Amp Ultra vs Ultra/Vibelink?

[Jiffylush]

However you don’t automatically get the fancy Bluetooth remote…. That’s another $31.

Yep, and I also spent a little money on the trigger cable.

I've been using my phone and the app instead of the remote, but it might be nice for guests. Hey, what's another $31 compared to how much I've spent on audio stuff this year?

Phono in was important to me, especially now that I've reached a limitation on my well loved Denon AVR-X2000 - Spotify Connect works great but it's limited to the highest setting under lossless.

 

[diepra]

I believe the only real difference after proper connection is that the Wiim Amp Ultra is the only one capable of Dolby 5.1, connecting the front left and right, the Sub, the "virtual center" and surround back left and right wirelessly. The Vibelink and the Ultra cannot do this and needs additional devises. Am I right?

 

[Burnside]

I believe the only real difference after proper connection is that the Wiim Amp Ultra is the only one capable of Dolby 5.1, connecting the front left and right, the Sub, the "virtual center" and surround back left and right wirelessly. The Vibelink and the Ultra cannot do this and needs additional devises. Am I right?

No, the group leader can be a WiiM Ultra, WiiM Amp Pro, or WiiM Amp Ultra.

See the WiiM support pages at https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support...ing-up-a-wiim-dolby-5-1-surround-sound-system

 

[DazST]

I've just deepened my commitment to WiiM by ordering a vibelink amp! This will replace a Yamaha as501 and be paired with an ultra in my main system, allowing me to switch my current Amp Ultra for use in my office/den system.

 

[DazST]

The vibelink arrived yesterday so I'll be setting it up today. Plan is to tuck the vibelink away in the sideboard and set it to fixed volume. Then the ultra on top of sideboard and used for volume control (optical out to vibelink). Are there any drawbacks to this I should be aware of?

 

[Mr Ee]

The vibelink arrived yesterday so I'll be setting it up today. Plan is to tuck the vibelink away in the sideboard and set it to fixed volume. Then the ultra on top of sideboard and used for volume control (optical out to vibelink). Are there any drawbacks to this I should be aware of?

Only that you'll need a trigger cable between the two, and if for some reason that doesn't work 100% then you'll need to turn the vibelink on manually either from the wiim app (using bluetooth or the trigger on/off option for the ultra) or from the button on the rear of the vibelink.
I have the same setup, but for some reason recently the trigger doesn't always work.
Sometimes the vibelink doesn't turn on. Sometimes it doesn't turn off.

 

[DazST]

OK thanks. I'll use the trigger that came with the vibleink. I'm really hoping that works reliably for on/off though as it's one of the main reason I got the vibelink to replace my Yamaha amp (which had to be switched manually and drove others in the house mad!)

 

[harkpabst]

The vibelink arrived yesterday so I'll be setting it up today. Plan is to tuck the vibelink away in the sideboard and set it to fixed volume. Then the ultra on top of sideboard and used for volume control (optical out to vibelink). Are there any drawbacks to this I should be aware of?

None that I'm aware of.

Should you ever want to use the reset button on the WiiM Vibelink Amp, you'll need to reach to its backside, of course. It this is really just for a reset. Removing the mains power should serve the same purpose.

If you use a trigger cable from the Ultra to the Vibelink Amp, the Ultra can wake up the Vibelink Amp from sleep mode. The WiiM Home App can do the same and it can also send it to sleep again

Strangely, it looks like the trigger cannot switch the Vibelink Amp back on when it's been sent to sleep by the WiiM Home App. I need to do more testing on this, though.

Edit:
Too late again! I see a dark pattern.

To add something that hasn't been said during the last 15 minutes: The WiiM Ultra and WiiM Vibelink Amp really are one fantastic combo! And the WiiM Sub Pro is a good addition, too.

 

[Mr Ee]

OK thanks. I'll use the trigger that came with the vibleink. I'm really hoping that works reliably for on/off though as it's one of the main reason I got the vibelink to replace my Yamaha amp (which had to be switched manually and drove others in the house mad!)

I wasn't aware it came with a trigger cable!
Nice if it does now.

 

[Mr Ee]

Strangely, it looks like the trigger cannot switch the Vibelink Amp back on when it's been send to sleep by the WiiM Home App. I need to do more testing on this, though.

What do you mean 'by the WiiM Home App'?
Bluetooth or the trigger control?
It all seems to have gone wrong (well, not quite right rather than wrong) for me since I had a play with the trigger screen, despite removing power from both devices occasionally.

 

[DazST]

None that I'm aware of.

Should you ever want to use the reset button on the WiiM Vibelink Amp, you'll need to reach to its backside, of course. It this is really just for a reset. Removing the mains power should serve the same purpose.

