WiiM Vibelink Amp

[harkpabst]

That's interesting, in that it's clearly a digital amp.

What's the definition of a digital amp? Just because it supports digital inputs doesn't mean it will use a different type of class D application (digitally controlled). And if it did, there couldn't be a "direct mode", because the power amp did not have an analogue input then.

I would suspect this to be based on a TI chip again, like the Amp and amp Pro, just with a more powerful PSU. Obviously, I don't know, I'm just speculating.

Pricing for the Vibelink Amp is suggested to be will be around £319/US$400/AU$630.

This collapsing ruin of a sentence doesn't sound like someone really knows ...

 

[C0mbat]

The posts so far seem to mirror my initial reaction of being both curious but underwhelmed. That's very different than the excitement that WiiM previous generated from the WiiM Amp and then the WiiM Ultra and WiiM Amp Pro.

This includes a pre-amp and if it also includes the digital input then the overlap with the WiiM Ultra is so great that it makes it a pointless companion for WiiM Ultra owners. Surely what most WiiM Ultra owners, like me, were hoping for was a power amp? Or a power amp that could be used in mono mode. This new WiiM Vibelink Amp provides literally no excitement lol!

WiiM have possibly gone the SMSL route of overlapping a product so much that it's pointless?

 

[Burnside]

The posts so far seem to mirror my initial reaction of being both curious but underwhelmed. That's very different than the excitement that WiiM previous generated from the WiiM Amp and then the WiiM Ultra and WiiM Amp Pro.

This includes a pre-amp and if it also includes the digital input then the overlap with the WiiM Ultra is so great that it makes it a pointless companion for WiiM Ultra owners. Surely what most WiiM Ultra owners, like me, were hoping for was a power amp? Or a power amp that could be used in mono mode. This new WiiM Vibelink Amp provides literally no excitement lol!

WiiM have possibly gone the SMSL route of overlapping a product so much that it's pointless?

Where does it imply it includes a pre-amp? I see it simply as a power amp with analog and digital inputs in which case it's a good fit with the Ultra and earlier streamer/pre amp models

 

[Wiimer]

It could be, and also this remote control looks to be shorter than the current one.

Yeah, or it's probably wider.
If it supports wireless charging, I would be happy, but so far there doesn't seem to be any progress in terms of features .

 

[Burnside]

Yeah, or it's probably wider.
If it supports wireless charging, I would be happy, but so far there doesn't seem to be any progress in terms of features .

Would you need any more than volume, power and input control?

 

[Burnside]

Comments from other threads merged into this thread to minimise duplication...

 

[harkpabst]

Would you need any more than volume, power and input control?

That was related to the new remote, I think.

 

[Burnside]

That was related to the new remote, I think.

Yeah, that's what I thought

 

[harkpabst]

Ok, now I read it the same as you did. Some have been asking for stuff like a deluxe remote integrating a display, a physical turning knob and a kettle.

 

[C0mbat]

Where does it imply it includes a pre-amp? I see it simply as a power amp with analog and digital inputs in which case it's a good fit with the Ultra and earlier streamer/pre amp models

Surely that is a volume knob on the right hand side. The left hand side button seems to be an input selector. Maybe I'm wrong but any amp with either volume control or input selectors must include the pre-amp?

Furthermore, if there really is a digital input then it must have a DAC. So WiiM Ultra users will be doubling up on both the pre-amp and DAC, which are two of the most expensive components. So isn't that pointless?

The more I think about this the more disappointed I become as I was really hoping for some pure amplification from WiiM this year. Something that might rival Hypex or Purifi modules, or even the Topping B100 / B200.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

Where does it imply it includes a pre-amp? I see it simply as a power amp with analog and digital inputs in which case it's a good fit with the Ultra and earlier streamer/pre amp models

The very definition of a pre amp is the facility to choose between inputs and control the volume.

If you already have an Ultra, why would you want extra inputs on the amp, given that you'll then have sources going into the Ultra which use the Ultra's sub facility, and other sources going into the amp which don't.

