WiiM Vibelink Amp

[canard]

Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2 and full range TQWT speakers based on Dayton Audio RS100-4. Very different impedance plots, works equally well with both.

What alternatives are you referring to? I don't see anything wrong with using the TPA 325x chips. Back then when they hit the market, nobody - and least of all TI - would have expected what levels of performance would be possible when using them the right way and taking appropriate care of the thermal requirements. And by performance I'm not talking about cheap watts.

But we'll, we're way off topic here.

the impedance curves ( 2k/24khz), even in their simple forms, are known? see it done yourself? ;-)
I don't know these radiants...
seems interesting (I'm going to share it with a friend who wants to start a DIY project with this tweeter...maybe he should be interested in such a product instead)
end of off-topic... ;-)

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

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So $400 not £400

So $400 in the past has meant £400.

 

[slartibartfast]

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So $400 in the past has meant £400.

I am sure I remember the exchange rate being 3 dollars to the pound at one point but I can't find any evidence of that

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

How can you say "Oh yes they did" and then without further ado reduce your claim from GBP 400 to GBP 300?

That doesn't work out. Your Topping iss getting more and more expensive by comparison.

Not everyone has to have use for it. I just don't get this "if I don't need it, there's no market for it" attitude.

So as I’ve said, and possibly it’s not translating well:

When the Ultra was announced, the prices were UK £349, US $329, and those announced prices turned out to be correct at launch. So for the UK price, convert 1:1 for $:£, then add a bit. BTW, that's pretty usual when comparing US and UK Hi-Fi prices.

So when I see US $400 UK £300, that's almost certainly not going to be right. I mean it might be, but it's reasonably to presume it may well be wrong.

Now, it may be that WiiM have found a way to buck the system, in which case good luck to them. Or it may be that it's a typo on the dollars rather than the pounds, and it'll be $300 vs £300.

If that doesn't make sense, please feel free to ask. But if the US price of $400 is correct, then WiiM will have had to introduce a massively different pricing policy if this is £300 (actually I think they're saying £319).

Whatever, WiiM have either completely changed their US/UK pricing structure, or there's a typo in there somewhere, and if that's the case, I can't be held accountable for their error.

Regarding the Topping getting more and more expensive in my calculations, then no. The PA5 II is £200, and the PA5 II Plus is c.£250, so still a lot cheaper than this WiiM, even if the latter does come in at £319.

Whatever, my choice is to either stick with a £200 amp which measures better than the Vibe, or downgrade to a Vibe by paying over £300 (whether that's £319, or £400 hardly seems the point). Even if I had no amp and were starting from scratch, the Topping is the better deal, unless I'm desperate for the two to match (which, as I've said, I don't think they do all that well).

And as I'm not starting from scratch, then I'd be quite cracked to go for the Vibe.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

I am sure I remember the exchange rate being 3 dollars to the pound at one point but I can't find any evidence of that

I think you've completely missed the point. As I've said, for UK vs US pricing of Hi-Fi, you can usually take the US price in dollars, swap the $ for a £, and add a bit.

Not only is that usually the case with most hi-fi, it was certainly the case with the pricing of the Ultra.

The one exception is, of course, for UK products (like my Wharfedale speakers), but that doesn't apply here.

 

[EddNog]

I think you've completely missed the point. As I've said, for UK vs US pricing of Hi-Fi, you can usually take the US price in dollars, swap the $ for a £, and add a bit.

Not only is that usually the case with most hi-fi, it was certainly the case with the pricing of the Ultra.

The one exception is, of course, for UK products (like my Wharfedale speakers), but that doesn't apply here.

Is this due to UK tariffs on imports? It does not align with actual exchange rates.

-Ed

 

[Burnside]

Guess whether you want an integrated power supply or a separate power block might come into consideration for some

 

[RVG1895]

The great advantage of such forums is: No one is ever accountable. For nothing. Eventually for laughing, raging, crying. But never litigable

 

[Burnside]

Is this due to UK tariffs on imports? It does not align with actual exchange rates.

