WiiM Pro - Review & Measurements (Streamer)

[gwing]

I’m very happy with my WiiM Pro which I just started using last week. It’s an upgrade in UI over my Bluesound node2l, and despite the fact I’m just using it to pass streaming from Tidal to my AVR over digital coax, it sounds clearer to me. I have a question about using Tidal running within the WiiM app vs running tidal over tidal connect. Is there any difference in the streaming flow between the two methods?

No. Both will be streamed directly by the Wiim rather than being streamed through your Tidal app or Wiim Home app.

 

[Muddywaters]

Thanks both.

Not sure I fully understand the following:
“Will need to feed an RIAA equalized signal obviously to any of the three lesser WiiM’s”

Is this in relation to the TT or in general?

As others noted RIAA was referring to the equalization curve most records (since the 50’s) are cut with and as a result a phono preamp needs to ‘decode’ that and raise the minuscule level (volume) of a phono cartridge to a proper level for the amplifier stage.

If you were to play a turntable thru a regular line input without RIAA compensation and without increasing the gain it wouldn’t deliver much volume and would sound “tinny” lacking bass.

Somehow when you play your table I’m assuming you have a phono input on your receiver, integrated amp or a separate phono preamp? You will need to use it to feed the Mini or the Pro’s. The Ultra has a phono input that will allow you use the Rega directly.

What are using now? That would help us envision the set up needed.

 

[LDfades]

I have the Behringer PP400 phono preamp alongside my Rega TT into some Edifier R1280T powered bookshelf speakers.

 

[Muddywaters]

I have the Behringer PP400 phono preamp alongside my Rega TT into some Edifier R1280T powered bookshelf speakers.

My opinion: give a Mini a shot. Especially if you can return it if after giving it a spin through your system, see what you think. To move up it would need to be the Plus or an Ultra as previously mentioned.

You’ll probably find it turns out fine with your turntable and your system. Next you’ll be back here talking upgrading and getting a Plus or Ultra and building your next system.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[magreen]

Looking to add a streamer to my SMSL RAW MDA1 setup that is currently connected by USB to my work laptop which isn’t exactly stellar spec wise.

Would the Wiim Pro or Mini be a good fit? Typically using Tidal on my laptop currently but use Apple Music on iPhone.

I also have a Rega P1 turntable which if can be integrated somehow might be of interest.

I'm wondering what benefit you expect to receive from a dedicated streamer versus your work laptop running Tidal? I don't see how the laptop's specs not being stellar will impact the audio quality when you're sending digital data over USB to an external DAC.

 

[Muddywaters]

Might be he simply doesn’t want to be always tied to using the laptop. True it won’t be an audible improvement. Sometimes it’s nice not to be tied down to the keyboard.

*edit to correct grammar

 

[ExPerfectionist]

Computers can also add noise to a system. I get noise/hum that I have to deal with (audible on my subwoofer unless I take measures to counter it), with my work laptop hooked up to my DAC > AVR over USB.

 

[nanook]

Computers can also add noise to a system. I get noise/hum that I have to deal with (audible on my subwoofer unless I take measures to counter it), with my work laptop hooked up to my DAC > AVR over USB.

Sounds like a ground loop.
USB isolators have become affordable due to the availability of chips from TI and Analog Devices.

 

[gwing]

I'm wondering what benefit you expect to receive from a dedicated streamer versus your work laptop running Tidal? I don't see how the laptop's specs not being stellar will impact the audio quality when you're sending digital data over USB to an external DAC.

The main advantage, at least for me, is that you don't need to have your laptop in the same room as your music or indeed need to have the laptop running for listening to music.

Edit: I forgot to mention that the streamer also provides room correction.

 

[LDfades]

I'm wondering what benefit you expect to receive from a dedicated streamer versus your work laptop running Tidal? I don't see how the laptop's specs not being stellar will impact the audio quality when you're sending digital data over USB to an external DAC.

As others have alluded to its more a comfort thing of being able to quickly and easily get some music going and not having all my work stuff popping up all the time and removing the temptation of "I'll just check emails etc see if that order arrived"... convenience > audio quality improvements I guess.

 

[magreen]

As others have alluded to its more a comfort thing of being able to quickly and easily get some music going and not having all my work stuff popping up all the time and removing the temptation of "I'll just check emails etc see if that order arrived"... convenience > audio quality improvements I guess.

That makes total sense. Good reason. I was just wondering since you alluded to the specs of your laptop not being stellar, if you thought it would improve audio quality. Didn't want you to be disappointed

 

[LDfades]

That makes total sense. Good reason. I was just wondering since you alluded to the specs of your laptop not being stellar, if you thought it would improve audio quality. Didn't want you to be disappointed

I appreciate your thoughts and comments, thanks for sharing. I guess the critique of my laptop should have focused on the fact that it’s quite slow to boot, it’s got a lot of bloat stuff for work that run on startup, so it just makes the whole experience of using my DAC setup less appealing.

Think I’ll order a Wiim Mini in a couple of weeks (bday) and see how I get on.

