WiiM Vibelink Amp Review

[anonyless]

Disconnected and reconnected the optical cable several times on each end, rebooted the Ultra, reset the Vibelink, power cycles, changing output/input, tested and verified RCA works, confirmed the optical light is coming through the output of the Ultra. The input button works properly.

do you have a coax cable for testing ? worth a try

 

[Finz]

Turns out I am a simpleton. I knew it would be something simple.

Somehow I had disconnected the optical out from the Ultra (don’t remember doing that) and plugged in the optical from my CD player into the out on the Ultra. I was unplugging and plugging in two separate cables. Unbelievable.

 

[harkpabst]

Somehow I had disconnected the optical out from the Ultra (don’t remember doing that) and plugged in the optical from my CD player into the out on the Ultra. I was unplugging and plugging in two separate cables. Unbelievable.

Did you double check that the optical cable is firmly inserted at both ends, then remove it, plug it in again and then double check again?

Glad it worked out so easy ...

 

[Finz]

Well, when you’re double-checking the ends of two cables thinking it’s the same one… really wish I would have traced the cable from one end to the other…

 

[pieterv1]

This could be of interest to some: a WiiM admin has confirmed that the volume knob should now sit aligned with the volume control of the WiiM Ultra, when stacked on top of each other.

The revision happened in November so by this point most units in stock should be the newer specimens

 

[Finz]

This could be of interest to some: a WiiM admin has confirmed that the volume knob should now sit aligned with the volume control of the WiiM Ultra, when stacked on top of each other.

The revision happened in November so by this point most units in stock should be the newer specimens

Guess I got an older one. Lame.

 

[DazST]

This could be of interest to some: a WiiM admin has confirmed that the volume knob should now sit aligned with the volume control of the WiiM Ultra, when stacked on top of each other.

The revision happened in November so by this point most units in stock should be the newer specimens

I got one last week and the knobs don't align. May not have been newest batch though.

 

[Ruediger]

I don't want to be a broken record about this, but it's super easy to ditch the external wall warts - I had I think 7 total wall warts, 3 12V and 4 24V. I purchased a laptop-brick-style power supply for each voltage (making sure the amperage of the power supply has plenty of headroom). The 12V side didn't have anything sensitive, some lamps and a charger, so I just got a 3-way DC plug splitter for those. The 24V side has my DAC, miniDSP 2x4, modem, and router, so I got a proper distribution block with fuses, clipped the DC plug off the end of the power supply and connected that to the input of the distribution block, then ran DC plug pigtails from the other side of the block to the devices. 7 wall warts reduced to 2 normal AC plugs with supply bricks, plus a fun evening with my toys, I even got to buy myself a new crimper. Yes, I'm divorced, how did you know?

I would totally do the same if I had more of these power supplies in one place. For other things (disks, cameras) I use 12V/10A (good) psu bricks with splitter-cables.

 

[Ruediger]

So I was listening to the Ultra/Vibelink Combo with toslink and then went over to rca input from the ultra.

I think anyone should try it, there is a different flavor to hear. Can't say it's better or worse, just different after some hours in.

 

[LesterHiggins]

I would totally do the same if I had more of these power supplies in one place. For other things (disks, cameras) I use 12V/10A (good) psu bricks with splitter-cables.

Dang, 10A? Do you have like 500 cameras? LOL just kidding, better safe than sorry, you know? FWIW, since this is a WiiM Vibelink thread, I almost got the Vibelink because I thought I didn't really need a subwoofer, then changed my mind, cancelled that order and placed a new one for the Amp Pro. It arrived today and I am really impressed with its subwoofer sync. It nailed it first shot, it would have taken me a really long time to get there. I think because it simplifies my gain staging by consolidating 3 devices (DAC, miniDSP, amp), removes the d2a>a2d>d2a redundancy, and introduces a higher quality DAC (with filters that actually sound a little different from one another), it sounds pretty much the same as my more expensive and complex gear (as it should) except a bit "better" (slightly more separation and detail and no distortion even at higher volume levels) because of the tighter bass sync and improved gain structure. So, even though I wanted something I can't afford (no matter what my budget is this will ALWAYS be the case with my brain), I'm happy with how this ended up.

Oh, I almost forgot, I owe @amirm a donation now! I promised one if I felt like I could sell my gear and replace it with a WiiM.

