Line-in quality issues with turntable

[wilxuk]

Hi everyone! I’m new to Wiim and new to the forum and wondered if anyone had any experience with this particular issue I’m having…

I bought the Wiim Pro Plus recently as a dedicated solution for expanding my turntable across my network. I went with Wiim based on the great reviews and the Pro Plus specifically because of the high-spec ADC.

I have a mid-high-end Roksan Attessa turntable with a built in phono pre-amp. I've tried a few different configurations, but the resulting sound quality when paired with the Wiimis unexpectedly poor. There is very little clarity, particularly in the mid and low frequencies, and there's an overbearing crackle/static that takes over when certain frequencies play, resulting in an unlistenable experience.

I’ve been in touch with Wiim about this and with nothing showing in the log, they suspected a faulty ADC (which I also suspected). However, the replacement unit is doing the exact same thing. Here‘a a few details for wider context:

1. The turntable works perfectly – when wired directly into my speakers, the sound quality is perfect, so there’s no obvious issue here.
2. The cables are in good working order. I've tried 3 different line-in connects between the turntable and the Wiim – all brand new. The same cables work fine when I bi-pass the Wiim as well.
3. I have a high-speed home network
4. My networked/bluetooth speakers work perfectly, and also work perfectly with the Wiim when playing Spotify over Airplay or Bluetooth. The issue seems to occur when the source is line-in and the ADC comes into play.
5. I experience the poor sound issue in multiple scenarios when using the Wiim and line-in is the source:
   1. When airplaying to high-quality Naim speakers
   2. When using my Naim speakers as Bluetooth receiver
   3. Even when hardwiring into my speakers via line-out on the Wiim
   4. These scenarios suggest that issue might lie with the signal processing
6. In addition, I've tried adjusting the line-in sample rates from low to high, which didn't make a difference.

My primary use-case is to play my turntable over Airplay (which the Wiim is absolutely ideal for on paper), so I'd be massively grateful to hear if anyone has experienced this issue, has a solve for it or any suggestions that I haven’t thought of.

Thanks I’m advance Wiim community

 

[jpgr1962]

Unfortunately yes.


Whatever he says, take good care and just do the opposite.

I like my Rega P6 (now with the incredibly good ND7) more than anything else but the medium LP record simply has its limits. There's simply no way that a very good pressing played through a very good deck could beat a very good digitally streamed master. But it can be surprisingly good and clearly beat a bad recording streamed through the best digital chain. If you get to that point you are pretty far already.


The lowish level says nothing about the quality but about the phono pre-amplifier in use. The Audio-Technica VM95 range is actually excellent (not just) for the money. I know that the VM95ML gets all the praise but my clear favourite is the VM95SH. I prefer it over the MP110, MP200 and over the AT VM540ML. It has extremely smooth mids and heights combined with excellent detail and precision.

I also purchased the VM95SH to compare to the VM95ML. Hoping to get around to that tomorrow. What improvement over the MP200 did you experience?

 

[jpgr1962]

I agree that the VM95 range is great value for money. I have an VM95ML on one of my turntables and Ortofon 2M Bronze on another. The ML is good but imho the 2M Bronze has significantly more detail but it was twice the price.

Which turntable of yours is sporting the 2M bronze? Ideally, the next turntable I purchase would have to have VTA adjustment capability and a removable headshell.

 

[jpgr1962]

I agree that the VM95 range is great value for money. I have an VM95ML on one of my turntables and Ortofon 2M Bronze on another. The ML is good but imho the 2M Bronze has significantly more detail but it was twice the price

I know I'm swimming against the tide here, but if you ever get the chance to hear the Shibata needle in the VM95, give it a chance.

Cannot compare it to any 2M cartridge, but to my ears the little loved VM95SH really has something very special about it. I've been using it in a RigB body and did apply a drop of thread locking glue to the front contact area between body and stylus tray.

I am looking forward to comparing the styl. Read great things about the Shibata. I wish I had a better turntable on hand for the comparison, but the LP70x will have to do.

 

[canard]

investing in such relative upgrades in terms of cartridges on such a mediocre base in terms of turntables is indeed not a good idea... there are tons of old turntables doing so much better.... I am shocked to discover that most turntables surfing on the entry-level vinyl revival are so catastrophic and ultimately expensive in relation to a huge second-hand market... an essential figure to observe is the w&f... and for example, this "70" offers terrible characteristics... which in the 70s would not have been acceptable for audiophile use and for good reason...


noise and wf are the first two characteristics of a """rotating base"""...
(and wf largely the first, the noise not ultimately concerning the essential of what is listened to with a dynamic difference of a few db)



i m sorry..

(le mot francais pour w&f est elegament tres explicite je trouve... "pleurage" ... )

rather hunt for an old serious turntable than run after the marketing effect of upgrading to an "expensive" diamond on an at95... not that it's not interesting but a thousand miles from the impact of a mechanical base and a serious arm. they are very very strong these "marketers" ;-)

 

[slartibartfast]

Possibly. But what really impressed on me was the clarity and how tight it sounded. I compared several of my all analogue pressings of Abbey Road (including an original UK pressing) to the 2009 remaster on Apple Music. The remaster just hit harder.

I was hoping for some explanation for this. Maybe something in the settings in the WiiM app that makes this so.

Here is someone's comparison of Abbey Road vinyl to the 2009 remaster CD. To be honest if they didn't sound different why bother doing the remaster?

First Listen: Beatles Remastered Compact Discs vs. U.K. Stereo Vinyl (Abbey Road)

Well, the day is finally almost here--9/9/09 is two days away. And if you haven't yet decided whether to buy the remastered cds, are wonde...

myvinylreview.blogspot.com