Using Wiim amp ultra with a headphone amplifier?

[Indydan]

My brother is thinking of buying a Wiim amp ultra. It does not have a headphone socket, or pre amp outs to power a headphone amp.
I have heard there is a way to connect a heaphone amp out of the USB socket. Is this true? If so, what would be required to do it?
Many thanks!

 

[Wiimer]

My brother is thinking of buying a Wiim amp ultra. It does not have a headphone socket, or pre amp outs to power a headphone amp.
I have heard there is a way to connect a heaphone amp out of the USB socket. Is this true? If so, what would be required to do it?
Many thanks!

Hi,
Connect a headphone amplifier with a USB input to the Amp Ultra's USB port, and connect your headphones to the headphone amplifier.

E.g.,
Fosi Audio DS1

If you have Bluetooth headphones, you can connect them to the Amp Ultra via Bluetooth without needing a headphone amplifier.

 

[d6jg]

Hi,
Connect a headphone amplifier with a USB input to the Amp Ultra's USB port, and connect your headphones to the headphone amplifier.

E.g.,
Fosi Audio DS1

If you have Bluetooth headphones, you can connect them to the Amp Ultra via Bluetooth without needing a headphone amplifier.

Does either method work simultaneously with speaker output?

 

[Indydan]

Hi,
Connect a headphone amplifier with a USB input to the Amp Ultra's USB port, and connect your headphones to the headphone amplifier.

E.g.,
Fosi Audio DS1

If you have Bluetooth headphones, you can connect them to the Amp Ultra via Bluetooth without needing a headphone amplifier.

Thank you! That is very helpful.

 

[Wiimer]

Does either method work simultaneously with speaker output?

I don't think so.

@Indydan,
Do you wish to use both speakers and headphones simultaneously? Please be aware that this is not possible.

 

[d6jg]

I don't think so.

@Indydan,
Do you wish to use both speakers and headphones simultaneously? Please be aware that this is not possible.

I thought as much. Bit of a design flaw if you ask me. On a traditional amp it is usually possible to connect a headphone amp in such a way as to allow it to be utilised without having to switch between. You should be able to just turn the amp down and the headphone amp up. I am not talking about using headphones directly connected to the amp but with a separate headphone amp.

 

[EddNog]

I thought as much. Bit of a design flaw if you ask me. On a traditional amp it is usually possible to connect a headphone amp in such a way as to allow it to be utilised without having to switch between. You should be able to just turn the amp down and the headphone amp up. I am not talking about using headphones directly connected to the amp but with a separate headphone amp.

The WiiM streamers do have the flaw in that they do not (yet) allow multiple simultaneous outputs, unfortunately, with the exception of the subwoofer output on models so equipped.

-Ed

 

[Indydan]

I don't think so.

@Indydan,
Do you wish to use both speakers and headphones simultaneously? Please be aware that this is not possible.

No.

 

[DazST]

My brother is thinking of buying a Wiim amp ultra. It does not have a headphone socket, or pre amp outs to power a headphone amp.
I have heard there is a way to connect a heaphone amp out of the USB socket. Is this true? If so, what would be required to do it?
Many thanks!

I'm not sure if this is of interest to you, but if you also want to use the usb input to play music from a thumb drive, you can connect a usb hub and the wiim can simultaneously play files from a usb stick and output via usb to the headphone amp.

 

[Indydan]

I'm not sure if this is of interest to you, but if you also want to use the usb input to play music from a thumb drive, you can connect a usb hub and the wiim can simultaneously play files from a usb stick and output via usb to the headphone amp.

Thank you! I did not know that was possible.

 

[Mr Ee]

I thought as much. Bit of a design flaw if you ask me. On a traditional amp it is usually possible to connect a headphone amp in such a way as to allow it to be utilised without having to switch between. You should be able to just turn the amp down and the headphone amp up. I am not talking about using headphones directly connected to the amp but with a separate headphone amp.

If the headphone amp is already connected to the wiim amp then merely turning it (the hp amp) on should make the wiim automatically switch to usb output.
Turning the hp amp off should auto switch back to speakers.

The very first time the hp amp is connected you need to manually choose the usb output.

This will (I think) only work if you don't turn the wiim amp off at the plug. i.e. otherwise it'll always feel like the first time. Cue Foreigner...

This is how I currently use my Ultra (auto switch between usb and optical output), and previously with both an amp pro and amp ultra.

 

[d6jg]

If the headphone amp is already connected to the wiim amp then merely turning it (the hp amp) on should make the wiim automatically switch to usb output.
Turning the hp amp off should auto switch back to speakers.

The very first time the hp amp is connected you need to manually choose the usb output.

This will (I think) only work if you don't turn the wiim amp off at the plug. i.e. otherwise it'll always feel like the first time. Cue Foreigner...

This is how I currently use my Ultra (auto switch between usb and optical output), and previously with both an amp pro and amp ultra.

What do you mean by Off? Many don’t have an on/off switch

 

[Mr Ee]

What do you mean by Off? Many don’t have an on/off switch

For my rme and smsl dacs I press the power button on the remote, so more like standby than off.
For my fiio I press the volume knob for a couple of seconds.
Basically, off means whatever prevents the wiim from seeing it as an active connection.

 

[Indydan]

I will be receiving today a Fosi audio DS1 and a USB hub for my mother's Wiim amp ultra (I bought her one). I will be trying to use headphones and play music from a USB stick at the same time.
I will report back.

 

[Burnside]

I will be receiving today a Fosi audio DS1 and a USB hub for my mother's Wiim amp ultra (I bought her one). I will be trying to use headphones and play music from a USB stick at the same time.
I will report back.

I can’t imagine why there would be any issue - I have my WiiM connected by usb to my amp and play tracks from the attached usb drive without issue.

 

[Indydan]

I just saw that the Fosi DS1 is suggested to drive headphones with a mimimum impedance of 12 ohms. I will be using 8 ohm headphones (Verum 1). Will the Fosi be able to drive them?

• 116 dB\V or 96 dB\mW sensitivity
• 8 ohms

 

[Indydan]

I just saw that the Fosi DS1 is suggested to drive headphones with a mimimum impedance of 12 ohms. I will be using 8 ohm headphones (Verum 1). Will the Fosi be able to drive them?

• 116 dB\V or 96 dB\mW sensitivity
• 8 ohms

I just got in touch with Fosi audio support. They confirm the DS1 will adequately drive the Verums! I will report back when I have tried later today.