Wiim Pro/Ultra - am I missing anything obvious?

[tmtomh]

Hey all - just want to do a sanity check as I consider updating my music-streaming setup. My needs are specific but also pretty basic:

• Stream from locally attached (or local-network-stored) music collection
• Coax digital output
• Control from my listening seat with a simple (or at least usable) iPhone app

Currently I use a 2012 Mac mini, running headless with the Apple Music app always running (serving up my local collection only - I don't subscribe to Apple Music), with an SMSL PO 100 Pro to convert the mini's USB to coax. I control the Apple Music app with Apple's iOS Remote app.

This setup has served me well for many years but it's getting long in the tooth. The mini doesn't support the latest OSes and the OS installation is getting a bit creaky and buggy; and the Remote app is a bit bare-bones and kind of annoying with its super-limited functionality and interface. Plus it would be nice for guests to be able to easily stream to my system from their own music subscription services if they want to.

So I was thinking I'd move to a Wiim, and it appears the Wiim Ultra, while overkill in some respects, would be great because it's the only non-amp Wiim that allows you to plug in a USB stick and not have to rely on a local network share to stream from your music library.

Here are my questions:

1. Am I correct that my user experience would be essentially as simple as what I have now: just turn on my active speaker system, fire up the relevant app on my phone, select an album, and press play?

2. When I use my Mac mini's optical output instead of its USB output, I notice the first 1/2 to 1 second of a track will be muted and quickly fade up if playback has been paused for more than a minute or so. This does not happen with USB (which is why I use the mini's USB output and not its optical one). Can anyone give any info as to whether the Wiim's digital coax output does or does not "sleep" like that with the resultant quick mute-fade-up behavior? It's minor but it drives me crazy so I'd like to make sure that won't be an issue.

3. For those who use a Wiim Pro (which has no USB-drive connectivity option) with Macs, how dependable is using a local Mac-based network share with the Wiim, to access your own digital music collection? I don't want to needlessly pay double the price for a Wiim Ultra, but I'm perfectly willing to pay the extra $170 for the Ultra if it means I won't have to deal with a network/DLNA drive periodically not being detected or the network connection between the Mac and the Wiim glitching or buffering and so on.

Finally, just to be clear, I am not looking to stream music via Wi-Fi - the only wireless connection would be between the Wiim Home app and the Wiim for purposes of controlling the Wiim. All music streaming would be either via USB drive connected to the Ultra, or ethernet network connection between the Pro and a local network share.

Similarly, I'm only looking to use the Wiim as a digital streaming transport - I don't need its DAC functionality and I don't need it to control system volume.

Thanks for any thoughts and experiences folks can share!

 

[john61ct]

Just all the added Ultra features IMO is worth every extra penny regardless.

If using the USB Storage as input, your Mac is no longer in the picture, no DLNA involved, in fact no networking of the audio stream anymore, in that barebones context.

Assuming the "fade in from sleep" is no issue from Wiim, the SMSL PO 100 Pro is also no longer needed.

But personally I like the Eitr 2 from Schiit in that rôle specifically for their Forkbeard loudness contour implementation, automatically scaling with user volume level control.

Outputs include AES/EBU, coaxial and TOSLINK S/PDIF

 

[john61ct]

sorry re-edited after your like

 

[tmtomh]

Just all the added Ultra features IMO is worth every extra penny regardless.

If using the USB Storage as input, your Mac is no longer in the picture, no DLNA involved, in fact no networking of the audio stream anymore, in that barebones context.

Assuming the "fade in from sleep" is no issue from Wiim, the SMSL PO 100 Pro is also no longer needed.

But personally I like the Eitr 2 from Schiit in that rôle specifically for their Forkbeard loudness contour implementation, automatically scaling with user volume level control.

Outputs include AES/EBU, coaxial and TOSLINK S/PDIF

Thanks for your reply! I don't need the Ultra's added features right now, but who knows what the future might bring so I do take your point there - those features might come in very handy in the future.