If you use a trigger cable from the Ultra to the Vibelink Amp, the Ultra can wake up the Vibelink Amp from sleep mode. The WiiM Home App can do the same and it can also send it to sleep again

Strangely, it looks like the trigger cannot switch the Vibelink Amp back on when it's been send to sleep by the WiiM Home App. I need to do more testing on this, though.

Edit:
Too late again! I see a dark pattern.

To add something that hasn't been said during the last 15 minutes: The WiiM Ultra and WiiM Vibelink Amp really are one fantastic combo! And the WiiM Sub Pro is a good addition, too.

Thanks for that. The vibelink will still be easily accessible in the sideboard so that should be OK. I'm actually now second guessing whether I should just keep the amp ultra in my main system and use the ultra/vibelink combo in my office system! That way it will be only me who will be annoyed if the trigger doesn't work properly!

 

[DazST]

I wawn't aware it came with a trigger cable!
Nice if it does now.

Yeah I wasn't expecting it to, but there was one included in the box which was nice.

 

[Mr Ee]

I'm actually now second guessing whether I should just keep the amp ultra in my main system and use the ultra/vibelink combo in my office system! That way it will be only me who will be annoyed if the trigger doesn't work properly!

And, funnily enough, yet again I have the same setup for the same reason!
And to add something that hasn't been said during the last 15 minutes, I can't tell the two setups apart (into the same speakers).

 

[Ronnie D]

Yeah I wasn't expecting it to, but there was one included in the box which was nice.

I have the Ultra Vibelink combo although mine didn't come with the trigger cable.
It's a great setup.
I don't have any problems with the trigger cable function, apart from the incomplete trigger off when it's checking for updates during the night occasionally.
I believe WiiM are working on a solution for this.

 

[DazST]

And, funnily enough, yet again I have the same setup for the same reason!
And to add something that hasn't been said during the last 15 minutes, I can't tell the two setups apart (into the same speakers).

I think I'm leaning toward this option myself. It's just too simple having the amp ultra in the main living room system. Everyone in the house can easily use it for TV and music without any hassles.
I can use the ultra and vibelink in my office, along with a headphone amp (topping dx5ii). It'll also give me an excuse to muck around with making some shelving for the desktop too. If I go this route I'll like set ultra to 100% fixed and use vibelink (speakers) and topping (headphones) for volume control. And if I end up adding a sub at some point then I'll obviously go the other way.

 

[Mr Ee]

topping dx5ii

Was on my short list!
Bought a Fiio K13 instead (which is now in my main setup) so using a K11 r2r with the Ultra atm.

I'll like set ultra to 100% fixed

100% variable is the same, and allows you to use the ultra dial, remote, phone volume, app volume etc. etc. if desired.

if I end up adding a sub at some point

I'm still considering this.

 

[DazST]

Was on my short list!
Bought a Fiio K13 instead (which is now in my main setup) so using a K11 r2r with the Ultra atm.


100% variable is the same, and allows you to use the ultra dial, remote, phone volume, app volume etc. etc. if desired.

I had the k11 r2r previously and liked it, but swapped it for the topping as the amp section is much better.

Good shout about 100% variable volume on the ultra, I'll do that.

 

[CptKaos]

some shelving for the desktop too

Fosi sells a nice rack that works great with the Ultra + Vibelink

sorry about the blurry picture

 

[DazST]

Fosi sells a nice rack that works great with the Ultra + Vibelink
View attachment 34558
sorry about the blurry picture

Thanks, that does like nice but I prefer to make my own in timber to match my desktop.

 

[harkpabst]

What do you mean 'by the WiiM Home App'?
Bluetooth or the trigger control?

I'm talking about the direct on/off switch on the separate device card for the Vibelink Amp (so Bluetooth).
I press the on/off button on the Ultra's remote (=> standby and touchscreen display off).
The Vibelink Amp doesn't power down.
I press the Vibelink Amp's on/off button in the WHA (=> Vibelink Amp "off", seemingly not the same as sleep state (?) because ...).
I start playing music on the Ultra (=> Vibelink Amp remains off). The Ultra and Sub Pro are very obviously playing.

I have to check if this is repeatable and which trigger state is displayed in the WHA.

The trigger control page seems to work well for me, but it's a little weird.

1. When the current trigger status is "On" it doesn't make sense to display "Trigger On Once" as the active button and "Trigger Off Once" as if it was inactive.
2. In fact, the "Off" button works, despite looking like greyed out.
3. Having both buttons (technically and visually) active still makes sense, in case the actual status is not displayed correctly.
4. Not being a native speaker I'll be careful with this, but "Trigger On Once" sounds strange to me. I'd prefer something like "Trigger On Now" and "Trigger Off Now", because that's what it's expected to do. These "once" functions can be operated as often as you want to.