 

[Ruediger]

Dang, 10A? Do you have like 500 cameras? LOL just kidding, better safe than sorry, you know?

A camera takes some W of the 120W budget there but an active disk already takes 7-13 W. These quality power bricks, about half the size of the Vibelink, are nowhere near powering a Vibelink. The bricks for the desktop amps usually have a multiple of voltage (and wattage) to accomodate their clients.

Another limit comes up quick then. The DC lines and connectors have power limits. Well below what a desktop amp like the Vibelink takes. I actually do not have any of these 32-48v bricks. I guess the cabling is good (proper thickness) but always wonder about the connectors into the amp. They often look like the standard jacks from camera splitter cables, but have to be a lot better in diameter and connection surface. Otherwise it would get "pretty hot" at that point of the amp.

An integrated PSU with standard 220v cabling does not have all these topics. It might bring other problems because it is inside the case though.

As for the subwoofer, the Vibelink has no output for it. It can be set up from the sub-out of the Ultra or the other streamers, with prior volume control of the Vibelink and then adjusting. But it sure is easier with the integrated amp. I guess more boxes or less boxes is a matter of individual taste. I find the integrated amp streamers appealling, but shy away from the loss in flexibility and the costs of the then inseparable, densely packed unit. I have no doubt the amps WiiM makes perform just as good as the streamers + their amp.

 

[redjr]

I have a BMW, too. Kind of wish I didn’t! But I digress…

A few hours in on the Vibelink and I’m really happy with it so far. I’m running optical from the Ultra and overall everything sounds cleaner and somehow tighter than before. I also am very happy to no longer have to deal with the ground loop hum!

I think I’m done for now. Can’t imagine what I would get from a more expensive amp besides more power, which I don’t need. I hope the itch stays scratched!

We're never done! Chifi products are making us crazy and irrational for the need of more audio gadgetry.

 

[sussssss]

looking for a small footprint amp to primarily play vinyl through - Vibelink could be perfect.

i have a small area to place it - 34cm W x 34 cm D x 18cm H

i only really want to run my rega planar 3 to it - so the direct analogue in is a plus. I have a rega MM5 phono stage to use - so on paper this works

i looked at the fosi monoblock v3 idea - but there is no true matching preamp and the ZA /ZD series doesn't have the true analogue out - the ZP3 pre not having a matching power....

i also look at the 3E amps, but i got confused with what i needed... as it felt like the a5 / a7 is integrated.

so circling back to the WiiM vibelink.

FWIW - currently i have yamaha AS-700 - really only use the line out with the phono amp in there running in pure direct mode - speakers are rather old yammy Soavo-2's.

help me ASR forum!

 

[redjr]

You can't go wrong with the Vibelink. It's a solid piece of kit, well-made, powerful and sounds great. As you note, the analog-IN will require some sort of phono pre to get the signal up to line level so the MM5 phono stage should work fine. I bought mine almost exclusively to use with the pure analog-IN connections. I didn't want my signal being converted and then converted back. It's feed from a custom preamp, into an older pair of Def Tech Studio Monitors 350 that I've had for a long time. The whole combo sounds sweet as can be. There are also a couple different DACs feeding the pre as well.

 

[Ruediger]

i only really want to run my rega planar 3 to it - so the direct analogue in is a plus. I have a rega MM5 phono stage to use - so on paper this works

FWIW - currently i have yamaha AS-700 - really only use the line out with the phono amp in there running in pure direct mode - speakers are rather old yammy Soavo-2's.

I put my turntable to the analog in of the Vibelink the other day. A Thorens with a Lehmannaudio cube. Really lovely combo, great sound quality as expected.

The only thing you could be missing is some kind of remote. Volume control will be the front knob only.

Otherwise a perfect replacement for this one job of the A-S700.

 

[redjr]

I might add the Internal DAC (ES9039Q2M) has been implemented very well by WiiM, so the Toslink and Coax connectors on the back maybe be useful. I've tested them and they do produce very good sound.

 

[commodore99]

I appear to have purchased a Vibelink motherboard using version 2. What kind of updates are included compared to version 1?