RE the PO 100 Pro no longer being necessary, absolutely, I agree. I have recently checked out the Eitr 2, and had it been available in 2023 when I got my Genelec speakers I would've gotten it instead of the PO 100 Pro, precisely because it would give me an AES EBU output to go into the Genelecs. I've actually considered replacing the PO 100 with the Eitr, but as I've never experienced a single glitch going from the PO 100's coax to the Genelecs' AES EBU input with a simple adapter cable, I haven't bothered.

RE the US storage input, yes, that's my #1 reason for leaning towards the Ultra - it's just a cleaner solution and while networking is generally very reliable, when it comes to relaxing and enjoying music I find there's a very big difference between "99% reliable" and "100% reliable."

On the other hand, every time I wanted to add to my music library I'd have to do so manually, removing the USB stick from the Wiim, loading the new music from a computer, and so on. I don't add to my library that often, so it wouldn't be a deal-breaker. But still, something to consider.

At any rate, thanks for your perspective - much appreciated!

 

[john61ct]

Don't forget the absolute necessity of a proper backup strategy, including off site against thefts and disasters like fire

 

[cabacon]

One minor thing to note is that the WiiM pro supports AirPlay, while the WiiM ultra does not. I don't see this affecting your use case as described, but I thought I'd mention it since it sounds like you're in the Apple ecosystem. I found it surprising that moving up the chain of products subtracted a feature.

 

[tmtomh]

One minor thing to note is that the WiiM pro supports AirPlay, while the WiiM ultra does not. I don't see this affecting your use case as described, but I thought I'd mention it since it sounds like you're in the Apple ecosystem. I found it surprising that moving up the chain of products subtracted a feature.

Oh, good catch - thanks!

That's an issue because it makes the Ultra useless as a wireless, lossless streamer from an Apple device.

On the other hand, apparently Airplay 2 forces lossy AAC mode when streaming wirelessly, so even though it probably sounds just fine, I wouldn't want to use that for day-to-day listening anyway. So I'll probably stick with using the iPhone-to-Wiim connection only for controlling music playback and keeping the music stored on the Wiim (via USB stick) or on a local network share. On the rare occasion a guest might want to stream directly from their phone I suppose they could use Bluetooth or I could connect a cheap Airplay receiver (even perhaps an old Airplay 1 device to enable lossless) to the Wiim's TOSLINK input.

 

[tmtomh]

Here's another option I just found out about: the Fiio SR11 streamer.

This is an Airplay 1 receiver, meaning it's lossless, and like the Wiim Ultra it also allows for playback of locally connected files via a USB drive/stick.

Of course id doesn't have the Wiim Ultra's display, but I would likely put something in front of either unit's display during use anyway as I don't like visual distractions when I listen. Given it costs about 1/3 as much as the Ultra, I'm guessing the main downside with locally attached music playback is that you have to use the Fiio mobile app and I'm guessing that app is much less polished than the Wiim Home app.

One intriguing - if more complicated and expensive - option is to use the Wiim Ultra AND the Fiio SR11: the Wiim for local USB playback and streaming by any method EXCEPT Airplay, and have the Fiio connected to the Ultra via TOSLINK and use the Fiio for Airplay streaming.

 

[Marc v E]

I have the WiiM ultra for half a year now and anything I could say about it is that it's flawless for anything I used it for.

So far I've used it for streaming high bitrate Spotify connect via toslink. I do have a NAS with all my music on it and intend to connect it but Spotify fulfilled all my needs; other things simply got priority over that task.

If I find a moment I could connect a usb drive to see how it behaves. Given the very easy setup process, the rock solid software and the extensive playback options I expect it to do well.

Btw I don't think you need airplay for playing music from a Nas. I will double check, but iirc the Nas is just connected to the streamer by physical connection over ethernet cable or wifi. Then a phone connected to the same network can access the music and act as a remote via a music streaming app.

