My New WiiM Ultra setup

[adias]

 

[QuarryHunslet]

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

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

The Rega is powered by an external 24 volt AC Adaptor, and activated by the rocker switch underneath the plinth, so whether the Ultra is picking up interference from the switch, I don't know.

I am planning to try another one of my turntables tomorrow, to see if this does the same. This is an old Sony Direct Drive PS-LX5, from the early 1980s.

Unfortunately, I can't try my Linn Sondek LP12 from 1988, as it is in need of a repair, or replacement power supply.

 

[harkpabst]

The Rega is powered by an external 24 volt AC Adaptor, and activated by the rocker switch underneath the plinth, so whether the Ultra is picking up interference from the switch, I don't know.

That's a bit of a surprise to me, I had expected this to be one of the older 230 V units and I was expecting the thumb to be the result of a switching spark. No so likely with the 24 V version, I think.

Rega turntables have no electrical connection between the motor PCB and the tonearm. You could connect e.g. just the left channel and see if the thumb still comes from both speakers.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

That's a bit of a surprise to me, I had expected this to be one of the older 230 V units and I was expecting the thumb to be the result of a switching spark. No so likely with the 24 V version, I think.

Rega turntables have no electrical connection between the motor PCB and the tonearm. You could connect e.g. just the left channel and see if the thumb still comes from both speakers.

It's quite a new Rega, less than two years old. As mentioned previously, when I had it connected to my WiiM Amp via the Rega fono mini A2D, there was no noise when switching the turntable on or off.

I can't try your suggestion today, because my ultra has been disconnected, and I have gone back to basics by connecting a WiiM Pro to my new Aiyima A70 amplifier to evaluate things, as I wasn't happy with the sound of the Ultra, and A70 combination, and have come to the conclusion that there are a lot of awful sounding recordings on the popular streaming services.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

I have reconnected my Ultra, and went to try my old Sony turntable, but it didn't want to play. It lit up when powered, but the platter wouldn't turn, although when given a helping hand it would manage about 1.5 revolutions before stopping again.

It was brought from a cold room into a slightly warmer room, whether it didn't like the cold I'm not sure. I managed to get it working this morning, and played one side of a record, but it refused to play the second side.

The outcome of this test was that there was no pop/thump through the speakers when starting and stopping the turntable.

Back to the Rega, I tried switching it on and off with the audio cables disconnected from the Ultra, and as you would expect, silence. Then, I tried just connecting the left channel, and there was a quiet pop when switching on, but nothing switching off. I repeated this with the right channel, and there was no pop switching on, but there was switching off, there was also an audible hum through the speaker this time. Whether this has anything to do with the Rega not having a separate Earth/Ground wire I don't know.

Anyway, with everything connected, I played one side of a record on the Rega, and there was only a small pop when I stopped it at the end of the side, so that seemed better than before.

With the Phono input still selected on the Ultra, I decided to play a cassette in my Nakamichi, and when I turned the power on, I got a very noticeable pop through the speakers, but went on to select Line In to play the cassette, and all seemed good.

I have also tried playing TV sound via optical input, and also a CD via an external Samsung CD/DVD writer that is connected to my Windows 11 mini PC, that is also connected to my TV. These sounded okay, as did playing music from the Amazon Music app on my TV, although the TV optical output seems to be limited to 24-bit 48 kHz, but I suppose that isn't too much of an issue, as I can easily get 24-bit 192 kHz content via the WiiM Home app.

Overall, I am now much happier with the WiiM Ultra, and Aiyima A70 combination than I was when I set it up on Sunday.

 

[harkpabst]

Then, I tried just connecting the left channel, and there was a quiet pop when switching on, but nothing switching off. I repeated this with the right channel, and there was no pop switching on, but there was switching off, there was also an audible hum through the speaker this time. Whether this has anything to do with the Rega not having a separate Earth/Ground wire I don't know.

The Rega tonearms do have an internal ground wire, which starts at the end of the arm tube and is connected to the left signal ground. But honestly, I cannot see how that would correlated with your findings. Could it be these results are somewhat random? Or are they perfectly repeatable?

I probably wouldn't bother too much. I have an NAD 533 (upgraded to a P2 glass platter and a P3 end stub/counterweight) connected to the Ultra and honestly I can't even remember if there are any pops switching it on and off.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

I think that my results were a bit variable, and the record that I played today sounded very good, and the switch off pop was much quieter than when I first set up my Ultra.

I have tried to arrange the cables in a slightly better way than previously, but don’t know whether that would have made any difference.

I will play a few more records over the next few days, and see how it goes, hopefully it will be better.

 

[Smartplug]

I think that my results were a bit variable, and the record that I played today sounded very good, and the switch off pop was much quieter than when I first set up my Ultra.

I have tried to arrange the cables in a slightly better way than previously, but don’t know whether that would have made any difference.

I will play a few more records over the next few days, and see how it goes, hopefully it will be better.

I know you don’t like stereo peq rc. Try the new independent rc and see how you like it.