WiiM Ultra... Am I missing something?

[staticV3]

Hi,
is Room Correction supported on Android now perhaps?
I own a couple of Android phones and I am realy counting on RC feature on Ultra
no iphone though

To make full use of the WiiM's room correction capabilities, it's recommended to make manual in-room response measurements of your system using a UMIK-1 and the free software Room EQ Wizard.

You can then let REW calculate EQ parameters according to your needs and finally, copy those parameters into the WiiM Home App.

The automated room correction built into the WiiM Home App is great if you want to put in minimal effort, but has some clear downsides like being based on a single sweep and the unknown quality of your phone's mic (unless you connect a proper mic via USB).

 

[tomasso]

You can. It's not great.

so Android supported .
Why is not great? Can you please shed some more light?

 

[Mort]

Yes android. You'll have to read the reviews here and other forums.

It's a very new feature on a very new product. You can't expect it to be very good, it will take time.

 

[fragzone]

It's an egregious and lazy oversight in 2024 IMO. I see it time and time again. Yamaha could get it right in 2015 with a 32 bit ESS dac and speakers attached.
-ethernet & wifi
-optical
-3.5mm analogue input
-bluetooth
-usb b input driverless plug and play with any PC.

 

[gwing]

so Android supported .
Why is not great? Can you please shed some more light?

I believe the main reason for "not on Android" was that, unlike iphones, there is no standardised microphone hardware and so it was not possible to do room equalisation, which normally require a known and calibrated microphone.

So they have now apparently found a way of working around this but will still have the same underlying problem. If you can use a known and calibrated measurement mike such as the UMIK instead of the Android phone's built in jobbie it may work better. i.e. it's not that Android microphones are bad it is just that they can have different responses to each other.

 

[VanTechMag]

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.

I would also love to have it like a universal box...

Mainly to use as a very fine digital EQ (to adjust & correct strange sounds, before I record to MiniDisc) directly after my preamp (where I have 7 stereo inputs - as CD player, tuner, turntable and so on) > before an analogue equalizer (needed for my headphones, because my receiver strangely don't offer EQ for them) that is connected to my Sony JB730 MiniDisc > before my Yamaha RX-A1030 (with my main manual room settings of the 7 band digital parametic EQ) which drive my speakers...

But I would also LOVE to connect both IN to and OUT from my notebook - which only have lousy headphone out, plus USB, HDMI and LAN...
And I guess HDMI work both in and out (?!?) but I am not sure and I can't find any documentation about that after many hours searching...

And if I understood the earlier replies right, is it possible to use WiiM's usb to connect OUT to my notebook?? But not from my notebook to WiiM?

But can I not do that with HDMI or a LAN cable to my modem??

And from PC USB to optical (with help of an adapter) in is ONLY one way, not both in & out... But I guess you can switch the optical out to in, the few times I need that!

 

[CT Man]

I would also love to have it like a universal box...

Mainly to use as a very fine digital EQ (to adjust & correct strange sounds, before I record to MiniDisc) directly after my preamp (where I have 7 stereo inputs - as CD player, tuner, turntable and so on) > before an analogue equalizer (needed for my headphones, because my receiver strangely don't offer EQ for them) that is connected to my Sony JB730 MiniDisc > before my Yamaha RX-A1030 (with my main manual room settings of the 7 band digital parametic EQ) which drive my speakers...

But I would also LOVE to connect both IN to and OUT from my notebook - which only have lousy headphone out, plus USB, HDMI and LAN...
And I guess HDMI work both in and out (?!?) but I am not sure and I can't find any documentation about that after many hours searching...

And if I understood the earlier replies right, is it possible to use WiiM's usb to connect OUT to my notebook?? But not from my notebook to WiiM?

But can I not do that with HDMI or a LAN cable to my modem??

And from PC USB to optical (with help of an adapter) in is ONLY one way, not both in & out... But I guess you can switch the optical out to in, the few times I need that!

But I would also LOVE to connect both IN to and OUT from my notebook

I think this will do the trick. Computer to Cubilux USB C, Cubilux TX to Ultra Optical In, Cubilux RX to Ultra Optical Out
https://www.amazon.com/Cubilux-UCSTR-B3-Transmitter-Receiver-Compatible/dp/B0D7DJRPPB/

 

[Dennis_FL]

But I would also LOVE to connect both IN to and OUT from my notebook

I think this will do the trick. Computer to Cubilux USB C, Cubilux TX to Ultra Optical In, Cubilux RX to Ultra Optical Out
https://www.amazon.com/Cubilux-UCSTR-B3-Transmitter-Receiver-Compatible/dp/B0D7DJRPPB/

I had tried this converter and it was really bad quality and a waste of money. I have the WiiM Ultra which I use primarily for Roon, JRiver (DLNA), Tidal Connect, and Apple TV (HDMI Arc). Occasionally, I'd like to output my PC and I jury-rigged a Raspberry Pi with an Allo hat (coax output to the WiiM) and use Ropieee for what the Ultra doesn't have (eg Apple Airplay).

