WiiM Pro Plus Streamer Review

[bobster]

I just got a WiiM Pro Plus. I'm happy with the sound, but I don't like the they implemented the 12V trigger.

I expected it to be like my preamp (which I'm hoping the WiiM can replace): the trigger voltage would increase when it awakens from standby mode and decrease when it enters standby mode.

But that's not how the WiiM works.

Trigger voltage increases after music playback starts, and decreases 2.5 minutes after it stops, as described in the PDF manual and this page. It is unaffected by standby mode.

Since my amp takes a couple of seconds to start, the beginning of the audio gets cut off.

I sent a feature request to WiiM support and also started a thread on their feature request forum asking for the option of having the trigger react to standby mode status. If you want this too, please do the same. (Otherwise, please ignore this.)

Here's the post: https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/...standby-mode-status-instead-of-playback.2211/

Also, the app should have a button to enter/exit standby mode, just like the remote that came with the WiiM Pro Plus.

 

[Ngower]

I am considering purchasing one of the Wiim streamers and have two questions that I'm hopeful you can help with:

- I have a JDS Labs Atom Dac 2, is there any reason to grab the Wiim Pro Plus over the Pro if I'm pushing the streamer to the DAC?

- I have an Apple TV4k, and am wondering if there's any appreciable benefit to grabbing the Wiim Pro/Pro Plus to avoid the re-sampling to 48khz the ATV4K does?

 

[Brantome]

Re the first, no advantage unless you intend also to use the Pro Plus’ better analog inputs.

Re the second, not sure how you’re intending to connect the ATV4K, but I guess 24/48 is still all you’re going to get

 

[Ngower]

Sorry I might have worded that confusingly: the Wiim would be a music streaming alternative to the ATV so that I can avoid resampling.

 

[Brantome]

Sorry I might have worded that confusingly: the Wiim would be a music streaming alternative to the ATV so that I can avoid resampling.

Depends on what you’re streaming then - as long as it’s not Apple Music

 

[Ngower]

It would be Tidal or Qobuz most likely

 

[Brantome]

It would be Tidal or Qobuz most likely

No problem then - for Tidal you can access it from within the WiiM Home app or via Tidal Connect, either using hi res Flac or MQA first unfold, while for Qobuz you have the WiiM app for full 24/192 or 24/96 over ChromeCast from the Qobuz app.

 

[Doenerkunde]

Got the Wiim Pro Plus for Christmas to retire my old Pro Ject DAC and implement PEQ for the very first time.

Great usability, great app. PEQ implementation was a breeze and I enjoy playing around with it. I avoid using positive filters, but set the maximum volume to 90% anyway to avoid any risks with some high Q negative shelf filters.

Now I´ve run into the first problem: Optical is used to connect my TV/Console, so I´ve decided to try the line in for my CD player (Marantz SA7001). Tried it at moderate volume and from the very first tone there was heavy clipping. My technical understanding is very limited, but I just read that the SA7001KI has an output voltage of 2,3V, while the input voltage oft he Wiim is given at 2V. Could this be the cause? If yes, what could I do about it? And lastly: How much damage can 10 seconds of 2,3V output to 2V input music at below 80db have done to my speakers?

 

[staticV3]

Now I´ve run into the first problem: Optical is used to connect my TV/Console, so I´ve decided to try the line in for my CD player (Marantz SA7001). Tried it at moderate volume and from the very first tone there was heavy clipping. My technical understanding is very limited, but I just read that the SA7001KI has an output voltage of 2,3V, while the input voltage oft he Wiim is given at 2V. Could this be the cause? If yes, what could I do about it?

You can simply turn down the Marantz's volume a bit.

And lastly: How much damage can 10 seconds of 2,3V output to 2V input music at below 80db have done to my speakers?

None at all.

 

[MKR]

I am considering purchasing one of the Wiim streamers and have two questions that I'm hopeful you can help with:

- I have a JDS Labs Atom Dac 2, is there any reason to grab the Wiim Pro Plus over the Pro if I'm pushing the streamer to the DAC?

- I have an Apple TV4k, and am wondering if there's any appreciable benefit to grabbing the Wiim Pro/Pro Plus to avoid the re-sampling to 48khz the ATV4K does?

I use that exact combo … WiiM Pro and Atom DAC. Absolutely no need for Pro Plus unless you want a one box solution ( but then no need for the Atom of course)

 

[Doenerkunde]

You can simply turn down the Marantz's volume a bit.

Unfortunately the Marantz CD Player seems to be fixed volume in that regard. The small volume control on its front only affects the headphone out and the manual does not describe any other options to change the volume. I don't know of any either.

 

[staticV3]

Unfortunately the Marantz CD Player seems to be fixed volume in that regard. The small volume control on its front only affects the headphone out and the manual does not describe any other options to change the volume. I don't know of any either.

Ah I see. You have three options afaik:

1. Use a 1/4" to RCA adapter to plug the Marantz's Headphone output into the WiiM, then use the volume knob to set the level

2. Use a preamp between the Marantz's Line out and the WiiM to attenuate the signal to where clipping no longer occurs

3. Use a Toslink Switch to plug all your digital sources into the WiiM. Automatic switch boxes exist that will do the switching for you.

 

[Doenerkunde]

Ah I see. You have three options afaik:

1. Use a 1/4" to RCA adapter to plug the Marantz's Headphone output into the WiiM, then use the volume knob to set the level

2. Use a preamp between the Marantz's Line out and the WiiM to attenuate the signal to where clipping no longer occurs

3. Use a Toslink Switch to plug all your digital sources into the WiiM. Automatic switch boxes exist that will do the switching for you.

Thank you very much!

I think a Toslink switch is the best option, as it also avoids one unnecessary DA/AD cycle.

To be honest I ordered the Wiim blindly assuming that the coax was an input not an output and planned on connecting my CD player that way.

 

[antcollinet]

Thank you very much!

I think a Toslink switch is the best option, as it also avoids one unnecessary DA/AD cycle.

To be honest I ordered the Wiim blindly assuming that the coax was an input not an output and planned on connecting my CD player that way.

There's. fourth option.

Put some RCA attenuators between the marantz and wiim.

 

[Tangband]

Sorry I might have worded that confusingly: the Wiim would be a music streaming alternative to the ATV so that I can avoid resampling.

The WiiM will sound better when you are streaming music from TIDAL or spotify. The apple tv 4k is a very poor sounding streamer with 44.1 kHz material ( it converts everything to 48 kHz in a bad way )

 

[antcollinet]

The WiiM will sound better when you are streaming music from TIDAL or spotify. The apple tv 4k is a very poor sounding streamer with 44.1 kHz material ( it converts everything to 48 kHz in a bad way )

Do you have any objective evidence for that statement?

 

[Ngower]

Do you have any objective evidence for that statement?

Seconded

 

[ehabheikal]

Good job Amir!

Okay, 4-band Parametric EQ function in WiiM Pro Plus is of course much better than nothing at all, but why not a few more bands? Would it be that hard to add? I have no idea how the software in WiiM Pro Plus works, its base, programming capabilities and so on. Data is not my forte.

Is that 4-band Parametric EQ user friendly? Or does it require a lot of tinkering with various settings to get it working?

I think they limited it becuase of speed of onboard processor.

 

[Brantome]

I think they limited it becuase of speed of onboard processor.

The pro and plus have double the number of cpu cores and four times the RAM of the Mini, and the Mini has 4 PEQ bands, so it doesn’t necessarily follow that the Pro and Pro Plus couldn’t have more.

 

[Tangband]

Do you have any objective evidence for that statement?

Only my ears