Hifi connections

[frescodk]

I've had a look around this forum without luck.
I'm hoping to build a hifi system around an NAD C356BEE or similar. I'll add a CD player and a turntable etc.
The question is, how do I connect a Wiim (and which wiim would be best?) so I can both stream Spotify to the system but also send the different inputs (records, CD, tuner, tape etc.) to another speaker (with a Wiim mini attached?) in a different room?
Does that makes sense?
Thanks in advance from Denmark.

 

[dudu]

As a starting point i would ask Google the follwing question:

Which WiiM devices support concurrent analog audio input and output?

Every WiiM device may be grouped with your existing Mini.

 

[Wiimer]

I've had a look around this forum without luck.
I'm hoping to build a hifi system around an NAD C356BEE or similar. I'll add a CD player and a turntable etc.
The question is, how do I connect a Wiim (and which wiim would be best?) so I can both stream

Spotify to the system but also send the different inputs (records, CD, tuner, tape etc.) to another speaker (with a Wiim mini attached?) in a different room?
Does that makes sense?
Thanks in advance from Denmark.

Yes, you can.
Please refer to this FAQ.

How to Play WiiM Multi-Room Music from Your CD Player, Turntable, or PC

TABLE OF CONTENTS Before You Begin Step-By-Step Instructions 1. Connect Your CD Player, Turntable, or PC to a WiiM Device 2. Select the Source Input 3. Create a WiiM Multi-Room Group 4. Play Multi-Room Music With WiiM multi-room music...

faq.wiimhome.com

If your turntable requires a phono preamp, the phono input of the WiiM Ultra is available. You may want to consider which WiiM device is necessary for you, taking into account the equipment you are connecting.

#Spotify and other sources cannot be output simultaneously.

 

[dudu]

If your turntable requires a phono preamp, the phono input of the WiiM Ultra is available. You may want to consider which WiiM device is necessary for you, taking into account the equipment you are connecting.

#Spotify and other sources cannot be output simultaneously.

My understanding was that analog sources will be connected to a preamp (NAD C356BEE or similar).

 

[Wiimer]

I've had a look around this forum without luck.
I'm hoping to build a hifi system around an NAD C356BEE or similar. I'll add a CD player and a turntable etc.
The question is, how do I connect a Wiim (and which wiim would be best?) so I can both stream Spotify to the system but also send the different inputs (records, CD, tuner, tape etc.) to another speaker (with a Wiim mini attached?) in a different room?
Does that makes sense?
Thanks in advance from Denmark.

You probably need three WiiMs to achieve what you want to do.

Connect WiiM 1 and WiiM 2 to the amplifier.
Connect a CD or TT to WiiM 1.
Connect WiiM 3 to speakers in another room.

Switch the amplifier input to WiiM 2 and play Spotify on WiiM 2. group WiiM 1 and 3 together and play TT or CD.

This way you could play Spotify in room A while simultaneously playing TT or CD in room B.

The least expensive combination is 1 Pro and 2 Minis.

 

[harkpabst]

Connect WiiM 1 and WiiM 2 to the amplifier.
Connect a CD or TT to WiiM 1.
Connect WiiM 3 to speakers in another room.

Switch the amplifier input to WiiM 2 and play Spotify on WiiM 2. group WiiM 1 and 3 together and play TT or CD.

This way you could play Spotify in room A while simultaneously playing TT or CD in room B.

The C 356BBE (I'll be abbreviating this as 356 from here on) has a mains in and a pre out (actually two of them), which are normally bridged.



@frescodk, without deeply contemplating about the topic I think one would get away with two WiiM streamers. One in the other room (WiiM Target Room, WTR) and one permanently connected between PRE OUT 2 and MAIN IN of the 356 (WiiM Source Room, WSR).

WSR's output is set to line out permanently. As long as its input is set to line in, it will pass through all the devices connected to the 356. When it's input is is switched to Network/Wi-Fi (or any of its inputs), it will ignore whatever might still be playing into its line input and put out its own signal straight to the power section of the 356.