The WiiM has input auto-sensing and will play whichever is active.

 

[Burnside]

I would also love to have it like a universal box...

Mainly to use as a very fine digital EQ (to adjust & correct strange sounds, before I record to MiniDisc) directly after my preamp (where I have 7 stereo inputs - as CD player, tuner, turntable and so on) > before an analogue equalizer (needed for my headphones, because my receiver strangely don't offer EQ for them) that is connected to my Sony JB730 MiniDisc > before my Yamaha RX-A1030 (with my main manual room settings of the 7 band digital parametic EQ) which drive my speakers...

But I would also LOVE to connect both IN to and OUT from my notebook - which only have lousy headphone out, plus USB, HDMI and LAN...
And I guess HDMI work both in and out (?!?) but I am not sure and I can't find any documentation about that after many hours searching...

And if I understood the earlier replies right, is it possible to use WiiM's usb to connect OUT to my notebook?? But not from my notebook to WiiM?

But can I not do that with HDMI or a LAN cable to my modem??

And from PC USB to optical (with help of an adapter) in is ONLY one way, not both in & out... But I guess you can switch the optical out to in, the few times I need that!

The Ultra’s USB connection is for usb audio out or usb media storage, not usb audio in. Similarly, its HDMI is solely for audio from a TV HDMI connection.

Anything else, you’d need to use some sort of convertor.

 

[VanTechMag]

The Ultra’s USB connection is for usb audio out or usb media storage, not usb audio in. Similarly, its HDMI is solely for audio from a TV HDMI connection.

Anything else, you’d need to use some sort of convertor.

But can I then use the LAN instead? As LAN to my WiFi Modem that is connected to my notebook... I guess I can "see" WiiM ultra, that way, but can WiiM "see" the sound from my notebook, that way??

I don't have the WiiM so I can't simply try and find out that way!

But I did just (30 minutes ago) buy 2 of following amazing "unicorn's" for only 210 euro with shipping, which seem to been to expensive to make and been almost impossible to find used the last 10 years...

Behringer DEQ1024 - Maybe the absolute best budget alt IF it work fine BUT many have problems... That offer 31stereo +-12db bands (from 20hz to 20khz) has also mono > stereo > wide adjustment, 2st 12 led meters, handle 15-35000hz S/N -104db (within 22hz22khz) 0,004% international power supply 89x483x135mm/hwd 2,5kg did cost 350usd and in reviews... "Very clean, transparant sound" by a pro musician & "I love my DEQ1024. I bought this along with a Behringer Composer Pro-XL MDX2600 to use for analog mastering in my home studio which I normally use Ozone 4 to do. And let me tell you the sound quality on this thing is amazing!"

And if that one work as excellent, as my old Yamaha GE-40 must I find another fine connection to my notebook and I am thinking about following two...

MOTU M2 (sök även beg Motu M4)(fine green yellow red front meters, excellent ESSsabre32 ultra dac and dyn115db, 2 XLR with 6.35 jacks for mic / line in / intrument with vol knobs at front, two 6.35 jacks out & stereo RCA out at back, live streaming loopback / mixing, can use two types of mic at the same time, plus midi in & out, sexy black metal case 45x191x108mmHWD -- But no digital in or out, need two 6.35 jacks to RCA adapters & usb-c) 2666krDjService24m12 beg M4 2tkr24m12

PreSonus Studio 24C (Give you "clear, clean and detailed sound" according to several reviews, has nice vol meters 24bit193khz, live streaming loopback / mixing, 2 XLR with 6.35 jacks for mic / line in / intrument with vol knobs at front, two 6.35 jacks out at back, plus midi in&out, nice black style with blue metallic sides 44x180x144mmHWD -- But no digital in or out, very tight located knobs, need four 6.35 jacks to RCA adapters & usb-c) 1429krDjService24m12

 

[Burnside]

But can I then use the LAN instead? As LAN to my WiFi Modem that is connected to my notebook... I guess I can "see" WiiM ultra, that way, but can WiiM "see" the sound from my notebook, that way??

If by that you mean transfer any audio the notebook is playing via its sound card, then no - or at least not directly. Some may advise the use of SWYH (stream what you hear) which converts your sound card output into a web stream that the Ultra can play, but it has been reported that introduces a long delay due to buffering and may not be stable.