The Ultra is, to give it its correct, full monicker, a streaming digital DAC pre amp. The only thing it's missing is a power amp.

What are Ultra owners supposed to do with this? How are they supposed to connect to it? Digital? In which case, and presuming you have all the EQ/sub, etc. facilities in this amp, they're redundant in the Ultra. Or, it's just like connecting to an external DAC, but an external DAC which has a built in power amp. But if this is £300, how much better can either the DAC or amp be?

Or maybe you connect the Ultra to the amp using analogue. In which case you've included an unnecessary digital section. And let's hope that there's a direct/pure mode, by-passing the ADC in the amp.

Clearly we need to wait for more news and specs, and even after that we might need a bit more information (we did with the Ultra).

But, as of now, this appears to be an item which is on the one hand designed to go with the Ultra, but which on the other duplicates a lot of the Ultra's functionality, unnecessarily.

 

[elshaddai]

The very definition of a pre amp is the facility to choose between inputs and control the volume.

And a digital preamp should include the ability to manipulate the digital audio stream, e.g. bass management, room correction and EQ.

 

[harkpabst]

And a digital preamp should include the ability to manipulate the digital audio stream, e.g. bass management, room correction and EQ.

So we can be pretty sure it won't be a digital pre-amp.

What now?

 

[elshaddai]

So we can be pretty sure it won't be a digital pre-amp.

What now?

Now we ask if Vibelink has a volume bypass switch in the back that makes it a power amp and/or mono amps for Ultra users and keeps (digital) preamp functionality for everyone else.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

So we can be pretty sure it won't be a digital pre-amp.

What now?

Can we? Whilst not certain, I can very easily see this being a WiiM Ultra without a streamer or screen.

Or maybe put another way, an Amp Pro without a streamer, but with a better amp.

From the article:

We do know that the 100W-per-channel Vibelink Amp will support variable sample rates and bit depths, and will have "advanced technologies and premium component choices". WiiM promises a "rich, pure audio experience," alongside analogue and digital inputs and "stylish" speaker connection options.

But hold on, will the amp be any good? It's going to £319, and the Amp Pro is £399. But the latter has a streamer. Add a Mini streamer to this new product, and it's total cost is...erm...about £399.

 

[telecastermds`]

I’ll stick with my Fosi V3’s. I don’t need a power amp with a volume control or anything extra. The Ultra is my preamp

 

[harkpabst]

Can we? Whilst not certain, I can very easily see this being a WiiM Ultra without a streamer or screen.

Or maybe put another way, an Amp Pro without a streamer, but with a better amp.

From the article:



But hold on, will the amp be any good? It's going to £319, and the Amp Pro is £399. But the latter has a streamer. Add a Mini streamer to this new product, and it's total cost is...erm...about £399.

OK, so what can be seen easily is that whatever WiiM put inside the box (or didn't) is obviously wrong, no matter what. For whatever we don't know yet, the most likely answer is that they designed the product in a way that makes no sense to nobody.

 

[Wiimer]

Would you need any more than volume, power and input control?

Prime Video and Netflix buttons.

...Seriously, I would like a remote that can control Ultra's screen.

 

[Burnside]

OK, so what can be seen easily is that whatever WiiM put inside the box (or didn't) is obviously wrong, no matter what. For whatever we don't know yet, the most likely answer is that they designed the product in a way that makes no sense to nobody.

Unfortunately it's always the same with any new product - you inevitably get a very Lydgate/Lincoln response: "You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time"

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

Unfortunately it's always the same with any new product - you inevitably get a very Lydgate/Lincoln response: "You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time"

I completely agree, and I've said that before. The classic example has been some people asking for balanced outs, and others saying they wouldn't be happy paying for them as they feel they're unnecessary.

But this is different. Because at first blush this appears to be (A) a matching amp, specifically (though not solely) designed to add to the Ultra, but (B) contains features which are simply not necessary if you already have an Ultra.

I think what was expected was...well, you see that Ultra? And you see those speakers? We just want something to go in between the two so the Ultra's output can be amplified to drive the speakers.