WiiM Vibelink Amp

[elshaddai]

Looks like WiiM is introducing a new integrated amp to pair with their streaming boxes:

WiiM Unveils Vibelink Amp at Bristol Hi-Fi Show – A Pure Amplification Solution

WiiM has taken the wraps off its latest innovation at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show, offering a first glimpse of the WiiM Vibelink Amp - the company’s first integrated amplifier without built-in streaming functionality.

stereonet.com

The WiiM Vibelink Amp is all about the amplification

It's the first WiiM amp with no streaming skills.

www.whathifi.com

Short on details, but clearly the form factor matches the Ultra preamp. From the previews:

• No streaming capabilities
• 100W/channel (8 ohms) amplifer
• Analog inputs
• Digital inputs
• Supports variable sample rates and bit depths
• Speaker connections
• $400 USD
• Official announcement in March

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

 

[Matias]

AFAIK, it is a streaming-DAC-less Wiim Amp to pair with their streaming-DAC-only products.

 

[elshaddai]

AFAIK, it is a streaming-DAC-less Wiim Amp to pair with their streaming-DAC-only products.

That was my takeaway as well. I'm curious if they kept the Sub Out from the Amp/Amp Pro - that could also make it a nice desktop 2.1 amp for those using a PC as their streaming source.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

AFAIK, it is a streaming-DAC-less Wiim Amp to pair with their streaming-DAC-only products.

No, it's digital.

I love my WiiM Mini. I love my WiiM Ultra.

I just don't get this at all.

Amplifier-wise, all people for asking for, and all that was needed for the Ultra was a power amp.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

That was my takeaway as well. I'm curious if they kept the Sub Out from the Amp/Amp Pro - that could also make it a nice desktop 2.1 amp for those using a PC as their streaming source.

And duplicates much of the functionality of the Ultra, for which it's clearly supposed to be a companion.

 

[elshaddai]

And duplicates much of the functionality of the Ultra, for which it's clearly supposed to be a companion.

It seems like WiiM identified a bunch of use cases and designed a product that could be used for all of them. It can probably be used as a power amp with Ultra. It can be used as a volume-controlled amp with Mini and Pro streamers. It can be used as an integrated amp in other hifi systems.

But lots of questions still... can it be used as a mono? can it be used for a 2.1 system? Does it have USB input? Have to wait until the full specs are released next month.

 

[Tom67]

It makes sense. Most first time buyers will end up buying the new amp and the ultra. Thus, Wiim will have increased their average sale from $330 to $750

 

[StevenSGT98]

I know they are starting to think multichannel. It makes me wonder how this interfaces into the Ultra. Also if there are wireless speakers or interfaces coming?

 

[Deleted member 72219]

I can think of just a few reasons for this interesting design, although all of them are rather niche/low-uptake-rate reasons:
1) People such as I who want to be able to listen to DSD with a bitperfect signal path, if this new amp's integrated DAC can accept bitperfect DSD and convert it to analog before the integrated volume control (which must be analog) that sits before the amplification stage. This provides a niche benefit for people who otherwise cannot listen to bitperfect DSD with any of the, "perfect companion streamers," as stated by WiiM marketing.
2) People who use external, digital room correction modules like MiniDSP Flex with digitals inputs/outputs or (like me) DSPeaker Anti-Mode X2D, which also has digital outputs only, so people like us need a separate DAC anyway from the streamer's, and an amp with integrated DAC would reduce clutter.
3) People who want more analog inputs than are included in the regular WiiM streamers.
4) People who use an external DAC or room correction module with balanced outputs (assuming this amp has balanced, analog inputs, that feed straight to the amp, or the volume attenuator if it is analog).

In other words, my interest is heavily piqued, but I suppose I'm weird, and that's okay by me.

May also be a nice option for owners of pure streamers from competing manufacturers. Imaging the conquest play where someone who owns a Bluesound, Eversolo, etc. buys one of these amps to go with their streamer, and then over time, decide to replace their current streamer with a WiiM Ultra, or its follow-up that still has the same form factor.

-Ed

 

[GXAlan]

1) People such as I who want to be able to listen to DSD with a bitperfect signal path

The concept of bitperfect DSD is tricky. You can see the Topping D90 which handles DSD natively in its DAC versus the Marantz SA-10 which operates in DSD discretely with an all analog filter to roll off the ultrasonics measures differently.

