My New WiiM Ultra setup

[QuarryHunslet]

My New WiiM Ultra arrived this afternoon, as did my Aiyima Audio A70 Power Amplifier. Both were purchased as Black Friday Deals, the Ultra from Richer Sounds, and the A70 from Amazon.

I went for the A70 after seeing it recommended a few times on this forum, and watching a few YouTube videos, and reading reviews on various websites.

I have temporarily disconnected my WiiM Amp, and replaced it with the Ultra, and A70. I have connected things up as they were with the Amp, but I will be altering things eventually.

I'm using a pair of JPW Sonatas from 1993, and a Denon DSW-391 subwoofer from 2010, which was included in my Denon DHT-1311XP 5.1 system. I have my Crossover Frequency set at 70 Hz, and this seems to work well for me.

I have set the A70 volume control to the 12 O'Clock position, and am controlling the volume with the Ultra, and so far using volume 50 - 60 seems to be about right. I have had to reduce the volume on the subwoofer somewhat, as my previous setting for the Amp seems to be overpowering with the Ultra.

My Rega P2 and fono mini A2D are connected to a 4 Way RCA Stereo Audio Switch, together with a Nakamichi CR-3 Cassette Deck, and a Pioneer PDR-609 Compact Disc Recorder. These are all connected to the RCA Line In on the Ultra, although I am planning to try connecting the Rega P2 (without the fono mini A2D) to the RCA Phono input, to see which I prefer.

My TV, Blu-Ray Disc Player, and connection for iPhone/iPad are all connected to a 3-Way Optical Selector Switch, then to the Ultra Optical input.

That is my current set up.

 

[Yoku-San]

This is my setup. The Ultra with an NC252MP amp. I bought the amp used and am not sure which manufacturer built it (maybe soundimports.eu?). I am very happy with the pair. It replaced a WiiM Mini->SMSL SU-6->Marantz2238B+tracksDSPmini and sounds much better with the Lintons.

 

[Hiphiman]

My New WiiM Ultra arrived this afternoon, as did my Aiyima Audio A70 Power Amplifier. Both were purchased as Black Friday Deals, the Ultra from Richer Sounds, and the A70 from Amazon.

I went for the A70 after seeing it recommended a few times on this forum, and watching a few YouTube videos, and reading reviews on various websites.

I have temporarily disconnected my WiiM Amp, and replaced it with the Ultra, and A70. I have connected things up as they were with the Amp, but I will be altering things eventually.

I'm using a pair of JPW Sonatas from 1993, and a Denon DSW-391 subwoofer from 2010, which was included in my Denon DHT-1311XP 5.1 system. I have my Crossover Frequency set at 70 Hz, and this seems to work well for me.

I have set the A70 volume control to the 12 O'Clock position, and am controlling the volume with the Ultra, and so far using volume 50 - 60 seems to be about right. I have had to reduce the volume on the subwoofer somewhat, as my previous setting for the Amp seems to be overpowering with the Ultra.

My Rega P2 and fono mini A2D are connected to a 4 Way RCA Stereo Audio Switch, together with a Nakamichi CR-3 Cassette Deck, and a Pioneer PDR-609 Compact Disc Recorder. These are all connected to the RCA Line In on the Ultra, although I am planning to try connecting the Rega P2 (without the fono mini A2D) to the RCA Phono input, to see which I prefer.

My TV, Blu-Ray Disc Player, and connection for iPhone/iPad are all connected to a 3-Way Optical Selector Switch, then to the Ultra Optical input.

That is my current set up.

Congratulations on your new setup! It would be interesting to hear how you feel this sounds compared to the WiiM Amp, especially with regard to your new power amp which gets good reviews.

My own Black Friday spending has been more frugal than I initially thought it would be. A few weeks ago I auditioned some fairly high end dream kit at my local dealer (£10K in total) and, while impressive, I was pleasantly surprised when I returned home that my WiiM Mini >Mojo 2> 80s Cyrus and Mission hifi was still just as entertaining to listen to as theirs. In fact, with some of the dealer options for speakers (ranging £2-5K), while sounding very clear the system sounded much less exciting than mine. Proof, if any were needed, that auditioning is always really important and that while hifi mags might suggest each new expensive model of amp or speakers introduces sweeping improvements, the cumulative impact is maybe not as great as might be assumed.