If you want to play music from any input through both rooms, link the two WiiM streamers in the WiiM Home app and adjust the volume for each member as it pleases you.
If you want to play to the source room only, unlink the WiiMs.
If you want to play streaming content to the target room only, just use the WTR without using the system in the source room.
If you want to play records or CDs from the 356 to the target room only, group the two WiiMs and adjust the volume of WSR to zero (and/or disable the speaker output on the 356).

Drawbacks of this solution:

• The pre out signal of the 356 will be digitised by the ADC of WSR and then converted to analogue again by its DAC. This is true for all 356 inputs, phono as well as all high level inputs. But if you are looking for a "pure analogue" chain, then wireless multi-room music is impossible anyway.
• It's best to control the volume exclusively through the WSR and leave the 356 volume control untouched, but at some well defined position, possibly close to maximum. Reason: The 356 volume control only affects its pre out. Whatever is fed into the main in will be played at full volume. That means, that setting the WSR to full volume is potentially dangerous when using it as the source (e.g. for Spotify). So, better don't rely on the 356 volume control ever and get used to use the WiiM volume control instead. This gives you the added bonus of using a remote control for volume setting.

More things to consider:

• The output level of the WSR must be configured to not overdrive the 356's power section. WiiM streamers are very flexible here. Start with the 200 mV setting and increase until you get the desired maximum volume with the WSR volume control set to max.
• A good ADC/DAC is advisable to minimise the effect of the WiiM Source Room passing through the analogue signal. I would probably go with a pair of WiiM Pro Plus. Depending on what levels of performance you want from the source room system you might get along with a WiiM Pro there (or just not).
• The WiiM Ultra can do everything the WiiM Pro Plus can do (and more) but it would duplicate quite a bit of the functionality you already have. It would allow you to manage a subwoofer, though.

And one more time: Remember that in such a setup you must never run the connected WiiM streamer at full volume into the 356. This is the one serious thing to always keep in mind. I hope I didn't miss any fine details.

 

[Wiimer]

The C 356BBE (I'll be abbreviating this as 356 from here on) has a mains in and a pre out (actually two of them), which are normally bridged.

View attachment 23485

@frescodk, without deeply contemplating about the topic I think one would get away with two WiiM streamers. One in the other room (WiiM Target Room, WTR) and one permanently connected between PRE OUT 2 and MAIN IN of the 356 (WiiM Source Room, WSR).

WSR's output is set to line out permanently. As long as its input is set to line in, it will pass through all the devices connected to the 356. When it's input is is switched to Network/Wi-Fi (or any of its inputs), it will ignore whatever might still be playing into its line input and put out its own signal straight to the power section of the 356.

If you want to play music from any input through both rooms, link the two WiiM streamers in the WiiM Home app and adjust the volume for each member as it pleases you.
If you want to play to the source room only, unlink the WiiMs.
If you want to play streaming content to the target room only, just use the WTR without using the system in the source room.
If you want to play records or CDs from the 356 to the target room only, group the two WiiMs and adjust the volume of WSR to zero (and/or disable the speaker output on the 356).

Drawbacks of this solution:

• The pre out signal of the 356 will be digitised by the ADC of WSR and then converted to analogue again by its DAC. This is true for all 356 inputs, phono as well as all high level inputs. But if you are looking for a "pure analogue" chain, then wireless multi-room music is impossible anyway.
• It's best to control the volume exclusively through the WSR and leave the 356 volume control untouched, but at some well defined position, possibly close to maximum. Reason: The 356 volume control only affects its pre out. Whatever is fed into the main in will be played at full volume. That means, that setting the WSR to full volume is potentially dangerous when using it as the source (e.g. for Spotify). So, better don't rely on the 356 volume control ever and get used to use the WiiM volume control instead. This gives you the added bonus of using a remote control for volume setting.

More things to consider:

• The output level of the WSR must be configured to not overdrive the 356's power section. WiiM streamers are very flexible here. Start with the 200 mV setting and increase until you get the desired maximum volume with the WSR volume control set to max.
• A good ADC/DAC is advisable to minimise the effect of the WiiM Source Room passing through the analogue signal. I would probably go with a pair of WiiM Pro Plus. Depending on what levels of performance you want from the source room system you might get along with a WiiM Pro there (or just not).
• The WiiM Ultra can do everything the WiiM Pro Plus can do (and more) but it would duplicate quite a bit of the functionality you already have. It would allow you to manage a subwoofer, though.

