WiiM Ultra... Am I missing something?

[Brian Hall]

I have ordered a unit from Crutchfield. I am trying to eliminate a laptop in my system. The WiiM will serve as my streamer and DAC. I have a NAS with 5TB of music on it. How would I connect the NAS to the WiiM? Also, I want to pull music randomly off of the NAS. I do this currently using the Laptop, and FooBar2000 through my third party DAC. Is this possible with the wIIm?

When I want to play music from my local UPnP server though the Wiim Pro Plus, I use USB Audio Player Pro on my phone or tablet.

 

[Brantome]

I have ordered a unit from Crutchfield. I am trying to eliminate a laptop in my system. The WiiM will serve as my streamer and DAC. I have a NAS with 5TB of music on it. How would I connect the NAS to the WiiM? Also, I want to pull music randomly off of the NAS. I do this currently using the Laptop, and FooBar2000 through my third party DAC. Is this possible with the wIIm?

Install AssetUPnP on your NAS and use its jukebox feature. The AssetUPnP service will then appear under Home Music Share in the WiiM Home app.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

I've looked at the photos and read the specs, but don't see a way to connect a WiiM Ultra to a PC via USB. I see the USB port for media sticks, but nothing that says it's suitable for PC connection. Was hoping to consider this as a digital preamp with bass management and room correction to partner with my power amp. I see other digital inputs, but no way to connect a PC without optical or coax. Thought it would be a cheaper alternative to the miniDSP Flex.

You could find a decent 3.5mm to twin RCA and use the line in if the PC has a decent soundcard it would sound fine. I use a Creative Audigy FX V2 and it give plenty of power to the affixed amplification or dac, dynamically a very good card.

 

[elshaddai]

You could find a decent 3.5mm to twin RCA and use the line in if the PC has a decent soundcard it would sound fine. I use a Creative Audigy FX V2 and it give plenty of power to the affixed amplification or dac, dynamically a very good card.

No fancy soundcard in the PC, just whatever Lenovo built by default. That said, I have been thinking about connecting the line out directly to my current amp to see how "bad" the onboard sound/noise is. Have been using a DAC since before I got this computer and realized I've never actually tested the PC by itself.

 

[antcollinet]

is that your Wiim the only one can produce Bit-Perfect while other can’t. Nothing wow about “bit-perfect” ! If it does not ! Don’t buy it, just a normal standard, especially if you are using a cable with an analog system.

You don't need bit perfection for accuracy to source. In fact bit perfection is one of the least important characteristics.

 

[TonyJZX]

the problem with using a 3.5mm analog out on a soundcard to the Ultra is that you have an DAC and then an ADC stage

the unit digitises everything so i dont see how doing an ADC and two DAC stages is going to help with sonic quality

of course some people may not care and i accept that

 

[antcollinet]

No fancy soundcard in the PC, just whatever Lenovo built by default. That said, I have been thinking about connecting the line out directly to my current amp to see how "bad" the onboard sound/noise is. Have been using a DAC since before I got this computer and realized I've never actually tested the PC by itself.

USB to optical outputs are cheap and plentiful. I'd just use one of these for your application.

 

[ejr]

Amazon appears to be taking orders now ("FREE delivery July 24 - August 5 for Prime members"). It worries me that it says Alexa is built-in, which leads me to believe you have to use it (and a phone or iPad) to access Amazon Music. I'm going to wait until I see a review or something from the manufacturer that specifically states otherwise.

 

[Brantome]

Amazon appears to be taking orders now ("FREE delivery July 24 - August 5 for Prime members"). It worries me that it says Alexa is built-in, which leads me to believe you have to use it (and a phone or iPad) to access Amazon Music. I'm going to wait until I see a review or something from the manufacturer that specifically states otherwise.

No you don’t have to use Alexa. You can freely access Amazon Music without using Alexa from within the WiiM Home app on your phone or tablet - just enter your credentials. However, if you want to be able to cast from the Amazon Music app, you need to link your “Alexa” account (which is the same account as your normal Amazon/Amazon Music account) as its casting uses what Amazon calls AlexaCast, which again is “Amazon Music Connect” for want of a better name. That doesn’t mean you are using the Alexa voice assistant although you can if you wish to sent audio to your WiiM device.

 

[Brantome]

Amazon appears to be taking orders now ("FREE delivery July 24 - August 5 for Prime members"). It worries me that it says Alexa is built-in, which leads me to believe you have to use it (and a phone or iPad) to access Amazon Music. I'm going to wait until I see a review or something from the manufacturer that specifically states otherwise.

