southernskies80 Posted January 1 Posted January 1 Hi everyone, thanks for letting me join Stereonet. I've enjoyed reading a lot of different topics in the General Hi-Fi & Beginners Discussion section over the week, but now need help of my own. I'm extremely new to hifi. Love my music but have never delved into building a hifi system until now. I'll try to give as much information as possible so please bare with me. I've been listening to music through a pair of active Behringer studio monitors (B2031A) connected to an Editrol UA-700 mixer which connects to my PC. I've been doing this for the last 20yrs, but I've just cleared out my rumpus and wish to begin my first hifi setup. My rumpus is 3.6x6.0mt. I have collected a decent amount of CDs over the time as well vinyls, most of which have never been opened and played, as my listening experience is usually all at MP3 level through my ripped CDs and downloads. My main genres are grunge, alt and classic rock, Brit pop, prog metal and shoegaze. I recently been introduced to streaming thanks to 3 free months of Amazon Music I received. I absolutely love the ease of streaming. Can't find everything, but have been enjoying finding some old music and discovering new music too. Will definitely subscribe once the 3 months are over. Although I believe streaming will be my starting point in my new hifi setup, I'd still like to include a dedicated CD and vinyl player (in the long run), but currently not in a financial position to begin that way. So in the short term, I'm thinking I either utilise my active speakers with an audio streamer or buy a stereo receiver and use some old Sony SS-LB300s I have in my garage. I've been looking at a few devices and I think I'm on the right track. But this is where I need some assistance. 1. Would something like the WiiM Ultra be a good fit for the short term, if I just want to stream and listen through my active speakers? 2. I've also been looking at the Marantz Stereo 70's and Yamaha R-N800. Would these be a better starting point if I want to build my setup in the long run? And just use my Sonys to get by for the short term? I'm not sure if I can use my active speaker with these units. They are my main two questions for the time being. I'm sure you'll have better suggestions and I'll have more questions, but I just want to know if I'm on the right track with my thinking. Thanks for your time. 1
Snoopy8 Posted January 1 Posted January 1 Yes, the Wiim Ultra is an excellent starting point, and very cost effective. And it is likely to serve your needs for quite a while. Other options to consider are the Eversolo A6, Bluesound Node, Cambridge Audio CXN100. All of these will use your active speakers. If you go the route of the Marantz Stereo 70's and Yamaha R-N800, you will need to get passive speakers. It is "traditional" way for many people to get into hifi, but it is not the better way. 3
Hi-Fi Whipped Posted January 1 Posted January 1 Have you tried your studio monitor setup in the new room? If so how does it sound? Given speakers are the most important part of the chain, id get to know the speakers in the room first and then decide what’s lacking. If you love the sound in the room then your idea of getting a dedicated streamer and enjoying streaming music would be a great start. 1
Kirby66 Posted January 1 Posted January 1 His Steve, great to have you onboard at StereoNET. I agree with @Snoopy8 that a WiiM Ultra would be a great starting point which is really well priced considering the multitude or connectivity options as well as a decent DAC according to reviews. It also has a phono stage to accomodate your future vision of adding a vinyl source and is a preamplifier so you can continue to use your active Behringer's. All in all it looks to be a great fit for now with some good options for the future. You're starting at the right place ... get the source sorted first and then work outwards. When you're done with the Amazon free trial try the same with Tidal and Qobuz ... most streaming platforms have a free trial available so work through them and find which best suits your taste. Good luck with the journey ... pace yourself and take one step at a time ... ask lots of questions here. 4
Full Range Posted January 2 Posted January 2 16 hours ago, southernskies80 said: 1. Would something like the WiiM Ultra be a good fit for the short term, if I just want to stream and listen through my active speakers? The WiiM Ultra would be a great starting point as others have noted I use a 1st generation Bluesound Node and have placed many tracks on a 128gb USB drive that I listen to regularly ‘All controlled by the app so its hybrid streaming as I use my own music at the best format available And you can do that on that WiiM Ultra as well Always think of the options an audio component will do for you 2
