As the world of audio equipment continues to evolve, enthusiasts are always looking for ways to enjoy their vinyl collections with the highest quality sound. In this context, the WiiM Ultra has emerged, offering a dedicated Phono In port for seamless turntable integration and exceptional sound performance. This tutorial will walk you through the process of connecting a turntable to your WiiM Ultra for an enriched audio experience.
Turntable and Preamp Basics
Turntables typically output an audio signal at a phono level, which is a low and quiet signal measured in millivolts. Many modern audio devices, on the other hand, accept inputs at a line level – a higher, stronger signal measured in volts.
This difference in signal levels is where a phono preamp becomes essential. A phono preamp converts the low phono-level output from the turntable into a line-level signal.
However, the WiiM Ultra has a built-in phono preamp, which means it can directly process the phono output from your turntable, eliminating the need for an external preamp.
Technical Specifications of WiiM Ultra's Phono In
The WiiM Ultra's Phone In port supports two Phono stage input types: MM (Moving Magnet) and MC (Moving Coil). The table below details its technical specifications.
| Specifications | MM | MC |
|---|---|---|
| Gain | 41dB | 59dB |
| THD+N | -75dB | -58dB |
| SNR | 76dB@5mV | [email protected] |
| RIAA accuracy | < ±0.5dB / 20Hz - 20kHz | < ±0.5dB / 20Hz - 20kHz |
Scenario 1: Connect a Turntable Directly to WiiM Ultra
If your turntable does not have a built-in preamp, you can connect it to your WiiM Ultra directly via the Phono In and Ground port.
Before You Begin
- Prepare a turntable RCA cable to connect your turntable to the WiiM Ultra. One end of the cable should have two RCA connectors to connect the WiiM Ultra, while the other end should match the input on your turntable. See typical cables below.
- If your turntable has a ground wire, prepare a Phono ground adapter (provided with the WiiM Ultra).
- Check the cartridge type of your turntable—whether it is MM or MC.
Connection Instructions
- Plug one end of the RCA cable to your turntable.
- Plug the other end of the RCA cable to the Phono In port on your WiiM Ultra.
- If your turntable has a ground wire, attach it to the phono ground adapter and plug the adapter into the Ground port on your WiiM Ultra.
- Open the WiiM Home app and select Phono In as source input in the Browse tap.
- Navigate to Devices tab > Device Settings > Audio Input, select Phono Stage Input Type based on the cartridge type of your turntable. The default setting is MM.
Scenario 2: Connect a Turntable to WiiM Ultra via External Preamp
If your turntable does not have a built-in preamp, you can connect your turntable to an external preamp first and then connect the external preamp to your WiiM Ultra.
If your turntable already has a built-in preamp, you can connect it directly to the Line In port on your WiiM Ultra, without needing an external preamp.
Before You Begin
- Prepare an external preamp.
- Prepare a turntable cable to connect your turntable to the external preamp.
- Prepare an RCA cable to connect the external preamp to the WiiM Ultra.
Connection Instructions
- Connect the turntable to the external preamp using a required cable.
- Plug one end of the RCA cable to the external preamp.
- Plug the other end of the RCA cable to the Line In port on your WiiM Ultra.
- Open the WiiM Home app and select Line In as source input in the Browse tap.
