Newbie (but oldie) setup

[GeeJay]

Hi - new to the forum, new to the world of streamers and to the WiiM Ultra.

I picked one up earlier this week from Richer Sounds who price-matched Amazon's Prime Day pricing (£279), which was/is a total bargain. Very impressed with the device.

Main reason for buying was to listen to my vinyl collection via my 45+ year-old turntable, as well as access internet radio, digital media from my computer, phone and NAS. I want to add a CD player at some point. Currently outputting via an active studio monitoring system that may get replaced/upgraded down the line. So without further ado, my setup is

Inputs/Sources:
Phono: Pioneer PL112D, Ortofon VMS 20E II
WiFi: Synology NAS (Still have to connect this)
Bluetooth : iPhone15, iMac 27/MacBook Air
USB: Sandisk 64GB Thumb Drive
Line In : Will be a CD player at some point, but will probably be my iMac or outputs from a Presonus Audiobox

Outputs
Line Out : Mackie CRS8S XBT (HPF at 80Hz) - Wharfedale Diamond 8.1 Diamond Pro Active
Bluetooth : Sony WH-900N headphones
Headphone : AKG (can't remember the model)

 

[F1 Fan]

Add some pics

 

[GeeJay]

Add some pics

Not taken any yet, but I’ll post something when I have…

 

[GeeJay]

Still not got any pics, but have now connected the subwoofer to the Sub Out connection (set high pass to max and volume to 75% on the sub) and the speakers directly to the Line Out connection, in order to allow the Ultra to manage the sound from both.

Ran the synch subwoofer function in the WiiM Home app (hi-pass at 80Hz) and did a room compensation.

Sounds much better than before.

Also re-ripped a couple of CDs to AIFF lossless and played those (don’t have a CD player right now). Again, noticeably better. Need to do the rest now..

Need to spend a bit more time with this, but may well upgrade the speakers at some point (considering Q-Acoustic M20, M40 or maybe push the boat out and get a pair of Acoustic Energy AE1 Active). Anyway, not in a rush it’s sounding decent already.

 

[harkpabst]

... (set high pass to max and volume to 75% on the sub) ...

It's a low pass filter on the sub, I hope.

What is the subwoofer level setting in the WiiM Home app? I'd rather reduce the volume setting on the sub than go below 0 dB in the WiiM Home app.

 

[GeeJay]

It's a low pass filter on the sub, I hope.

What is the subwoofer level setting in the WiiM Home app? I'd rather reduce the volume setting on the sub than go below 0 dB in the WiiM Home app.

Thanks.

The sub has pot for a high pass filter, which I previously had set to 80Hz. My understanding is that this allows frequencies below 80Hz to be managed by the sub and those above 80Hz to pass through to the main speakers (which IIRC have a bass roll off below 80Hz anyway).

Now that the sub and speakers are connected directly to and controlled by the Ultra, I’ve set the controls on the sub as per what it says in the WiiM app, ie “to ensure the crossover frequency setting works optimally, please set the crossover on the connected subwoofer to maximum”.

The App settings for the sub are 0 dB, 80 Hz, 0 Phase, Main Speakers Output Bass - Off

 

[harkpabst]

The sub has pot for a high pass filter, which I previously had set to 80Hz. My understanding is that this allows frequencies below 80Hz to be managed by the sub and those above 80Hz to pass through to the main speakers (which IIRC have a bass roll off below 80Hz anyway).

OK, I have no idea which sub it is so I should have kept to myself. Some subs have an output for the mains speakers and do employ a high pass filter, indeed. Not using this but leaving it all to the Ultra is the right way to go.

The App settings for the sub are 0 dB, 80 Hz, 0 Phase, Main Speakers Output Bass - Off

Perfectly fine if the sub level isn't too loud.

 

[GeeJay]

OK, I have no idea which sub it is so I should have kept to myself. Some subs have an output for the mains speakers and do employ a high pass filter, indeed. Not using this but leaving it all to the Ultra is the right way to go.


Perfectly fine if the sub level isn't too loud.

No worries, appreciate the input.

As per my opening post, the sub I currently have is a Mackie CR8S-XBT. Basically a cheap studio sub which has inputs for the main programme and outputs via an HPF to powered/active speakers.

 

[GeeJay]

As posted earlier today on the AV Forum...

Well, some time has passed and I’ve tweaked a few things:

• Mackie Subwoofer is now connected to Sub Out on the WiiM Ultra
• Wharfedale Diamond 8.1 Pro Actives are connected to Line Out on the WiiM
• Purchased some better quality, but still inexpensive connecting cables from Amazon
• Got some Mission Stance speaker stands, which are lower and more solid than my old Soundstyle single column stand (did this today in fact, very pleased with them)
• Ran RoomFit again

Must say, I’m delighted with the sound coming out of the system when streaming from NAS, USB and Spotify/Amazon Music (have to decide which I want to subscribe to). Best I’ve heard for a while. No hurry to change anything.

