Amp for Wiim Ultra (set up help)

[Dan360]

Need simple, yet powerful, amp to power wiim Ultra.

Use case: building a system for my teenage son's bedroom. I just bought him a Wiim Ultra which I have been testing on our home rig. The Ultra will be the main component because of its simple, digital first interface and app. We will plug his turntable and CD player into Wiim Ultra. He is getting my (not so old) speakers - MartinLogan Motion 40i.

I love the Wiim Ultra and everything I learn about the company and my first thought was the new Wiim Amp Pro. Seems to have enough power to run the ML speakers.

My question: is running a Wiim Ultra through a Wiim Amp Pro a good idea?

It seems as though the Amp Pro and Ultra are almost the same product except the Ultra has a screen and the Amp Pro has an...Amp.
If I buy both, I have 2 of same DAC, BT, wifi, duplicate plugs etc.
Then again, does it make sense to buy the Amp Pro because even though I am "wasting" all those features/components that I already have, I am getting an Amp for $350 that beats any single purpose amp device in price range. Really what I want is Wiim Ultra with built in power. A true KISS solution.

Or, is there another Amp only product that I can buy to power the speakers with the digital sources coming through the Ultra.

I don't need an TV features and no surround speakers. I would like the option of getting him a sub at some point and I know the Ultra has sub connection.

Thank you in advance for your help.

FYI - keep it simple. Not like a 5 year old but I am NOT an audiophile who has ever been on these boards until recently to find the Ultra.

 

[d6jg]

WiiM Ultra & WiiM Amp have overlap as you say. Get him a regular integrated amp that will power the speakers correctly and use the Ultra as a pre amp.

 

[mlsstl]

I've been very pleased with my WiiM Ultra / Aiyima A70 combo. Plenty of power, and I use the Ultra's sub-out into a powered sub.

Even though the WiiM Amp Pro isn't terribly expensive by hi-fi standards, it bothers me to have that much feature overlap between the two WiiM devices.

 

[BK308]

As long as you don’t need a screen, phono input or multiple digital outputs I think the WiiM amp pro will suit all of your needs and then some. You cannot beat it for the value.

 

[harkpabst]

AIYIMA A70 (not the Mono version and not the A07 MAX) or a pair of Fosi V3 Mono amps (not the stere version and not the ZA3) are probably the most cost efficient options for pretty powerful and pretty high quality power amps at a very reasonable price.

Edit:
I can confirm that the V3 Mono are a very good match from personal experience (output voltage on the Ultra set to 2 Vrms, lower gain setting of 25 dB on the V3 Mono). The A70 did score almost as good at AudioScienceReview and costs a few dollars less.

 

[harkpabst]

As long as you don’t need a screen, phono input or multiple digital outputs I think the WiiM amp pro will suit all of your needs and then some. You cannot beat it for the value.

True, but his son does need a phono input. Plus the Ultra is in the house already.

 

[BK308]

True, but his son does need a phono input. Plus the Ultra is in the house already.

My bad I didn’t see he needed his turntable plugged in.

 

[Dan360]

Great responses. Much appreciated.
Aiyama A70 looks good on first blush.
Keep the suggestions and advice coming.
I have never bought/owned an amp, preamp etc. No separates. Just a receiver and all my plugged in. This is all new to me.
Thanks

 

[BK308]

I think for your true KISS solution I would choose the Dynasty era or even when they had more makeup on in the 80’s

 

[Dan360]

I think for your true KISS solution I would choose the Dynasty era or even when they had more makeup on in the 80’s

Nice! He wants to rock-n-roll all night and party every day

 

[HoosierHiFi]

The Onkyo A-9110 is a newer integrated amp that is very simple (all analog connections) with new upgraded transformers and circuitry. It doesn’t have high wattage but still offers good clean power that bats above its weight in terms of sound quality. It pairs very well with my ultra and has an old school hifi look that I really like. Its also reasonably priced so it won’t break the bank.

 

[Dan360]

The Onkyo A-9110 is a newer integrated amp that is very simple (all analog connections) with new upgraded transformers and circuitry. It doesn’t have high wattage but still offers good clean power that bats above its weight in terms of sound quality. It pairs very well with my ultra and has an old school hifi look that I really like. Its also reasonably priced so it won’t break the bank.

