Wiim Amp USB Out caused a problem

[SeeRM114]

I've had an "original" Wiim Amp for a few years and it has been connected directly to my old Gallo Nucleus Solo speakers (from 1998 - listed as 4ohm with 90dB sensitivity). It *can* actually drive them pretty well but I wanted to try using it just as a streamer so I could put back my old Virtue Audio One.3 integrated amp (it's a little Tripath - class "T" amp with a very hefty power supply).

So I connected an SMSL su-1 Dac to the USB of the Wiim and then connected the analog out of the SMSL to my integrated amp. I am up-to-date on the Wiim Amp firmware but I could not find a "Fixed Volume" setting so I set the volume to 100 on the Wiim and used the amp for volume control.

It was sounding fantastic until a few nights ago when I heard some kind of loud pop while turning off the Virtue amp. The speakers are fine but I definitely fried the amp in some way. It still turns on and I can hear its "soft start" circuit working but it won't provide any signal to the speakers. I haven't checked it out yet (might have just blown a fuse but I doubt it) but I'm wondering - is it just a bad idea to use the original Wiim Amp in this way ?

 

[Mr Ee]

is it just a bad idea to use the original Wiim Amp in this way ?

I'm assuming the wiim amp's only connection is the usb out, i.e. not connected to speakers.
Used this way it's no different from any other streamer with usb output.
At 100% volume it'll provide a 'full volume' digital signal to the dac, which will provide a 'full volume' analog signal to your amp.
No different from, say, a cd player providing a full volume analog signal to your amp.

Unfortunately it does sound like your amp died.

 

[SeeRM114]

Thanks - yes, it was just USB Out ; no speaker connection. I might try one of the newer Class D amps like the "3e Audio A7" ; that one seems to pack quite a bit of punch. The amp that is no longer working is a wonderful little amp but the company no longer exists and it was probably only about a $400 amp back in 2014 when I got it.

I just really like the convenience of the Wiim Home App and all the things you can do with the streaming part of the unit. I used to have a USB stick plugged into the back of the Wiim with all my lossless files but now I just run Minimserver on my Mac Mini and that works just as well as a "Media Server".