I had the SA-10 and it was one of the best SACD players I ever owned. That said, today I just run a Sony Blu-Ray player which converts to PCM, but with Sony’s algorithms that run at 176 kHz.

 

[Deleted member 72219]

The concept of bitperfect DSD is tricky. You can see the Topping D90 which handles DSD natively in its DAC versus the Marantz SA-10 which operates in DSD discretely with an all analog filter to roll off the ultrasonics measures differently.

I had the SA-10 and it was one of the best SACD players I ever owned. That said, today I just run a Sony Blu-Ray player which converts to PCM, but with Sony’s algorithms that run at 176 kHz.

When I decided to keep the WiiM Ultra, I returned my D90 III Discrete, since I saw no more benefit from listening with a 1-bit/native DSD DAC, being that the WiiM Ultra converts all DSD to PCM.

-Ed

 

[tjf]

some guesses - based on the vague feature list from Wiim's PR dept:

• No streaming capabilities (OK)
• 100W/channel (8 ohms) amplifer (Prob not based on the TPA3255 then)
• Analog inputs (Sure - maybe an ADC or conventional analog input Class D amp w/DAC for digital inputs?)
• Digital inputs (OK - perhaps a DDFA amp or an Axign front end w/Class D amp - or coventional Class D amp w/DAC?)
• Supports variable sample rates and bit depths (I sure hope so)
• Speaker connections (indeed)

 

[vAudioArchitect]

If my memory isn’t fading me (it could be) I recall reading either WiiM or Fosi are looking into using an Ncore class D module for a new amp, maybe this is it?

 

[lutefish]

Just fyi, you can make out in the Stereonet photos that the front panel input selector reads Coax / Optical / RCA.

 

[rgruber]

Seems like it would have been pretty easy to take the best implementation of the 3255 chip and make it a dual mono poweramp in a single case that matches the Ultra. Charge $300-500 and call it a day.

 

[pieterv1]

Just fyi, you can make out in the Stereonet photos that the front panel input selector reads Coax / Optical / RCA.

If including a DAC (possibly an upgrade over the Ultra's built-in DAC), then why not add USB input as well... :/

I hope there's a bypass switch on the back for the volume control, to be able to use it as a pure power amp in combination with the Ultra.

Still, I'll wait for the newer offering by 3e Audio which is supposed to come later this year: a power amplifier with built-in PSU and proper 12v trigger.

 

[CT Man]

For me, to be useful paired with a WiiM Ultra the Vibelink would need signal sensing that exits standby mode and switches inputs; and the ability to set each input to either variable or fixed volume. Otherwise, there's too much remote control juggling for using the Ultra with HDMI CEC and audio streaming in addition to the Vibelink's other inputs.

That'll be the only way a household with multiple users will be able to simply watch TV or stream music without a granular understanding of the signal chain for different audio sources, some with volume control and some without.

 

[Inertiaman]

For me, to be useful paired with a WiiM Ultra the Vibelink would need signal sensing that exits standby mode and switches inputs; and the ability to set each input to either variable or fixed volume. Otherwise, there's too much remote control juggling for using the Ultra with HDMI CEC and audio streaming in addition to the Vibelink's other inputs.

That'll be the only way a household with multiple users will be able to simply watch TV or stream music without a granular understanding of the signal chain for different audio sources, some with volume control and some without.

Vibelink has a trigger input. So pair it with an Ultra, connect the trigger and your choice of analog RCA or digital coax or optical, and you then control everything from the Ultra. If using TV, turning on the TV will turn on the Ultra via ARC and the Ultra will turn on the Vibelink via 12V trigger.

You don't really need to manipulate the Vibelink unless you're using more than one of the Vibelink inputs. My perception is that Wiim included several input options and very basic selector & volume to provide versatility to support more use cases and user preferences (ie, a very minimally featured integrated amp) but the primary target is a high-power amp to complement their streamers.

 

[Inertiaman]

• 100W/channel (8 ohms) amplifer (Prob not based on the TPA3255 then)

100Wx2 @ 8ohm is totally doable with a TPA3255.
With 8 ohm loads, 3eaudio gets 130Wx2 from a single 3255 in their A7se amplifier and 140Wx2 from a pair of 3255 in the A7 amplifier.