Newbie WiiM Ultra

[harkpabst]

Yes, that's exactly what I want to do.
Wiim as a preamp, AVR as a power amplifier.
This way, the Wiim takes over the tone control and room correction.
Thanks for your support

Just take note that connecting the WiiM Ultra to your AVR does not magically circumvent its preamplifer section. You have to manually enable Pure Direct Playback mode to minimise the influence of the AVR's circuitry and mostly use it as a power amp (with all other connections going through the WiiM Ultra).

The typical procedure would be like this:
Set the AVR's volume control to minimum.
Set the WiiM Ultra's volume control to maximum, but do not enable fixed output volume.
Now turn up the AVR's volume control until you reach the highest playback level you would ever want to use. Keep the AVR's volume control at that exact level.

From here on, control the volume from the Ultra, only. Don't touch the AVR's volume knob (or set it to exactly the same level prior to each listening session. Do not use any other input of the AVR.

It's as easy as that.

 

[rccarguy]

OP either do the following

1) Ultra fixed level analogue out, into line level input - CD
2) Ultra digital output (fixed) into AVR coaxial/digital input

For 1) Use pure direct mode this sets speaker to full range, bypasses tone controls, room EQ, levels
For 2) Use Pure direct, or stereo mode. In stereo mode it enables bass management, room EQ, levels. There may be a method of using bass management but NOT using the Denons room EQ.

You need to decide what room EQ system is better. Do you have the room EQ app on your Denon (£20) that will help tweaking.

The Wiim ultra is more customisable is some ways, you can adjust max correction, gain/boost, individual or pair, speakers/sub, or do it all manually, and choose specific house curves, and use calibrated mic + file

Either use room EQ in the Wiim, or the Denon and not both. Disable subwoofer on the Ultra.

Need to spend time comparing which room EQ is better , plus which DAC sounds better.

Best disable room EQ on the Ultra and Denon first, compare analogue out from the Wiim to the Denons own DAC THEN play around with room EQ systems.

 

[slartibartfast]

Just take note that connecting the WiiM Ultra to your AVR dies not magically circumvent it's preamplifer section. You have to manually enable Pure Direct Playback mode to minimise the influence of the AVR's circuitry and mostly use it as a power amp (with all other connections going through the WiiM Ultra).

The typical procedure would be like this:
Set the AVR's volume control to minimum.
Set the WiiM Ultra's volume control to maximum, but do not enable fixed output volume.
Now.turn up the AVR's volume control until you reach the highest playback level you would ever want to use. Keep the AVR's volume control at that exact level.

From here on, control the volume from the Ultra only. Don't touch the AVR's volume knob (or set it to exactly the same level prior to each listening session. Do not use any other input of the AVR.

It's as easy as that.

@rccarguy thinks the idea of doing this is funny

 

[rccarguy]

Just take note that connecting the WiiM Ultra to your AVR dies not magically circumvent it's preamplifer section. You have to manually enable Pure Direct Playback mode to minimise the influence of the AVR's circuitry and mostly use it as a power amp (with all other connections going through the WiiM Ultra).

The typical procedure would be like this:
Set the AVR's volume control to minimum.
Set the WiiM Ultra's volume control to maximum, but do not enable fixed output volume.
Now.turn up the AVR's volume control until you reach the highest playback level you would ever want to use. Keep the AVR's volume control at that exact level.

From here on, control the volume from the Ultra only. Don't touch the AVR's volume knob (or set it to exactly the same level prior to each listening session. Do not use any other input of the AVR.

It's as easy as that.

Pure direct doesn't convert a AVR to a power amplifier, you still go through the Denons pre amp.

It just disables all processing, any ADC, room EQ, bass management levels, tone controls, disables the HDMI board, and tries to get as pure path as possible.

It doesn't make it a stereo or multi channel power amplifier.

 

[harkpabst]

Pure direct doesn't convert a AVR to a power amplifier, you still go through the Denons pre amp.

It just disables all processing, any ADC, room EQ, bass management levels, tone controls, disables the HDMI board, and tries to get as pure path as possible.

It doesn't make it a stereo or multi channel power amplifier.

We all know that. It's not relevant and none of your comments to this thread has done anything but confuse @holger.

Please try to at least understand what the OP is after and what not.

 

[harkpabst]

@rccarguy thinks the idea of doing this is funny

Yes, unfortunately. What can I do about it?

 

[rccarguy]

Yes, unfortunately. What can I do about it?

Perhaps people need to learn what gear is and how to connect things up...instead of giving misinformation and poor advice.

If OP wants a pre-power system, the Denon can't function as a true stereo/multi channel power amplifier, and using one input as 100% gain (where you set it to 00db for one source that is variable gain, using the Ultra as a pre amp, and the Denon as a pseudo power amp) whilst it's also used for other sources are fixed (where you DO use the Denons pre amp) , ie BD player etc, is BAD BAD BAD idea

 

[harkpabst]

The way three other people have described it will work well according to the OP's whishes.

That's it.

Nobody ever said that any other sources but the Ultra would be connected to the AVR.