And in the last few days I have also talked myself out of a WiiM device upgrade even though the sale prices are incredibly tempting. I was sure I would go for an Ultra but eventually reasoned I just do not currently have the need for all the extra functionality while still having some need for the one function missing from the Ultra that the Mini has. Yes, I know all the AP workarounds, but my logic is that by the time I could benefit from an upgrade then maybe this issue will have been resolved. I also had ringing in my ears the old advice from my parents that ‘a bargain is only a bargain if you need it’, even though they would also reinforce the lack of pockets in shrouds.

So what did I splash out on? A WiiM Remote for the Mini with 20% off! And I could not be more pleased.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

This is my setup. The Ultra with an NC252MP amp. I bought the amp used and am not sure which manufacturer built it (maybe soundimports.eu?). I am very happy with the pair. It replaced a WiiM Mini->SMSL SU-6->Marantz2238B+tracksDSPmini and sounds much better with the Lintons.


View attachment 14536

I used to have a pair of Wharfedale Linton XP2 speakers in the late 70's, and a friend had the earlier Wharfedale Linton 3XP speakers, both made in England. They both sounded fairly good back in the day, but were classed as budget speakers, and were pretty much all I could afford to buy from my local Comet store. I'm not sure how they would compare with the new Chinese built versions, which seem rather more expensive, and bear no resemblance to the 70's versions.

 

[slartibartfast]

I used to have a pair of Wharfedale Linton XP2 speakers in the late 70's, and a friend had the earlier Wharfedale Linton 3XP speakers, both made in England. They both sounded fairly good back in the day, but were classed as budget speakers, and were pretty much all I could afford to buy from my local Comet store. I'm not sure how they would compare with the new Chinese built versions, which seem rather more expensive, and bear no resemblance to the 70's versions.

I think I had 3XPs as well. Comet was a good place to buy cartridges etc

On second thoughts mine were probably XP2 as well

 

[pieterv1]

I received my Ultra yesterday and it turns out the spot once taken by the WiiM Pro + SMSL DAC was ideal for the Ultra

Paired directly with my Rotel RB-06 amp for the moment, but I might replace it with a class D amplifier later to free up some space.

The RC-06 preamp is now sitting unused so I'll probably sell both as a set. For now it's all sounding very good though and working very well with the 12v trigger output

Unfortunately the current implementation of Plex is not working for me (the app claims my server is on a different network)

 

[QuarryHunslet]

Congratulations on your new setup! It would be interesting to hear how you feel this sounds compared to the WiiM Amp, especially with regard to your new power amp which gets good reviews.

It's too early to tell yet, and it's not really feasible to make direct comparisons with my set up. All I can say at the moment is that I don't think it sounds much different, but then I wouldn't really expect it to.

And in the last few days I have also talked myself out of a WiiM device upgrade even though the sale prices are incredibly tempting. I was sure I would go for an Ultra but eventually reasoned I just do not currently have the need for all the extra functionality while still having some need for the one function missing from the Ultra that the Mini has. Yes, I know all the AP workarounds, but my logic is that by the time I could benefit from an upgrade then maybe this issue will have been resolved. I also had ringing in my ears the old advice from my parents that ‘a bargain is only a bargain if you need it’, even though they would also reinforce the lack of pockets in shrouds.

So what did I splash out on? A WiiM Remote for the Mini with 20% off! And I could not be more pleased.

I didn't really need the Ultra and Aiyima, but I thought I would like to try something different.

I also have WiiM Remote controls for my Mini's, and the rest of my compatible devices, making seven in total.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

I think I had 3XPs as well. Comet was a good place to buy cartridges etc

On second thoughts mine were probably XP2 as well

I think 3XPs came out around 1975, and the XP2s replaced them around 1978.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

I received my Ultra yesterday and it turns out the spot once taken by the WiiM Pro + SMSL DAC was ideal for the Ultra

Paired directly with my Rotel RB-06 amp for the moment, but I might replace it with a class D amplifier later to free up some space.