And one more time: Remember that in such a setup you must never run the connected WiiM streamer at full volume into the 356. This is the one serious thing to always keep in mind. I hope I didn't miss any fine details.

I didn't know NAD had such a function. Thanks for the follow-up.

So, your method means he can play TT on WTR and at the same time play Spotify on WSR?

(To be honest, I haven't quite worked it out yet...)

 

[Wiimer]

Sorry, perhaps I misunderstood the OP's initial post..

 

[frescodk]

The C 356BBE (I'll be abbreviating this as 356 from here on) has a mains in and a pre out (actually two of them), which are normally bridged.

View attachment 23485

@frescodk, without deeply contemplating about the topic I think one would get away with two WiiM streamers. One in the other room (WiiM Target Room, WTR) and one permanently connected between PRE OUT 2 and MAIN IN of the 356 (WiiM Source Room, WSR).

WSR's output is set to line out permanently. As long as its input is set to line in, it will pass through all the devices connected to the 356. When it's input is is switched to Network/Wi-Fi (or any of its inputs), it will ignore whatever might still be playing into its line input and put out its own signal straight to the power section of the 356.

If you want to play music from any input through both rooms, link the two WiiM streamers in the WiiM Home app and adjust the volume for each member as it pleases you.
If you want to play to the source room only, unlink the WiiMs.
If you want to play streaming content to the target room only, just use the WTR without using the system in the source room.
If you want to play records or CDs from the 356 to the target room only, group the two WiiMs and adjust the volume of WSR to zero (and/or disable the speaker output on the 356).

Drawbacks of this solution:

• The pre out signal of the 356 will be digitised by the ADC of WSR and then converted to analogue again by its DAC. This is true for all 356 inputs, phono as well as all high level inputs. But if you are looking for a "pure analogue" chain, then wireless multi-room music is impossible anyway.
• It's best to control the volume exclusively through the WSR and leave the 356 volume control untouched, but at some well defined position, possibly close to maximum. Reason: The 356 volume control only affects its pre out. Whatever is fed into the main in will be played at full volume. That means, that setting the WSR to full volume is potentially dangerous when using it as the source (e.g. for Spotify). So, better don't rely on the 356 volume control ever and get used to use the WiiM volume control instead. This gives you the added bonus of using a remote control for volume setting.

More things to consider:

• The output level of the WSR must be configured to not overdrive the 356's power section. WiiM streamers are very flexible here. Start with the 200 mV setting and increase until you get the desired maximum volume with the WSR volume control set to max.
• A good ADC/DAC is advisable to minimise the effect of the WiiM Source Room passing through the analogue signal. I would probably go with a pair of WiiM Pro Plus. Depending on what levels of performance you want from the source room system you might get along with a WiiM Pro there (or just not).
• The WiiM Ultra can do everything the WiiM Pro Plus can do (and more) but it would duplicate quite a bit of the functionality you already have. It would allow you to manage a subwoofer, though.

And one more time: Remember that in such a setup you must never run the connected WiiM streamer at full volume into the 356. This is the one serious thing to always keep in mind. I hope I didn't miss any fine details.

Thanks for such a detailed reply. I'm definitely give it a go when I have all the pieces in place.

 

[harkpabst]

So, your method means he can play TT on WTR and at the same time play Spotify on WSR?

No, you're right, that would not be possible with the setup I suggested. Not at the same time.

Sorry, perhaps I misunderstood the OP's initial post..

Or maybe I got the requirements wrong. We'll have to wait for the OP to return and clarify his needs.

Edit: Looks like I've been late by less than a minute.

 

[Wiimer]

No, you're right, that would not be possible with the setup I suggested. Not at the same time.


Or maybe I got the requirements wrong. We'll have to wait for the OP to return and clarify his needs.

Edit: Looks like I've been late by less than a minute.

Yeah, I wrong