You do however need a phone or tablet to access Amazon Music on a WiiM as the beta PC WiiM Home app doesn’t integrate with streaming services, nor does the PC version of the Amazon Music app allow you to cast.

 

[gwing]

Interesting. I have a Lenovo AMD tower. I'll have to take look at the mb specs and see if something like that is supported. Thanks!

Good idea, and very likely to be there as a header.

However if I wanted to use my PC as main audio source, rather than just controlling the Wiim over ethernet as I do now, I think I'd put a decent soundcard into the PC to open up the options, which would include getting digital outputs for the Wiim.

 

[ejr]

If I understand you correctly, that means I would have to use my iPad (since I don't have a smartphone), keept it charged up, and wait for it to boot up every time I wanted to use the Wiim -- which makes it a dealbreaker for me. It also makes me wonder what's the point of having a touchscreen on the Wiim.

 

[Brantome]

If I understand you correctly, that means I would have to use my iPad (since I don't have a smartphone), keept it charged up, and wait for it to boot up every time I wanted to use the Wiim -- which makes it a dealbreaker for me. It also makes me wonder what's the point of having a touchscreen on the Wiim.

The touchscreen isn’t meant to replace the WiiM app nor streaming music services apps.

 

[sthaus]

You don't need bit perfection for accuracy to source. In fact bit perfection is one of the least important characteristics.

I known it sir I’m 100% computer tech and only 50% audiophile head

 

[TonyJZX]

i think only the terminally stupid would think a 3.5" screen was ever going to remove the need for a smart device

BUT as I say that its better to have a screen and show *some* info that it is to have no screen

here's the thing... is this a power amp or basic analog integrated? well no.. its meant to be a smart connected device

in some cases its nice to be able to glance for some crucial info without picking up your phone

For $329 i think this is a nice inclusion and I would not be expecting a 6.5" or something truly usuable either but you are likely to spend $1k on a device that truly meets many peoples' desires for a such a suitanble device

 

[holbob]

i think only the terminally stupid would think a 3.5" screen was ever going to remove the need for a smart device

That's harsh, I hope nobody who's previously said that reads your comment.

The real deal with the Ultra (other than peq, streamer, dac, xover) is the inclusion of eARC. This makes it able to be added into a true audiophile hifi setup in a family lounge, and means all the devices can be controlled with just the TV remote, including volume control. Good for the peq/sinad obsessives such as us, good for the kids and the wife. I'll be dropping Dirac for the Ultra.

 

[Brantome]

That's harsh, I hope nobody who's previously said that reads your comment.

The real deal with the Ultra (other than peq, streamer, dac, xover) is the inclusion of eARC. This makes it able to be added into a true audiophile hifi setup in a family lounge, and means all the devices can be controlled with just the TV remote, including volume control. Good for the peq/sinad obsessives such as us, good for the kids and the wife. I'll be dropping Dirac for the Ultra.

It is perhaps moot, it's just ARC not eARC but that's sufficient for the purpose

 

[Dennis_FL]

Isn't the whole point of a streamer to avoid using a PC? There's enough room correction software for PCs out there. Alternatively you should be able to integrate the streamer into your home network and control it from your PC.

In my case, I have Roon and JRiver. JRiver is easier to use with USB rather than DLNA. Roon isn't that finicky.

 

[Mark1307]

The DAC in the Wiim Pro Plus sounds exactly like the DAC in the Eversolo DMP-A6. I have both. I'm sure the DAC in the Wiim Ultra will be just as good. The only advantage the DMP-A6 currently has over the Wiim Pro Plus is a nice display screen. That advantage goes away with the Ultra and the Ultra also gives me a headphone connection and an HDMI input.

I have been switching between XLR and RCA connections. The only difference I hear is that the XLR side is very slightly louder. I have no ground loops issues in my office or living room.

Interesting point on sounding dacs I have just purchased the dmp a6 for 420 second hand otherwise I would of gone with the wiim ultra but I like the bigger screen and prefer a separate phono stage

 

[ejr]

That's harsh, I hope nobody who's previously said that reads your comment.

The real deal with the Ultra (other than peq, streamer, dac, xover) is the inclusion of eARC. This makes it able to be added into a true audiophile hifi setup in a family lounge, and means all the devices can be controlled with just the TV remote, including volume control. Good for the peq/sinad obsessives such as us, good for the kids and the wife. I'll be dropping Dirac for the Ultra.

Exept that you still need apparently need a phone or tablet to access your Amazon Music libraries.