if their DSP chip has significant limitations?

"it is risky to review their room correction", ha ha very spot on. Regarding that... is it possible to use like a UMIK-1 with an Android, together with the Wiim RC?

 

[Grovkalle]

"it is risky to review their room correction", ha ha very spot on. Regarding that... is it possible to use like a UMIK-1 with an Android, together with the Wiim RC?

Answering my own question... according to the google AI result, it is possible so now I need to buy my self a UMIK-1

 

[telemike]

I use a Dayton Audio mic https://a.co/d/186JKSr and it's calibration file

 

[Grovkalle]

I use a Dayton Audio mic https://a.co/d/186JKSr and it's calibration file

And everything to your satisfaction or? No need for the more expensive UMIK-1 then?

 

[Keane16]

If you get the Wiim Amp (not Pro/Ultra), it will do everything you want in one unit.

This was shortlisted and I should’ve mentioned it (but somehow wrote so much already above). My novice thinking included:

• Power (60w vs 100) - probably not a huge deal with the whole double power for 3dB. But is headroom worth noting? Would the Amp be working closer to its limit during parties/loud sessions vs the Vibelink - thinking longevity more than day to day (which is probably really hard to answer).
• ASR measurements - lots of improvements in the Vibelink - Gain 20.9dB vs 28Vrms/FS, Noise 0.003% vs 0.001%, SINAD 89dB vs 100dB.
• PFFB - I don’t really understand it (only came across the term a few weeks ago when I started researching). But it seems to be well regarded when implemented properly, don’t see much mentioned about this tech for the Amp but Vibelink definitely has it.
• Analogue stage (??? vs OPA1612) - further lack of knowledge on my part, but is it fair to say the Vibelink is just better here?
• DAC (ES9018 vs ES9039Q2M) - newer and reviews better for the Vibelink.

Perhaps not meaningful individually, but do all the small improvements add up to something worthwhile? Does my AirPlay only use case negate it due to the average quality source?

Also, this bit in an AVForums Vibelink review (no measurements, just subjective) caught my eye:

The amplification in the Vibelink is genuinely outstanding and a meaningful step forward over the Amp Pro, which in turn means that it is a step forward over most things under a grand.

The same person said this in the Amp Pro review:

I have, at the time of writing (Feb 2025) tested all the WiiM products. No other move up the product run from one WiiM streamer to another yields a performance difference as big as the £80 one between the Amp and the Amp Pro.

The Amp earned a 10/10. The Pro bested it. And the Vibelink apparently kicks on further ahead in that individuals opinion.

• Vibelink (https://www.avforums.com/reviews/wiim-vibelink-amplifier-review.22737/)
• Amp Pro (https://www.avforums.com/reviews/wiim-amp-pro-streaming-amplifier-review.22489/)
• Amp (https://www.avforums.com/reviews/wiim-amp-integrated-streaming-amplifier-review.21433/)

i have updated Vibelink connected with toslink to Ultra. lemme disconnect its trigger cable and test signal sensing for you. be right back

so with the trigger cable disconnected, the Vibelink turned itself on when I started playing on the Ultra (meaning optical sensing on its optical input works fine). BUT -
when i turned it off from the app into "deeper standby" (led turned off completely) , it would not turn on by itself when playing on the Ultra

Thanks for checking. Did I read correctly the Vibelink goes into its deeper standby after 60 mins automatically? If so, I think the Wiim Mini is a no go (the amp will be hidden away).

----------------------

I think I should just buy a Wiim Pro + Vibelink as well as the Wiim Amp and try both to see what I prefer (one box would certainly be better). It doesn’t seem as though there’s much else that can compete in terms of cost, quality, simplicity.