WiiM Pro Plus Streamer Review

[onlyoneme]

I edited my post. I tried it with both Hificast and BubbleUPNP, which were both bit-perfect with Upnp

Last time when I was checking it, both LMS and Roon were giving bit-perfect results over chromecast. A quick test with Roon and RME bit perfect test is still giving a passed result to me.

 

[hopkins]

P.S. I use the WiiM Pro with Squeezelite, Qobuz, and Toslink input (for my turntable), and I love it!

 

[hopkins]

Last time when I was checking it, both LMS and Roon were giving bit-perfect results over chromecast. A quick test with Roon and RME bit perfect test is still giving a passed result to me.

How did you check this ?

Are you using the LMS Chromecast plugin ? Otherwise the WiiM uses its own protocol with squeezelite.

 

[onlyoneme]

How did you check this ?

Are you using the LMS Chromecast plugin ? Otherwise the WiiM uses its own protocol with squeezelite.

Using chromecast protocols available in Roon and LMS (via chromecast bridge).

I've just verified it with LMS and it passes all the tests up to 24 bit depth over chromecast.

 

[hopkins]

Using chromecast protocols available in Roon and LMS (via chromecast bridge).

OK, good to know. How do you check that it is bit-perfect ?
My DAC has an integrated bit-perfect test (using files supplied by the manufacturer). Bit-perfectness is checked by comparing the 5 sec files to the signal received.

 

[onlyoneme]

OK, good to know. How do you check that it is bit-perfect ?
My DAC has an integrated bit-perfect test (using files supplied by the manufacturer). Bit-perfectness is checked by comparing the 5 sec files to the signal received.

It's similar in case of RME and its files - a pattern of short full scale signals which triggers a bit-perfect message on the DAC screen when detected unaltered. It does not guarantee bit-perfectness over the time period but it can detect any time unrelated manipulation on the stream.
I was performing more comprehensive tests with capturing the stream and comparing it bit to bit to the source, and it was giving me the same results, except the very beginning and the end of the stream if fade effects were enabled or forced.

 

[hopkins]

I would be curious to know if Qobuz is bit-perfect using the WiiM app. For that, one would have to upload files to Qobuz. I actually tried doing it, but my files were rejected by the service provider...

P.S. Will try LMS with chromecast bridge at some point, just to check (I use the squeezelite implementation, so no need for it myself).

 

[onlyoneme]

Or you can download any Qobuz file using available downloaders to get a basis for a comparison with the content captured in the digital domain during the playback (if you have such opportunity).
I was doing such tests in the past, and results were bit-perfect (with an exception for fade effects again).

 

[AudioSceptic]

If there is, its audible transparent. I was really suspicius when I bought a WiiM pro about loosing a dimension in the sound If using the PEQ - but this function is audible transparent , - its much better than a dbx driverack pa2 or using the eq in a Yamaha wxc50 , most AVRs and such . Maybe the PEQ is the best function in the streamer because using PEQ will better the sound from your speakers. Hard to believe its that good, I know…

This WiiM pro or pro + used as a digital bridge is on pair with the best streamers on the market regardless of price.

And that price can be absurd, into the 10s of 1,000s of £/$.

 

[MKR]

How does it compare to something like the Bluesound Node?
Obviously I'm not expecting it to be as good Becaue it costs much less.

Never heard the Bluesound, but I hope your last statement was in jest, else you maybe should not be on ASR …The WiiM is audibly transparent, is the Bluesound? If yes, then only reason you would spend more on Bluesound is looks and features, not for better sound. If Bluesound not transparent, well, I let you come to your own conclusion where you want to spend your hard earned money.

 

[VintageFlanker]

it is that the essential of the " musical speech ", which you are listening to is under 1khz

...And the essential of your hearing sensibility is above 1kHz...

but it seems not understood here on ASR...

It is perfectly understood around here.

How does it compare to something like the Bluesound Node?