 

[rccarguy]

The way three other people have described it will work well according to the OP's whishes.

That's it.

Nobody ever said that any other sources but the Ultra would be connected to the AVR.

When someone is talking about a AVR you presume they have other sources...to do otherwise is utterly foolish . It's a device with multiple inputs, line level, optical, coaxial, HDMI, streaming UNP.

Again who presumes OP is NOT using it as intended?

Will people here be buying OP new speakers when he switches input from Ultra at 00dB to BD player after giving stellar advice to use a AVR as a power amplifier?



OP best go to avsforum, or read the manual, or PM me instead of listening to these "experts"

 

[harkpabst]

Please stop telling others what is foolish.

 

[rccarguy]

Please stop telling others what is foolish.

Then perhaps stop giving bad advice which could result in someone's speakers being blown up.

Will you be buying new speakers for the OP out of your own money for bad advice given? You haven't answered that question yet.

OP do the following

1) Use fixed analogue line output from the Wiim Ultra , into the Denon CD input
2) Use fixed digital digital output from the Wiim Ultra into Denon digital input

In either case, the Denon will be the master volume pre amp, and the Ultra will just function as a regular line level source.

Choice of mode will depend if you want speakers bass managed or not, ADC or not, room EQ or not, but if you want not ADC going on for 1) then use pure direct. 1) will use the Wiims Dac 2) will use the Denons DAC.

Unfortunately the Wiims don't have simultaneous analogue and digital out, so if you want to compare between them you'd need to go into the wiim app and flip between digital and analogue outputs, then change to the relevant input on your Denon

Don't listen to the people who say "set your Denon avr to 00db use as a poweramp"
because when you switch inputs to BD player HDMI it'll be at full power.

If you DO want a pre power system, using the Wiim as a pre amp, remove the Denon and use a stereo power amplifier.

 

[slartibartfast]

Then perhaps stop giving bad advice which could result in someone's speakers being blown up.

Will you be buying new speakers for the OP out of your own money for bad advice given? You haven't answered that question yet.

OP do the following

1) Use fixed analogue line output from the Wiim Ultra , into the Denon CD input
2) Use fixed digital digital output from the Wiim Ultra into Denon digital input

In either case, the Denon will be the master volume pre amp, and the Ultra will just function as a regular line level source.

Choice of mode will depend if you want speakers bass managed or not, ADC or not, room EQ or not, but if you want not ADC going on for 1) then use pure direct. 1) will use the Wiims Dac 2) will use the Denons DAC.

Unfortunately the Wiims don't have simultaneous analogue and digital out, so if you want to compare between them you'd need to go into the wiim app and flip between digital and analogue outputs, then change to the relevant input on your Denon

Don't listen to the people who say "set your Denon avr to 00db use as a poweramp"
because when you switch inputs to BD player HDMI it'll be at full power.

If you DO want a pre power system, using the Wiim as a pre amp, remove the Denon and use a stereo power amplifier.

 

[holger]

Thank you all for the lively discussion

I will set the following and do hearing tests

The typical procedure would be as follows: Set the volume control of the AVR to minimum. Set the WiiM Ultra's volume control to maximum, but do not activate the fixed output volume. Now turn up the volume of the AVR until you reach the highest playback level you'll ever want to use. Keep the volume control of the AVR at exactly this level. From here on, you only control the volume from the Ultra. Do not touch the volume control of the AVR (or set it to exactly the same level before each listening session. Do not use any other inputs from the AVR.

 

[harkpabst]

Thank you all for the lively discussion

I will set the following and do hearing tests

The typical procedure would be as follows: Set the volume control of the AVR to minimum. Set the WiiM Ultra's volume control to maximum, but do not activate the fixed output volume. Now turn up the volume of the AVR until you reach the highest playback level you'll ever want to use. Keep the volume control of the AVR at exactly this level. From here on, you only control the volume from the Ultra. Do not touch the volume control of the AVR (or set it to exactly the same level before each listening session. Do not use any other inputs from the AVR.

I see, you got the message.

 

[Burnside]

I see, you got the message.

Just like the advice for the vibelink

 

[rccarguy]

Thank you all for the lively discussion

I will set the following and do hearing tests

The typical procedure would be as follows: Set the volume control of the AVR to minimum. Set the WiiM Ultra's volume control to maximum, but do not activate the fixed output volume. Now turn up the volume of the AVR until you reach the highest playback level you'll ever want to use. Keep the volume control of the AVR at exactly this level. From here on, you only control the volume from the Ultra. Do not touch the volume control of the AVR (or set it to exactly the same level before each listening session. Do not use any other inputs from the AVR.

Yes that will work, if the avr has no other sources. I wouldn't recommend if other people use your system.

However a pre amp is still in the signal path.

When I tested as a poweramp it wasn't as good as a dedicated power amplifier

Ensure the bible use pure direct

Just like the advice for the vibelink

Which is a integrated amp/Dac

 

[Burnside]

Burnside said:
Just like the advice for the vibelink

Which is a integrated amp/Dac

Really? I thought it was an AVR