Preamp>Wiim Amp/Pro>Passive Speakers Question

[J0my]

Hello, I am trying to get my first speaker setup organised and I have some questions. I have a JDS Element IV on the way for some headphones and IEMs I am going to use with it. It contains RCA Preamp outputs that I was looking to feed a Wiim Amp to then power some bookshelf speakers (KEF Concerto Q Meta). The Element IV would be fed by USB input from my pc.

For the sake of being about to control all the audio volume from the dial on the Element IV, would it be able to control the volume of the speakers feed from the Wiim Amp? If need be I could use optical from my PC (when I upgrade it to a mobo with an optical/toslink) if it cannot. Would I be able to use the other features of the amp like room correction? The Element IV has a parametric EQ for both headphones and preamp outputs.

It is a very specific setup so it has been difficult to try and find any information of if this would work the way I am wanting it to.

Any input would be greatly appreciated

 

[Mr Ee]

Welcome.

What you propose will work.
The wiim amp will digitise the rca analog input and convert it back to analog for the speaker outputs. In between the conversions, yes, all the wiim eq, room correction etc. can be applied.
Both the JDS and the wiim can control the volume, although if you set and forget the wiim amp's volume (or set wiim to 100%) then you only need to use the jds for volume.

Why a wiim amp and not a 'normal' amp? By normal, I mean an analog or non-streaming amp. (Unless room correction is a key thing here!)

What are you playing from the pc that can't go directly to the wiim amp?
Why not wiim amp usb output to a headphone dac/amp?
i.e. why the jds before the wiim?

 

[J0my]

@Mr Ee thanks for your reply!

What you propose will work.
The wiim amp will digitise the rca analog input and convert iit back to analog for the speaker outputs. In between the conversions, yes, all the wiim eq, room correction etc. can be applied.
Both the JDS and the wiim can control the volume, although if you set and forget the wiim amp's volume (or set wiim to 100%) then you only need to use the jds for volume.

I was asking as to confirm that i had the chain correct and that it could work in that order.

Why a wiim amp and not a 'normal' amp? By normal, I mean an analog or non-streaming amp. (Unless room correction is a key thing here!)

I had looked into other normal amps as well ie: Fosi za3 and the Aiyima A80. The room correction is something that might have been nice to have as I really don't have much experience with this stuff so could fix issues with my room if it was not great out of the box so to speak (no acoustic treatment, odd room layout). Chasing compact amps that I can easily fit on my desk, so a receiver is out of the question.

What are you playing from the pc that can't go directly to the wiim amp?

I do not have a way to connect my pc to the amp at the moment, I do not have optical (future pc upgrade will but that could 1+ years off), and the USB for the Wiim Amp is output not input. I do not trust my computer to have a good RCA output to the Wiim.

Why not wiim amp usb output to a headphone dac/amp?

I would, but would need to have a connection from the PC to the Wiim, like the question above.

i.e. why the jds before the wiim?

When I had first purchased the JDS (on backorder), the original plan was to get it to control the volume for some active speakers, from looking up active speakers, I cannot stand the look of the Kali's, which is the most recommended ones. The Kef LSX's in my country are small and about the same price of an amp and larger passive speakers. I do not have the ability to audition any of it as I live rurally. The Adam T5Vs I could probably live with but unsure of sound etc.

I came across the Kef Concerto Q Metas and just loved the design language of it, so am looking into ways of getting it work with the JDS still being the volume control of everything. It is an non ideal setup, just trying to see what I can do.

 

[Mr Ee]

Back to "What are you playing from the pc that can't go directly to the wiim amp?"
Sorry, I didn't make myself clear!
What, specifically, will you play? mp3 files? flac files? Any / all computer audio output?
i.e. if your primary use is just files stored on the pc itself then the 'direct' connection from pc to amp could be via yor network rather than a hard wired usb or optical cable.

 

[J0my]

What, specifically, will you play?

Ah no problems It would be my computers audio output device, so everything.