There are of course media servers that can serve audio tracks to WiiM players but I guess that might not meet your requirements. While WiiM devices do provide a great deal of options, they’re not necessarily a “universal box” that can deal with every situation potential users might wish.

 

[VanTechMag]

If by that you mean transfer any audio the notebook is playing via its sound card, then no - or at least not directly. Some may advise the use of SWYH (stream what you hear) which converts your sound card output into a web stream that the Ultra can play, but it has been reported that introduces a long delay due to buffering and may not be stable.

There are of course media servers that can serve audio tracks to WiiM players but I guess that might not meet your requirements. While WiiM devices do provide a great deal of options, they’re not necessarily a “universal box” that can deal with every situation potential users might wish.

So the question is IF there is a really fine Spif converter, at max 50 euro (??) if I still get the WiiM for both streaming and to connect to my Acer notebook... With The MOTU M2 or PreSonus Studio 24C (see my reply above) do I only need some 6.35 jacks to RCA adapters - if I understood right?!?

 

[antcollinet]

So the question is IF there is a really fine Spif converter

Assuming you mean USB to SPDIF, then if it is working at all (no clicks/pops/dropouts) it will be audibly perfect.

 

[VanTechMag]

I had tried this converter and it was really bad quality and a waste of money. I have the WiiM Ultra which I use primarily for Roon, JRiver (DLNA), Tidal Connect, and Apple TV (HDMI Arc). Occasionally, I'd like to output my PC and I jury-rigged a Raspberry Pi with an Allo hat (coax output to the WiiM) and use Ropieee for what the Ultra doesn't have (eg Apple Airplay).

The WiiM has input auto-sensing and will play whichever is active.

This honorable member above, told me that some of these converters is really BAD and waste of money...

Assuming you mean USB to SPDIF, then if it is working at all (no clicks/pops/dropouts) it will be audibly perfect.

So the question remains IF there is a really fine Spdif converter, at max 50 euro (??) if I still get the WiiM for both streaming and to connect to my Acer notebook...

 

[staticV3]

So the question remains IF there is a really fine Spdif converter, at max 50 euro (??) if I still get the WiiM for both streaming and to connect to my Acer notebook...

If all you need is USB in to SPDIF out, then take a look at the SMSL PO100, HiFime UT23, or Cubilux SPDIF Converter.

 

[antcollinet]

This honorable member above, told me that some of these converters is really BAD and waste of money...

We'd have to understand exactly what he found bad, and how he was determining that. If he just meant sound quality, but was doing only sighted listening, we could probably discount his anecdote.

The only way a USB to SPDIF can sound bad is if it is faulty, and then the bad sound will be obvious - dropouts and clicks as mentioned.

 

[Dennis_FL]

This honorable member above, told me that some of these converters is really BAD and waste of money...

So the question remains IF there is a really fine Spdif converter, at max 50 euro (??) if I still get the WiiM for both streaming and to connect to my Acer notebook...

I used to have the SMSL PO100 and one day it died and Amazon no longer sold them. So I got the one I referenced above that was bad. But the SMSL PO100 was great and they are once again selling it on Amazon so that is certainly an option (if it lasts longer than mine).

 

[antcollinet]

So I got the one I referenced above that was bad

In what way was it "bad"?

 

[VanTechMag]

We'd have to understand exactly what he found bad, and how he was determining that. If he just meant sound quality, but was doing only sighted listening, we could probably discount his anecdote.

The only way a USB to SPDIF can sound bad is if it is faulty, and then the bad sound will be obvious - dropouts and clicks as mentioned.

If all you need is USB in to SPDIF out, then take a look at the SMSL PO100, HiFime UT23, or Cubilux SPDIF Converter.

Thank's to both... I did never use that type of converter and I didn't know that tech use to be fail proof, so I did trust the advise about that Cubilux made really bad converters!

Now I must first listen to the extremely rare Behringer DEQ1024 that I wrote about above... And IF that "unicorn" is great, decide if I only want connection to my notebook OR in addition smart streaming, with WiiM ultra...

And IF the impressive Behringer DEQ1024 wasn't transparent, should I probaly buy a WiiM ultra, anyhow - now when I know I can connect it to my notebook!

So thank you both again!

 

[VanTechMag]

And yes, this tread IS just about the missing PC connection possibilities...

So please feel free to suggest other easy ways that work fine AND other specific converters, that not is very expensive and work excellent!

And I still wonder why the HDMI in - that is supposed to only be to get sounds from a TV - not will accept sounds from my notebook, or my receiver? Have anyone tested that?