WiiM Pro Plus Streamer Review

[audiopile]

Own and use a couple of Parks Audio Puffins with digi outputs but also have a bunch of other phono preamps. So jonesing for ADCs has been added to my obsessive purchasing habit. Now I'll have to look at the Ultra ?

 

[rcstevensonaz]

Own and use a couple of Parks Audio Puffins with digi outputs but also have a bunch of other phono preamps. So jonesing for ADCs has been added to my obsessive purchasing habit. Now I'll have to look at the Ultra ?

If your jonesing your way forward on ADCs and want to really go big, you could just jump up to the RME ADI-2 Pro 2/4 SE

But, which problem are you trying to solve?

1. Turntable (analog) to Phono Pre-amp (digital) -- ADC with RIAA
2. Turntable (analog) to Hub (digital) -- ADC with RIAA
3. Phono Pre-amp (analog) to Hub (digital) -- ADC with RIAA
4. Phono Pre-amp (analog) to Hub (digital) -- ADC post-RIAA

A lot depends on your cable distances, where you want to have RIAA performed (i.e. in analog or digital domain), how good of an ADC conversion you want to pay for, and whether you want to keep the "phono to digital" isolated to a separate device or have it built into a single digital hub for both albums and digital media.

But back to the original question: the WiiM Pro Plus will take in analog and send it out as S/PDIF at a bit/rate of your choosing (up to 24/192).

 

[Deleted member 68267]

Is it safe to use the wiim pro plus as a preamp, connecting it dorectly to a Hypex Power Amp and using it to control volume?

 

[Petrushka]

Is it safe to use the wiim pro plus as a preamp, connecting it dorectly to a Hypex Power Amp and using it to control volume?

For various definitions of safe. Any component could fail, not just streamers.

My amp has input level pots. If yours doesn’t, you can buy an outboard volume control. I have mine set so that if some digital device accidentally fires up at full volume, nothing is damaged.

 

[lithoc]

Is it safe to use the wiim pro plus as a preamp, connecting it dorectly to a Hypex Power Amp and using it to control volume?

I'm connecting wiim pro plus as preamp and eq then direct connect to my LM3886 amp . I'm getting loud static noise in the left channel during the unit booting.

Else everything is fine.

Wiim pro plus ... I untick fixed volume and set 2Vrms and max volume 66%

Not sure if it happen only to my unit or is a bug in the software

Just be aware if this and not to burn any speakers

 

[Oukkidoukki]

Does Wiim pro work in wifi 6 5ghz phone hotspot? I use phone hotspot and this must be on for faster network. Couldnt find wifi 6 info about wiim from the net. Anyone? Thanks.

 

[Brantome]

I'm connecting wiim pro plus as preamp and eq then direct connect to my LM3886 amp . I'm getting loud static noise in the left channel during the unit booting.

Else everything is fine.

Wiim pro plus ... I untick fixed volume and set 2Vrms and max volume 66%

Not sure if it happen only to my unit or is a bug in the software

Just be aware if this and not to burn any speakers

I think I may have heard this or similar mentioned before. Submit a ticket to WiiM via the settings/feedback section in the WiiM Home app after it next happens. Until you get a fix, can you turn on your amp after you boot up the Pro Plus instead or at least turn its volume right down?

 

[staticV3]

Does Wiim pro work in wifi 6 5ghz phone hotspot?

The WiiM Pro does not support WiFi 6. Only WiFi 5 and below.

 

[Oukkidoukki]

Ou no. Thanks. I dont know if i can choose 5 ghz over 2.4 without wifi6. And does it give high bandwith by using only 5ghz. With wifi 6 and 5ghz i get 200mbs. Using 2.4 only 40mbs.

 

[Dennis_FL]

I use both Roon and to a lesser extent, JRiver. I sure wish it had a USB input as JRiver with DLNA has been iffy for me. I see they now have a WiiM Pro 2 on Amazon today as a Prime Deal.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

I use both Roon and to a lesser extent, JRiver. I sure wish it had a USB input as JRiver with DLNA has been iffy for me. I see they now have a WiiM Pro 2 on Amazon today as a Prime Deal.

You got me on that one: I had to jump quickly over to Amazon to see if WiiM had done a stealth release of a new WiiM Pro 2 model. It is however just the current WiiM Pro Airplay 2, though at a fantastic price!

