What´d be left of a Wiim (mini/Pro/Pro+) once the software will not be updated anymore? A DAC? Bluetooth? Trying to decide what Wiim to buy...

[Martinho]

Hi everyone! My first posting here. Thanks for the forum and all the good informations here! Found a lot of good informations about the "Wiim family" as I´m interested in buying a dedicated streaming device, just for the convenience of changing everything on the mobile phone... Til now I was using for music streaming just a little Android Tablet (old Pipo X8) or a little laptop and an external "USB only" Dac (Pro-Ject USB Box). So I can´t use this DAC on a WIIM Streamer as its USB only.

I´m using my Hifi equipment usually for a long time, I still have speakers, Amp, turntable and CD Player I bought about 20 years ago. (if it matters: Arcam Alpha 7R Amp and ALR Entry 3 Speakers). Not planning on changing the Amp or the speakers anytime soon, as I still like them...)

So I want to stream and connect via RCA to my Arcam amplifier. With that in mind I´m trying to decide weather buying the Mini or Pro and a DAC or go for the Pro+.
What would be left if Wiim stops to exist or ends their support for the current hardware? Is a Pro or Pro+ a total brick or would there it be a decent usable DAC left of a Pro+?

I have no experience with chromecast audio. Whats the scenarios for using chromecast audio with a Wiim? Do I need that? What for?

My wifi is ok, so the physical Ethernet connection to the net of the Pros would probably not be a big advantage over the mini. Or would it?

Are the Wiims buffering audio in case the wifi connection mite be bad? The Pros seem to have more RAM than the mini. Is that noticeable?
Are the Pros faster when using the app? Is the mini lagging? Any other differences in everyday usability? Or is all that in comparison to video streamers no big topic in everyday use of an audio streamer?

So would buying a cheap SMSL DAC (or something used like a Pro-Ject DAC, or a Musical Fidelity V90) and the Wiim Mini make sence? So I could dump the mini once its outdated and still have a DAC? and buy maybe the "next mini" in some years?

For simplicity in settings, cabelwork and power supply I´d tend to buy the Pro+. But I just experienced that my Pioneer car radio stopped the Spotify support because for whatever reason Pioneer and Spotify don´t work together anymore... So i don´t want to experience the same with a Wiim.

Any thoughts that mite help me?
Of the people who have tested Pro and Pro+: Any real life comparison thoughts? Was it audible for anyone using the RCA? Are you using the Pro without plus and without external DAC happy with the sound?

Thanks for your thoughts and advice!

 

[Power Pop 23]

I have difficulty reliably perceiving a difference in sound quality from the line outputs of my WiiM Pro and WiiM Pro Plus streamers.

WiiM's parent company Linkplay is currently selling refurbished WiiM Pro's (with remote control) for $105 at their outlet store on Ebay with three currently 'in-stock'

WiiM Pro AirPlay 2 Receiver with Voice Remote, Chromecast Audio Multiroom Strear | eBay

WiiM Pro turns your existing stereo system into smart, so you can play all your favorite music from your music service App, the WiiM App, or your voice using Alexa, Google Voice, or Siri all in the highest possible sound fidelity.

www.ebay.com

 

[VMAT4]

I have difficulty reliably perceiving a difference in sound quality from the line outputs of my WiiM Pro and WiiM Pro Plus streamers.

WiiM's parent company Linkplay is currently selling refurbished WiiM Pro's (with remote control) for $105 at their outlet store on Ebay with three currently 'in-stock'

WiiM Pro AirPlay 2 Receiver with Voice Remote, Chromecast Audio Multiroom Strear | eBay

WiiM Pro turns your existing stereo system into smart, so you can play all your favorite music from your music service App, the WiiM App, or your voice using Alexa, Google Voice, or Siri all in the highest possible sound fidelity.

www.ebay.com

At that price, what's not to love?

 

[Martinho]

Thats a fantastic price, but I'm European, with added import taxes that wouldn't make sense to buy in the US...

Anayway, I'm still interested in the question what would be left of the hardware without software support and all my other questions... ;-)

 

[gwing]

Thats a fantastic price, but I'm European, with added import taxes that wouldn't make sense to buy in the US...

