ARSY Ne-2 Streamer Review

[tallbeardedone]

Think about a Wiim Mini if you don't need analog.

have to use the Wiim app though correct? I just want the streamer to show up on my Spotify connect or Tidal connect list and use the native apps in my laptop/phone. or am I wrong about the Wiim using its own app?

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

have to use the Wiim app though correct? I just want the streamer to show up on my Spotify connect or Tidal connect list and use the native apps in my laptop/phone. or am I wrong about the Wiim using its own app?

Not for Spotify. It uses the Spotify app.

 

[jannek]

The Wiim App is necessary for basic configuration and can be used as a player or even sort of library, but it is not necessary to use. If streaming local files it has the advantage of streaming native format up until hi res.

 

[MoreWatts]

The WiiM app is necessary to set up and run RoomFit, WiiM's drc software, afaik. Although that is often a feature that can be set once and forgotten, as part of basic configuration.

If you want to do some equalization after RoomFit, I see no reason why you can't use the equalizers built in to the streaming services (Spotify has an equalizer) for final adjustments. The WiiM app might give more set-points.

 

[tallbeardedone]

The Wiim App is necessary for basic configuration and can be used as a player or even sort of library, but it is not necessary to use. If streaming local files it has the advantage of streaming native format up until hi res.

I'd be using it merely as a Spotify and Tidal connect source, which I assume it can both do through the native apps? If so, then yes, sounds like a good alternative. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Anatols_Dad]

As long as you plug in the LAN line cable, it will automatically prioritize the use of the LAN line connection.

Dear @harry925 , thanks for the info! I was away on holiday for a few weeks so I couldn't work on the issue. Unfortunately I still have the same problem. As the streamer worked flawlessly at the beginning, I can only suspect some software-related issue in my router or Arsy (updated a few times), or the switch is faulty. Cables seem to be fine (CAT 8), and my pc attached to the same switch reports 600 Mbits and ping of 8 ms, even after swapping cables... Must dig into the matter as soon as I have a little time again. Anyway, till now I suppose it is on the user side and not the side of the streamer. Supposedly buying a new switch could solve the problem..
Man, listening to music has become so much more complicated since it became digital! ;-)

 

[NHL99]

No thanks!

Source

https://www.amazon.com/ARSY-Ne-3-New-Streaming-Receiver/dp/B0F2Y3WRWM?th=1

 

[tallbeardedone]

No thanks!

View attachment 490699
Source

https://www.amazon.com/ARSY-Ne-3-New-Streaming-Receiver/dp/B0F2Y3WRWM?th=1

yikes. thanks for posting this.

 

[Anatols_Dad]

No thanks!

View attachment 490699
Source

https://www.amazon.com/ARSY-Ne-3-New-Streaming-Receiver/dp/B0F2Y3WRWM?th=1

It should be checking for updates now and again, I suppose...?!

...but why so many destinations? @harry925

 

[Anatols_Dad]

Dear @harry925 , thanks for the info! I was away on holiday for a few weeks so I couldn't work on the issue. Unfortunately I still have the same problem. As the streamer worked flawlessly at the beginning, I can only suspect some software-related issue in my router or Arsy (updated a few times), or the switch is faulty. Cables seem to be fine (CAT 8), and my pc attached to the same switch reports 600 Mbits and ping of 8 ms, even after swapping cables... Must dig into the matter as soon as I have a little time again. Anyway, till now I suppose it is on the user side and not the side of the streamer. Supposedly buying a new switch could solve the problem..
Man, listening to music has become so much more complicated since it became digital! ;-)

After days of headaches, fiddling around with the components, and multiple reboots (and without buying a new switch), the router has been working for two hours without abrupt crashes... fingers crossed!


Edit, a day later:
Nope, can't be found on my network again. Boy, really annoying. As the streamer doesn't have an on-off-switch, I assume it is designed to be left on 24/7, right? Anyway, detaching the LAN cable and only using Wifi now seems to keep the signal stable. I really, really prefer LAN to Wifi (especially in the bedroom...), but I seem to have to live with this solution for now...