The USB input issue should be very easily solved with any of the myriad of USB to S/PDIF converter dongles.

 

[Oukkidoukki]

What about usb out to dac? Many prefer usb in in dac. Why no usb out on wiim pro?

 

[Brantome]

What about usb out to dac? Many prefer usb in in dac. Why no usb out on wiim pro?

If you want usb out from a WiiM you’ll need to get the WiiM Amp or the Ultra. The Pro physically doesn’t have a USB out, and many find coax or optical out more than adequate.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

What about usb out to dac?

USB output is a much more difficult challenge than USB input. This is because for the WiiM device to provide USB output, it must have the logic to operate as the host controller (i.e., the sending device), which is much more complicated than just being the receiving device. That said, WiiM has stated that they are working on adding this logic to the is in Beta Test phase for both WiiM Ultra and Wiim Amp so that the USB can be used as either input or output. [Edit: updated to note it is in Beta Test for Ultra and Amp]

Many prefer usb in in dac. Why no usb out on wiim pro?

There are a gazillion DACs on the market that take USB input, but there are close to zero products that can accept network input (i.e., network streamers).

The WiiM Mini, WiiM Pro, and WiiM Pro Plus are designed to be network streamers, accepting input via WiFi or ethernet. This device would then be connected to the users preamplifier alongside their other inputs sources (CDs, USB DACs, turntables, TVs, etc.). These WiiM products were not designed to be digital hubs, since most people would be using their preamplifier with multiple source inputs for that operation.

The WiiM Ultra is designed to be a digital hub, providing both a wide range of inputs and also providing preamplifier functionality for both analog and digital output. From what you describe, the WiiM Ultra may be the product that you want.

 

[Brantome]

That said, WiiM has stated that they are working on adding this logic to the WiiM Ultra so that the USB can be used as either input or output.

Where have they said this? Their Ultra faq page says no and I don’t recall that being confirmed in their forum. USB in is for media, while usb out is for audio and both can be supported at the same time with a usb hub as I do on the Amp.

 

[Descartes]

The WiiM Pro does not support WiFi 6. Only WiFi 5 and below.

That’s unfortunate it should support WiFi 7.0 to be future proof, at least until WiFi 8 comes out

 

[rcstevensonaz]

Where have they said this? Their Ultra faq page says no and I don’t recall that being confirmed in their forum. USB in is for media, while usb out is for audio and both can be supported at the same time with a usb hub as I do on the Amp.

Updated comment: it appears to be in Beta still for both Ultra and Amp:

USB output

Wonder if it be possible to add usb output in a future model?

forum.wiimhome.com

Beta Test: USB Output (Feature now publicly available)

This is my daily impression here ;) Ask myself every single day why I know so less but still are able too let my music groove.

forum.wiimhome.com

 

[Dennis_FL]

You got me on that one: I had to jump quickly over to Amazon to see if WiiM had done a stealth release of a new WiiM Pro 2 model. It is however just the current WiiM Pro Airplay 2, though at a fantastic price!

The USB input issue should be very easily solved with any of the myriad of USB to S/PDIF converter dongles.

Yep...eventually I caught on and saw the 2 didn't refer to the Pro.

I ended up buying the Wiim Ultra to replace my Raspberry Pi 4 with RoPieee to a good Gustard DAC. Mainly for the trigger plus sub output and EQ with room correction. I hee'ed and haw'ed since I really hate the Chinese remotes as they always have step through source finding rather than direct IR.

 

[Brantome]

Updated comment: it appears to be in Beta still for both Ultra and Amp:

USB output

Wonder if it be possible to add usb output in a future model?

forum.wiimhome.com

Beta Test: USB Output (Feature now publicly available)

This is my daily impression here ;) Ask myself every single day why I know so less but still are able too let my music groove.

forum.wiimhome.com

Sorry, I misread your comment - I thought you were talking about USB Audio in which WiiM have said they don’t support. I already have the USB Audio out beta for the Amp and we’re still awaiting it for the Ultra version. USB media support has been available for a while - indeed I can play media from an attached USB SSD drive back out via USB Audio out to my external amp using a USB hub.

 

[Oukkidoukki]

Ok thanks. Is room eq available also to optical out on wiim pro , not only to analog out? How is your experience, is it good? BTW….it seems I am able to get same 200 mbs with wifi 6 off when using 5 ghz so wiim not supporting wifi 6 is not an issue.