WiiM Pro Plus Streamer Review

[Jazz]

I did this for a long time, but now that there’s a WiiM tvOS app, if I want to see album art I put it on the TV.

Have to have HDMI to see the art if running on AVR.

 

[obsessive9119]

Have to have HDMI to see the art if running on AVR.

No you don’t. If you have an Apple TV you can install the WiiM app and see what’s playing on any WiiM device - just like you can on the phone apps.

 

[Jazz]

No you don’t. If you have an Apple TV you can install the WiiM app and see what’s playing on any WiiM device - just like you can on the phone apps.

Except the HDMI to use the AppleTV cuts off the sound from the RCA in on an AVR.

 

[obsessive9119]

Except the HDMI to use the AppleTV cuts off the sound from the RCA in on an AVR.

That sounds like something particular to your setup and nothing to do with WiiM or its Apple TV app

 

[mdunjic]

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.
View attachment 332704
While the case is plastic, it still "looks the part" as the Brits would say relative to other more famous brands of streamers. I was pleasantly surprised to see support for analog input:
View attachment 332705

There is both Toslink in and out and even trigger support (for automation/turning on downstream devices). As usual, you need to download an App to get access to full set of functionality. Upon running said app, I was once again pleasantly surprised in it instantly finding the streamer. It asked me if I wanted to upgrade and I said yes. It took about 6 minutes which was rather long but otherwise worked smoothly.

Note that my version is the "Plus" which has a much more performant DAC and retails for more money as a result.

Upon power cycle I went to my Roon player to see if it sees the device but it did not! I could swear I was told it now had Roon support. Searching online showed that it should be there but nope. Power cycle did nothing. FAQ did nothing. Searching on WiiM site did not inform. Searched again and landed on a thread on Roon forum where it said the *Plus* version is yet to be certified. And that it is the standard WiiM Pro that is already there. What a mess. I put most of the blame on Roon for their slow process here but from WiiM front, I would have liked to see a notation in documentation/app saying support is not there yet.

Fortunately Chromecast is supported which gives the same high resolution, bit-exact streaming as Roon endpoing does so I did my streaming tests with that.

One key feature of this streamer is support for both Graphic and Parametric EQ. Latter is limited to 4 bands but that is good enough to do major good for both speaker/headphone response and even room EQ.

WiiM Pro Plus Measurements
Here is our dashboard with Roon pushing bits over Chromecast protocol to Wiim Pro Plus:
View attachment 332706
This is excellent performance for the class, easily landing it in the Excellent category of all DACs tested:

View attachment 332707

View attachment 332708

Distortion was below threshold of hearing so noise dominated:
View attachment 332709
There is a broad sequence of tones at very low amplitude are visible in our jitter test:
View attachment 332710
Levels are below -130 dB though so not remotely audible.

The default filter is provided which is fine by me:
View attachment 332711

IMD and noise are very good:
View attachment 332714

Linearity is perfect:
View attachment 332715

There is however some rise in distortion with decreasing frequency:
View attachment 332716
Edit: looks like there is an improved version that came out to address this last month. My sample is a few months old.

WiiM Pro Plus Equalization Measurement
You all keep asking me about impact of equalization on performance of products with it. So I decided to turn on EQ but leave the four filters at gain of zero (so frequency response is not changed). Here is Toslink input with EQ defeated:
View attachment 332712

And now with EQ on:

View attachment 332713

As you see, it has no impact.

WiiM Pro Plus Analog Input Measurements
Here is the performance with analog in and out:
View attachment 332717
Predictably, we don't have a high performance implementation as far as distortion. Noise while fluctuating some in the dashboard, was good by itself:
View attachment 332718

You have selectable sample rate for analog input which is a nice feature. I set it to max (has no impact on above measurements) and got nice, wide bandwidth:
View attachment 332720

Conclusions
The WiiM Pro Plus is extremely capable streamer with just the right feature set of DAC, EQ and analog input. Plus version nicely ups the performance by a good mile, essentially matching that of our low cost DACs in $100 to $120 range. But then it adds analog input which has no analog in DACs, pun intended. Software shows impressive depth and capability. Other than Roon support not yet being there, I can't critique anything.

I am happy to add WiiM Pro Plus streamer to my recommended list.

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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

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Yep I have one and it’s great

 

[MBK]

Dear All, Would you recommend pre-out connections from AVR to Wiim Pro Plus+PowerAmp ?

