WiiM Pro Plus Streamer Review

[Mort]

I love Wiim products. They are developing so fast it's hard to keep up with the individual changes. It's remarkable and at times almost fatiguing.

 

[Overseas]

I have a bluesound node 2l feeding my Denon x8500h via digital over coax. I'm not sure if the WiiM would be an upgrade in this scenario where I'm not using the DAC in the streamer. Is there a place where I can compare the DAC performance of the Denon (which has an AKM AK4490EQ) to that of the Wiim Pro Plus?

Wiim worth for Room Correction.
Wiim development is fabulous, I think I saw 'loudness' feature on their l to do list.

 

[ZinMe]

In base sound quality, it would not.


Here you go:

WiiM Pro Plus Streamer Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the WiiM Pro Plus streamer, DAC and preamplifier with Bluetooth support. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $219. While the case is plastic, it still "looks the part" as the Brits would say relative to other more famous brands of...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Denon AVR-X8500H AVR Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Denon AVR-X8500H Flagship 13.2 Audio/Video Receiver (AVR). It is kindly loaned to me by a member and costs US $3999. The 8500H is a beast: it is both deep and heavy. Thankfully the transformer is centrally located so as manageable as 51...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Thanks. 114 vs 104db seems like a material difference, but maybe it’s not significantly audible I’m not sure? is that what you meant by it not being substantially different at a base level?

 

[staticV3]

Thanks. 114 vs 104db seems like a material difference, but maybe it’s not significantly audible I’m not sure? is that what you meant by it not being substantially different at a base level?

Out of the box, both the WiiM and Node have bit-exact SPDIF output, meaning identical sound as they transmit identical data to your Denon.

The node has a quirk where enabling tone controls and changing the bass wrecks fidelity:

Digital loopback - Bass control -0.5dB

That's a 40dB SINAD penalty now !

Meanwhile, the WiiM has fantastic user-adjustable 10-band Parametric EQ built-in, which can improve sound quality substantially.

And yes, if you want to use analog out, then the WiiM has a better DAC (though I doubt that would be audible).

Also, if your Denon digitizes analog inputs, then that would likely negate any benefit from the WiiM's DAC in the first place.

Bottom line: if all you need is Streaming in->SPDIF out into the Denon, then I'd stick to the WiiM mini or the regular WiiM Pro.

 

[ZinMe]

Out of the box, both the WiiM and Node have bit-exact SPDIF output, meaning identical sound as they transmit identical data to your Denon.

The node has a quirk where enabling tone controls and changing the bass wrecks fidelity:


Meanwhile, the WiiM has fantastic user-adjustable 10-band Parametric EQ built-in, which can improve sound quality substantially.

And yes, if you want to use analog out, then the WiiM has a better DAC (though I doubt that would be audible).

Also, if your Denon digitizes analog inputs, then that would likely negate any benefit from the WiiM's DAC in the first place.

Bottom line: if all you need is Streaming in->SPDIF out into the Denon, then I'd stick to the WiiM mini or the regular WiiM Pro.

Hi StaticV3, thank you so much for the detailed information. I run my Bluesound with the tone controls turned off,using digital passthrough, so I believe I am avoiding that issue. My only question is if the digital coax output into the Denon (which is what I'm using) is equivalent to the Toslink/SPDIF wrt quality (?), because the SPDIF connector on the Bluesound is broken (doesn't click/secure the cable properly.)

Eithe rway, I think I am going to get a WiiM to see how I like the user interface- I'd purchased the Bluesound to audition it as a replacement when I need to replace my 6 Sonos Amps/Connects that I've use for whole house audio the last 15 yrs. Based on my Bluesound experience, I don't think I'd switch to them. I believe I would bypass the WiiM EQ in my HT/Listening room because I use Audyseey for that. In the rest of the house the EQ would be really helpful, especially in the rooms with ceiling speakers.

Again, thanks for the clear info above.

 

[staticV3]

My only question is if the digital coax output into the Denon (which is what I'm using) is equivalent to the Toslink/SPDIF wrt quality (?), because the SPDIF connector on the Bluesound is broken (doesn't click/secure the cable properly.)

