WiiM Mini Streamer

[telemike]

I bought the WIIM for Amazon music as with a RPi I would have to use Airplay with Volumio.

 

[flz]

That happened because of poor implementation of digital volume control which affected performance over SPDIF. It is something that you don't see often, but it is of course possible.

The Andover & AudioEngine models reviewed by Amir don't have adjustable volume! So what do you mean by 'digital volume control'?

 

[thorvat]

The Andover & AudioEngine models reviewed by Amir don't have adjustable volume! So what do you mean by 'digital volume control'?

Most of the USB to SPDIF interfaces implement some kind of digital volume control and I cannot think of any other reason why would properly implemented USB to SPDIF bridge cause any measurable additional distortion when implemented properly when signal is routed over SPDIF to external DAC. And today it is very easy and cheap to implement such bridge properly.

 

[Jmudrick]

Some of you insist that streamers wont have a sound difference when using the optical out to an external DAC. But look at post #42 of this thread. Amir's tests clearly show differences in streamers even when using optical out to external DACs, with some streamers performing very poorly.

Audibility is not addressed though. In evaluating this $89 streamer with so many cool functions one might consider its (presumed) measured weaknesses with the question of audibility in mind.

 

[mateolo2]

I am still working through stuff that has come earlier. Let me see if I can get it done in a week to 10 days.

Amirm - one more thing. In your test please focus mostly on digital output - we all consider this device only this way but all reviews in tej internet talking only about internal dac

 

[amirm]

Understood.

 

[mateolo2]

Understood.

Thank you!!! You are the best! We Have Big hopes for This device.

 

[thorvat]

Understood.

I would be interested to hear your thoughts about possible reasons why this streamer showed such bad performance when feeding Schiit Madius DAC via SPDIF?

 

[ClassicGuy]

Amirm - one more thing. In your test please focus mostly on digital output - we all consider this device only this way but all reviews in tej internet talking only about internal dac

Is the internal DAC quite bad?

 

[telemike]

Is the internal DAC quite bad?

I'll be listening to it once Amazon delivers it

 

[d3miller]

Hi,

I was thinking about adding node 2i to my system as digital transport to my dac. But with wiim mini i can have exactly the same for 1/5 price of node. It will be any sound difference When using optical out only? I know about difference in clocks, but really it will be any notacible difference? @amirm we are waiting for your test and advice! Thanks

I returned my node 2i for the Wiim. The main reason was I was having issues with network connectivity, which I didn't have with the Wiim. However, it turned out to be my router as I had similar issues with other devices. But even still, I didn't need a lot of the other features of the Node, and Wiim satisfies all my needs at a fraction of the price.

 

[mateolo2]

I returned my node 2i for the Wiim. The main reason was I was having issues with network connectivity, which I didn't have with the Wiim. However, it turned out to be my router as I had similar issues with other devices. But even still, I didn't need a lot of the other features of the Node, and Wiim satisfies all my needs at a fraction of the price.

Are you using it with external dac? Can you hear any difference between Node and wiim via digital?

 

[mateolo2]

Is the internal DAC quite bad?

No, its Ok for the money. But we mostly consider this device with external dacs and compere it to 4-5x more expensive devices. It very hard to find a streamer with Good dac for lets say under 500€.

 

[d3miller]

Are you using it with external dac? Can you hear any difference between Node and wiim via digital?

External DAC - Topping D30 Pro. I honestly don't think there is a noticeable difference. I had the Node doing RCA out to my speakers, also did optical out to a MiniDSP. I think the only audible difference (to me) is when I turned Dirac on. I don't recall any noticeable difference between Wiim, Node 2i DAC, Node 2i --> MiniDSP DAC, and even my current Wiim --> ML Unison (ARC) --> Topping D30 Pro chain, other than when room correction is turned on (and at that point, it's no longer the DAC that is making the audible difference)

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

Thank you!!! You are the best! We Have Big hopes for This device.

Looks like a buttload of updates coming in April, including this:

Support

wiim.freshdesk.com

 

[id.ray]

I am still working through stuff that has come earlier. Let me see if I can get it done in a week to 10 days.

Can you test the the "tidal connect" aspect using this album you found for the Chromecast audio. I'm really hoping this little nugget is a solution to the bluesound node. So I can go straight from Wiim Toslink out to something like the like the Topping E50 and get all the benefits of gapless and great reproduction

Thank you so much for everything you do for the audiophile community

amirm said:
Wow, I found such a title! https://listen.tidal.com/album/29581889

Will do some testing tomorrow.

 

[Glasvegas]

Can you test the the "tidal connect" aspect using this album you found for the Chromecast audio. I'm really hoping this little nugget is a solution to the bluesound node. So I can go straight from Wiim Toslink out to something like the like the Topping E50 and get all the benefits of gapless and great reproduction

Thank you so much for everything you do for the audiophile community

amirm said:
Wow, I found such a title! https://listen.tidal.com/album/29581889

Will do some testing tomorrow.

That would be a great test. Unfortunately, it was never done for the Chromecast Audio.

 

[mateolo2]

External DAC - Topping D30 Pro. I honestly don't think there is a noticeable difference. I had the Node doing RCA out to my speakers, also did optical out to a MiniDSP. I think the only audible difference (to me) is when I turned Dirac on. I don't recall any noticeable difference between Wiim, Node 2i DAC, Node 2i --> MiniDSP DAC, and even my current Wiim --> ML Unison (ARC) --> Topping D30 Pro chain, other than when room correction is turned on (and at that point, it's no longer the DAC that is making the audible difference)

Thats amazing News!!! Maybe really we Have Node killer …

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

Found their firmware update roadmap, which includes:

Updates to be
released by 4/30
New Features:

• Amazon Ultra HD support
• TIDAL Master support (bypass MQA)
• 48kHz/24 bit supported on AirPlay 2

Specs - WiiM Mini - WiiM

wiimhome.com

 

[Glasvegas]

Found their firmware update roadmap, which includes:

Specs - WiiM Mini - WiiM

wiimhome.com

What does “TIDAL Master support (bypass MQA)” mean?