Wiim Ultra as PreAmp

[canard]

I’d say the Karajan Grieg has it’s merits, others have theirs.
I do not recognize that board.

board comes from your country.. not common..
impressive engineering ( than only in discrete components etc etc) ... but spoiled by a surprising choice ...sad...

 

[hgo58]

I wasn't talking about the chip but about the ADC stage as a whole.
(https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/wiim-ultra-streamer-preamp-review.57342/)

It was just for fun (don't trust all you get from AI) and yes there is more to it than the chip but not much. The PCM1861 includes all parts of the analog input (including Differential In, that is not used by WiiM).

The conclusion from the measures you refer to is "So not bad" and "Frequency response is nice".

 

[canard]

For those who know a little technically ( it's not even 16bit enob... really bad for 2024) , we understand that Armim is very kind... certainly considering these entries as secondary and the product as a very general public... which is not false of course....

""not ( so) bad""".. "not good"
...
(as a snub, I use in digital capture 96k for phono settings...a 15-20 year old mm stage, multi-settings and line input too...at 15 euros...which does better in both cases)

as a reminder the discussion for me is just about the idea or not, the limits of adding an external qualitative phono stage... just that... just discussion
;-)

 

[hgo58]

For those who know a little technically ( it's not even 16bit enob... really bad for 2024) , we understand that Armim is very kind... certainly considering these entries as secondary and the product as a very general public... which is not false of course....

""not ( so) bad""".. "not good"
...
(as a snub, I use in digital capture 96k for phono settings...a 15-20 year old mm stage, multi-settings and line input too...at 15 euros...which does better in both cases)

as a reminder the discussion for me is just about the idea or not, the limits of adding an external qualitative phono stage... just that... just discussion
;-)

Technically you can get it better for sure. You always can.

But does it matter?

This depends on the ATH (Absolute Threshold Of Hearing) for you.

At my age it's above the ISO threshold and the WiiM is well below, so all good .

 

[canard]

the famous very personal and "normally human"...
"for me, what I listen to, my demands, my listening conditions...that's enough"
;-)

 

[hgo58]

the famous very personal and "normally human"...
"for me, what I listen to, my demands, my listening conditions...that's enough"

Sorry, I have no idea what you are saying.

You mean only measurements matters and not your hearing?

 

[canard]

Sorry, I have no idea what you are saying.

You mean only measurements matters and not your hearing?

no no
but just explains a lot of misunderstanding in the discussions.....

 

[slartibartfast]

For fun I ask an AI about the ADC used in WiiM Ultra.

"The PCM1861 from Texas Instruments is generally well-regarded as a high-quality audio ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter). It offers 110dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and supports up to 192kHz/32-bit digital output. This makes it suitable for audiophile-grade applications and high-resolution audio.

It's used in devices like the WiiM Pro Plus, which highlights its capability for high-fidelity audio processing. If you're looking for a reliable ADC for high-quality audio applications, the PCM1861 is a solid choice.

Here are the detailed specifications for the PCM1861 ADC from Texas Instruments:

### Key Features:
- **Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)**: 110 dB
- **Sampling Rate**: 8 kHz to 192 kHz
- **Number of Channels**: 2-channel
- **Input Range**: Single-ended, 2.1 V RMS full-scale input; Differential, 4.2 V RMS full-scale input
- **Gain**: Programmable Gain Amplifier (PGA) with fixed gain options of 0 dB, 12 dB, and 32 dB
- **Power Supply**: Single 3.3 V operation
- **Power Dissipation**: < 85 mW at 3.3 V

### Additional Features:
- **Hardware Control**: PCM1861 supports hardware control for volume adjustments.
- **Integrated Audio PLL**: High-performance audio phase-locked loop for stable operation.
- **Energy-Sense Audio Content Detector**: For auto system wakeup and sleep.
- **Automatic PGA Clipping Suppression Control**: To prevent clipping and distortion.
- **PCB-Footprint Compatibility**: Across all devices in the PCM186x family for easy integration."

So not all agree it's bad

Don't believe anything AI tells you. The ADC in the Ultra is the PCM 1863

From FAQ
"The ADC chip is better in the WiiM Ultra using TI PCM1863."

 

[hgo58]

Yes, the AI also told that it's used by the Pro, although I asked for Ultra.

There is however no performance improvements in the PCM1863. It's more about software control v. hardware and some more flexibility. They measure the same.

 

[canard]

I’d say the Karajan Grieg has it’s merits, others have theirs.
I do not recognize that board.

mi 90s
;-)