 

[anonyless]

i just got my WiiM Pro a couple of days ago. it's a very impressive value for money streamer. got it connected to SMSL SU1 DAC, so sound wise it should sound just as good (or even better) as a Pro Plus.
a couple of quirks - app on Android interface is a bit buggy - most of the time when i click the cog wheel on the device name to get into its settings, it behaves as i clicked in the middle and brings back the now playing screen. happens to me all the time, maybe it's a mobile device specific thing.
streaming using Chromecast from Symfonium app connected to my Navidrome server works very well (as long as the server has valid SSL certificate, but that's a whole different story), and I get native CC controls of track forward/back , which is fantastic specially when using the WiiM's remote. gapless playback doesn't work (for me) when using Chromecast casting , does work with DLNA (can't skip tracks with DLNA though) - but i understand this is a known issue with CC .
also just noticed gapless playback doesn't work if i stream local files from my phone through the WiiM app..? very strange

Tidal integration is "annoyingly" perfect.. I'm not keeping my Tidal subscription though (rather buy digital music on Bandcamp)

 

[Martin83]

Hello everyone!
I've been experimenting with a lot of streamers over the last three months.
My system consists of:
- T+A DAC 200
- T+A A 200
- Sonus faber Minima Amator

I've purchased the following streamers:
1. Apple TV via HDMI connected to the DAC 200 module
2. Auralic Aries G1 via coaxial cable
3. Bluesound Node N130 with Dirac Live

The Apple TV was the only streamer that could natively output Apple Music. However, playback is limited to a maximum of 48 kHz, and settings can only be adjusted on the TV, with control via the iPad/iPhone.
Overall, I quite liked this solution. But it was cumbersome to handle and use on a daily basis.

The Auralic Aries G1 is quite a nice device. Heavy, powerful, and solidly built. But the display is no longer up-to-date, and I no longer liked the look.

I bought the Bluesound Node N130 used and acquired the Dirac Live license, as well as a MiniDSP Umik-1 microphone.
I had some money left over after selling the Auralic.

The sound was identical on all three devices. At most, there were nuances that were noticeable now and then.
The DAC 200 processes everything you feed it with the utmost precision, eliminating any jitter. The T+A stuff is decent.

I was hoping for something from Dirac Live the most. But the result was more than disappointing. I really didn't like Dirac Live with the NAD house curve. Suddenly, my beautiful Sonus Faber Speakers sounded like software. Thin and sterile. Even manual adjustments didn't really produce the desired result.

Frustrated, I sold the Node. And Dirac Live gave me my money back. Luckily, they were very accommodating within 30 days.

By the way, the quality of the stream from the Auralic and the Node came from Tidal.
But with the Auralic and the Node, I also got a message on the analog indicators on my DAC 200 indicating that the streaming quality was fluctuating.
The clock frequency and error rate were fluctuating significantly. So, the clock wasn't precise enough, and the T+A had to intervene significantly.

I've now had the little WiiM Pro since today, and I'm absolutely happy with this little device.

Connecting to the DAC 200 via coaxial cable delivers much better quality. The clock frequency is correct, and there are no error rates!

The room correction really works super easily. As I learned in the app, only a few peaks were smoothed out. The bass was equalized. The result amazes me. My speakers have never sounded so clean!

Thank you so much, WiiM. I hope you're reading along.

The coolest thing, by the way, is that the WiiM Pro connects via USB-C to the USB-B output of my DAC 200. The T+A's charging port delivers a clean 5V/1A.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Hello everyone!
I've been experimenting with a lot of streamers over the last three months.
My system consists of:
- T+A DAC 200
- T+A A 200
- Sonus faber Minima Amator

I've purchased the following streamers:
1. Apple TV via HDMI connected to the DAC 200 module
2. Auralic Aries G1 via coaxial cable
3. Bluesound Node N130 with Dirac Live

The Apple TV was the only streamer that could natively output Apple Music. However, playback is limited to a maximum of 48 kHz, and settings can only be adjusted on the TV, with control via the iPad/iPhone.
Overall, I quite liked this solution. But it was cumbersome to handle and use on a daily basis.

The Auralic Aries G1 is quite a nice device. Heavy, powerful, and solidly built. But the display is no longer up-to-date, and I no longer liked the look.

I bought the Bluesound Node N130 used and acquired the Dirac Live license, as well as a MiniDSP Umik-1 microphone.
I had some money left over after selling the Auralic.

The sound was identical on all three devices. At most, there were nuances that were noticeable now and then.
The DAC 200 processes everything you feed it with the utmost precision, eliminating any jitter. The T+A stuff is decent.

I was hoping for something from Dirac Live the most. But the result was more than disappointing. I really didn't like Dirac Live with the NAD house curve. Suddenly, my beautiful Sonus Faber headphones sounded like software. Thin and sterile. Even manual adjustments didn't really produce the desired result.

Frustrated, I sold the Node. And Dirac Live gave me my money back. Luckily, they were very accommodating within 30 days.