cafe67 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 (edited) Perhaps an idea of budget would be handy ? but like everybody has said ,A Wiim ultra would be pretty much perfect for you as per your post - streaming , you can connect a turntable to it, use your existing powered speakers and later add a cd player or transport. there are similar options by NAD , Cambridge Audio and Audiolab for example but also more expensive. Edited January 2 by cafe67 2
DazzS Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Welcome Steve. I was in a similar position to you about 12 months ago, getting into proper hifi for the first time and finding this place to be very helpful. I would also highly recommend the WiiM ultra. I bought one about 4 months ago and it's a great streamer/preamp that should suit your needs perfectly. My other bit of advice is to seriously consider used gear on the classifieds here, particularly if your budget is a bit limited. I was a bit sceptical buying used at first but have managed to put together a pretty decent beginner system including a used amp and cd player. 3
southernskies80 Posted January 2 Author Posted January 2 (edited) Thanks for all your inputs. Yes, @cafe67 my budget would probably be around $500-1500 range, but I think what's probably more important to me would be the longevity of the product. No @Hi-Fi Whipped, I haven't tried my speakers in the room as I don't have a LAN port connection in there. @Snoopy8, I did have a look at those options you mentioned. The Cambridge is out of my price range. I think the Wiim Ultra is currently leading at this stage due to it's connections and price. But I must say, the UI on the Eversolo A6 looks so fun to play around with. Another question: 1. I currently use unbalanced cables with my active speakers. I continually get that static noise but not sure if it's because I'm using unbalanced cables or because my speakers are close to my PC monitor. I really should get some balanced cables and hear the difference. From what I read, WiiM Ultra uses unbalanced connections and the Eversolo A6 uses balanced. Would this make a noticeable difference in sound quality? Thanks everyone for your contributions thus far. Edited January 2 by southernskies80
cafe67 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Static from the pc ? you could get some better shield rca cables that hopefully get rid that static. - how long cables to the speakers are you going to need ? if you went for the eversolo , you would need to look at a either turntable that does usb out or, has built in phono stage or you would need get an external phono stage. 2
southernskies80 Posted January 2 Author Posted January 2 @cafe67, the speaker cables I would need wouldn't be too long. Around 1.5mt-2mt as I plan to listen down the length of the room, so setup would be up against one of the shorter 3.6mt sides of the room. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I used the wrong terminology. It's not a static noise, it's more like interference coming through the speakers. Okay, so the option of a turntable is still there with the Eversolo, even though it doesn't have the phono in? That's good to know. Another question, I read that you shouldn't place your speakers on the same furniture as your sources as it'll most likely interfere with the playback. But is that also true with streaming devices?
Snoopy8 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 30 minutes ago, southernskies80 said: @Snoopy8, I did have a look at those options you mentioned. The Cambridge is out of my price range. I think the Wiim Ultra is currently leading at this stage due to it's connections and price. But I must say, the UI on the Eversolo A6 looks so fun to play around with. The Cambridge Audio MXN100 is within your budget. And don't forget that you can look for used in the Classifieds. Yes, the Eversolo UI is what attracts the crowd! Still think the Wiim Ultra is a better buy in terms of SQ, fit to requirements and budget.... 2
cafe67 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Yes turntable option still there , just a bit more fiddly What sort of interference ? Ideally components should be separate from.speakers - but there are a number of cheap isolation options - probably the streamer would be least affected, turntable would definitely be 1
southernskies80 Posted January 2 Author Posted January 2 8 minutes ago, Snoopy8 said: The Cambridge Audio MXN100 is within your budget. And don't forget that you can look for used in the Classifieds. Apologies, I was looking at the CXN100 instead. Cool, I'll have a look at this one too. 9 minutes ago, Snoopy8 said: Yes, the Eversolo UI is what attracts the crowd! Still think the Wiim Ultra is a better buy in terms of SQ, fit to requirements and budget.... Yeah, I feel that'll be a novice mistake purchasing for the sake of the UI. It'll be a guilty pleasure. 7 minutes ago, cafe67 said: What sort of interference ? I tried uploading an MP4 of the sound but it wouldn't let me. I can't really explain it to be honest.
