Considering buying WiiM Amp Ultra or Eversolo Play Amp.

[DoubleTap]

The WiiM Amp sounds very good, but the WiiM Amp Ultra sounds even better.

yeah, it was kind of a panic purchase - I have some job interviews this week (over Zoom) and the built in speaker on my monitor sounds terrible - I really wanted decent sound and the Wiimamp was available for overnight delivery.

The fact that the ARC works without ground loop hum and the sound is actually good has me just about over the Parasound...

 

[DariuszP]

This Wiimamp sounds a lot better than I expected so I think the Ultra would fit easily on my desk and I'd be really happy with it.

The WiiM Amp sounds very good, but the WiiM Amp Ultra sounds even better.

Confirm - I had Amp Pro, replaced it with Amp Ultra and this sounds better (although not dramatically better). EDIT: But w/o doubt it looks much better and addition of the screen (even if sort of small) is very useful - you can easily see what is going on (if it is playing, which source, etc).

 

[harkpabst]

1. Continue using my Wiim Ultra as a preamp and get a new power amp (I think Vidar 2 makes the most sense)

I think this gives me the best sound quality but in my previous config, the ARC input would give me a hum when I used my Parasound as a power amp (with RCA cables to the amp inputs) - I wonder if this was an issue with the Parasound or if it is something I would continue to experience with another amp. I suspect it's because my PC (connected to my monitor by displayport) is on another power circuit than my monitor and audio equipment. The loss of ARC is a hassle as my Samsung G80SD has smart TV features and my wife and I watch TV on it regularly.

There is no general hum problem with the Ultra's HDMI input. In my setups the WiiM Amp Pro, WiiM Amp Ultra and WiiM Ultra all behave the same regarding ARC. Since you already own the excellent WiiM Ultra a new power amp seems to be the natural path.

I just wonder why something as deliberately "old skool" as the Vidar 2 would make most sense in your case. One Vidar 2 would set you back almost two WiiM Amp Ultras, right?

There are lots of extremely capable small form factor high performance power amplifiers like e.g. many Purifi based designs (pick a local manufacturer), my beloved 3e Audio TPA325x amplifiers and last but not least the mightily fine WiiM Vibelink Amp.

Don't panic! Grab your towel! Think twice what you really need.

 

[RLB2444]

Confirm - I had Amp Pro, replaced it with Amp Ultra and this sounds better (although not dramatically better). EDIT: But w/o doubt it looks much better and addition of the screen (even if sort of small) is very useful - you can easily see what is going on (if it is playing, which source, etc).

I bought a Wiim Amp Pro and a pair of KEF Q1 Metas. I use Tidal as my streaming source. My 60 day trial period ended in mid June and had no issues whatsoever with either piece of the system. Every time I think about upgrading(?) to a Wimm Amp Ultra I really cannot imagine it being eye opening better than what I have. I have been down the Audiophile hobby once before and while I enjoyed the equipment I didn't spend enough time listening and enjoying the music. Now, this is my focus and I am getting it; detail, clarity, sound stage and emotional reaction to the music, not the equipment.

 

[mpr]

Well, I just sold my beloved Parasound Hint amp (it was too big) and was left with a Wiim Ultra, LS50 Metas and an SVS Micron 3000 - but nothing to push my speakers.

I ordered a Wiim Amp (gen 1) to use as an interim device. It's actually pretty impressive and I'm wondering if I should just get the Wiim Amp Ultra and sell my Wiim Ultra.

I was debating these three approaches:

1. Continue using my Wiim Ultra as a preamp and get a new power amp (I think Vidar 2 makes the most sense)

I think this gives me the best sound quality but in my previous config, the ARC input would give me a hum when I used my Parasound as a power amp (with RCA cables to the amp inputs) - I wonder if this was an issue with the Parasound or if it is something I would continue to experience with another amp. I suspect it's because my PC (connected to my monitor by displayport) is on another power circuit than my monitor and audio equipment. The loss of ARC is a hassle as my Samsung G80SD has smart TV features and my wife and I watch TV on it regularly.

1. Sell the Wiim Ultra and get a Wiim Amp Ultra

Based on my experience with the Wiim Amp this morning, the ARC input works without a hum so I think it would work on the Wiim Amp Ultra as well. I think the Wiim Amp Ultra would have slightly better sound quality than this Wiim Amp and I think it might be good enough for my small office.

1. Sell the Wiim Ultra and my Teac PD-301 CD Player and get an Eversolo Play CD Edition This seemed like the most intriguing option because the ES Play has a coax out I could run to my headphone amp (I know I could run USB from the Wiim Amp Ultra) and the ES Play not only has CD Play, it will rip CDs which is pretty great.

The thing that put me off of the Eversolo is that my main music service is Amazon and I prefer to start the music on my phone then use Alexacast to send it to my Wiim Ultra. The ES Play does not have Alexacast - you have to browse Amazon music from the device panel or mirror the device screen to your phone. This is a pretty big loss of functionality for me.


As appealing as the Play is, I don't think I could deal with losing Alexacast - I use it all the time. This Wiimamp sounds a lot better than I expected so I think the Ultra would fit easily on my desk and I'd be really happy with it.

Since you already have an Ultra, getting a Wiim Vibelink is a good option (speaking as someone who got one to pair with an Ultra and LS50 Metas, but a different sub )

It pairs well form-wise with the Ultra and sounds great using digital out and the Vibelink's DAC