Microscope now focused on the turntable which currently has too much wow and flutter. It’s had a new belt and motor has been lubricated, so a bit of a head-scratcher at the moment.

 

[slartibartfast]

As posted earlier today on the AV Forum...

Well, some time has passed and I’ve tweaked a few things:

• Mackie Subwoofer is now connected to Sub Out on the WiiM Ultra
• Wharfedale Diamond 8.1 Pro Actives are connected to Line Out on the WiiM
• Purchased some better quality, but still inexpensive connecting cables from Amazon
• Got some Mission Stance speaker stands, which are lower and more solid than my old Soundstyle single column stand (did this today in fact, very pleased with them)
• Ran RoomFit again

Must say, I’m delighted with the sound coming out of the system when streaming from NAS, USB and Spotify/Amazon Music (have to decide which I want to subscribe to). Best I’ve heard for a while. No hurry to change anything.

Microscope now focused on the turntable which currently has too much wow and flutter. It’s had a new belt and motor has been lubricated, so a bit of a head-scratcher at the moment.

Turntable speed issues could be an out of spec capacitor on the motor PCB. My Rega was running slow with a new belt and a new capacitor fixed it.

 

[d6jg]

Slightly off topic but I note you are running a VMS20E II. Have you got a source for new styli? I need one

 

[GeeJay]

Slightly off topic but I note you are running a VMS20E II. Have you got a source for new styli? I need one

I’ve cleaned my old stylus and it looks ok under a microscope, but I’ll also be looking for a replacement once I get the speed controll issue sorted.

 

[canard]

Turntable speed issues could be an out of spec capacitor on the motor PCB. My Rega was running slow with a new belt and a new capacitor fixed it.

Seem same here...
(Probably a x2 or y2)

 

[canard]

Seem same here...
(Probably a x2 or y2)

To see the type and quantity of lubricant (after deep cleaning with IPA of the "well" etc.) and don't forget that the belts have a direction... (and that many very variable quality of belt ..impacts the w&f)
(If an app use for mesureament... need many precautions ..precaution to avoid the clumsiness....)

 

[slartibartfast]

To see the type and quantity of lubricant (after deep cleaning with IPA of the "well" etc.) and don't forget that the belts have a direction... (and that many very variable quality of belt ..impacts the w&f)
(If an app use for mesureament... need many precautions ..precaution to avoid the clumsiness....)

I knew mine was running slow as the length of a ripped album side was a few minutes longer than it should have been

 

[HansD-NL]

I knew mine was running slow as the length of a ripped album side was a few minutes longer than it should have been

That's why I always use a Quartz locked turntable (and have been for a long time) to record anything from vinyl. I recently compared two recordings of the same record almost 20 years apart and they run perfectly in sync the whole way thru. Both turntables where Technics, one a SL-1210MK2 and the other a SL-Q2.

 

[GeeJay]

Bit more of an update.

Turntable:
- replaced both ‘safety’ RiFa capacitors with modern polyester X3 equivalent devices
- removed centre spindle, cleaned and relubricated
- another new belt

Now working fine, in no hurry to change it for something newer. Especially having reviewed my LP collection which is quite modest really (160 albums), but I’ve had some of them over 50-years now so it is great to be able give them a spin again. Should get a new stylus/cartridge at some point, but it is working fine as is.

Streaming:
Just started an Amazon Music Unlimited (on 4-month trial) which I’ll be comparing with Spotify and possibly Tidal, but so far the material from Amazon sounds really good.

Upgrades
Though very happy with the system as is:

Going to bung up the lower cable-access holes in my speaker stand columns and fill them with kiln dried paving sand.

Still pondering upgrading my speakers at some point, but am absolutely not in a rush to do so and will only do upgrade/change if I can audition candidates first.
Considering:
- Adam Audio T7V don’t know how they would fare for general listening rather than near-field
- KRK Rokit 7 G5, again don’t know how they’d fare for general listening
- Acoustic Energy AE1 Active, get great reviews but I’ve never heard them and they are double the price of the others.

Just seen that Tangent have just released their CDIII unit which has a similar form factor to the Ultra and has gapless playback. So, one of those is now on the radar (probably ahead of changing speakers as I don’t have a CD player at the moment). But again, in no rush.

For those that might be looking for an amp that has similar form factor to the Ultra, Tangent have also just released their Ampster III amplifier. I’ve no idea how it sounds and I’ve seen no reviews yet, but might be of interest to some?

Very much enjoying the WiiM Ultra, I think it’s an outstanding product.