For the record:
1.) Newest firmware.
2.) I attached the streamer directly to to my router (in a different room), with a different LAN cable - same problem.
3.) In Roon, my NE-2 streamer also pops up as an NE-3 (not certified, though - surely for cost reasons?).
Supposedly somebody hasn't done his/her homework...

 

[829]

No thanks!

View attachment 490699
Source

https://www.amazon.com/ARSY-Ne-3-New-Streaming-Receiver/dp/B0F2Y3WRWM?th=1

Yes, this is potentially alarming. (Any) Company should restrict online connections to the (secure and) bare minimum required for the service to run. Other requirements should clearly be stated and offered as OPT-IN only, like when somebody wants to contribute in beta testing, for easier error | crash debugging.

Yet it seems that the attention is focussed more here than towards other (also non-audio) services, since the connections go to China. What’s the difference if user tracking and (behavioural) analytics go to the US or any other country or company? It always is wrong. I wish people would generally be more critical and first check all the apps they downloaded to their smartphones...

Just to show the different approaches of two other companies; while we don’t know which connections the devices‘ firmware establish (until somebody shares prolonged and detailed network captures), at least Eversolo‘s Control app (Android; and therefore most likely also on the other platforms):

Report for com.eversolo.control 1.15.53

Known trackers, permissions and informations about this specific version of this application

reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org

1) Is free of trackers
2) Does not use the device’s fingerprint (AD_ID)

Whereas WiiM Home instead does:

Report for com.linkplay.wiimhome 3.5.4.260318

Known trackers, permissions and informations about this specific version of this application

reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org

1) Contain 2 trackers
2) Use the ACCESS_ADSERVICES_AD_ID and ACCESS_ADSERVICES_ATTRIBUTION
To put it into a more precise context, one would need to verify if WiiM‘s trackers are strictly OPT-IN and if they remain disabled at all times when rejected (mostly, this is not the case).

So why does this all matter? One could argue simply because we already paid for the service(s) with our own money and hence need not be milked [for our data] like dairy cows. Or more importantly, for reasons of privacy and IT-security: https://thenewoil.org/en/guides/prologue/why/

While this probably is nothing @amirm can be bothered with; a usability-score which includes analysis of devices‘ and apps‘ online-behaviour would certainly be welcome!

 

[EJ3]

Yes, this is potentially alarming. (Any) Company should restrict online connections to the (secure and) bare minimum required for the service to run. Other requirements should clearly be stated and offered as OPT-IN only, like when somebody wants to contribute in beta testing, for easier error | crash debugging.

Yet it seems that the attention is focussed more here than towards other (also non-audio) services, since the connections go to China. What’s the difference if user tracking and (behavioural) analytics go to the US or any other country or company? It always is wrong. I wish people would generally be more critical and first check all the apps they downloaded to their smartphones...

Just to show the different approaches of two other companies; while we don’t know which connections the devices‘ firmware establish (until somebody shares prolonged and detailed network captures), at least Eversolo‘s Control app (Android; and therefore most likely also on the other platforms):

Report for com.eversolo.control 1.15.53

Known trackers, permissions and informations about this specific version of this application

reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org

1) Is free of trackers
2) Does not use the device’s fingerprint (AD_ID)

Whereas WiiM Home instead does:

Report for com.linkplay.wiimhome 3.5.4.260318

Known trackers, permissions and informations about this specific version of this application

reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org

1) Contain 2 trackers
2) Use the ACCESS_ADSERVICES_AD_ID and ACCESS_ADSERVICES_ATTRIBUTION
To put it into a more precise context, one would need to verify if WiiM‘s trackers are strictly OPT-IN and if they remain disabled at all times when rejected (mostly, this is not the case).

