Does using EQ degrade sound quality in Wiim Pro?
- Thread starter venkyrenga
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See what you did there. Yes of course ASR are not the final word on anything but the balance of measurement with logic and listening, rather than just a golden ears approach feels about right.That’s it settled then
Can you remind me what tests he performed with PEQ?
on the ultra not tested..on pro plus just engaged the peq without any correction...
to be checked...
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venkyrenga
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WiiM Pro - Review & Measurements (Streamer)
WiiM Pro - Review & Measurements Hey folks, It is time for my first review of 2023... This one is about a complete objective analysis of the new WiiM Pro streamer. The aforementioned has been recently announced, back in November 2022, and I can see quite a strong hype around it since. That...
www.audiosciencereview.com
Here the reviewer says,
"Obviously, you do not want to use EQ at fixed volume, unless 57dB SINAD (before D/A conversion) is something you are looking for... It becomes way cleaner with volume is unlocked, the lowered at about 95%. This issue could be easily fixed by firmware, by setting max volume about 1dBFS down."
Since then some changes have happened in the app. You no longer need to unlock the fixed volume to lower it. You can do that in the volume limit and keep the fixed volume on.
So I am wondering if I still need to do that or is the issue fixed. Or I only need to lower the volume when I apply positive gain in the EQ.
Fixed.WiiM Pro - Review & Measurements (Streamer)
WiiM Pro - Review & Measurements Hey folks, It is time for my first review of 2023... This one is about a complete objective analysis of the new WiiM Pro streamer. The aforementioned has been recently announced, back in November 2022, and I can see quite a strong hype around it since. That...
Here the reviewer says,
"Obviously, you do not want to use EQ at fixed volume, unless 57dB SINAD (before D/A conversion) is something you are looking for... It becomes way cleaner with volume is unlocked, the lowered at about 95%. This issue could be easily fixed by firmware, by setting max volume about 1dBFS down."
Since then some changes have happened in the app. You no longer need to unlock the fixed volume to lower it. You can do that in the volume limit and keep the fixed volume on.
So I am wondering if I still need to do that or is the issue fixed. Or I only need to lower the volume when I apply positive gain in the EQ.
The best thing with the WiiM PRO, pro + and ultra is the PEQ function . If you use it ( you should ) one cant hear any worsening off the sound. It sounds as clean as before, and the soundstage is intact . Its the same when using the digital output to a dac.
I understand why you asking this, because theres a lot of streamers and processors ( most AVR:s are terrible ) that do worsening the transparency of the sound when PEQ is used . This is not the case with the WiiM products.
To me, this all sounds better using PEQ settings to deal with (bass) room nodes. You can easily compare by turning on/off PEQ while listening. If you have bass issues in your room and you take them away, by judiciously using PEQ (only cutting, no boosting), everything will sound better ime.
venkyrenga
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Was it fixed through an update? So now I only need to lower the volume if I apply positive gains in the EQ?
Yes, fixed through an update. It's a bit more complex but simplified version looks like you said, needed only if a positive gain is applied.
The purpose of EQ is to change the sound, in the first place ...
I think it’s a silly question if it changes something for better or worse as that is highly subjective. Some people loved Beats headphones when they first came out… It’s like asking if food tastes better with salt. Have the confidence to taste on your own and make up your mind.
slartibartfast
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I think the question was really asking if there were any negative consequences of using EQ like increased distortion etc.
By technical definition, even applying a -2 dB Q=0.7 peak filter represents a linear distortion. 
I perfectly got the question, of course, but I think it has been answered extensively. As long as you stick to negative gain peak filters, the digital processing will not have any remotely audible side effects.
If you go with positive gain peak filters or high Q shelving filters (even with negative gain!) there's a risk of digital clipping, which can be mitigated by reducing the volume limit appropriately:
REW can be used to determine the required headroom as shown here:
I think that's pretty much all the information needed (unless WiiM finally come up with some automated clipping control, as has been requested for a long time).
I perfectly got the question, of course, but I think it has been answered extensively. As long as you stick to negative gain peak filters, the digital processing will not have any remotely audible side effects.
If you go with positive gain peak filters or high Q shelving filters (even with negative gain!) there's a risk of digital clipping, which can be mitigated by reducing the volume limit appropriately:
REW can be used to determine the required headroom as shown here:
I think that's pretty much all the information needed (unless WiiM finally come up with some automated clipping control, as has been requested for a long time).
A happy Wiim Pro owner here. Having the Wiim volume set to fixed I have been somewhat reluctant to use the EQ though.
In this and other threads on this forum regarding EQ, the consensus seems to be that that clipping can/will occur in a situation like mine: having fixed volume (or at 100 %) and using positive gain in the EQ.
Wiim though, states the following:
https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support...ow-to-use-parametric-eq-a-comprehensive-guide
Is it unnecessary to decrease the volume or having digital headroom when applying positive EQ gain, since with the mentioned “advanced algorithm” there will be no clipping or increase of distortion, or am I missing something?
In this and other threads on this forum regarding EQ, the consensus seems to be that that clipping can/will occur in a situation like mine: having fixed volume (or at 100 %) and using positive gain in the EQ.
Wiim though, states the following:
https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support...ow-to-use-parametric-eq-a-comprehensive-guide
Is it unnecessary to decrease the volume or having digital headroom when applying positive EQ gain, since with the mentioned “advanced algorithm” there will be no clipping or increase of distortion, or am I missing something?
slartibartfast
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I have seen no evidence of this advanced algorithm to avoid clipping and it has never been mentioned in the forum before. I wonder who wrote it.
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