cafe67 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 @southernskies80 stick with the Ultra perhaps, it’s very easy to get all exited about all the toys and choices suddenly available - I think we are all guilty of that. you might be able to find a shop that will let you demo the ultra with your speakers. without seeing or knowing your current system , it’s a good chance the interference is coming through your computer. 2
southernskies80 Posted January 2 Author Posted January 2 (edited) So I found a place around Camberwell that sell both the Wiim and Eversolo. Looks like the closest place to me as I'm from the outer northern suburbs. Will see how I go over the next couple of days and see if I can get down there and have a look and listen to both. Thanks everyone for your expertise and guidance. I'll keep you updated with my progress. Edited January 2 by southernskies80 2
Snoopy8 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 2 hours ago, southernskies80 said: Yeah, I feel that'll be a novice mistake purchasing for the sake of the UI. It'll be a guilty pleasure. There are many here, and quite a few reviewers who are making the novice mistake of falling for the UI. ---- Have a look these reviews. And unusual to have the same person doing the comparisons (and there are many more than included here). 2
Kirby66 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 15 hours ago, southernskies80 said: Will see how I go over the next couple of days and see if I can get down there and have a look and listen to both Hey Steve, this is a great move ... auditioning components - especially side by side in this instance is a really good idea. Remember though that it will sound different in your room with your components - so if possible try to focus on what the sound differences are . Pick a couple of well recorded songs that you like and ask the shop to use them as the test tracks. I wouldn't make a decision to buy solely on the UI but the UI is an important feature so don't dismiss it entirely ... it's the thing you'll interact with most. The Innuos Sense App is one of the things I like most about the Innuos streamers / servers ... it's bloody brilliant and doesn't cost a cent !!!
Snoopy8 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 15 hours ago, southernskies80 said: So I found a place around Camberwell that sell both the Wiim and Eversolo. Looks like the closest place to me as I'm from the outer northern suburbs. Will see how I go over the next couple of days and see if I can get down there and have a look and listen to both. And bring along your active speakers... 1
southernskies80 Posted January 3 Author Posted January 3 Hi everyone, I travelled down to Camberwell this afternoon after having made up my mind (yesterday) what I was going to purchase. Mainly due to finance and all your expertise. I just want to say a big thanks to everyone's input as I am an extremely happy owner of a Wiim Ultra! This streamer has breathed new life into my speakers. The sound is unbelievably clear and they go so much louder than when they were connected via my PC. The app too just works so well. The graphic EQ was a big help because bass was lacking, however I've been tweaking with the settings the last few hours and got it sounding much better. Still gotta do my homework with the Parametric EQ. Other than some minor issues connecting the remote, setup was extremely easy. However, I'll need to install a LAN port in my room as the WiFi signal is showing weak in the Wiim app. I knew this would probably be a problem as my setup is virtually at the end of the house. I did notice the Kbps and kHz changing during songs. Songs were showing different rates, from 192kHz to only 48kHz during Ultra HD playback through Amazon Music. However, all in all, absolutely BLOWN AWAY by the sound. I could only imagine what better speakers sound like, but I currently live within my means and am extremely happy with my purchase. I've attached a pic of my simple setup. Buffet table will be for the side of my room as I haven't found the right unit yet. But it'll do for now. Glad I've come across this forum. Thanks once again!! 6
cafe67 Posted January 3 Posted January 3 (edited) Congratulations on your purchase , enjoy for a cheap tweak, try some of these , put them under your speakers and see how you find the sound https://www.bunnings.com.au/jack-50-x-50-x-12mm-anti-vibration-squares-8-pack_p3961977?region_id=112440&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADtbEB8WMFTGlFLvlE9F2tyAZlIZo&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkPrroMTZigMVaalmAh0oAjDbEAQYAiABEgJ1JvD_BwE Edited January 4 by cafe67 2
Kirby66 Posted January 3 Posted January 3 Well done Steve ... the journey begins Definitely get that LAN port sorted when you can ... the only wireless I run is the iPad app to my streamer. Although it does seem a bit early for tweaks if you do get yourself some Bunnings anti vibration pads grab an extra pack and one of these IKEA boards for under the Wiim - pads under IKEA board and streamer sitting on top - isolating the steamer from speaker vibrations as they are all on the same cabinet may prove beneficial. https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/aptitlig-butchers-block-bamboo-60233431/ 2
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