Ooh, I like the looks of that one. Prefer it (looks wise) to Aiyima A70. Worried that it is not enough power to drive my speakers. I know power watt stats are not always true comparison but 50w/channel for Onkyo vs 300 for Aiyima. Ugh - how do I reconcile those? Onkyo 2x the price for 1/6 the power

 

[HoosierHiFi]

Ooh, I like the looks of that one. Prefer it (looks wise) to Aiyima A70. Worried that it is not enough power to drive my speakers. I know power watt stats are not always true comparison but 50w/channel for Onkyo vs 300 for Aiyima. Ugh - how do I reconcile those? Onkyo 2x the price for 1/6 the power

I have a small listening space so the Onkyo has plenty of power to drive my small bookshelf speakers (Sony SS-CS5). You can pick one up on Amazon and try it and if it doesn’t have enough power you can return it. Take some time and do a little research there are lot of good amps out there.

 

[canard]

with your ultra ..a simple second-hand power amplifier like rotel or nad exposure audiolab etc etc " 100w ab " would do the job well.
(...with the added advantage of proven reliability and possible eventual repairability...)

 

[harkpabst]

Ooh, I like the looks of that one. Prefer it (looks wise) to Aiyima A70. Worried that it is not enough power to drive my speakers. I know power watt stats are not always true comparison but 50w/channel for Onkyo vs 300 for Aiyima. Ugh - how do I reconcile those? Onkyo 2x the price for 1/6 the power

It's all a matter of taste and preferences but personally I would not bother combining the WiiM Ultra with an integrated amplifier. Again, there's duplicated functionality, you pay extra for something the Ultra already gave you (like volume control, phono input, subwoofer output, and - at least one - high level input). I would go with a pure power amplifier instead any day. Wether a new one or second hand you have to decide for yourself.

Some argue that digital volume control could potentially be dangerous if the Ultra went to full output voltage, following a software problem. Yet, I only ever read about user errors, like enabling fixed output mode inadvertently, not software errors. I'm using digital, software controlled volume for years now with several devices and did not experience any such software error, ever.

Should you plan to add a subwoofer (which can make an unexpected lot of a difference) later on, you're much better of connecting it to the WiiM Ultra with it's advanced bass management for smooth integration. However, using the sub out in a remotely sensible way requires the Ultra to be in charge of volume control, because it has to keep the sub out level and the output to the amplifier at exactly the same ratio. Using an integrated amplifier with volume control on its own would mean to a) give up on the Ultra's sub out or b) always set the integrated amp to exactly the same volume setting. Otherwise the level balance between sub and speakers would change.

The A-9110 is an "old" device from the era before their bankruptcy. I am absolutely not in the position to judge its quality (build or sound), but when it was introduced in Germany more than 6 years ago the RSP was 249€. That's less then a pair of Fosi V3 Mono amps cost right now, so I wouldn't expect miracles. There have always been amplifiers that reportedly "punch abover their weight". May be this is such a case but the same is said about the V3 Monos as well.

Go figure ...

 

[pieterv1]

Any of these Hypex NC252MP based class D amps might be a good fit for the Ultra. They are pure power amp's so you're not wasting money on duplicate features like a second volume control. The Audiophonics version seems to be the cheapest and has a 12v trigger input - allowing for a fully automated setup in combination with the WiiM Ultra.

Hypex Ncore NC252MP market overview

I was trying to buy a NC252MP module to give Class D a try, but couldn't order it by itself anywhere. Hypex forbids the sale of the modules to DIY tinkerers such as me. So i took some time and collected the OEMs that use that specific module in their amps. Every single one of them would have...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[harkpabst]

Any of these Hypex NC252MP based class D amps might be a good fit for the Ultra. They are pure power amp's so you're not wasting money on duplicate features like a second volume control. The Audiophonics version seems to be the cheapest and has a 12v trigger input.

Hypex Ncore NC252MP market overview

I was trying to buy a NC252MP module to give Class D a try, but couldn't order it by itself anywhere. Hypex forbids the sale of the modules to DIY tinkerers such as me. So i took some time and collected the OEMs that use that specific module in their amps. Every single one of them would have...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Definitely an excellent choice. Even the Audiophonics unit is somewhat more expensive than the Amp Pro (which I took as a guideline for the upper limit), but not all that much.

 

[pieterv1]

Oh right! Well apparently there's a cheaper option as well, based on the NC122MP module. I'd say it's worth the extra €80 to get double the amount of power with the NC252MP version though

AUDIOPHONICS MPA-S125NC RCA Power Amplifier Class D Stereo NCore NC122MP 2x125W 4 Ohm - Audiophonics

The Audiophonics PAS-125NC incorporates a Hypex Ncore NC122MP power amplifier module. This is a solid base to build a powerful stereo HiFi system, capable of delivering 2x75W under 8Ω.

www.audiophonics.fr

 

[Harvey Krishna]

No mention of any Fosi products, curious!

 

[harkpabst]

No mention of any Fosi products, curious!

Did you read this entire thread?