Bluesound Node Review (Streamer)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the 2021 Bluesound Node wired and wireless streamer and DAC. It is the next generation from Node 2i which I reviewed a while back. The Node costs US $549 and was kindly drop shipped to me by a member. In case you don't know, Bluesound is from the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I also measured the new Node X, and it is clearly sub performing against this WPP.

 

[MKR]

Never heard the Bluesound, but I hope your last statement was in jest, else you maybe should not be on ASR …The WiiM is audibly transparent, is the Bluesound? If yes, then only reason you would spend more on Bluesound is looks and features, not for better sound. If Bluesound not transparent, well, I let you come to your own conclusion where you want to spend your hard earned money.

I had not realized the Bluesound had been reviewed by @amirm … ouch. @Pearljam5000 I sure hope this addresses your query of WiiM vs Bluesound

Thread 'Bluesound Node Review (Streamer)'
https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/bluesound-node-review-streamer.25578/

 

[Pearljam5000]

I had not realized the Bluesound had been reviewed by @amirm … ouch. @Pearljam5000 I sure hope this addresses your query of WiiM vs Bluesound

Thread 'Bluesound Node Review (Streamer)'
https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/bluesound-node-review-streamer.25578/

Thanks

 

[AudioSceptic]

How does it compare to something like the Bluesound Node?
Obviously I'm not expecting it to be as good Becaue it costs much less.

Why would anyone assume such a thing, given the measurements made by Amir and others of so many devices over a wide price range? It has become obvious that price is no indicator of performance and you can, for example, spend 1000s on DACs that are outperformed by products from Topping, SMSL, etc., and what justifies the price of "hi-end" streamers that can do more than, say, a RPi-based unit? Sure, you will usually get better build quality and styling, but is that really worth many multiples of the cost of a well performing low cost device?

 

[Spocko]

... Sure, you will usually get better build quality and styling, but is that really worth many multiples of the cost of a well performing low cost device?

I have my doubts about the "better build quality" unless the definition is limited to extra thick aluminum extrusions! We have no evidence either way that more expensive products have additional QC or better soldering or more durable parts but we do know they have a much larger marketing budget to take out ads on Stereophile and the like (which of course goes into the price of the product).

 

[AudioSceptic]

I have my doubts about the "better build quality" unless the definition is limited to extra thick aluminum extrusions! We have no evidence either way that more expensive products have additional QC or better soldering or more durable parts but we do know they have a much larger marketing budget to take out ads on Stereophile and the like (which of course goes into the price of the product).

Yes. I was trying to somehow give *some* justification for the higher price, but this is often limited to the exterior and the internals might well be sub-standard; in fact, they must be sub-standard in some respect not to perform better than they do.

 

[dzerig]

I have pro plus pcb v3 . Good but I find the bass light ( compared to internal dac of amp with coax or optical ) , drum hit light no matter how high the volume or voltage setting . It could be my preamp?

Have you tried to measure that? Not sure how to do that other than playing pure test tones at 1kHz, setting volume equal and testing at other frequencies to see if volume stays equal.

Or, some blind testing. Sighted testing is always going to be second guessed, even obvious differences with test tones. Some people won't believe it's raining unless you can demonstrate it with measurements. It could just be high humidity that's soaking me wet!

 

[Bernard23]

We know already that Wiim are going to add 2, maybe 4 extra PEQ bands early next year. That's more than enough to provide reasonable room correction and EQ most headphones, so for me potentially no further need to subscribe to Room. Now, if they could add a reasonably priced mic into the bundled remote, implement a version of housecurve into the app.....

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

We know already that Wiim are going to add 2, maybe 4 extra PEQ bands early next year. That's more than enough to provide reasonable room correction and EQ most headphones, so for me potentially no further need to subscribe to Room. Now, if they could add a reasonably priced mic into the bundled remote, implement a version of housecurve into the app.....

There’s already a mic in the remote, primarily used for Alexa commands

 

[Bernard23]

There’s already a mic in the remote, primarily used for Alexa commands

True, though whether it's good enough for basic correction.