Wiim Mini sample rate and/or degradation over wifi?

[lsanbourne]

Hello, just set up my Wiim Mini and had three questions:

1. If WiFi signal is weak, does it degrade quality or sample rate or will audio just cut out? Would a wired streamer be better for any reason?
2. With Qobuz it is streaming a 192kHz song at 44.1 despite being plugged into an RME DAC that supports high sample rates. Is there anything to configure on that end?
3. I'm highly oversensitive to UI design inefficiencies and find it super annoying that every streamer requires me to access Qobuz with their own interface that's slightly different from Qobuz's. For example, Wiim's app doesn't seem to let you do keyword searches across all fields. For those of you who share my sensitivity: which streamer has the best iOS app UI?

Thanks!
L

 

[DVDdoug]

1. If WiFi signal is weak, does it degrade quality or sample rate or will audio just cut out? Would a wired streamer be better for any reason?

Usually dropouts. Wi-Fi has all of the usual Ethernet error checking and error correction so data corruption is virtually unheard of. But since audio (and video) are real-time you CAN get a glitch if the buffer underflows. A short-term dropout might sound like a click or a pop.

And Wi-Fi is just sending data. The Wi-Fi itself doesn't know anything about sample rate.

...I can't answer your streamer questions.

 

[lsanbourne]

The device could request a lower sample rate or bitrate if it detects dropouts. For #1 I'm just wondering whether Wiim Mini does that? If so, I'll want to replace it with a wired streamer. Thanks!

 

[staticV3]

With Qobuz it is streaming a 192kHz song at 44.1 despite being plugged into an RME DAC that supports high sample rates. Is there anything to configure on that end?

In the WiiM Home App you can configure the maximum sample rate and bit depth that the WiiM Mini is allowed to output via Toslink.

Anything higher than that will be downsampled before it's put out.

 

[gwing]

The device could request a lower sample rate or bitrate if it detects dropouts. For #1 I'm just wondering whether Wiim Mini does that? If so, I'll want to replace it with a wired streamer. Thanks!

Not surprisingly even the pro+ doesn't work well with a poor wifi signal. Much better using a wired connection, almost as reliable when I put a wifi access point in the room and got 100% signal but I still use wired for music streaming, wifi only for connecting a phone for configuring the wiim.

 

[lsanbourne]

My thinking is, dropouts would be great - then I have proof that the connection is having issues. I have no connection issues when streaming from my iPhone at hi res…

 

[MaxwellsEq]

It really depends on the receiving end's behaviour when there are errors. Very large buffers can cope with relatively unreliable or variable network transmission, but at the cost of latency. Of the buffer is small or zero, even the best network (asynchronous packet networks always have arrival variability) can result in dropouts and splats.

 

[markstein]

As written by StaticV3 already, you should check your settings in WIIM Home app first.

Sound > Audio settings:

Set to fixed volume output, 100% limit
Set max. SPDIF output resolution to 192kHz/24bit
Disable MQA beta
Disable fading effects

The app shows as well your networks status. If relocation of your equipment is not possible, allowing 2.4GHz may help. There is a switch in the app.

 

[Rottmannash]

Not sure if it will fit your needs but the Eversolo DMP-A6 might be what you're looking for. It's the best streamer I've tried.

 

[Verig]

1. Bandwidth needed for cd or hi-res audio is small by today's standards. Probably just crappy wifi implementation if you have problems. But it has no effect on sound quality, you just get dropouts.
If you have mesh-routers you can place one close to the streamer and use wired connection. Or just long network cable from where your modem/router is.

3. Bluesound makes nice stable streamers and NAD have inbuilt Bluesound modules. I don't have any complains with iOS.

 

[Timcognito]

In the WiiM Home App you can configure the maximum sample rate and bit depth

You can also do that in the Qobuz app in settings.

 

[antcollinet]

CD quality audio is <2mb/s even with networking overheads. i think if your wifi averages lower than that for any significant time, then it is not fit for purpose.

But my wifi where I am sat right now is clocking upwards of 65Mb/s and that is an internet speed test - so may just be limited by my internet connection. Also while I am already streaming lossless FLAC (CD quality) from Radio Paradise, and Mrs AC is streaming the tennis to the TV.

I can't imagine any streamer implements a fall back strategy for lower bit rates based on poor networking performance. First if your wifi is anywhere near up to scratch, you are not going to have a problem. If you do it will be obvious drop outs.

 

[RDoc]

We use Tidal Connect with our WiiM Mini's so it's the Tidal UI controlling the streamers.

 

[lsanbourne]

Thanks, all!

I'm not having any dropouts, just wondering if ethernet would be better. Sounds like no.

And I solved the sample rate issue… The app doesn't always make it clear which streaming source you're using. I had accidentally selected Spotify.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

I'm not having any dropouts, just wondering if ethernet would be better. Sounds like no

Assuming you don't use screened ethernet cable, wired ethernet is always better than WiFi. But assuming your WiFI is reliable, without too much congestion and competition from neighbours, WiFi is OK for domestic audio.

 

[RDoc]

Assuming you don't use screened ethernet cable, wired ethernet is always better than WiFi. But assuming your WiFI is reliable, without too much congestion and competition from neighbours, WiFi is OK for domestic audio.

In what way do you think ethernet is better than WiFi (assuming no drop outs) for any kind of audio, domestic, professional or even scientific? In WiFi systems the bandwidth is orders of magnitude higher than the audio.

 

[phofman]

In WiFi systems the bandwidth is orders of magnitude higher than the audio.

That is very true, however the bandwidth value is some average number. In congested areas basically every wifi connection experiences delays, by design of the technology. It may not be noticeable for internet browsing or downloading where variable delay does not matter. Try pinging over wifi in a congested (i.e. any populated) area, the variation in ping time is very quite large. It can run at 2ms but spikes at tens of ms are unavoidable. No way to prevent another AP entering the area and running at the same channel, in a populated area. Incomparable with a local ethernet network.

With large buffer on the receiving side it's viable, but a lower latency is very difficult to run reliably.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

In what way do you think ethernet is better than WiFi (assuming no drop outs) for any kind of audio, domestic, professional or even scientific? In WiFi systems the bandwidth is orders of magnitude higher than the audio.

Check my sig. I built, debugged and ran very large international corporate networks for years which included WiFi and wired networks. I also designed and built big IP networks used in TV and Radio production.

WiFi is useful. It's perfectly adequate for domestic audio bandwidths. But it's simplex which impacts complex multicast and bidirectional media working. In many countries, if it gets a sniff of radar it has to switch away and monitor the channel. There's only one environment which is shared by neighbours. Weird beacon behaviour from neighbour devices can capture the clients on your network. It's relatively insecure, even with the best AUTHN and encryption protocols.

I simply answered the question - which was better. WiFi is adequate for domestic audio, but a wired connection is better in so many ways.