RME ADI2 DAC FS. What is the right streamer to go with it. ?

[Grotti]

Wiim Ultra into RME here. I ripped all my CDs on a SSD drive and connected it via USB. Works absolutely flawless with the Wiim-App. And I really appreciate, that the Wiim is not a black brick like my Volumio streamer: the little screen it provides makes a difference to me

 

[rcstevensonaz]

Thx. So much. Will try this suggestion.

Here are a few additional reasons why I believe it is worth the investment in ripping all CDs to file storage — whether using LMS to serve files stored on a NAS with ZFS (my case) or just a portable drive plugged into your computer or other device (@Grotti's case):

1. Immediate access to entire CD library. No need to go pull it off a shelf to play something
2. Extremely portable. I've now moved 5 times in the past 4 years, including a few smaller apartments. During that time, I've been able to leave my entire CD collection in boxes at our indoor storage unit; yet had complete access to my entire digital library as soon as my desk stereo was setup (which is right after the bed is setup). Even more so as we are looking at potential relocation overseas.
3. CD media degrades. CDs are not permanent archival quality, and have the potential to degrade over decades; and additional risks of scratches when being used frequently. (personally, I store all of my CDs on a network attached storage that uses ZFS since that provides robust protection against bit lot and drive corruption)
4. Online services do not include everything. I have a lot of CDs that are just not available from Apple Music, Amazon Music, etc. Or, from those services, I am no longer able to access certain releases (e.g., from an artist before their "re-mixed" version was released).

 

[ShadowBoxer]

For me, the Moode interface and it's advanced features are far superior to my Wiim pucks.

Is multi-room equally painless? (update: kind of, checking the docs now).

What about PEQ? Camila DSP? (update: yes, checking the docs now).

Amazon music streaming? Pandora streaming?

 

[amper42]

Is multi-room equally painless? What about PEQ? Camila DSP?

Amazon music streaming?

You have to decide what you want.
1. You can do multi-room with Moode just as I did with Wiim. However, for me it was a novelty that I never used after testing the feature.

2. You can use Moode for EQ but I much prefer to use the RME ADI-2 DAC FS for that purpose. It's "Loudness" feature is far superior to any other EQ settings I have used from any vendor.

3. I tried Amazon. It was inferior to Qobuz.

4. I tried the Wiim app and while usable it was inferior to Audirvana and/or the Moode interface.
After trying Wiim, I'm very happy to leave it behind.

Again, you have to decide what's best for you.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

3. I tried Amazon and for my use it was inferior to Qobuz.

I assume you mean in terms of UI and not SQ? For me AMZHD is a bonus to other unrelated products. And I'm grandfathered into Pandora.

Audirvana is an additional subscription, correct? (optional as I understand it)

Thanks for the interesting feedback.

 

[amper42]

I assume you mean in terms of UI and not SQ? For me AMZHD is a bonus to other unrelated products. And I'm grandfathered into Pandora.

Audirvana is an additional subscription, correct? (optional as I understand it)

Thanks for the interesting feedback.

When I purchased Audirvana 3.5 in late 2020, it was a one time software purchase for local music as well as streaming playback.
Since then they changed the retail options and have two products.
1. A local playback option for a single price.
OR
2. A subscription for $6 a month for streaming and local playback. It's a nice tool.

However, the more I use Moode, I find myself wanting to own the music I really enjoy and place it on the Samsung Fit on the RPi4. This allows Moode playback at high resolution up to 357kHz and no need for a separate computer. It offers a great interface and low energy 6W playback requirements. The only time I find myself streaming with Audirvana these days is to try some new music suggested on ASR.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

4. I tried the Wiim app and while usable it was inferior to Audirvana and/or the Moode interface.
After trying Wiim, I'm very happy to leave it behind.

Leaving the WiiM app behind does not mean having to leave the WiiM behind.