By the way, the quality of the stream from the Auralic and the Node came from Tidal.
But with the Auralic and the Node, I also got a message on the analog indicators on my DAC 200 indicating that the streaming quality was fluctuating.
The clock frequency and error rate were fluctuating significantly. So, the clock wasn't precise enough, and the T+A had to intervene significantly.

I've now had the little WiiM Pro since today, and I'm absolutely happy with this little device.

Connecting to the DAC 200 via coaxial cable delivers much better quality. The clock frequency is correct, and there are no error rates!

The room correction really works super easily. As I learned in the app, only a few peaks were smoothed out. The bass was equalized. The result amazes me. My speakers have never sounded so clean!

Thank you so much, WiiM. I hope you're reading along.

The coolest thing, by the way, is that the WiiM Pro connects via USB-C to the USB-B output of my DAC 200. The T+A's charging port delivers a clean 5V/1A.

Why didn't you get the Ultra?

 

[AAudio]

…
The coolest thing, by the way, is that the WiiM Pro connects via USB-C to the USB-B output of my DAC 200. The T+A's charging port delivers a clean 5V/1A.

To be clear you are powering the WiiM Pro from a 5V port on your DAC. The Pro does not have a USB digital out. The Ultra does.

 

[Martin83]

The T+A DAC 200 is the power supply.


The WiimPro audio output is connected to my DAC via a coaxial cable.

 

[nanook]

most of the time when i click the cog wheel on the device name to get into its settings, it behaves as i clicked in the middle and brings back the now playing screen.

I guess I know what you mean. When I tap exactly on the cog wheel the settings come up reliably. When I tap slightly right of it (the small space between the cog wheel and the right edge of the display), the now playing screen pops up.

In case this is the behavior you mean, I think I have already reported this to WiiM.

Another bug: when you clear the queue, the title that is currently playing gets stopped

 

[Witterings]

Hello everyone!
I've been experimenting with a lot of streamers over the last three months.
My system consists of:
- T+A DAC 200
- T+A A 200
- Sonus faber Minima Amator

I've purchased the following streamers:
1. Apple TV via HDMI connected to the DAC 200 module
2. Auralic Aries G1 via coaxial cable
3. Bluesound Node N130 with Dirac Live

The Apple TV was the only streamer that could natively output Apple Music. However, playback is limited to a maximum of 48 kHz, and settings can only be adjusted on the TV, with control via the iPad/iPhone.
Overall, I quite liked this solution. But it was cumbersome to handle and use on a daily basis.

The Auralic Aries G1 is quite a nice device. Heavy, powerful, and solidly built. But the display is no longer up-to-date, and I no longer liked the look.

I bought the Bluesound Node N130 used and acquired the Dirac Live license, as well as a MiniDSP Umik-1 microphone.
I had some money left over after selling the Auralic.

The sound was identical on all three devices. At most, there were nuances that were noticeable now and then.
The DAC 200 processes everything you feed it with the utmost precision, eliminating any jitter. The T+A stuff is decent.

I was hoping for something from Dirac Live the most. But the result was more than disappointing. I really didn't like Dirac Live with the NAD house curve. Suddenly, my beautiful Sonus Faber Speakers sounded like software. Thin and sterile. Even manual adjustments didn't really produce the desired result.

Frustrated, I sold the Node. And Dirac Live gave me my money back. Luckily, they were very accommodating within 30 days.

By the way, the quality of the stream from the Auralic and the Node came from Tidal.
But with the Auralic and the Node, I also got a message on the analog indicators on my DAC 200 indicating that the streaming quality was fluctuating.
The clock frequency and error rate were fluctuating significantly. So, the clock wasn't precise enough, and the T+A had to intervene significantly.

I've now had the little WiiM Pro since today, and I'm absolutely happy with this little device.

Connecting to the DAC 200 via coaxial cable delivers much better quality. The clock frequency is correct, and there are no error rates!

The room correction really works super easily. As I learned in the app, only a few peaks were smoothed out. The bass was equalized. The result amazes me. My speakers have never sounded so clean!

Thank you so much, WiiM. I hope you're reading along.

The coolest thing, by the way, is that the WiiM Pro connects via USB-C to the USB-B output of my DAC 200. The T+A's charging port delivers a clean 5V/1A.

I have to say I'm surprised at some of your results, I've been a huge WiiM fan for 2 years BUT I recently bought a Chord Qutest, which if cost is a measurement of quality, shouldn't be close to your DAC 200.
I was initially testing just various WiiM's using the Qutest vs my amps onboard DAC, having decided the Qutest made a big difference, I bought a Bluesound Nano to compare to the WiiM's and found it better n so many ways.
I felt it was maybe unfair as I was using optical /coax out from a WiiM Pro & Pro Plus but USB out from the Nano so I got an Ultra to compare .... all I can say is I still have the BlueSound (actually upgraded to the Node M132) and the Ultra went back.

I'm still a huge WiiM fan and have 4 of them in active use but I did find the BlueSound has the edge on sound quality.

 

[AAudio]

Assuming the Ultra and the Bluesound connected to the same DAC… what was the perceived sound difference?

Also… why the Node over the Nano?