Volume Question (streaming on phone v record player (WIIM AMP))

[dylanwham]

Hello all,

I have a question about the volume output of my wiim amp. For my questions let's imagine the wiim amp volume level (lights) go from 0 to 10, and that the volume coming out of my speakers goes from 0 to 100%.

When I stream music on my wiim amp using my phone, the volume level (lights) are at 2/3 out of 10, and the volume out of my speakers is at 50%.
But when I use my record player, to get the volume out of my speakers to the same 50%, I have to turn the wiim amp volume levels up to 5/6, so twice as much as when I stream. Maybe its just my ears, but the bass seems a bit louder as a result.

Without getting into potentially using EQs etc to solve the issue, is there a hardware reason why this is happening? My record player has a pre-amp built into, so it is feeding straight into the wiim amp. Would a separate pre-amp sort the problem?

Another way of thinking about the problem is I can get streamed music to potentially play twice as loud as my record player using the same amp, which doesn't seem right.

Thanks,
Dylan

 

[slartibartfast]

Hello all,

I have a question about the volume output of my wiim amp. For my questions let's imagine the wiim amp volume level (lights) go from 0 to 10, and that the volume coming out of my speakers goes from 0 to 100%.

When I stream music on my wiim amp using my phone, the volume level (lights) are at 2/3 out of 10, and the volume out of my speakers is at 50%.
But when I use my record player, to get the volume out of my speakers to the same 50%, I have to turn the wiim amp volume levels up to 5/6, so twice as much as when I stream. Maybe its just my ears, but the bass seems a bit louder as a result.

Without getting into potentially using EQs etc to solve the issue, is there a hardware reason why this is happening? My record player has a pre-amp built into, so it is feeding straight into the wiim amp. Would a separate pre-amp sort the problem?

Another way of thinking about the problem is I can get streamed music to potentially play twice as loud as my record player using the same amp, which doesn't seem right.

Thanks,
Dylan

You can try adjusting the Pre-gain for the line input in the Amp settings.

 

[Fernandodelae]

Usually Record players (even with suit in pre-amps) tend to have less gain than other sources, like a CD player for ex. The WiiM Amps analogue input is not a dedicated phono stage, which partially explains the issue you're describing.

I would try to adjust the pre-gain for analogue input in the WiiM App settings and see if this solves the issue without creating distortion. If not, then try with an external phono preamp and see if this can smooth things out.

 

[harkpabst]

When I stream music on my wiim amp using my phone, the volume level (lights) are at 2/3 out of 10, and the volume out of my speakers is at 50%.
But when I use my record player, to get the volume out of my speakers to the same 50%, I have to turn the wiim amp volume levels up to 5/6, so twice as much as when I stream. Maybe its just my ears, but the bass seems a bit louder as a result.

As pointed out by @Fernandodelae and @slartibartfast this is really expected behaviour and positive pre-gain is an appropriate tool for dealing with it.

In this case the analogue output signal of the turntable's internal pre-amp is simply lower than e.g. that from a CD player. The analogue input is then digitised and consequently, the digital signal is low in level, too (way below the 0 dBFS maximum). Adding a ouple of dB of pre-gain will not cause any digital clipping.

Just turning up the volume does work as well, it's just not as convenient. There is no reason to believe that turning up the volume is the reason for the louder bass you hear. That's simply the sound signature of the turntable and record. You can verify this by using pre-gain instead. The sound signature should be the same as if you just turn the volume knob some more.

 

[rccarguy]

As others have said different gain structures.
Some units have auto gain setting, I used it on another product, clip light initially lit up - it reduced gain until that stopped

Lexicon MC-8 User Manual (Page 47 of 194) | ManualsLib

www.manualslib.com

also factor in replaygain cds and those where you have replaygain disabled or the files are unscanned

 

[harkpabst]

also factor in replaygain cds and those where you have replaygain disabled or the files are unscanned

No all that important a consideration as long as we're still talking about bathe record player.

WiiM currently don't support auto gain and I'm not sure if I would wish for it ...

 

[rccarguy]

No all that important a consideration as long as we're still talking about bathe record player.

WiiM currently don't support auto gain and I'm not sure if I would wish for it ...

yeah I didn't really use it, I just tested it. I guess if I had lots of sources (and whole family using it) from high gain to low gain phono stage out..probably worth it.

Smart replaygain works well I've always used it for LMS/SB/Ultra

Auto gain on TV level would be useful though (between channels/adverts etc)