The RC-06 preamp is now sitting unused so I'll probably sell both as a set. For now it's all sounding very good though and working very well with the 12v trigger output

Unfortunately the current implementation of Plex is not working for me (the app claims my server is on a different network)

View attachment 14539

I used to have a Rotel integrated amp, I think it was the RA-312 or something like that, and this was connected to my Wharfedale Linton XP2 speakers.

I initially set up my Ultra and Amp without a trigger cable attached, but after a bit of forum searching I found that you could use a cable with a Stereo 3.5mm Jack plug on each end, so I found one lying in a box of random stuff, and connected it last night, and it seems to work very well.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

Today, I have disconnected and removed my Rega fono mini A2D phono preamp, and connected my Rega P2 to the Phono Input on my Ultra.

I had always considered my Rega P2 to be a bit Bass shy when connected to my WiiM Amp, but connected to the Ultra, there is much more Bass. Whether this is down to the Ultra, or my Aiyima A70 power amp, or a combination of the two, I don't know. I did need to turn down my subwoofer volume after setting up the Ultra, and A70.

So far, the only downside to connecting my Rega P2 to the Ultra has been a large thump/pop through the speakers when turning off the Rega to stop the turntable. This never happened when using the Rega fono mini A2D phono preamp, so I'm not sure why it is now.

A workaround is to mute the volume using the WiiM remote control, but I wonder if anyone else has had this issue.

 

[pieterv1]

a large thump/pop through the speakers when turning off the Rega to stop the turntable.

So strange! Usually the phono signal runs from the RCA connectors directly to the tonearm and cartridge. Maybe your turntable has some sort of muting circuit inbetween?

Going to test this with my Thorens... Although it doesn't even have a power switch. The motor is running directly from AC - switched by the 33/45 rpm selector.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

So strange! Usually the phono signal runs from the RCA connectors directly to the tonearm and cartridge. Maybe your turntable has some sort of muting circuit inbetween?

Going to test this with my Thorens... Although it doesn't even have a power switch. The motor is running directly from AC - switched by the 33/45 rpm selector.

The Rega has a rocker switch underneath the front left hand corner of the plinth, this is to start, and stop the turntable.

 

[Smartplug]

I used to have a pair of Wharfedale Linton XP2 speakers in the late 70's, and a friend had the earlier Wharfedale Linton 3XP speakers, both made in England. They both sounded fairly good back in the day, but were classed as budget speakers, and were pretty much all I could afford to buy from my local Comet store. I'm not sure how they would compare with the new Chinese built versions, which seem rather more expensive, and bear no resemblance to the 70's versions.

I did not noticed any wiim for the last 4 days. They probably had long weekend off.

 

[Skull]

I used to have this issue when I had a phono preamplifier connected but my planar 1 is connected directly to the ultra phono input and no noise from the turntable on/off anymore

 

[QuarryHunslet]

I used to have this issue when I had a phono preamplifier connected but my planar 1 is connected directly to the ultra phono input and no noise from the turntable on/off anymore

I have the opposite to you.

 

[slartibartfast]

I used to have this issue when I had a phono preamplifier connected but my planar 1 is connected directly to the ultra phono input and no noise from the turntable on/off anymore

That is the opposite issue then

 

[AlanB]

I used to have a pair of Wharfedale Linton XP2 speakers in the late 70's, and a friend had the earlier Wharfedale Linton 3XP speakers, both made in England. They both sounded fairly good back in the day, but were classed as budget speakers, and were pretty much all I could afford to buy from my local Comet store. I'm not sure how they would compare with the new Chinese built versions, which seem rather more expensive, and bear no resemblance to the 70's versions.

My first "proper" hi fi system had Wharfedale Linton speakers bought for me by my parents for my 21st birthday in 1975.

I still have them somewhere in my loft, but one of my sons sprayed the teak finish black when he was using them.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

My first "proper" hi fi system had Wharfedale Linton speakers bought for me by my parents for my 21st birthday in 1975.

I still have them somewhere in my loft, but one of my sons sprayed the teak finish black when he was using them.

Black finish was popular at one time.

 

[slartibartfast]

Black finish was popular at one time.

Starting in the 80s

 

[pieterv1]

The Rega has a rocker switch underneath the front left hand corner of the plinth, this is to start, and stop the turntable.

Ok, that doesn't explain why the audio would be affected though.

As I expected: no audible "thumb" with my Thorens