Yes. There's no difference between SPDIF Coax and Toslink WRT sound quality.

 

[Overseas]

Is there any new model in sight to feature Aptx BT and full USB input ?

 

[JRob1125]

I've had mine for a few weeks now and love it. Line Out into my Yamaha R-S700. Excellent sound quality without adding an extra box

 

[Overseas]

I recently saw that search in Wiim/ Browse works somehow like Roon (never had, just heard of).
It shows me an artist or an album in several platforms/ streaming services. Very nice.

 

[sansenri]

I just ordered the Pro Plus, it will replace a RPi with Moode/Spotify and a MiniDSP Flex which is needed more on my desk.
RCA out and Trigger out go to the Yamaha A-S1200 amp.
Cambridge Duo phono preamp to RCA in.
CD to coax in.
TV to Optical in.
A room mode will be corrected with one, the slight droop in the treble of my Lintons with a second PEQ.
Adding the subwoofers will be a bit harder than with the Flex, but i'll manage.

A question about the bluetooth, can i connect my tablet as a source to it, or is this just for headphone output?

excuse me for asking so late about your planned set up (hopefully working by now), I'm looking at a Pro Plus myself, mostly to stream spotify/amazon, however I would not mind also connecting my CD... (which only has coax out)
you said "CD to coax in", but as far as I can see the Pro Plus does not have a coax in...
How did you work it out?
(anyone else like to advise?)

 

[Overseas]

Yes, I use a simple converter coax to optical, because I want to benefit of Wiim Room correction.

 

[Jmudrick]

Yes, I use a simple converter coax to optical, because I want to benefit of Wiim Room correction.

I do the same

 

[sansenri]

I do the same

thank you both, any care I need to take with the coax to optical converter I buy, to avoid it being cause of "problems"?

 

[staticV3]

thank you both, any care I need to take with the coax to optical converter I buy, to avoid it being cause of "problems"?

Not really. Any generic $10 converter on Amazon or eBay will do the job.

 

[sansenri]

Thanks, read some reviews on Amazon, quite a number of these fail after short while

also, does it need to be power supplied? I would really hate to add even more devices that can fail...

 

[staticV3]

Thanks, read some reviews on Amazon, quite a number of these fail after short while

also, does it need to be power supplied? I would really hate to add even more devices that can fail...

Yes. You cannot passively convert Coax SPDIF to Toslink.

Something has to provide power to the LED.

 

[sansenri]

clear, thanks, I need to think if this is the way to go, or add a DAC in the chain (since on this system I would be setting up I don't have one yet).
I know I could decide to rip my CDs and leave out the CD player, but they are too many... did some of it time ago, then the HD I had them on died!

 

[staticV3]

I need to think if this is the way to go, or add a DAC in the chain

Do you mean CD Player->DAC->WiiM?

That would cost more, and give you worse fidelity overall since there'd be two extra conversions (D->A+A->D) in the chain.

Or do you mean replacing the WiiM with a DAC that has native Coax input?

 

[sansenri]

the existing system (currently in my home office, which is however becoming more and more the place where I listen to music) consists of analogue tuner, amp (Audio Analogue), and bookshelf speakers. I sometimes play music through a tablet, connected to a dongle via bluetooth, usually it is spotify/amazon, or web radios.
The dongle is a dated TP-Link HA 100 Bluetooth Music Receiver.
I was considering introducing a streamer in place of the TP-Link, but since I also want to move my CD player to this system, I need some way of connecting it (preferably directly via coaxial).
So I would probably connect the streamer and CD player to the DAC and then to the amp.
Not sure whether I have better options (I'm still relatively new to digital gear...).

 

[Overseas]

I use this one, 6 months now:

Convertor audio digital SPDIF & TosLink bidirectional, Lindy L70411

Converteste bidirectional semnalele SPDIF digitale optice sau coaxiale Suporta audio digital de pana la 24 de biti / 192 kHz Suporta audio LPCM, Dolby Digital si DTS, de la 2 la 5.1 canale Design minimalist, compact si functionalitate perfecta Convertorul si repetorul Lindy SPDIF permite utili

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