C-1 Preamp/Routing all signals through the Wimm Ultra - Purists need not read!

[Brian K. Totten 385]

Old school meets new school.
I wanted to use the WiiM Ultra as a global EQ Processor, to route any C1 source audio through the WiiM to take advantage of the graphic and parametric EQ that is in the WiiM.
Old school in thought, and knowing the C1 has a so-called External Processor (aka, another tape loop) to route audio.
In short, the WiiM Ultra has Input and Output RCA, just like any old-school EQ. Use it as such! 
Insert the WiiM into the External Processor loop. Then, the WiiM can be used as normal, UN-EQ'd source if you will. But if the SOURCE on the WiiM is RCA, then any sound source on the C1 will route. Use the EQ!
Purists scoff! I dont care. My hearing is far from purists these days. I am looking for flexibility, to use what the WiiM has to offer. You choose!



 

[Brian K. Totten 385]

More pics

[Sk1Bum 12,417]

Excellent use of the WiiM's flexibility. 

[Half Life 977]

Hadn't thought about that.  Definitely going to try it though.

[Kurt 3,113]

Pretty cool, actually.   I usually have some kind of EQ hooked up through that C1 external processor loop, though I rarely do any "EQ'ing".  I generally keep things as flat as possible... (else I start second guessing myself and what I'm actually hearing, then I get pulled down a rabbit hole and spend hours trying to optimize).   But, I like to know I have the EQ capability if I need it.  And, as I have noted several times on this site, I do like to watch the bouncing lights :).  

 

Does the Wiim work as an analyzer, too?....... ie, can you optimize EQ settings for the room using a placed microphone, etc?

[oldtexasdog 2,481]

Do a REW analysis then the Wiim I would think. But what would I know as I use a DriveRack PA2 with the C1 for balancing out my room.

[xavionics 2,254]

I was looking at the Wiim Ultra on thier website.

$263.20 through Amazon. 

I've been looking for a preamp to go with my m400a for my office system.

Looks like a perfect, affordable solution I thought!

 

Just then, my enabling wife walked in and caught me...

...and forced me to add it to my cart!

[Sk1Bum 12,417]

29 minutes ago, xavionics said:

Just then, my enabling wife walked in and caught me...

...and forced me to add it to my cart!

 

You probably want to keep that one, yeah, both.   

[Brian K. Totten 385]

7 hours ago, Kurt said:

Pretty cool, actually.   I usually have some kind of EQ hooked up through that C1 external processor loop, though I rarely do any "EQ'ing".  I generally keep things as flat as possible... (else I start second guessing myself and what I'm actually hearing, then I get pulled down a rabbit hole and spend hours trying to optimize).   But, I like to know I have the EQ capability if I need it.  And, as I have noted several times on this site, I do like to watch the bouncing lights :).  

 

Does the Wiim work as an analyzer, too?....... ie, can you optimize EQ settings for the room using a placed microphone, etc?

The WiiM is no Sansui SE-9 -- HAHA! It does have an applet called RoomFit, whereby the Apple Phone will be the device microphone used to set up a contour for the subwoofer if one is in the system. Android users are out of luck for that portion as well. Far from using REW or the like.

[Sk1Bum 12,417]

1 hour ago, Brian K. Totten said:

Android users are out of luck for that portion as well.

 

RoomFit and the equalizer are both available in the WiiM app on Android 16.

[Brian K. Totten 385]

1 hour ago, Sk1Bum said:

 

RoomFit and the equalizer are both available in the WiiM app on Android 16.

Galaxy S10+ no go!

[Sk1Bum 12,417]

50 minutes ago, Brian K. Totten said:

Galaxy S10+ no go!

 

The Samsung Galaxy is up to S25 now, and the 26 should be out in Feb/March. 

[Brian K. Totten 385]

19 minutes ago, Sk1Bum said:

 

The Samsung Galaxy is up to S25 now, and the 26 should be out in Feb/March. 

Yep, I am a Galaxy S10/Win10 holdout - going full Linux, including a Linux Phone. I am done with big brother!

[MattB 264]

I have a Galaxy S9 and within the Wiim app it includes all the RoomFit analyzer stuff.

 

It seems to do the job and the resulting sweep response curves pass the smell test (I have weak low end and overblown highs, and the room response curves show the same)...  However, I do not trust EQing my room to the  >5yr old Chinesium microphone.  I have been contemplating how to make this better---    can I buy an external USB mic like the miniDSP UMIK-1 and connect it to my phone, or do I have to use an external program like REW on my PC and then I can somehow transfer the file to the Wiim?

 

I do note that when I just do the full auto-correct thing, it drops 4-8kHz by roughly 8-10dB and then everything sounds quite muffled.  I adjusted that curve to cut out about 3-4dB and it quite improved.  however, cymbals no longer sounded like cymbals.   they were there but they weren't there. I removed all correction and, while very bright, the cymbals sounded like cymbals again.

 

Is this poor quality EQ that jacks with phasing or overly jacks up the signal, did I adjust too far (again with a cheap cellphone mic, I don't trust any measurements), or is there something else afoot?

 

 

In any case, the RoomFit stuff is there on my old Android.   It works but I'm not convinced it works well.