I have a WiiM Pro. I never, ever, use the WiiM app for music. It sucks. But, I have LMS which I natively point towards the WiiM Pro from my desktop (web browser), my iPad (web browser), or my Squeezebox Classic v3 (native interface). And I have an iPhone which I use for Apple Music / Amazon Music / etc., directing the output to the WiiM Pro using Airplay.

For me, the reason the WiiM Pro is such an amazing device is that I can use it as a network streamer target without ever having to use its app. Instead, I use the native apps on the devices (LMS web interface, Apple Music, Amazon Music, etc.) that are most natural for me in the first place.

[Edit] I fully agree with @amper42 that those other systems (e.g., Audirvana, Moode, etc.) will provide a much better interface than the WiiM device. In my case, I'm already very happily in the LMS ecosystem. So a WiiM Pro tucked away in the back of my AV cabinet is absolutely fantastic (in my case); and the WiiM Pro (optical out) + my LMS + my iPhone is an unbeatable combination!!! For me, there is nothing else that is even remotely close to a WiiM Pro (now that Logitech abandoned their Squeezebox line). But, I would not choose the WiiM platform if their application was going to be the user interface to my music services. IMHO, it is a network target; not the music service.

 

[amper42]

Leaving the WiiM app behind does not mean having to leave the WiiM behind.

I have a WiiM Pro. I never, ever, use the WiiM app for music. It sucks. But, I have LMS which I natively point towards the WiiM Pro from my desktop (web browser), my iPad (web browser), or my Squeezebox Classic v3 (native interface). And I have an iPhone which I use for Apple Music / Amazon Music / etc., directing the output to the WiiM Pro using Airplay.

For me, the reason the WiiM Pro is such an amazing device is that I can use it as a network streamer target without ever having to use its app. Instead, I use the native apps on the devices (LMS web interface, Apple Music, Amazon Music, etc.) that are most natural for me in the first place.

[Edit] I fully agree with @amper42 that those other systems (e.g., Audirvana, Moode, etc.) will provide a much better interface than the WiiM device. In my case, I'm already very happily in the LMS ecosystem. So a WiiM Pro tucked away in the back of my AV cabinet is absolutely fantastic (in my case). So for me, WiiM Pro (optical out) + my LMS + my iPhone is an unbeatable combination!!! For me, there is nothing else that is even remotely close to a WiiM Pro (now that Logitech abandoned their Squeezebox line). But, I would not choose the WiiM platform if their application was going to be the user interface to my music service. IMHO, it is a network target; not the music service.

@rcstevensonaz - question:
1. Are you using the Wiim hardware via UPnP or Airplay with LMS? If you play 20 seconds of music on one song and then skip to another song and do that a number of times does the Wiim Pro eventually get confused and the music counter stall or does it always follow each tune sampling properly by stopping the last song gracefully and starting the new song without issue?

2. Are you using it with standard 44.1kHz (CD) or high resolution 88/96/192kHz music?

Thank you!

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

@rcstevensonaz - question:
1. Are you using the Wiim hardware via UPnP or Airplay with LMS? If you play 20 seconds of music on one song and then skip to another song and do that a number of times does the Wiim Pro eventually get confused and the music counter stall or does it always follow each tune sampling properly by stopping the last song gracefully and starting the new song without issue?

2. Are you using it with standard 44.1kHz (CD) or high resolution 88/96/192kHz music?

Thank you!

The WiiM Pro supports LMS' native Squeezelite protocol, so neither, though I never had this issue using UPnP with it either. It supports full rez on both UPnP and Squeezelite.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

For those who like using the streaming services native apps, note that WiiM Pro (and above) support Qobuz Connect, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, AlexaCast and Google Cast, along with Bluetooth and (at the lower end) AirPlay. Also voice control via the remote.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

@rcstevensonaz - question:
1. Are you using the Wiim hardware via UPnP or Airplay with LMS? If you play 20 seconds of music on one song and then skip to another song and do that a number of times does the Wiim Pro eventually get confused and the music counter stall or does it always follow each tune sampling properly by stopping the last song gracefully and starting the new song without issue?

