Wiim ultra for cd transport

[Diocletian]

Hi
Could the wiim ultra be paired with a cd transport like the cambridge audio cxc? Would i need another dac?

The setup i am having in mind is :
rega p1+ (rca)
cambridge audio cxc transport (optical)
tv (hdmi arc)
connected to wiim ultra>fosi za3> kef ls50/q concerto meta.

would the wiim amp pro work with this set up instead of the za3? I think wiim ultra + another amp offers more flexibility

 

[Mr Ee]

Welcome.

Yes, cd transport optical into wiim ultra or amp pro will work. No need for another dac.
Ultra plus another amp (and maybe another dac) does offer more flexibilty, yes.

 

[Diocletian]

Welcome.

Yes, cd transport optical into wiim ultra or amp pro will work. No need for another dac.
Ultra plus another amp (and maybe another dac) does offer more flexibilty, yes.

cheers,
Do you think that the wiim amp pro (or fosi za3) is enough to drive the ls50 metas or the q concerto metas?

 

[harkpabst]

cheers,
Do you think that the wiim amp pro (or fosi za3) is enough to drive the ls50 metas or the q concerto metas?

I have a WiiM Amp Pro driving a pair of (non-Meta Black Edition) LS50, but that's in my smallish bedroom only. Works remarkably well, the Amp Pro has no problem driving the rather difficult LS50.

Impossible to predict what kind of power you might need without knowing your room size, listening distance, preferred music material and desired loudness. Personally, I wouldn't consider the ZA3 because of its load dependency but I notice that there's a sort of cult following praising this amp for its magically superior sound and the ability to use it in mono mode, so you can add a second one for more power later.

Make sure to audition the LS50 Meta and the Q Concerto Meta before you buy. Despite the similar pricing these are very different animals.

 

[Diocletian]

I have a WiiM Amp Pro driving a pair of (non-Meta Black Edition) LS50, but that's in my smallish bedroom only. Works remarkably well, the Amp Pro has no problem driving the rather difficult LS50.

Impossible to predict what kind of power you might need without knowing your room size, listening distance, preferred music material and desired loudness. Personally, I wouldn't consider the ZA3 because of its load dependency but I notice that there's a sort of cult following praising this amp for its magically superior sound and the ability to use it in mono mode, so you can add a second one for more power later.

Make sure to audition the LS50 Meta and the Q Concerto Meta before you buy. Despite the similar pricing these are very different animals.

Thank you for the answer. I ordered a Wiim ultra recently so will have to get an amp to drive either of the KEFs

The room is about 15-20 sqm, listening distance about 3m, material is extreme metal (mainly death/black) from LPs and CDs which often is poorly produced, and loudness i would say around 85 db. The reason i consider the za3 is because people praise it alot and it is relatively inexpensive and in case I need more power i can get a second and use them in mono.
Would you say load dependency of the fosi would make a noticable difference?

Yea I would rather audition them but i dont think any store in my area has them both.

 

[harkpabst]

The reason i consider the za3 is because people praise it alot and it is relatively inexpensive and in case I need more power i can get a second and use them in mono.
Would you say load dependency of the fosi would make a noticable difference?

I cannot tell if it will make a noticeable difference to you. Just based on available data, the Q Concerto Meta are a little more prone to be influenced by load dependent amplifiers than the LS50 Meta. Both are not overly critical, but the difference a non-load dependent amp makes might well be perceivable. If they matter much is up to you.

I cannot help but think that the "audiophile reputation" of the ZA3 could really be based on its rather high levels of distortion (at least by contemporary standards), especially when used as a mono amp. It simply doesn't measure well. Period.

You're willing to spend a fair amount of money for good speakers and an appropriate amount on a really good streamer/pre-amp. Just don't get too stingy when it comes to the power amp. There are better options out there for what is not a lot of money in absolute terms. An obvious and very good choice would be the WiiM Vibelink Amp, of course. It would suit any of the KEFs just fine. The 3e Audio A5 is another (less shiny and polished looking) option with reduced features. It's only available through AliExpress and Audiophonics.fr, though.

One more word on the speakers: Sound wise the LS50 (Meta) are more like a surgical precision instrument. I love them, but others dislike there directness. I haven't heard the Q Concerto Meta yet but according to reviews and measurements it's probably the more forgiving speaker, which might be better suited to poor recordings. It definitely has more and deeper bass output.

 

[Diocletian]

I cannot tell if it will make a noticeable difference to you. Just based on available data, the Q Concerto Meta are a little more prone to be influenced by load dependent amplifiers than the LS50 Meta. Both are not overly critical, but the difference a non-load dependent amp makes might well be perceivable. If they matter much is up to you.

I cannot help but think that the "audiophile reputation" of the ZA3 could really be based on its rather high levels of distortion (at least by contemporary standards), especially when used as a mono amp. It simply doesn't measure well. Period.

You're willing to spend a fair amount of money for good speakers and an appropriate amount on a really good streamer/pre-amp. Just don't get too stingy when it comes to the power amp. There are better options out there for what is not a lot of money in absolute terms. An obvious and very good choice would be the WiiM Vibelink Amp, of course. It would suit any of the KEFs just fine. The 3e Audio A5 is another (less shiny and polished looking) option with reduced features. It's only available through AliExpress and Audiophonics.fr, though.

One more word on the speakers: Sound wise the LS50 (Meta) are more like a surgical precision instrument. I love them, but others dislike there directness. I haven't heard the Q Concerto Meta yet but according to reviews and measurements it's probably the more forgiving speaker, which might be better suited to poor recordings. It definitely has more and deeper bass output.

Yea on further inspection I think i will go with 2xV3 mono. Those should have enough power and no load dependency. Yea the 3e A5 looks like a solid option as well.
Based on what you said i think i will go for the q concertos since they are more forgiving. Will try to audition both though