Here is more detail :
Previous I had the stereo in the hobby room, and the HT in the living room. Recently my wife claimed the hobby room I stil want to have two dedicated system in the living room, without creating a giant wall of speakers placed side by side.

AVR is Marantz Cinema 60, Stereo Amp is Marantz Model 50, and streamer/preamp is Wiim Pro Plus. Model 50 is in power-amp mode, connected to Wiim.

Here is my dream setup:
- While watching movies AVR is the source device.
AVR Front L+R Pre-Outs are connected to Wiim RCA input, and Wiim RCA outs are connected to Model 50 (PowerAmp Mode)

- While Listening (Streaming) music Wiim is th source device
Wiim RCA outs are connected to Model 50 (PowerAmp Mode). This setup already working great in the hobby room.

I prefer not to switch sources on Model 50, between power amp and line-in. And use it as pure power amp,

Is this even possible?

Thank you

Tafa

Note : This is my first post ever. I hope I am not breaking any forum rules by opening this topic here.

 

[Joe0429]

Here is my dream setup:
- While watching movies AVR is the source device.
AVR Front L+R Pre-Outs are connected to Wiim RCA input, and Wiim RCA outs are connected to Model 50 (PowerAmp Mode)

- While Listening (Streaming) music Wiim is th source device
Wiim RCA outs are connected to Model 50 (PowerAmp Mode). This setup already working great in the hobby room.

I’ve tried this setup before. It works, but I wouldn't recommend it.

The internal processing lag in the WiiM exceeds what Audyssey can handle, so you'll run into sync issues with your other channels.

 

[MBK]

I’ve tried this setup before. It works, but I wouldn't recommend it.

The internal processing lag in the WiiM exceeds what Audyssey can handle, so you'll run into sync issues with your other channels.

That's my concern as well. I am considering selling the AVR, and moving on to Wiim Ultra 2.1

Maybe I will lose surround sound, But having room correction and subwoofer management, and dolby proccessing is tempting.

My front towers are, Rp-8000F II, and the sub is Sonus Faber Gravis III, room is about 30m2 / 322sqFoot

 

[antcollinet]

That's my concern as well. I am considering selling the AVR, and moving on to Wiim Ultra 2.1

Maybe I will lose surround sound, But having room correction and subwoofer management, and dolby proccessing is tempting.

My front towers are, Rp-8000F II, and the sub is Sonus Faber Gravis III, room is about 30m2 / 322sqFoot

Why not send AVR pre-outs directly to the external amp, and feed the Wiim Pro into the AVR as a source there?

It achieves what you want (source switching only in one device - in this case the AVR).

Plus you have the advantage of Audyssey room correction for your music listening too. Set it up using @OCA's Audyssey One scripts, and you will get far better sound than the Wii room correction can give you. Especially if you have a sub in your cinema set up.

 

[MBK]

Why not send AVR pre-outs directly to the external amp, and feed the Wiim Pro into the AVR as a source there?

It achieves what you want (source switching only in one device - in this case the AVR).

Plus you have the advantage of Audyssey room correction for your music listening too. Set it up using @OCA's Audyssey One scripts, and you will get far better sound than the Wii room correction can give you. Especially if you have a sub in your cinema set up.

I wasn't aware of @OCA's Audyssey One scripts. I will definitely check that. Thank you.

 

[nn_in]

I think the Audiolab 9000A internal DAC may be better. Cant really do a exact AB test to find out. I may have to consider $700-$1500 external dacs (gustard,others)to get any audible difference. But that iam not too sure.

From wiim pro plus optical out to audiolab9000A optical in to superdentons spkrs TO From wiim pro plus analog out to Fosi P4 preamp to audiolab9000A (power amp mode only) analog in to superdentons spkrs .I did this set up and to my ears the treble and overall sound is better .

 

[antcollinet]

From wiim pro plus optical out to audiolab9000A optical in to superdentons spkrs TO From wiim pro plus analog out to Fosi P4 preamp to audiolab9000A (power amp mode only) analog in to superdentons spkrs .I did this set up and to my ears the treble and overall sound is better .

If you are hearing a real difference here, as opposed to your perception being altered by bias or lack of level matching, then it is almost certainly that the analogue pre-amp is slightly rolling off the treble (or similar).

You could easily reproduce the same effect with the digital solution, using one of the Wiim parametric filters. Either way, it is exceptionally unlikely to do with the relative performances of the DACs between devices.

Having said that the P4 measures with ruler flat frequency response - so by far the most likely cause is the previously mentioned lack of controls in the comparison.