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.