Anayway, I'm still interested in the question what would be left of the hardware without software support and all my other questions... ;-)

Don't worry about it, If software support stops the hardware will keep working as it does now.

 

[Jimbob54]

My only concern if wii stops updating would be when the steaming services stop working on the Wiim. I doubt that would be for a good while after software stops being updated. Other than that it's just not going to get new features. Existing ones should be fine.

 

[gwing]

My only concern if wii stops updating would be when the steaming services stop working on the Wiim. I doubt that would be for a good while after software stops being updated. Other than that it's just not going to get new features. Existing ones should be fine.

I think its sort of the other way around. The streaming service has written a client to play on the Wiim, if the Wiim isn't updated that makes it easier for the streaming service as they don't have to make any changes. Maybe many years down the road, if Wiim stop selling their product, the streaming services might drop specific compatibility if there are no longer enough Wiim devices out there to justify their interest, yet even so the Wiim can be streamed to using standard Chromecast so you should still be OK.

Nothing is entirely future proof - but the Wiim looks likely to be as near to that as you can get.

 

[audioje]

The day the sky will collapse...

 

[ddaudio]

There's also a 192/24 capable UPnP receiver built in to the WiiM so you can stream to it from almost any device. There are apps such as BubbleUPnP or servers such as LMS which can connect to streaming services and send the music to the WiiMs.

The WiiM Pros, but not the Mini, also has a native Squeezelite client, so can be streamed to using LMS's native protocol. BTW, LMS has recently become fully independent of Logitech (It's now Lyrion Music Server) and has a very active developer community (I'm part of it).

So good protection against obsolescence.

 

[phofman]

I think its sort of the other way around. The streaming service has written a client to play on the Wiim, if the Wiim isn't updated that makes it easier for the streaming service as they don't have to make any changes.

That's quite interesting, please can you provide more details? IIUC Wiim is an embedded linux device, I wonder what sort of client Tidal could provide to them. Thanks!

 

[gwing]

That's quite interesting, please can you provide more details? IIUC Wiim is an embedded linux device, I wonder what sort of client Tidal could provide to them. Thanks!

I fear it isn't as interesting as you hope.

Most of the time I'm running the Tidal music streaming app on my windows PC which I regard as a client able to talk to my Wiim 'listening service' as well as other devices. When I click on the 'Sound output selection' button in the Tidal app/client it offers the standard system devices but also connection to the Wiim by either Chromecast or the Tidal Connect protocol which is the one I use myself, I guess it would also show up with a third protocol as a Bluetooth device if I had that enabled.

 

[GGroch]

Anyway, I'm still interested in the question what would be left of the hardware without software support and all my other questions... ;-)

An excellent question, but one that I think is less relevant to Wiim than other streamers. In the past I purchased two different Harman streamers. On one Harman sent out a firmware update that bricked every streaming feature turning it into a dumb Bluetooth receiver. On the other, they just stopped updating the required apps so you could no longer install it. On other obsolete streamers, compatibility with services like Spotify, Tidal etc just gradually become incompatible.

But, unlike Denon, Yamaha, Harman and many others, Wiim is a software company that makes some hardware, not the other way around. Wiim is LinkPlay which has made streaming software and chips for others since 2014. They have a record of providing updates to their older devices from Pioneer, Audio Pro, Klipsch etc. as long as the brands who licensed from them wanted. At some point the particular hardware in a WiiM unit will undoubtably be obsolete, but I expect that will not happen for many years.

I do like your question. I have had arguments here with other posters who took the opposite view saying that it was unconscionable for WiiM to release products that required software updates....that they should wait until their features/firmware were perfected before shipping them. Yes, perhaps Apple, Microsoft should do that too

 

[JeremyFife]

It is a good question, hi-fi has moved on from passive components that just play the source you feed them. I feel (without much evidence) reasonably comfortable with WiiM as a long-term provider of service. It helps that the equipment is reasonably cheap so the cost of the risk is low.

