Analog over Wifi

[5centsmoker]

I have a mini connected to a record player that I link to a pro in another part of the house. It works great as a way to wirelessly send the record player audio, but I’m wondering if upgrading either or both would improve the sound. I’m not sure how it all works, but it looks like there is some variation in the specs for analog in and out for the mini, pro and ultra. I assume there also has to be an analog/digital conversion happening at both ends along with network sending/receiving capabilities.

I’ve looked around some, and I haven’t found anything that really explains how this works. It doesn’t seem like a feature that wiim users focus on, maybe because it’s kind of backwards to be streaming records instead of using a wiim as intended to stream digital?

 

[hgo58]

I have a mini connected to a record player that I link to a pro in another part of the house. It works great as a way to wirelessly send the record player audio, but I’m wondering if upgrading either or both would improve the sound. I’m not sure how it all works, but it looks like there is some variation in the specs for analog in and out for the mini, pro and ultra. I assume there also has to be an analog/digital conversion happening at both ends along with network sending/receiving capabilities.

I’ve looked around some, and I haven’t found anything that really explains how this works. It doesn’t seem like a feature that wiim users focus on, maybe because it’s kind of backwards to be streaming records instead of using a wiim as intended to stream digital?

Hi welcome

The short version of how it works is like this:

The analog input (from your record player) on the Mini is converted to a digital audio signal (ADC). This is forwarded via WiFi to your network router. The router is then forwarding the digital signal to the Pro, also via WiFi. The pro can then output the digital signal directly on the SPDIF (optical or Coax) connections, or it can convert it to an analog signal again (DAC) and output that on the RCA connector to your amplifier.

 

[5centsmoker]

Hi welcome

The short version of how it works is like this:

The analog input (from your record player) on the Mini is converted to a digital audio signal (ADC). This is forwarded via WiFi to your network router. The router is then forwarding the digital signal to the Pro, also via WiFi. The pro can then output the digital signal directly on the SPDIF (optical or Coax) connections, or it can convert it to an analog signal again (DAC) and output that on the RCA connector to your amplifier.

Is there differences (other than the downstream DAC) in how this works for the mini, pro or ultra?

 

[hgo58]

Is there differences in how this works for the mini, pro or ultra?

Only that there may be a difference in the performance of the ADC and DAC.

 

[s3igell]

Is there differences (other than the downstream DAC) in how this works for the mini, pro or ultra?

The process is the same, but the quality of the components matter. The Mini has a rather rudimentary ADC chip (limited sampling rate and bit depth - 16bit/48khz), which carried over into the Pro. The Pro Plus and Ultra (and all later Amp models) changed to a much more capable 24bit/192khz ADC (as well as better DACs and other features).
If you want to improve your Multi-room Vinyl-over-Wiim system, consider replacing the Mini with a Pro Plus (it's ADC will be able to digitize the turntable input much better).

 

[5centsmoker]

The process is the same, but the quality of the components matter. The Mini has a rather rudimentary ADC chip (limited sampling rate and bit depth - 16bit/48khz), which carried over into the Pro. The Pro Plus and Ultra (and all later Amp models) changed to a much more capable 24bit/192khz ADC (as well as better DACs and other features).
If you want to improve your Multi-room Vinyl-over-Wiim system, consider replacing the Mini with a Pro Plus (it's ADC will be able to digitize the turntable input much better).

Thanks! This is what I’m looking for.

So, only pro plus? I have the potential to pick up an ultra and could go pro to ultra instead of mini to pro

 

[hgo58]

The process is the same, but the quality of the components matter. The Mini has a rather rudimentary ADC chip (limited sampling rate and bit depth - 16bit/48khz), which carried over into the Pro. The Pro Plus and Ultra (and all later Amp models) changed to a much more capable 24bit/192khz ADC (as well as better DACs and other features).
If you want to improve your Multi-room Vinyl-over-Wiim system, consider replacing the Mini with a Pro Plus (it's ADC will be able to digitize the turntable input much better).

That is all correct but the link between the WiiMs are 16/48 anyway. So not much gained by a higher sampling rate in the ADC.

 

[s3igell]

That is all correct but the link between the WiiMs are 16/48 anyway. So not much gained by a higher sampling rate in the ADC.

There is always much to be gained by higher sampling rate (and lower noise floor and greater dynamic range) of better ADC.
That gives the WiiM firmware much more to play with - even when it ultimately down-samples in order to play via multi-room link.

 

[s3igell]

Thanks! This is what I’m looking for.

So, only pro plus? I have the potential to pick up an ultra and could go pro to ultra instead of mini to pro

The Ultra has many other features to recommend it. But I was trying to be Price-Sensitive since your existing WiiM gear was Mini and Pro...
To get the benefit of the better ADC you would have to config TT-Ultra-wifi-Pro. But that leaves the Pro as your DAC into your Audio Gear in "the other room". In your OP, you didn't really mention that gear, only implying it was connected "analog" (meaning employing the DAC in the Pro).

If you are connecting the Pro to your gear via RCA, then either the Pro Plus or Ultra would be a better DAC in that "other room". If you are actually connecting to that Audio Gear via Coax or Optical Digital, then the Pro is just as good.

The Ultra also has an RIAA-enabled Phono Input - but if you are having success with the Mini then it shows your TT has a decent Phono Amp output already. Would the Ultra do better in that case?? Hard to tell in advance.