WiiM Amp Ultra Streaming Amplifier

[catch22]

Sound quality will be identical either way, with the following caveats:

1) Wiim Amp Ultra has more power, though whether that will make any difference depends on your setup and listening habits. It generally doesn't hurt to have more power, however.
2) Wiim products give you a built-in 10 band PEQ and room correction, which can make a big difference to sound quality.

Right, PEQ is a big one.

 

[ZinMe]

I only have the regular Amp, not the Ultra, but software-wise they are all pretty much identical. So in my experience:

1) Yes.
2) Yes.
3) Yes.

My SPotify app is able to see and play on all my WiiM devices, haven’t had any issues with what you’re asking. But one item to keep in mind is multi device sync’s playback for things like whole house audio. If I want to play a track on multiple WiiM devices I haven’t been able to figure out how to do that from the Spotify app- I’ve only been able to play on one device unless I also go into the WiiM app and bind multiple devices together but on some occasions that seems to kill the stream from Spotify. Maybe there’s a better way? I tend to use Tidal because that is natively supported and can be launched from within the WiiM app and makes it easy to group devices.

 

[ZinMe]

My immediate reaction on first listening was ‘ where has the life gone in the music’ . This was just listening at about the same volume as the Cambridge - not level matched - just my usual , comfortable level. Above that level it came alive. I’m sure, as you and others have/ are going to point out that it’s to do with pre gain settings etc. I hasten to ad that I will be keeping it if only for the convenience it provides.

Is it possible the Cambridge has a loudness or dynamic EQ feature that helps with EQ at lower volume levels? I’m not sure if Roomfit / PEQ does this on the WiiM Amp Ultra?

 

[kyuu]

Is it possible the Cambridge has a loudness or dynamic EQ feature that helps with EQ at lower volume levels? I’m not sure if Roomfit / PEQ does this on the WiiM Amp Ultra?

Loudness correction is unfortunately not something Wiim offers. You can save different EQ profiles for different sources but IIRC you can't have more than one for the same source (so have a different EQ profile for low volume listening versus high volume). Definitely a feature I'd like to see added.

 

[Mort]

you can't have more than one for the same source (so have a different EQ profile for low volume listening versus high volume).

I think you can now. It's clunky to change but there are multiple presets shared by all inputs.

 

[kyuu]

I think you can now. It's clunky to change but there are multiple presets shared by all inputs.

Really now. I'll have to check it when I get home tonight.

 

[obsessive9119]

My SPotify app is able to see and play on all my WiiM devices, haven’t had any issues with what you’re asking. But one item to keep in mind is multi device sync’s playback for things like whole house audio. If I want to play a track on multiple WiiM devices I haven’t been able to figure out how to do that from the Spotify app- I’ve only been able to play on one device unless I also go into the WiiM app and bind multiple devices together but on some occasions that seems to kill the stream from Spotify. Maybe there’s a better way? I tend to use Tidal because that is natively supported and can be launched from within the WiiM app and makes it easy to group devices.

I think you can set up a group in the WiiM app, then it should be available to Spotify: https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support...0-how-to-set-up-and-use-wiim-persistent-group

I can’t test because I don’t use Spotify anymore.

 

[oldloder]

By “at low volume” do you mean the actual SPL measured or just the arbitrary volume setting?

Also worth noting that Wiim allow maximum volume to be used safely on their amps. Many other products allow you to get into audible distortion within their operating volume range.

I have a feeling people think the Wiim products don’t “come alive” until they’re played louder, when in reality it’s a psychological bias caused by having to use high volume settings to achieve the same SPL compared to other amps.

If I'm hearing correctly, many are achieving comparable volumes between other amps/products and Wiim devices ultimately, but just farther up on the dial ... is it possible Wiim devices have a logarithmic volume control that is noticeably different than other logarithmic volumes or linear controls on other products?

 

[Matt_Holland]

If I'm hearing correctly, many are achieving comparable volumes between other amps/products and Wiim devices ultimately, but just farther up on the dial ... is it possible Wiim devices have a logarithmic volume control that is noticeably different than other logarithmic volumes or linear controls on other products?

No. This is about gain structure.

 

[kyuu]

I think you can now. It's clunky to change but there are multiple presets shared by all inputs.

Just checked, you are correct sir.

 

[harkpabst]

My SPotify app is able to see and play on all my WiiM devices, haven’t had any issues with what you’re asking. But one item to keep in mind is multi device sync’s playback for things like whole house audio. If I want to play a track on multiple WiiM devices I haven’t been able to figure out how to do that from the Spotify app- I’ve only been able to play on one device unless I also go into the WiiM app and bind multiple devices together but on some occasions that seems to kill the stream from Spotify. Maybe there’s a better way? I tend to use Tidal because that is natively supported and can be launched from within the WiiM app and makes it easy to group devices.

Ultimately, the process of grouping multiple WiiM devices is the same, wether you're using Tidal integrated into the WiiM app or Spotify. The difference is just in how you initiate playback.

I think you can set up a group in the WiiM app, then it should be available to Spotify: https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support...0-how-to-set-up-and-use-wiim-persistent-group

I can’t test because I don’t use Spotify anymore.

And this exactly is the answer.