 

[john61ct]

Chifi products

That adjective not to be used here

 

[Alenp]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the WiiM Vibelink stereo class D amplifier with DAC. It was sent to me by the company and I believe will cost US $299 [original estimatews $400.].
View attachment 434832
I was relieved from the point of view of testing that is NOT a streaming product so no need to mess with apps and such to use it. Controls as you see are limited to just input select of RCA, Toslink and Coax digital input and volume control. I found the input selection button to be somewhat difficult to use in that pushing it doesn't quickly change selection. I had to hold it in for a bit for it to take action (or was it a delayed action)? Volume control is analog and I tested the amplifier at max volume (which happened to land in target area I like as far as gain).

Back panel has great attention to layout and design even though most people will never face it that way:
View attachment 434833
I have grown fond of the recessed binding posts (adapters are provided to bring them out), make them a breeze to using my locking banana plugs. Nice to see trigger input provided. But mostly, the appreciate goes toward included AC power supply (its competitors using the same design have chunky external ones).

If you are not familiar with amplifier measurements, please watch my tutorial on it:

[And subscribe to the channel ]

WiiM Vibelink Amp Measurements
I started with the RCA analog input but had trouble getting optimal output due to ground loops (which could be unique to my setup with analyzer and such):
View attachment 434834
So I switched to Toslink input which not only solved that issue, but upped the performance as well:
View attachment 434835
Very nice to see distortion that is below threshold of hearing at -115 dB or so. That let's SINAD just be a measure of noise which at 100 dB, puts the Vibelink in very respectable ranking:
View attachment 434836
View attachment 434837
Unless noted, I stayed with Toslink for the remainder of tests, starting with signal to noise ratio:
View attachment 434838

One of the important tests for these chip-based class D designs is to see if the output filter is part of the feedback loop (PFFB) as to eliminate load dependencies. We see that the Vibelink is essentially there:
View attachment 434840

Channel separation is excellent:
View attachment 434841

For multitone, I had to switch to analog input as Toslink doesn't support 192 kHz which is the native sampling rate of that test file:
View attachment 434842

But for 19+20 kHz, I could go back to digital, showing very respectable output:
View attachment 434843

We have good bit of power for its size and class:
View attachment 434844
View attachment 434845
Especially when we allow 1% distortion:
View attachment 434846

Dropping down to 40 Hz instead of 1 kHz above, we still have healthy amount of output:
View attachment 434847
View attachment 434848

It was challenging to run my "FTC like" power sweep as the distortion that is captured at 20 kHz would NOT rise to 1% THD. So I had to lower that which means it causes less power to be measured than how we measured other amplifiers (and testing above):
View attachment 434849

This became more complicated when trying to measure reactive loads as my AudioGraph loadbox does not like floating ground in these bridged amplifiers in the right channel. So I not only had ot drop down to 1 channel, but per above, also change the criteria for max distortion to get through the test:
View attachment 434850
View attachment 434851

No, I don't know why it likes 2 ohm with 60 degree inductive phase. I repeated the test a few times and consistently got that result.

Edit: forgot to post frequency vs power sweep:

View attachment 434911
NOTE: all power ratings have built-in error in such tests. Run to run variations show a few percentage point differences due to measurements being a the knee of an exponential graph.

Amplifier is stable on power up:
View attachment 434852

The top hardly changed temperature during testing. The bottom got a bit warmer but nothing remotely concerning so I didn't bother with taking thermal images. Either it doesn't get very hot internally and/or doesn't sync that to the case.

Conclusions
The Vibelink is a well executed class D (TI 3255?) amplifier with nice inclusion of a DAC that works together produce performance that is quite good. For those of you who already have a front-end that has streaming/EQ, this would be perfect pairing. Cost is more than some of its competitors but they don't have built-in power supply or in most cases, a nice DAC.

Overall, I am happy to recommend the WiiM Vibelink Amp. I believe it is slated to be on sale sometime this month (March).

NOTE: company has said that they want to make a donation to the forum. I have told them that while I appreciate that, it would not change how I review their product. And indeed can't due to nature of the objective measurements.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

Yes it nice amp. But sound Like crop. Everthing is flat Like and Boring. Good for modern sound …Vice jazz cllasic 0 pointa. So i ASK what good measurmensts mene to this amp. Br A

 

[kyuu]

Yes it nice amp. But sound Like crop. Everthing is flat Like and Boring. Good for modern sound …Vice jazz cllasic 0 pointa. So i ASK what good measurmensts mene to this amp.

The measurements are much more useful than your subjective claptrap, that's for sure.