So why does this all matter? One could argue simply because we already paid for the service(s) with our own money and hence need not be milked [for our data] like dairy cows. Or more importantly, for reasons of privacy and IT-security: https://thenewoil.org/en/guides/prologue/why/

While this probably is nothing @amirm can be bothered with; a usability-score which includes analysis of devices‘ and apps‘ online-behaviour would certainly be welcome!

Knowing this: would prevent me from buying it.
Regardless of to whom the information is going to.

 

[amper42]

Knowing this: would prevent me from buying it.
Regardless of to whom the information is going to.

Wiim Home is not much different. Lots of Wiim Audio users don't understand the tracking feature going on. The app is collecting lots of data. It can't even build a local USB music directory without shipping your data to the cloud to be analyzed.

Chinese company subject to the whims of the CCP, and they're asking for precise location AND wifi password at setup.
You know that info is stored in a database somewhere in Beijing. Great device but that's not OK.

Report for com.linkplay.wiimhome 3.5.5.260330

Known trackers, permissions and informations about this specific version of this application

reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org

 

[EJ3]

Wiim Home is not much different. Lots of Wiim Audio users don't understand the tracking feature going on. The app is collecting lots of data. It can't even build a local USB music directory without shipping your data to the cloud to be analyzed.

Chinese company subject to the whims of the CCP, and they're asking for precise location AND wifi password at setup.
You know that info is stored in a database somewhere in Beijing. Great device but that's not OK.

Report for com.linkplay.wiimhome 3.5.5.260330

Known trackers, permissions and informations about this specific version of this application

reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org

One of the bigger of many reasons that I do not stream. (Except from my own stuff)

 

[829]

Knowing this: would prevent me from buying it.
Regardless of to whom the information is going to.

[...] Great device but that's not OK.

Report for com.linkplay.wiimhome 3.5.5.260330

Known trackers, permissions and informations about this specific version of this application

reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org

Agreed. But unless you strictly use one of the open-source OS like common Linux and FreeBSD distributions, as well as only GrapheneOS on your (Google Pixel and soon, some Motorola) smartphones, you run into similar issues with Windows, i(Pad)OS, macOS, Android (incl. TV and Auto) etc. etc. and no, user tracking and -analytics cannot be fully disabled (can only be reduced) on these closed systems, as they are part of the services we paid for and (one) main business interest to the providing companies.

So this definitely deserves more attention.

 

[EJ3]

Agreed. But unless you strictly use one of the open-source OS like common Linux and FreeBSD distributions, as well as only GrapheneOS on your (Google Pixel and soon, some Motorola) smartphones, you run into similar issues with Windows, i(Pad)OS, macOS, Android (incl. TV and Auto) etc. etc. and no, user tracking and -analytics cannot be fully disabled (can only be reduced) on these closed systems, as they are part of the services we paid for and (one) main business interest to the providing companies.

So this definitely deserves more attention.

Non of these things are in any way connected to my audio system. And my phone (when it is connected) is used strictly as a phone, the occasional text or photo.
No cloud connection for my phone or computer (desktop only).
Plus, at my location, there is no cell signal anyway.
The location did not have a cell signal when it became part of my family when I was born in 1957 and still, there is (beneficially, in my opinion) no cell signal there.
Oddly, there is 36 channels of over the air HDTV and lots of good quality FM living on a river in the middle of a forest.

 

[somebodyelse]

Agreed. But unless you strictly use one of the open-source OS like common Linux and FreeBSD distributions, as well as only GrapheneOS on your (Google Pixel and soon, some Motorola) smartphones, you run into similar issues with Windows, i(Pad)OS, macOS, Android (incl. TV and Auto) etc. etc. and no, user tracking and -analytics cannot be fully disabled (can only be reduced) on these closed systems, as they are part of the services we paid for and (one) main business interest to the providing companies.

So this definitely deserves more attention.

Having API documentation goes a long way to countering both this and loss of manufacturer support, plus allowing support for platforms the manufacturer doesn't. Ideally it should be provided by the manufacturer, but reverse engineering is another route. This is something I look for when making buying decisions. It won't help with any phone-home functionality built into the firmware though.

