Setup Options for Pro Plus, ZEN One Signature DAC and Vibelink

[Kirpo]

Hey,
Looking for setup options for Pro Plus, ZEN One Signature DAC and Vibelink amp at 100w/c output please.

Cheers,
Peter

 

[Patagonia]

If you really need the 100w output of the Vibelink you need to use the digital input thus connecting the Pro Plus directly without using your Ifi Dac.

Connecting the Pro Plus to your Ifi and then to the analog input of the Vibelink will give you max
60w, you could also try and see if its enough and if you like the sound more/less than without the Ifi.

 

[Mr Ee]

As ever, try the options for yourself to see what you prefer.
For me, vibelink digital in beats analog in regardless of the external dac I use.

 

[Kirpo]

Pro+ > 3rd Party DAC > Vibelink, Will it Work?

 

[Kirpo]

Can we use a 3rd party DAC to a Vibelink and get 100w/c output?

 

[Mr Ee]

Pro+ > 3rd Party DAC > Vibelink, Will it Work?

Yes, it will work.

 

[Mr Ee]

Can we use a 3rd party DAC to a Vibelink and get 100w/c output?

No, 60 watts or so, as advised earlier.

 

[harkpabst]

No, 60 watts or so, as advised earlier.

That's what official specs say, indeed. But independent 3rd party reviewers (namely Erin's Audio Corner) came to the conclusion that the WiiM Vibelink Amp can easily output 200 W per channel into 4 Ω.

Still unsure if WiiM are just playing it safe here in case the analogue source introduces higher distortion, so the power limit might be hit earlier at 1% THD.

Personally, I would just try out all three options and see if one of them produces favourable results:

• WiiM Pro Plus => (digital) => external DAC => (analogue) => WiiM Vibelink Amp
• WiiM Pro Plus => (analogue) => WiiM Vibelink Amp
• WiiM Pro Plus => (digital) => WiiM Vibelink Amp

 

[Mr Ee]

Still unsure if WiiM are just playing it safe here in case the analogue source introduces higher distortion, so the power limit might be hit earlier at 1% THD

"
It is also worth noting that analog inputs may show slightly higher distortion than digital inputs, resulting in lower power output at 1% THD+N. These differences are natural due to the input source and amplifier design, but the Vibelink Amp has been carefully engineered to perform optimally in a lot of different use cases.
"

But again, for me it's immaterial, analog input simply sounds nowhere near as good as digital.

 

[Aquaman]

But again, for me it's immaterial, analog input simply sounds nowhere near as good as digital.

Do you put this down on the DAC of the Pro Plus or on the analogue RCA-in implementation of the Vibelink?

 

[slartibartfast]

That's what official specs say, indeed. But independent 3rd party reviewers (namely Erin's Audio Corner) came to the conclusion that the WiiM Vibelink Amp can easily output 200 W per channel into 4 Ω.

Still unsure if WiiM are just playing it safe here in case the analogue source introduces higher distortion, so the power limit might be hit earlier at 1% THD.

Personally, I would just try out all three options and see if one of them produces favourable results:

• WiiM Pro Plus => (digital) => external DAC => (analogue) => WiiM Vibelink Amp
• WiiM Pro Plus => (analogue) => WiiM Vibelink Amp
• WiiM Pro Plus => (digital) => WiiM Vibelink Amp

Didn't they say the reason for the lower power with the analogue input was due to increased heat dissipation? I don't think anyone believed it

 

[Mr Ee]

Do you put this down on the DAC of the Pro Plus or on the analogue RCA-in implementation of the Vibelink?

I don't have a pro plus, but I have tried 5 different dacs into the vibelink:
Fiio k11 r2r
Rme adi 2 dac fs
Smsl su9
Gieseler klein
Wiim ultra (as the source for the other dacs and using its own analog output)

I really like all of these in other setups / into other amps, e.g. tried all these with my Hegel H190 (which I sold recently).
For whatever reason, I just don't like any of them (analog) into the vibelink anywhere near as much as digital into the vibelink.
But that's just me - others seem more than happy with their analog inputs to the vibelink.

I would also add that there was remarkably little difference between a wiim pro digital into the Hegel H190 and the wiim ultra digital into the vibelink, both driving my Paradigm Founders.
i.e. it's not that I think the vibelink is in any way a bad amp, just that the analog input sounds significantly different / worse. To me.

 

[harkpabst]

Didn't they say the reason for the lower power with the analogue input was due to increased heat dissipation? I don't think anyone believed it

It wouldn't make sense for sure.

 

[harkpabst]

"
It is also worth noting that analog inputs may show slightly higher distortion than digital inputs, resulting in lower power output at 1% THD+N. These differences are natural due to the input source and amplifier design, but the Vibelink Amp has been carefully engineered to perform optimally in a lot of different use cases.
"

That's still somewhere between cloudy and spooky, because we want the specs of the device, not of the device and some random source connected to it.

Anyway, there's nothing wrong with simply trying out all possibilities. There's no dange for the gear, no animals will be harmed.