Advice needed: Wiim Pro Plus to Powered Speakers

[DrtyMke]

Hi All,
Picked up a Wiim Pro Plus and want to connect to 2 x Powered Rokit 8 speakers.
The speakers only have an XLR connection and i need some advice on the best way to do this.

I'm thinking either run 2 seperate XLR to RCA cables from the speakers back directly to the Wiim?
OR
Buying a DAC with XLR ports and running the speakers to the DAC and then connecting the Wiim.
(if the DAC is the right option, any particular type or brand i should be looking at.)

I'm inexperienced with Audio connectivity so any advice or alternate options would be really helpful!
Also - is this the right Wiim product or would the Amp be more suitable.

Thanks !

 

[Mr Ee]

Hi All,
Picked up a Wiim Pro Plus and want to connect to 2 x Powered Rokit 8 speakers.
The speakers only have an XLR connection and i need some advice on the best way to do this.

I'm thinking either run 2 seperate XLR to RCA cables from the speakers back directly to the Wiim?
OR
Buying a DAC with XLR ports and running the speakers to the DAC and then connecting the Wiim.
(if the DAC is the right option, any particular type or brand i should be looking at.)

I'm inexperienced with Audio connectivity so any advice or alternate options would be really helpful!
Also - is this the right Wiim product or would the Amp be more suitable.

Thanks !

Welcome.

XLR inputs normally expect a higher input voltage than RCA inputs, often 4v vs 2v
i.e. you might find that the speakers won't go loud enough with the wiim's 2v (max) output.
I've not bothered to look it up - do your speakers' specs show an input sensitivity?

A dac in between is an option, but maybe check that sensitivity first.
So many options here...!

No, a wiim amp is not right for you - that would be for passive speakers, not active ones.

 

[harkpabst]

KRK systems don't specify the input sensitivity. But the data sheet clearly states that there is a Low Sensitivity setting and a High Sensitivity setting. I'm pretty sure the setting it to high sensitivity will be enough to reach the desired level, even if the WiiM Ultra can put out "only" 2 V, not 4 V.

 

[canard]

kit with drv134 ?
;-)

 

[DrtyMke]

Thanks all for the responses!

I'll try with the cables first, assses and if required introduce a DAC.

Appreciate it - was very helpful.

 

[harkpabst]

I'll try with the cables first, assses and if required introduce a DAC.

That's a sensible way of doing it.

If possible, try to make sure that the product you get really uses a shielded two-core cable as would be used for an XLR to XLR connection. This will give you good common mode rejection even with RCA plugs on one end. Luckily, the output impedance of the WiiM Ultra is obviously pretty low.

Unfortunately, many commercially available products just use shielded single-core cable where the shield is used as the signal ground lead.

The upper example in this diagram shows what you want.

The below example is what you don't want (pins 1 and 3 are effectively connected right at the XLR plug).

Some Monoprice cables are reported to be good. Others say that this might vary from batch to batch even for the same article number.

You're on the safe side if you have them made by some specialist company, but that'll cost you more than buying e.g. from Amazon. Ideally you pick a product where the plugs are not cheap moulded on plastic, but can be dismantled. If you can unscrew the case on the RCA side you can easily check if there are three wires in total or just two.