2. Are you using it with standard 44.1kHz (CD) or high resolution 88/96/192kHz music?

Thank you!

1. What @Ralph_Cramden said. The WiiM Pro is running Squeezelite.

2. My CDs are ripped directly to FLAC (thus 44.1kHz), and are then streamed from LMS without any processing (thus 44.1kHz). Some other music is in MP3 format. In general: any media is always stored "as-is" with no changes to the codec or bitrates; and subsequently streamed using its native format and bitrate. So 44.1 / 88 / 96 / 192 is a non-issues, just as FLAC, MP3, WMV, etc. are non-issues (provided that LMS and WiiM Pro are able to support the codec).

 

[linuxfan]

Leaving the WiiM app behind does not mean having to leave the WiiM behind.

Yes, I see quite a few people don't realise this. I would just use the app (WiiM Home) to set up your network configuration, then never touch it again.

I have LMS which I natively point towards the WiiM Pro

Yes, LMS (now Lyrion) is my preference too, controlled from the Material Skin interface on an Android tablet ...

... but for anyone who wishes to stick with a DLNA/UPnP server (to remain compatible with additional devices on the same network, for example) I believe the WiiMs should work fine as endpoint - just don't use the WiiM Home app as controller!
Instead, on Android use BubbleUPnP or mconnect. On iOS use JPLAY or mconnect.

 

[amper42]

Yes, I see quite a few people don't realise this. I would just use the app (WiiM Home) to set up your network configuration, then never touch it again.


Yes, LMS (now Lyrion) is my preference too, controlled from the Material Skin interface on an Android tablet ...

... but for anyone who wishes to stick with a DLNA/UPnP server (to remain compatible with additional devices on the same network, for example) I believe the WiiMs should work fine as endpoint - just don't use the WiiM Home app as controller!
Instead, on Android use BubbleUPnP or mconnect. On iOS use JPLAY or mconnect.

It would have been nice if that were true.
Wiim UPnP code is absolutely horrible with anything other than Wiim app.
It takes liberties with the code which break Audirvana playback at every step.
Sample a tune and go to the next and then a third track and Wiim gets confused via UPnP.
I had hoped it would eventually get fixed but after several years, it's just as bad.

Substitute RPi4 with Moode (take Wiim out of chain) for UPnP gateway using Audirvana and all the problems disappear.
Perhaps those using LMS are not seeing the issue but anyone using Wiim without its app for UPnP connection with Audirvana will experience music stalling and unstable UPnP connectivity with Wiim code.

Meanwhile, RPi4/Moode offers a rock solid UPnP connection.

 

[Crook]

+1 for Wiim Mini. Bit perfect output for £75. I use a 9" Galaxy Tab with stand I already had to control it, so I've a decent sized screen.

 

[linuxfan]

Wiim UPnP code is absolutely horrible with anything other than Wiim app.
It takes liberties with the code which break Audirvana playback at every step.

I take your point, but maybe it's worth trying a different UPnP server - MinimServer, Jellyfin, or for Windows only - oShare.
Maybe a bitter pill if you already have an investment in Audirvana, but worth a try.

... or consider joining the Lyrion family!

For the record, I'm presently using Moode while my main system is packed away in storage.

 

[Multicore]

A wiim proplus. Or Bluesound node. Authoritative musical reproduction is critical.

WiiM Pro and use the optical.

 

[Oskar]

I have the Wiim Ultra connected to my RME here. I have all my CDs on an SSD drive, which I connected via USB. It works absolutely flawlessly with the Wiim app. It is highly recommended!

 

[Multicore]

I agree that the WiiM App is a pita. So now I don't use it. Spotify for cloud streaming and LMS Lyrion for streaming my own digital library work nicely with WiiM. Plus Chromecast and Bluetooth for everything else.

 

[Multicore]

Why don't RME just add a built in streamer

Same question for Metric Halo

 

[speedygonzalez]

Wiim