Some good examples:

• Parks Audio documenting their BLE API for the Waxwing.
• JDS Labs documenting the USB API for the Element IV.
• MOTU documenting their network API for the AVB series, but not the Ultralite Mk5 which took someone digging into the CueMix5 app to expose the API.

Some slightly less good examples:

• Neumann eventually - they used the documented Sennheiser Sound Control Protocol for the KH-80 and KH-750 but initially didn't make that use public, saying you had to use their iPad-only app. I didn't buy the KH-80 because of this. It was only later, after first pyssc then khtool appeared, that they acknowledged this. In the meantime they had abandoned the iPad app and gone Windows-only with MA1.
• Wiim did release API docs for the Mini, but they haven't kept them current with the many extra capabilities added as they developed the firmware and new products. Much of that extra functionality has been documented by 3rd parties reverse engineering it, so most things are possible without Wiim's app. I wouldn't have bought the Ultra if the app had been required.

And some of those that had to be reverse engineered:

• Moondrop Space Travel - reverse engineered, found to be using Qualcomm's GAIA, support added to GadgetBridge.
• MOTU - for the Ultralite Mk5 as mentioned above.

A lot of the devices supported by GadgetBridge are in the reverse engineered category, as are many devices supported by linux.

 

[829]

Gadgetbridge is amazing! But still something more for the thinkers amongst us.

Despite some really great Linux OS being available for music (production etc.) like Ubuntu Studio and AV Linux, as well as powerful DSP like Easy Effects, I wish more companies would introduce full Linux support for their devices. Every time I want to update my RME or use its excellent, e.g. ADI-2 Remote, software control I need to fire up Windows. Same for Hypex products etc... I would expect companies to benefit from an open(-source) environment on the long run as well, similarly to their customers. But I might be wrong @MC_RME ?

Btw., also Android is slowly becoming a locked-down platform: https://keepandroidopen.org/

 

[somebodyelse]

Despite some really great Linux OS being available for music (production etc.) like Ubuntu Studio and AV Linux, as well as powerful DSP like Easy Effects, I wish more companies would introduce full Linux support for their devices. Every time I want to update my RME or use its excellent, e.g. ADI-2 Remote, software control I need to fire up Windows. Same for Hypex products etc... I would expect companies to benefit from an open(-source) environment on the long run as well, similarly to their customers. But I might be wrong @MC_RME ?

I should have included RME in the examples since they documented the MIDI protocol used by the ADI-2 Remote. There are 3rd party implementations like https://github.com/n00bmax/RMEdiy that use this.

Firmware update is another matter, often tied to drivers. While I wish more would actively support linux, I can understand why they don't from a cost point of view. If Steam use helps boost linux usage beyond MacOS then the consumer side may move. The pro side is interesting as several manufacturers are actively supporting linux already.

I share your frustration with the Hypex software - I use the Windows developer VM image for that with USB passthrough. I'd add AD's SigmaStudio to that list, doubly frustrating because the driver it won't start without isn't actually necessary as it can also use a network connection to a host running sigmatcp.

 

[829]

RME is a great company, especially with their outstanding long-term support (besides the lack for Linux software, which sadly is the industry-standard).

Didn't know RMEdiy, will certainly check it out! Though it seems to be stuck in alpha stage and unmaintained for >2 years now...

I also use VMs (for Windows) where I can but sometimes it's just not the best idea to do so; like for USB pass-through on firmware updates (higher risk for bricking devices) or for GPU pass-through, where the extra computational power is needed.


Back to topic. ARSY has released a firmware update on 10th Oct. 2025: https://www.arsyaudio.com/pages/latest-firmware which among other things brought "Optimized wired network performance for improved stability and faster response".

Maybe somebody who owns the device is able to capture a network snippet and post the outcome here to see, whether there is any improvement over the previously found behavior?