I really wish Wiim would have left the DAC and ADC out of the product, and just focused on making the digital output as "high end" as possible, with better components, because all I want is a wifi/ethernet capable streamer that I can chose music with my phone, but my old ass Naim Uniti 1 cant do that.
I struggle with this request since I also would love a WiiM device that is just a professional network streamer transport and nothing else. But at the same time, I strongly disagree with
@addeps2's request
even though I am one of the few people who would immediately purchase a WiiM device that matches their request.
Let me start with stating my wish, which is actually quite different from
@addeps2's request:
I really wish WiiM would also focus on making a "professional" digital output because all I want is an ethernet capable streamer that I can connect into a studio-grade audio chain (e.g., RME USB Digiface)
What is behind my request? Being able to stream network input into a "professional" (i.e., studio) audio chain:
- The ability for a professional WiiM device to accept clock master from an external source such as an RME USB Digiface*, RME UCX II, etc.
- The ability to receive digital input from network sources and then the send output to a studio-grade audio chain (i.e., as a clock slave)
- Any other inputs and outputs are optional, and can even be eliminated if it improves the audio quality
For example, I have an RME USB Digiface with that accepts 4 S/PDIF inputs. However, I
cannot connect a WiiM device to that digital interface unless I'm willing to make the WiiM the master clock
for my entire audio chain... which I'm not (and can't). Note: this feature request could potentially be handled by a software/firmware update to the WiiM Pro that adds an option to designate an S/PDIF input as the "master clock" — even though the audio source is the network streamed audio.
Now, why do I disagree with
@addeps2's request for a network streamer only device that feeds a consumer-grade audio chain?
- "High End" is not a defined concept, and often implies fancier boxes that serve as high fashion rather than delivering improved audio quality.
- Better components will drive up the cost basis of the WiiM device, and is not consistent with the target market for the WiiM product line. Note: there are higher-end audio devices that incorporate LinkPlay's technology; and LinkPlay has to be careful to not encroach the market of those vendors with their own direct-to-market WiiM line.
- The current network streaming quality is already more than sufficient for a consumer-audio playback device. All it needs is a small buffer and an adequate clock to be more than sufficient for bit-perfect reproduction of network streamed inputs.
- Removing the additional inputs and the ADC outputs will not improve the audio quality of the the streaming network input to digital output audio flow.
- Removing the additional inputs and the ADC outputs will not reduce the cost... it will actually make the device MORE EXPENSIVE for no improvement in quality of functionality.
Why would a network-only streamer from WiiM cost more than the current WiiM Pro? Because all incremental costs (design, development, marketing, support, manufacturing, warehousing, profit, etc.) to create a device that removes the other inputs and ADC outputs will be fully borne by the much smaller population of people (like me) who would purchase a stripped down WiiM that is just a network streamer and nothing else. But there are not that many people beyond myself and
@addeps2 who would purchase a network-streaming only WiiM, and most of those people (like me) would also drop out if it costs more than the current WiiM Pro with no other functional benefit.
One other note: WiiM Pro is already, in some ways, this gift to us. It added the ethernet input and supports remote control, but it does not include the more expense DAC chip that is completely unused when the device is simply being used as streaming network transport in the digital realm only.
Edit: *The other option, of course, if is RME would update their USB Digiface so that one (or more) of the S/PDIF inputs can support re-clocking and/or sample rate conversation so that consumer-grade digital devices (e.g., network streamers, DVDs, CDs, etc.) can also be connected as digital source inputs.