@ZinMe, note that there are two ways of setting up WiiM device groups. You can either group devices ad hoc, add another device (or more) while you're using your first device. You can unlink devices individually when you no longer want to stream to other rooms.

OTOH you can create persistent groups, as explained in the WiiM support article linked to by @obsessive9119. These are predefined, named groups which are directly visible to Spotify by their name. If you want to, you can create a group for every combination of WiiM devices you own ... but you don't have to.

All this applies to Spotify's own Spotify Connect protocol. Spotify also supports streaming over Googlecast, in which case you'd have to set up a group in Google Home first. There's no benefit to using Googlecast, so I just mention it but won't go into any details.

 

[Prowler_88]

It is true, we don't know what voltage the internal DAC in the CXA is putting out - though I'd be surprised if it were as low as 0.37V - I'd not be surprised for it to output a standard 2V as an external DAC. You could measure it on the pre-out if you are interested. This is almost certainly the same signal fed to the internal power amp.


Both amps will clip if they are driven with enough volts to push them past their power limit. It is just that this is at a lower voltage with the CXA 81.

Thanks for the explanation.

It also seems that Monitor Audio were fibbing about the sensitivity of their floor standers. Had a demo of some Acoustic Energy AE109 mk2 and they sing on the end of the Wiim, reaching much higher SPL at any given gain level.

 

[Pauper]

Is it possible the Cambridge has a loudness or dynamic EQ feature that helps with EQ at lower volume levels? I’m not sure if Roomfit / PEQ does this on the WiiM Amp Ultra?

No, it doesn’t have anything like that

 

[Pauper]

That’s interesting. I have Monitor Audio Bronze 300 G7 floorstanders

Thanks for the explanation.

It also seems that Monitor Audio were fibbing about the sensitivity of their floor standers. Had a demo of some Acoustic Energy AE109 mk2 and they sing on the end of the Wiim, reaching much higher SPL at any given gain level.

Thanks for the explanation.

It also seems that Monitor Audio were fibbing about the sensitivity of their floor standers. Had a demo of some Acoustic Energy AE109 mk2 and they sing on the end of the Wiim, reaching much higher SPL at any

Thanks for the explanation.

It also seems that Monitor Audio were fibbing about the sensitivity of their floor standers. Had a demo of some Acoustic Energy AE109 mk2 and they sing on the end of the Wiim, reaching much higher SPL at any given gain level.

 

[dannyocean]

thank you Amir for this review! i have a question about digital volume control of Wiim Ultra preamp: are there quality differences using digital volume control and setting fixed output with external preamp? i mean, source is manipulated using volume control? thank you

 

[ZinMe]

Ultimately, the process of grouping multiple WiiM devices is the same, wether you're using Tidal integrated into the WiiM app or Spotify. The difference is just in how you initiate playback.

And this exactly is the answer.

@ZinMe, note that there are two ways of setting up WiiM device groups. You can either group devices ad hoc, add another device (or more) while you're using your first device. You can unlink devices individually when you no longer want to stream to other rooms.

OTOH you can create persistent groups, as explained in the WiiM support article linked to by @obsessive9119. These are predefined, named groups which are directly visible to Spotify by their name. If you want to, you can create a group for every combination of WiiM devices you own ... but you don't have to.

All this applies to Spotify's own Spotify Connect protocol. Spotify also supports streaming over Googlecast, in which case you'd have to set up a group in Google Home first. There's no benefit to using Googlecast, so I just mention it but won't go into any details.

Thanks for the info on persistent groups, I’ll try that. I still would prefer to launch and control music services from within the WiiM app, otherwise you wind up going back and forth between Spotify and WiiM apps to control settings, tone/EQ etc…

 

[harkpabst]

Thanks for the info on persistent groups, I’ll try that. I still would prefer to launch and control music services from within the WiiM app, otherwise you wind up going back and forth between Spotify and WiiM apps to control settings, tone/EQ etc…

Spotify do not provide an API to the manufacturers of Spotify Connect enabled devices. They actively don't want you to use a third party app like the WiiM Home App to launch music playback. There's nothing WiiM or any other manufacturer can do about it.

Spotify also forbid to display the actual bit rate for lossless content.

 

[ZinMe]

Spotify do not provide an API to the manufacturers of Spotify Connect enabled devices. They actively don't want you to use a third party app like the WiiM Home App to launch music playback. There's nothing WiiM or any other manufacturer can do about it.

Spotify also forbid to display the actual bit rate for lossless content.

Interesting, glad to have tidal for this reason and for the higher resolution content.

 

[obsessive9119]

Spotify do not provide an API to the manufacturers of Spotify Connect enabled devices. They actively don't want you to use a third party app like the WiiM Home App to launch music playback. There's nothing WiiM or any other manufacturer can do about it.

Spotify also forbid to display the actual bit rate for lossless content.

Yep, one of the benefits of choosing Tidal, Qobuz or self-hosting is you can do everything in the WiiM app but (at least with Qobuz) family members can still just use the Qobuz app with their version of Connect.

 

[antcollinet]

thank you Amir for this review! i have a question about digital volume control of Wiim Ultra preamp: are there quality differences using digital volume control and setting fixed output with external preamp? i mean, source is manipulated using volume control? thank you

Digital volume control generally performs better than analogue volume control - especially for channel matching at low volume.