WiiM Pro Plus Streamer Review

[Joffy1780]

Here:

Tell me your best preamp

So what your repuirement for a preamplifier is multi inputs and outputs, and a remote control to control the volume conveniently? No other features do you need? Such as tone controls, dsp and Room correction? It is used for my office system. EQ for tone controls. No DSP. No room correction...

www.audiosciencereview.com

On other forums too
Mostly user error I believe but it shouldn't happen.

In this example he had his Ultra set to fixed volume, so definitely user error.

 

[Sokel]

In this example he had his Ultra set to fixed volume, so definitely user error.

The escalation he mentioned on the Wiim forum showed other examples too.
It's not news though,any volume control who defaults at 0dB has the potential to cause mayhem.More so software VC susceptible to any glitch any software on the planet can have.

A fail-safe scheme is mandatory,even if "degrades" the nice numbers showed on the test bench.

Edit:Mind you that only some brave ones (or extremely pissed) report issues like that cause it can reduce the after market value of their gear to zero.People now search around forums when they are about to buy second hand for issues just like this,no one would want a pair of speakers who suffered such an incident.

 

[Overseas]

They don't have to. The way you've described it, the E50 is set to that the user will have the wiim close to maximum when listening at their loudest level. IE a normal operating point is with the Wiim set to (nearly) maximum. If the E50 then loses its marbles - game over.

So this scheme would be safe with Wiim Ultra, based on using its volume KNOB?

 

[antcollinet]

So this scheme would be safe with Wiim Ultra, based on using its volume KNOB?

Why?

1 - The knob just controls the digital volume
2 - It will still be used to set the volume close to maximum on the Wiim.

 

[Overseas]

I am old school, if I see knobs I guess it is analog...

 

[Overseas]

Thank you all for the clarifications, as the wellbeing of my precious Triangle floorstanders is not negotiable nor subject to experimentation. As my my wife suspects, they come before her in my value system.... muahahahaa

 

[honn]

Hi all, want to clarify something: If my use case is routing the digital stream source (streaming services and local files) to Wiim’s optical output into the optical input of an external DAC (Topping D50 III) then to amp, would it matter if it’s the Wiim Pro, or even Wiim mini? My understanding is that in my use case all these devices just route the digital signal acting like a transport to the external DAC. Then there shouldn’t be any performance difference between the Pro Plus, Pro, and Mini? Since what distinguishes the Pro+ and Pro is its superior internal DAC, which wouldn’t be utilized in my use case, I can just opt even the most basic device that fulfills the digital transport/route function like the Pro and Mini, correct? Thanks!

 

[staticV3]

If my use case is routing the digital stream source (streaming services and local files) to Wiim’s optical output into the optical input of an external DAC (Topping D50 III) then to amp, would it matter if it’s the Wiim Pro

No.

or even Wiim mini?

Potentially.
The Mini has no Ethernet input, so may buffer depending on the WiFi signal strength.

 

[honn]

No.


Potentially.
The Mini has no Ethernet input, so may buffer depending on the WiFi signal strength.

Thanks! Yeah, the Mini might be pushing it, but it might not matter in my case as the WiFi router is in the same room as the system. The Pro and Pro+ just simply have more input and output options.

 

[Soniclife]

Thanks! Yeah, the Mini might be pushing it, but it might not matter in my case as the WiFi router is in the same room as the system. The Pro and Pro+ just simply have more input and output options.

Do they all come with the remote, do you care?

 

[Pep2020]

Thanks! Yeah, the Mini might be pushing it, but it might not matter in my case as the WiFi router is in the same room as the system. The Pro and Pro+ just simply have more input and output options.

It won't matter. Audio is a small proportion of the available bandwidth.

 

[obsessive9119]

Thanks! Yeah, the Mini might be pushing it, but it might not matter in my case as the WiFi router is in the same room as the system. The Pro and Pro+ just simply have more input and output options.

The mini also has a slower processor than the Pro and Pro+, and (IIRC) fewer features like room correction. So it's not "just" more inputs and outputs - though I"m not sure the other differences matter in most cases.

