WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

[Oski1928]

From what I read there is no filter selection available, however the default used is fine;

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JSmith

I got mine today, and there is definitely a bunch of option. Fair enough though lol.

 

[JSmith]

there is definitely a bunch of option.

Ah, good to know... Amir couldn't find the settings so I assumed they set one filter only rather than showing the ESS filter options;

Frequency response is nice which is a good thing as I didn't see any option of changing the filter:

JSmith

 

[Mort]

Ah, good to know... Amir couldn't find the settings so I assumed they set one filter only rather than showing the ESS filter options;



JSmith

It's only for line out.

 

[uofmtiger]

No AirPlay makes it useless to me.

If you have another Wiim device, you can currently AirPlay to it and link the Ultra. AirPlay 2 is lossy, so probably not an ideal way to use the Ultra, but I like it for convenience. I have several ways to AirPlay to the Ultra, but the biggest shortfall is the lack of album art on the LCD screen… though, Airplaying to my TV puts artwork on that larger screen and plays audio via HDMI through the Ultra. I can live with the workaround. I mainly use Amazon Music with the Ultra, though.

 

[morillon]

":

https://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/httpapi.asp?command=getStatusEx

in the web browser (replace xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx with IP of your device).
"
for know "pcb" version" etc
worked with "amp"... also with "ultra" ?
(yours armim?)
;-)

 

[2roll]

I still find confusing enough to understand if it can read and play FLAC files stored, with album cover art, on a SSD external drive. As a streamer, not being a server, probably not. For those like me who have transferred over 90thousand music files from their decades old CD collection it is of paramount importance. My experience so far has been excellent with the expensive Weiss MAN-301, so-so with the Cambridge and the Topping servers. The archive system and the user’s interface are also of paramount importance: most excellent on Weiss, horrible on the other two mentioned

If this is of paramount importance, I recommend that you install a music server. Some examples are Roon, Plex or Lyrion. My personal favorite is Lyrion, formerly Logitech Media Server.

 

[Oski1928]

I still find confusing enough to understand if it can read and play FLAC files stored, with album cover art, on a SSD external drive. As a streamer, not being a server, probably not. For those like me who have transferred over 90thousand music files from their decades old CD collection it is of paramount importance. My experience so far has been excellent with the expensive Weiss MAN-301, so-so with the Cambridge and the Topping servers. The archive system and the user’s interface are also of paramount importance: most excellent on Weiss, horrible on the other two mentioned.

Yes it can, got mine in the mail today and that’s how I’m using it. Samsung T5 1TB directly into the usb on the back.

All album artwork is present. I even have the ability to scrub audio (think that’s the right term for dragging your finger to a certain place in the track) which my last streamer could not do with audio from a USB drive.

 

[Oski1928]

Is there any possibility that the unit may be updated so that it can display information on a television that is connected to its HDMI ARC port? Used to love when my Marantz receiver displayed the album artwork and info on my tv while listening.

This would be a great feature here, but I’m not sure if it’s a hardware limited feature?

 

[Left]

I still find confusing enough to understand if it can read and play FLAC files stored, with album cover art, on a SSD external drive. As a streamer, not being a server, probably not. For those like me who have transferred over 90thousand music files from their decades old CD collection it is of paramount importance. My experience so far has been excellent with the expensive Weiss MAN-301, so-so with the Cambridge and the Topping servers. The archive system and the user’s interface are also of paramount importance: most excellent on Weiss, horrible on the other two mentioned.

The Wiim forums do mention that the Ultra scans USB sticks and displays cover art found in folder.jpg files. Embedded art seems to be less reliable.

 

[JakeK]

Lack of LDAC or any high end bluetooth is a deal breaker for me on a high end device that wants to do everything.

 

[morillon]

would be nice to observe thd+n/freq ( and smtp/level) 96/24 in sweep on the ana input...not just 1khz..
;-)

 

[JaccoW]

Have you tried the USB out to the E50 DAC?

I haven't because I have that hooked up to my Mini-PC. (Option B)

 

[harkpabst]

The Wiim forums do mention that the Ultra scans USB sticks and displays cover art found in folder.jpg files. Embedded art seems to be less reliable.

Embedded images (FLAC or MP3) are working fine for me, too. The Ultra (just as the WiiM Amp and the WiiM Amp Pro) runs its own (non-configurable) MiniDLNA server. This is even exposed to your network so you can play music stores on a USB thumb drive plugged into your WiiM Ultra from any other DLNA player in the house.

Is there any possibility that the unit may be updated so that it can display information on a television that is connected to its HDMI ARC port?

Pretty much for sure the required hardware (video output) is missing. It could potentially hurt performance and there are a couple of workarounds (mainly for people running their own media servers, though).

It's only for line out.

Which makes a lot of sense, since the DAC is used only for line (and headphones) out.

Ah, good to know... Amir couldn't find the settings so I assumed they set one filter only rather than showing the ESS filter options;

Amir didn't post the firmware and WiiM Home App version used during his tests. This is a bit unfortunate in general, as WiiM are known for working very agile on their feature set.

The DACs filter options are one of those features that have been made available over time, it wasn't there whe the Ultra released to the public.

 

[pogo]

Pretty much for sure the required hardware (video output) is missing.

Really?
Has the ARC input ever been connected to a normal TV hdmi input? It works with my M33.

 

[Justkidding]

I have an android phone - not an Iphone, so AirPlay and stuff like that is no option to me.
Is it possible to stream the audio of youtube or an internal android app to the Wiim but without using bluetooth?

 

[GiBo61]

Lack of LDAC or any high end bluetooth is a deal breaker for me on a high end device that wants to do everything.

I understand your disappointment but "High end device" and bluetooth sound bad in the same sentence.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

I think at this stage, it’s important to note something.

Let’s say this had no screen, no HDMI input, no analogue input, no phono input, and no streamer built in.

It’d still be the only DAC on the market with 10 band PEQ, a sub out and bass management at anything like this price. And it clearly measures as transparent for that use purpose, or as a streamer.

 

[Valentino]

In this case the DAC is excellent so I don't see a need for digital out.

I do as I will use digital out to a MiniDSP Flex Eight, which is my speaker system’s front end, and analog out to my sans DAC Topping headphone amp.

The inclusion of an LMS player is great. I too would like the phono input to be switchable to line level.

The Wiim Ultra replaces my Yamaha WXC-50 and Logitech Squeezebox Touch.

 

[harkpabst]

Really?
Has the ARC input ever been connected to a normal TV hdmi input? It works with my M33.

Yes, really.

 

[Petrushka]

I think at this stage, it’s important to note something.

Let’s say this had no screen, no HDMI input, no analogue input, no phono input, and no streamer built in.

It’d still be the only DAC on the market with 10 band PEQ, a sub out and bass management at anything like this price. And it clearly measures as transparent for that use purpose, or as a streamer.

Except for the Amp Pro.