Powering WiiM Pro Plus with a power bank

I don't understand that.

(Note: I literally didn't understand the previous post when it wasn't translated to English, yet.
Cannot say I understand the meaning of the translated text any better. :))
 
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Hi all
This might have been discussed elsewhere - or be common knowledge - but I’ve started using my mobile power bank to power the WiiM Pro Plus. (And then ensuring the power bank is charged up via the mains overnight).
It does seem to sound better! Though this might be my brain tricking me.
Has anyone else experienced this?
Cheers,
Adam
My power bank allows me to charge and use at the same time so long as I get the WiiM fired up on the battery first. Not tried A-B with charge disconnected but done A-B using wall charger alone and power bank so far. Not imagination. The bass tightens up. It losses some bloom and effectively can sound a bit reduced. Drum strikes are cleaner and tighter. Vocals sound about the same to me. My knees won’t let me further investigate as the WiiM PP is on a low shelf 🙂.
 
It just hard to imagine how power supply can alter sound. You’re just making linear power supply relevant to stay in business.
Not the case in my system but it's sensitive tube monoblock amps.

Recently replaced an external 5v LPS to the WiiM Pro with another external using a battery to power it. There was a significant improvement. That surprised me coming from one LPS to the battery powered version, TalentCell. I had that for a bit and decided to give it a try and it's been an eye-opener. An average system may see minimal benefit but that wasn't the case in mine. WiiM Pro to an RME ADI-2. The DAC ate up the improvement immediately with the change.
 
It just hard to imagine how power supply can alter sound. You’re just making linear power supply relevant to stay in business.

I know this is a year ago but I was just wondering if you still felt this way about attention to power and it's effect on sound quality?

If you come across the thoughts of designers you'll often hear them talk about how they manage power within their products. Do a search for Rob Watts, who's designed the really successful Chord DAC products, you'll find some of his head-fi presentations.

He's also a good source for the relevant University research that's been done into how we hear things.
 
1. If Wiim design engineers can't filter out some noise on their DC input on their devices such as the Pro plus then they shouldn't be designing such devices ))
2. Power banks have switching circuits in them to make and regulate 5 volt DC so unless you stick a scope on them its not safe to assume that the noise is less. Lithium batteries are 3.7 volts so theres elecronics in the banks to produce 5v
 
I know this is a year ago but I was just wondering if you still felt this way about attention to power and it's effect on sound quality?

If you come across the thoughts of designers you'll often hear them talk about how they manage power within their products. Do a search for Rob Watts, who's designed the really successful Chord DAC products, you'll find some of his head-fi presentations.

He's also a good source for the relevant University research that's been done into how we hear things.
Rob insisted a LPS would not benefit his Chord DACs but more recently he's stepped back from such a conclusion.

There must be a reason some Chord users have discovered some LPS benefit. I haven't experienced it so can't say.
But in my system, a battery-powered 5v did very well for a WiiM Pro going into a RME ADI-2 that replaced another standard 5v LPS. Not by a little, either.
 
By sensitive do you mean poor noise rejection?
No, as stated, was already running a standard 5v LPS. Recently, I saw a video on Gabster's YouTube about dimmers impacting the quality of an LPS. So, I went in and removed the dimmer's power part. It did slightly improve but then I remembered I had a TalentCell battery powered LPS stored.

Since it had a 5v power option thought to try it. It crushed the standard LPS and is staying in the system. The dynamics, additional details and ease of presentation is far better using the TC LPS. Some believe that that ion type battery creates noise and is unstable and but not seeing it. It's exactly the opposite. They recommend using a LifePO4 lithium iron phosphate battery but I haven't tried that type.

The tube amps are quality and any change in the full range system typically yields some reaction and here the system output is far superior. YMMV. So, IMHO, the better the overall system, the more pronounced and clearcut this will be. It's not unusual these days to see battery powered diy audio designs aiding in the sound of streamers and some streamer/dacs such as by IanCanada. That's partly why I rethought the idea of moving in the LPS replacement. Very glad I did.
 
Rob insisted a LPS would not benefit his Chord DACs but more recently he's stepped back from such a conclusion.

Yes, he insisted that for a long time. Can only think that the conditions under which he was testing it didn't show much benefit.

My phonostage, which is fairly old now, Dynavector P75, used a wall wart and they always claimed that an improved power supply wouldn't make any difference. Not my experience.

Many things like that in this hobby. In my experience you've just got to try things and see if they work for you. We all have different systems, expectations and hearing so you'll only know if it's of benefit for you if you try yourself.
 
Yes, he insisted that for a long time. Can only think that the conditions under which he was testing it didn't show much benefit.

My phonostage, which is fairly old now, Dynavector P75, used a wall wart and they always claimed that an improved power supply wouldn't make any difference. Not my experience.

Many things like that in this hobby. In my experience you've just got to try things and see if they work for you. We all have different systems, expectations and hearing so you'll only know if it's of benefit for you if you try yourself.
I do not agree! The only thing that can proof you are not fooling yourself - which is a proven fact itself (self confirmation) - is a blind test! If there are significant differences any high value configuration will reveal it.
 
I do not agree! The only thing that can proof you are not fooling yourself - which is a proven fact itself (self confirmation) - is a blind test! If there are significant differences any high value configuration will reveal it.
Interesting theory.

'The only thing..'

How can you prove you are not fooling yourself?

😁

Bud, it doesn't really matter if it's real or not. If you like it, you like it. No one can experience what you experience. No one can deny your experience.

You'll have to get used to uncertainty. Uncertainly drives discovery. Discovery means change. I can see why folks are afraid of change. They like rules.

Some might really need to reconsider if music is a suitable hobby for them given that's its a phycoacoustic experience.
 
There cannot be that much of a difference then… 😇🤷🏼‍♂️
On the Chord DAC front, I simply can't conclude. With my RME, the folks there said due to ADI-2 design, there was no point in using an LPS.
Tried a couple of times in a test, (that was the original reason for the TalentCell 12v purchase) but I never could hear any difference. So, IMHO, RME were certainly correct about their DAC design.

The WiiM Pro (& Pro Plus) is a different beast as a streamer and that 5v input is just asking for it. 😙
Glad the WiiM folks created this external power design and allow for a 5v LPS (battery type) solution. Thank you, WiiM.

Can we have this option for an all-improved WiiM Ultra II?
 
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