Airplay is connected to apple music iirc and streaming from apple product to apple product (also video). I have quite a few apple devices but somehow ended up using android for phones. Iirc it was related to playing music with apple music over the network that got restricted and hard to use. Anyway that was a long time ago.

Letting others use the Wiim could be done via google cast or bluetooth.

 

[john61ct]

Yes best to stick to Ultra, there are many cheap ways to add AirPlay

Send to a TV then to Ultra via the HDMI, artwork on the big screen.

Also, Wiim Mini is cheap, my daughter got one for $36 delivered off eBay.

 

[john61ct]

Note that adding Wiim units also gives LOTs of flexibility for future repurposing

not least of which is Multi-Room capabilities

 

[anonyless]

1. Am I correct that my user experience would be essentially as simple as what I have now: just turn on my active speaker system, fire up the relevant app on my phone, select an album, and press play?

i recalled the last time i tried connecting a USB drive to the Ultra, it was giving me a basic folder list in the app and nothing more than that, but that was over a year ago.
so I thought giving it another try and copied 5 properly tagged albums to a SD card and connected it with a reader to the Ultra -
WiiM completely changed the local USB library interface from what i remembered , it now actually scans the audio files on the drive, and showed me album art for each album. so this should actually work for you

 

[Marc v E]

@tmtomh just plugged in a 8 gb usb stick in the Wiim ultra. 1 minute scanning, automatic indexing and playing now. Songs play instantly, no leading silence.

Song quality is lossless. Alac format probably.

 

[Redacted]

Lots of choices, which I won't add to, but as an aside:
"rely on a local network share to stream from your music library." IMHO, you're better off running a DLNA server than using network shares and both are better than USB sticks for larger music collections (for various reasons explained in many other threads, but one being about pre-processing for tags and cover art).

 

[tmtomh]

@anonyless , @Marc v E and @Redacted , thank you for your responses - very helpful!

I appreciate the tip about DLNA vs a network share if I use a network connection. At the same time, my music library fits within 512GB and I don’t update it very frequently, so based on Marc’s report I think I wouldn’t find the pre-processing time burdensome with a direct USB connection. If my local collection were to expand considerably, though, I might very well change to a network-based library.

 

[Marc v E]

@anonyless , @Marc v E and @Redacted , thank you for your responses - very helpful!

I appreciate the tip about DLNA vs a network share if I use a network connection. At the same time, my music library fits within 512GB and I don’t update it very frequently, so based on Marc’s report I think I wouldn’t find the pre-processing time burdensome with a direct USB connection. If my local collection were to expand considerably, though, I might very well change to a network-based library.

It took me 10 minutes to add a Nas to the WiiM. The Wiim plays flac files over Dlna.
Good to know it's so easy. Thanks to you I tried it and got it working in an instant. Great stuff.

I added a shared music folder in the WiiM Home app and play it from there. No need for airplay, chromecast etc; just give WiiM access to the shared folder on your network and you can operate it from your phone app. Iphone or Android doesn't matter. Could be your ipad too.

 

[tmtomh]

It took me 10 minutes to add a Nas to the WiiM. The Wiim plays flac files over Dlna.
Good to know it's so easy. Thanks to you I tried it and got it working in an instant. Great stuff.

I added a shared music folder in the WiiM Home app and play it from there. No need for airplay, chromecast etc; just give WiiM access to the shared folder on your network and you can operate it from your phone app. Iphone or Android doesn't matter. Could be your ipad too.

Thanks Marc! Appreciate you trying these things out in real time and reporting back.

 

[john61ct]

Wiim Ultra also has squeezelite/slimproto built in, acts as a client to a Lyrion Music Server instance serving everything from a filestore over the network.

Highly recommended once you (want to) get away from the simplicity of USB Storage direct attached to Wiim.

 

[Redacted]

Which DLNA server is running on the NAS? (They vary in what they can do).

 

[john61ct]

Whose system are you asking about?

Best to use quotes or at least @ handles