 

[newuser]

Hi, I have been reading the forum and would like to double check if I got this right as I don't really know much at all.

Speakers: Bang & Olufsen Beolab 6000
Audio source: Apple and Android phone streaming internet music.
Streamer: Wiim Pro or Pro Plus?

Would this mean that by connecting the Beolab 6000 using a RCA connector, the Wiim Pro Plus would be best suited for its better DAC?

 

[staticV3]

Would this mean that by connecting the Beolab 6000 using a RCA connector, the Wiim Pro Plus would be best suited for its better DAC?

Correct.

 

[antcollinet]

Hi, I have been reading the forum and would like to double check if I got this right as I don't really know much at all.

Speakers: Bang & Olufsen Beolab 6000
Audio source: Apple and Android phone streaming internet music.
Streamer: Wiim Pro or Pro Plus?

Would this mean that by connecting the Beolab 6000 using a RCA connector, the Wiim Pro Plus would be best suited for its better DAC?

I would get the Pro Plus - but only for peace of mind. I don't believe anyone will actually be able to hear a difference between that and the non plus version in real world listening.

 

[DPavs]

Anyone (else) getting a short (second or two) static buzz sound when using the inputs (either line in or optical in) on the Wiim Pro Plus with certain music passages? I reference certain passages because generally the buzz does not occur but with certain passages or phrases during playback I get a very repeatable (it happens every time at the same point in the music) short static buzz. Remove the Wiim from the equation using everything else in the signal chain and there is no buzz so it has to be the Wiim.

 

[gwing]

Anyone (else) getting a short (second or two) static buzz sound when using the inputs (either line in or optical in) on the Wiim Pro Plus with certain music passages? I reference certain passages because generally the buzz does not occur but with certain passages or phrases during playback I get a very repeatable (it happens every time at the same point in the music) short static buzz. Remove the Wiim from the equation using everything else in the signal chain and there is no buzz so it has to be the Wiim.

Do you get the same buzz when you stream the same music direct from the Plus as you do when you play from your existing source? If not then maybe you have a voltage mismatch between source and Wiim, or maybe even a fault in your source's pre-amp output (or cabling) which isn't being tested if you run it standalone without the Wiim.

 

[DPavs]

Do you get the same buzz when you stream the same music direct from the Plus as you do when you play from your existing source? If not then maybe you have a voltage mismatch between source and Wiim, or maybe even a fault in your source's pre-amp output (or cabling) which isn't being tested if you run it standalone without the Wiim.

Appreciate you reaching out on this. I had been working with the Wiim support team and recently (day or two ago) received a reply from the Wiim team that this has something to do with the Wiim's compatibility and certain DAC's. They said their team is working on a software update to address it. My temporary work around is to take the ZD3 Dac off bypass and reduce it's volume level to 77 which seems to eliminate the issue.

 

[honn]

Appreciate you reaching out on this. I had been working with the Wiim support team and recently (day or two ago) received a reply from the Wiim team that this has something to do with the Wiim's compatibility and certain DAC's. They said their team is working on a software update to address it. My temporary work around is to take the ZD3 Dac off bypass and reduce it's volume level to 77 which seems to eliminate the issue.

My experience with Wiim Pro Plus and Topping D50 III DAC has nothing of the sort, so at least we know Topping DAC is safe.

 

[gwing]

Appreciate you reaching out on this. I had been working with the Wiim support team and recently (day or two ago) received a reply from the Wiim team that this has something to do with the Wiim's compatibility and certain DAC's. They said their team is working on a software update to address it. My temporary work around is to take the ZD3 Dac off bypass and reduce it's volume level to 77 which seems to eliminate the issue.

Ah, so nothing to do with the inputs but instead an output incompatibility between the Wiim and ZD3 Dac?

FWIW I can confirm my Aurora DAC is fine but, as you are now doing, I use the DAC as a volume limiter rather than in bypass. I wouldn't consider allowing a full output signal though to my speakers so I don't know if there would be any issue using it in bypass.