Vibe Amp Speaker Selection

[Claudius2k]

I am currently using the WiiM Ultra but I have amassed an SACD collection which I ripped on my server and stream. In order to leverage pure DSD, I connected my DSD/DoP capable DAC to the Ultra via USB and I take the output of the DAC to a pair of small A/R powered bookshelf speakers. I want to upgrade my speakers and since most of the modern powered speakers introduce DSP and still another DAC, so I was thinking don't introduce any more D/A conversations, so introduce an analog amp and passive speakers. Probably backwards but I picked up a Vibe Amp on sale since it matches the Ultra nicely and can be used in analogue only configuration via the RCA input jacks...BUT in analogue mode, power is reduced to 60W not 100W. So I am down to choosing small efficient bookshelf speakers that can be powered by less than 60W for my desktop. Any advice for selecting speakers for the Vibe in RCA 60W mode is appreciated.

 

[HansD-NL]

The Vibelink has a great DA converter (same as the Ultra has) so I would connect the two via optical.
Your DSD/DoP capable DAC in the current scenario does not see DSD because the Ultra is feeding it and does not pass/play DSD files as far as I know.
About the power of an amplifier: There is not a lot of difference in sound pressure between 60 and 100 watts and in most use cases 60 watts and moderate efficient speakers are able to easily fill a room with sound. If you need party/club levels it's another story. That is a (I hope) simple and short explanation about that.

 

[Claudius2k]

Actually, no, if you take output from the USB, it will pass DSD as DoP packages untouched. Naturally you will be excluding the DAC and the entire DSP section of the Ultra but it's a great streamer. BTW it will also pass internal internet streaming up to 192khz PCM out the port. The USB out is a quick out before any DSP is done. Using this approach you can pair any external DAC to the Ultra without D/A conversion twice. and ofcourse optical will not pass anything beyond PCM 192kz. With the Vibe in analogue mode (using RCA in Jacks) you bypass the DAC in the amp also. So the only D/A conversion that's done Is by the external DAC of your flavor and choice. The Wiim DACs are great BUT.....they will not pass any pure DSD signal (it will convert it to PCM 192 in the Ultra) nor pass any PCM signal higher than 192khz. The Vibe amp was designed with that in mind. Use the RCA jacks and you'll bypass the Vibes DAC. and it is just a tradition analogue amp. But the output signal will be 60w not 100w. Now I need efficient speakers thank you for the speaker advice.

 

[HansD-NL]

Actually, no, if you take output from the USB, it will pass DSD as DoP packages untouched.

I didn't know that, that's great. The rest of your info about it I know/understand.

Use the RCA jacks and you'll bypass the Vibes DAC. and it is just a tradition analogue amp. But the output signal will be 60w not 100w. Now I need efficient speakers thank you for the speaker advice.

Yes. The Vibelink has a "traditional" analog path (rca in) and indeed (because of the internal gain structure) will output less power than using the digital input.
The statement : "Now I need efficient speakers (thank you for the speaker advice)." was what I questioned in my previous comment, it all depend on how big the room is and/or how loud you want to play.

But the way you phrase your reply does let shine through that you don't like advice or even comments about anything so I will leave you be...

 

[Claudius2k]

Not at all. I sincerely do appreciate your speaker guidance and plan to follow it. Thank you very much, sorry it was interpreted so. I am listening near field and don't need to fill my room. But point well taken, I know little about speakers.

 

[Burnside]

I think it’s been said that the increase in gain between a 60w and 100w output is roughly 2.2db, while an increase of 3 dB is the smallest change in volume that is generally perceivable by the human ear. Particularly for near field listening where I’d imagine you’ll not be driving the speakers to very loud volumes, I wouldn’t be overly concerned about any significant difference between 60w v 100w output when choosing a speaker.

 

[harkpabst]

... BUT in analogue mode, power is reduced to 60W not 100W.

First things first, yes, this is what WiiM say officially (probably to be on the safe side), but 3rd party technical reviews have clearly shown that with a high quality analogue input signal the WiiM Vibelink Amp can output exactly the same amount of power as when using a digital input. So, if 100 W into 8 Ω (or 200 W into 4 Ω) are sufficient for your use case, there's no need to worry about analogue vs. digital in.

As has been pointed out, the difference between 120 W (60 W) and 200 W (100 W) isn't even that big. You need twice the power for a 3 dB increases in SPL and ten times the power for a 10 dB increase. 10 dB roughly equals the doubling of perceived loudness.

From my point of view you have huge amounts of freedom picking your speakers. Just avoid models where the actual (not the nominal) impedance drops below 3 Ω in the bass region.