VU meter

[hgo58]

It does however look like you can no longer scroll to it on the display, only select it in the app.

 

[audiobliss]

My uv meter needle also pegs all the way to the right, maybe because I am also using fixed volume, going into my Topping D70 dac, which also has a uv meter which is so tiny, I never use it. Thankfully my McIntosh amp has two large nice ones.

 

[antlestxp]

Last firmware update changes the phono/digital input spectrum animation to a new display with a tiny spectrum animation with a static image.

I don't understand why they put the little one in if it's fake like the one it replaced. They should get rid of all together

 

[harkpabst]

I don't understand why they put the little one in if it's fake like the one it replaced. They should get rid of all together

I don't think so. It's like three small bars indicating wether there is actually an input signal or not. Not distracting, very subtle, yet effective. Just the same as within the WiiM Home App.

I like the new animation.

 

[JaccoW]

The issue is of course that a VU meter was originally used to set the volume for recording. Meaning putting the VU at 100% means the meter is all the way to the right. Usually you would put it at 50-70% so the needle just barely touches the red zone.

If we could actually set the "recording level" you could fix it at whatever level you like.
Now if only we could get one of these sexy VFD diplay lookalikes on the Ultra I would be a very happy camper.

Here are some pictures of VU meters on a couple of cassette decks and taperecorder of mine:

 

[jefft]

Is the VU meter accurate?
When streaming from Tidal, Spotify, etc, the VU meter seems to work very well at representing the input volume being processed.
However, loud recordings are causing the VU meter to hit +10db! I seriously doubt that is accurate. While most sound engineers and recordings studios try not to pass 0 or +1db, a small percentage of recordings hit +3db in the studio.

My concern is on inter-sample clipping (ISP). This can happen on digital files processed on a DAC where the peaks above 0db can get clipped. Some DACs can handle up to +3db but +10db is way out and will cause a ton of ISP.

The Ultra has the ability to limit max volume and I am using this by watching the VU meter to ensure it doesn't peak beyond +3db. However, the volume is much lower. If the VU meter isn't accurate please fix it so that it is accurately representing the actual digital signal volume.

 

[hgo58]

Is the VU meter accurate?
When streaming from Tidal, Spotify, etc, the VU meter seems to work very well at representing the input volume being processed.
However, loud recordings are causing the VU meter to hit +10db! I seriously doubt that is accurate. While most sound engineers and recordings studios try not to pass 0 or +1db, a small percentage of recordings hit +3db in the studio.

My concern is on inter-sample clipping (ISP). This can happen on digital files processed on a DAC where the peaks above 0db can get clipped. Some DACs can handle up to +3db but +10db is way out and will cause a ton of ISP.

The Ultra has the ability to limit max volume and I am using this by watching the VU meter to ensure it doesn't peak beyond +3db. However, the volume is much lower. If the VU meter isn't accurate please fix it so that it is accurately representing the actual digital signal volume.

The VU meter is just a toy as it is now.

It would be better if it showed the input level using correct logarithmic function and with max value of the digital sample at 0 dB.

The current scale going to +10 make no sense.

 

[Bozzz]

Just got mine today and very easy to set up.
2 small issues found so far:

1: the “VU meter” stay right over to the right hand side no matter what is playing
2: the rainbow spectrum analyser on the phono input bears no resemblance to what is playing, it even moves when nothing is playing

View attachment 10075
View attachment 10076

Mine did that also when I was using my Willsenton r8 to control volume. When I connected my ultra to the pre in on the R8 and started using the WiiM’s volume control instead of my amp it started working normally.

 

[hgo58]

Mine did that also when I was using my Willsenton r8 to control volume. When I connected my ultra to the pre in on the R8 and started using the WiiM’s volume control instead of my amp it started working normally.

But what do it actually show except for something playing. The scale don't fit anything. At 100% volume it shows +10 dB.

 

[Bozzz]

But what do it actually show except for something playing. The scale don't fit anything. At 100% volume it shows +10 dB.

When my amp was controlling volume it was maxed out most of the way. Now that I’m using WiiM for volume control it rarely gets above the mid way point on the meter. Wish I could help more

 

[hgo58]

When my amp was controlling volume it was maxed out most of the way. Now that I’m using WiiM for volume control it rarely gets above the mid way point on the meter. Wish I could help more

So how are you using it. Does it provide any useful information? See answer #27.

 

[Bozzz]

So how are you using it. Does it provide any useful information? See answer #27.

Honestly not really. I use the meter mostly because I sit like 12 feet away from the ultra. So I can’t really see the info on the sample rate or what’s playing from that far. I use my phone for that.

 

[jjue1979]

I've noticed the VU's behavior to be a little different than that what I see on my amplifier's VU's at times, although that could a little bit to do with the Ultra setting the crossover point for the subwoofer, the amp with the VUs outputting only above the crossover point, and the subwoofer amp not having VUs to compare what I'm seeing on the Ultra. I at first thought that the VU was laggy compared to the amplifier's VUs, but playing different music helped me to see something a little different.