-Ed

In several areas, say Amazon devices, the £ for $ equivalence has been there for ages. Import duty, exchange rates and VAT probably do factor in it - US prices are often quoted sales tax free as that varies from state to state, while in the UK it's illegal to quote VAT excluded pricing. To be honest, I've been quite relaxed about the apparent equivalence for years

 

[harkpabst]

So $400 in the past has meant £400.

Happy and I'm smilin'
Walk a mile to drink your water
You know I'd love to love you
And above you there's no other
We'll go walking out
While others shout
Of war disaster

In other words: Nobody mentioned a price tag of £400. Ever. That's what I said.

The fact that Amir came up with his review before the official launch is unusual, but doesn't make his $400 claim more founded.

So far, WiiM have only confirmed that these numbers are not correct. Who knows, maybe it will end up at $600, so roughly £600 by your metrics (or something completely different)?

I don't want to and don't need to make you want buying one. It's totally up to you.

 

[slartibartfast]

I think you've completely missed the point. As I've said, for UK vs US pricing of Hi-Fi, you can usually take the US price in dollars, swap the $ for a £, and add a bit.

Not only is that usually the case with most hi-fi, it was certainly the case with the pricing of the Ultra.

The one exception is, of course, for UK products (like my Wharfedale speakers), but that doesn't apply here.

Yup even streaming services with no physical product are often the the same numerical price in $, € or £. US prices don't normally include sales tax which probably confuses things as well.

 

[EddNog]

Sales tax varies by locality here, hence why it’s never quoted with tax. When I buy very expensive things, I drive an hour away to Delaware to buy because sales tax is zero there.

-Ed

 

[slartibartfast]

In several areas, say Amazon devices, the £ for $ equivalence has been there for ages. Import duty, exchange rates and VAT probably do factor in it - US prices are often quoted sales tax free as that varies from state to state, while in the UK it's illegal to quote VAT excluded pricing. To be honest, I've been quite relaxed about the apparent equivalence for years

The price for a UMIK-1 mic is $79 on the MiniDSP website. You can't get one in the UK even close to £79.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

Is this due to UK tariffs on imports? It does not align with actual exchange rates.

-Ed

Truthfully, I don't know. I just know it's how it seems to pan out.

We've been talking about Topping Power amps. Their latest is the B200. Amazon USA $599, Amazon UK £599.

A popular one here, Fosi Audio V3 monoblocks, Amazon USA $140, Amazon UK £150.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

In other words: Nobody mentioned a price tag of £400. Ever.

Yes they did. I did. I did because (for the 20th time) they've quoted a US price of $400, and usually a unit selling for $400 in the US usually goes for £400 or more in the UK.

I'm not sure how many different ways I can put it. I'm not sure what you're not understanding.

 

[harkpabst]

Yes they did. I did. I did because (for the 20th time) they've quoted a US price of $400, and usually a unit selling for $400 in the US usually goes for £400 or more in the UK.

I'm not sure how many different ways I can put it. I'm not sure what you're not understanding.

Provide one single reference when making such a claim. Just one.

Hint: You can't.

NB: I know what you did wrong and I don't care.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

I don't want to and don't need to make you want buying one. It's totally up to you.

In message 262 I finish by asking "What am I missing?"

I think that's a reasonable question at a forum such as this.

I don't want you, and don't need you to make me want one. I'm just asking the question.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

Provide one single reference when making such a claim. Just one.

Hint: You can't.

Sorry, a claim about what? If you mean a $400 price tag, before going any further all of your previous posts have been about a £400 price tag.

But for $400, that's the price mentioned both by Amir at ASR and at the What Hi-Fi article.

So when you say I can't provide a reference, you're factually wrong.

Anyway, let's see what price it's finally released at in both the US and UK. Prices can change.

But it'll have to come down to £250 to be competitively priced with amps which measure a little better.

 

[harkpabst]

It's getting silly. WiiM never pointed out a price of GBP 400. Period. Face it.

 

[slartibartfast]

It's getting silly. WiiM never pointed out a price of GBP 400. Period. Face it.

The guide price in this article was £319.

The WiiM Vibelink Amp is all about the amplification

It's the first WiiM amp with no streaming skills.

www.whathifi.com