What worries me more is that the actual streaming platforms will remove or reduce services

 

[TonyJZX]

a few things

for me i'd only be interested in the wiim ultra and that line... ie. no amps - no need IMO to saddle yourself with only THEIR TPA3255 implementation

2ndly, the stuff seems to me to be high value... ie. a western support model for $300??? and so with that I expect maybe 2-3yrs of support from introduction of product

and so I think people wont be 'left behind' by Wiim.. they are here until the unit gets superceded and your suite of features will be working barring stuff like this Airplay thing

but as always what do you get for your $300??? I think you are getting a lot and even worse case if they kill support 18 months from now you still have a functioning product with very good performance

you can spend $300 with some other idiots and you get a lot worse post sales support

 

[gwing]

It is a good question, hi-fi has moved on from passive components that just play the source you feed them. I feel (without much evidence) reasonably comfortable with WiiM as a long-term provider of service. It helps that the equipment is reasonably cheap so the cost of the risk is low.

What worries me more is that the actual streaming platforms will remove or reduce services

Yes, technology is moving fast in the streaming services, not to mention the transitory existence of some of these services themselves. In my mind stuff like amps and speakers are sort of permanent components of a system, streaming devices I regard as short term purchases that will likely be replaced much more rapidly - which is why I think it best to buy something as cheap as reasonable and as a dedicated streamer rather than a combined advice with amps and stuff in it which you will also then have to 'throw away' in time, or at least suffer the loss of much of their functionality. That said a cheap integrated device is still a good solution for many but i wouldn't myself consider significantly expensive components that are likely to be transitory.

 

[Petevid]

Things do change...

https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/firmware-update.3682/post-56432


or see attached

 

[TonyJZX]

i think people SHOULD be wary of 'next gen' type hifi companies... people should think twice if they want to spend on Sonos or stuff like Denon Marantz HEOS garbage... we know these companies are anti-consumer

but i give Wiim some leeway on that Airplay stuff... firstly becasue I despise apple crap and wont use it... unfortunately the ladies gravitate towards their shite

but Wiim seems to be the best of that breed and its not like as if they are asking a heap of money

$300 on wiim, so to speak. that's a whim purchase to me

$900 on a marantz m1 with i'm guessing... unknown future support??? oooof...

 

[robertbond]

WIIM just killed off Airplay casting. Until now I have been using WIIM Pro Plus for the exact reason I researched and purchased the device; to make the absolute most out of my Sonos Five pair. AirPlay / wifi for casting as an Output to my Sonos Fives is gone. Please note I will not be changing my speakers as I bought them just before I bought the WIIM Pro plus, 7 months ago (Nov 2023) after much research, choosing WIIM over the Sonos Port. As Sonos Fives are wifi and don’t support bluetooth, nor DLNA and I don’t want to use any cables to plus my WIIM Pro Plus into anything except my turntable with is already plugged into my line in. The only output I want to use is over Wireless / Airplay and it worked brilliantly until now.Airplay disappeared from configurable Outputs, yet AirPlay is all over the packaging. It needs a resolution but WIIM are so far silent.

 

[Jimbob54]

WIIM just killed off Airplay casting. Until now I have been using WIIM Pro Plus for the exact reason I researched and purchased the device; to make the absolute most out of my Sonos Five pair. AirPlay / wifi for casting as an Output to my Sonos Fives is gone. Please note I will not be changing my speakers as I bought them just before I bought the WIIM Pro plus, 7 months ago (Nov 2023) after much research, choosing WIIM over the Sonos Port. As Sonos Fives are wifi and don’t support bluetooth, nor DLNA and I don’t want to use any cables to plus my WIIM Pro Plus into anything except my turntable with is already plugged into my line in. The only output I want to use is over Wireless / Airplay and it worked brilliantly until now.Airplay disappeared from configurable Outputs, yet AirPlay is all over the packaging. It needs a resolution but WIIM are so far silent.

Likely not their choice.

 

[robertbond]

looks like some lawsuit also between Lijnkplay Technologies Inc (maker of WIIM) and Sonos. https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/52191316/Sonos,_Inc_v_Linkplay_Technology_Inc