WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

[Joffy1780]

Is there a way to add a crossover for a sub in the RME?

No, is the simple answer.

 

[Gyosa1]

Got a Ultra today , for the bedroom system , hooked it up and as soon as I connected the HDMI cable from TV’s hdmi arc port to
the Ultra’s HDMI input I got a humming noise …. Ground loop . The noise goes away when the hdmi cable is disconnected. Any suggestions ? Possible faulty hdmi input on the Ultra?

I tried 3 different cables.
All equipment is plugged in to the same outlet. PS Audio S300 amp , Salk speakers , Sony TV , Dish Network.

My Eversolo DMP A8 doesn’t have this issue , although it is in a different room / system.

Thanks

Bk

 

[harkpabst]

If it's a ground loop, it's a ground loop, not a faulty device. You'll need to find the one place to break it without losing functionality.

Swap the WiiM Ultra and the A8 around to see if it really is a ground loop or something different.

 

[Gyosa1]

I can’t swap with the A8 easily due to the A8’s location- it’s deeply embedded in a cabinet that’s not easily accessible…

I sent it back to Amazon and ordered another one .
If the new one behaves the same , I’ll try using the ground pin on the unit and flipping the plug.

It’s definitely the HDMI . Happens even when TV is unplugged. So could possibly be from the satellite coax cable , but none of my other setups do it and they’re all using HDMI ARC and all are on same Dish system. Didn’t have this problem when a AVR was in use .

I’ve never had a ground loop this loud before in the last 40 years … makes me suspect the unit. As a matter of fact , I’ve never had a ground loop at all.

Appreciate the sage words everyone….
I’ll update in the next day or two - new one will be here tomorrow.

Bk

 

[EJ3]

I can’t swap with the A8 easily due to the A8’s location- it’s deeply embedded in a cabinet that’s not easily accessible…

I sent it back to Amazon and ordered another one .
If the new one behaves the same , I’ll try using the ground pin on the unit and flipping the plug.

It’s definitely the HDMI . Happens even when TV is unplugged. So could possibly be from the satellite coax cable , but none of my other setups do it and they’re all using HDMI ARC and all are on same Dish system. Didn’t have this problem when a AVR was in use .

I’ve never had a ground loop this loud before in the last 40 years … makes me suspect the unit. As a matter of fact , I’ve never had a ground loop at all.

Appreciate the sage words everyone….
I’ll update in the next day or two - new one will be here tomorrow.

Bk

Right, I think.
Since 1974 (when I started playing with separate components, I have never had a ground loop in my personal gear).
But I have helped others find their ground loops.
And in pro PA systems, I have occasionally had a ground loop and/or a feedback loop (as I used to run sound for local & regional bands).

 

[OldTimer]

I can’t swap with the A8 easily due to the A8’s location- it’s deeply embedded in a cabinet that’s not easily accessible…

I sent it back to Amazon and ordered another one .
If the new one behaves the same , I’ll try using the ground pin on the unit and flipping the plug.

It’s definitely the HDMI . Happens even when TV is unplugged. So could possibly be from the satellite coax cable , but none of my other setups do it and they’re all using HDMI ARC and all are on same Dish system. Didn’t have this problem when a AVR was in use .

I’ve never had a ground loop this loud before in the last 40 years … makes me suspect the unit. As a matter of fact , I’ve never had a ground loop at all.

Appreciate the sage words everyone….
I’ll update in the next day or two - new one will be here tomorrow.

Bk

Hopefully defected unit.

 

[Gyosa1]

Faulty unit , new one arrived today …
All is good , must have been a faulty HDMI input …. Very loud feedback .

Appreciate all the words guys !

Bk

 

[Mort]

I switch between speakers and headphones often with my Wiim ultra. Each has it's own PEQ preset and I'm already fatigued switching the PEQ each time I switch the output. This is made worse because I use the Wiim ultra screen to change output at my desktop.

Seems like I have to get EQ from other sources until Wiim puts EQ on the outputs. Right?

Fortunately I was already ordering a minidsp that can handle the speakers. I just need one for headphones.

Space is a concern. I don't want a full DAC /Amp setup like the D50iii/a50. Qudelix 5k or the new Neutron player look suitable. Which would you pick? What other options should I consider?

I went with Qudelix 5k and plugged into the USB. No subwoofer output on USB (yay) and I can set the headphone EQ separately from the Wiim.

 

[JaccoW]

Only tangentially related to the Wiim but here it is on the Topping display base. Found a place on Amazon that sold the Large model for the same price as the Small model. Doesn't add anything to the audio quality but it looks nice.

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

Fiddled this product at a local store and I thought the unit was somehow broken as the rotary encoder felt as if it was grinding against the plastic front plate as @amirm wrote in his review. Why on earth would they leave it like that in the end product? I mean if you compare it to the Wiim Amp for example, it has a delightful stepped rotary encoder which moves smoothly between the steps. The one on Wiim Ultra feels like scratching finernails agains a chalk board.

I understand this is mainly used via the app (which works wery well in my opinion) but still.. why..?

 

[EJ3]

Fiddled this product at a local store and I thought the unit was somehow broken as the rotary encoder felt as if it was grinding against the plastic front plate as @amirm wrote in his review. Why on earth would they leave it like that in the end product? I mean if you compare it to the Wiim Amp for example, it has a delightful stepped rotary encoder which moves smoothly between the steps. The one on Wiim Ultra feels like scratching finernails agains a chalk board.

I understand this is mainly used via the app (which works wery well in my opinion) but still.. why..?

I am not in the market for one, but if I were, that scratchiness would instantly eliminate that one from my list.

 

[Joffy1780]

Erin seemed to suggest his 'scratchiness' went away after quite a few pushes of the selector button and turns of the knob.
It is a little off putting, as I was planning on using the knob and screen when I eventually get one.

 

[EJ3]

Erin seemed to suggest his 'scratchiness' went away after quite a few pushes of the selector button and turns of the knob.
It is a little off putting, as I was planning on using the knob and screen when I eventually get one.

Maybe by the time that we are ready to get one, they will have fixed that (and taken a few of the other suggestions that have been made).
I do not have much use for remotes except when I am trying to get the EQ right.
Other than that, I need to keep moving around, so...remotes can be handy but not usually necessary for me (unless they have features that I can only access through the remote, which I think is dumb.)

 

[Godataloss]

Fiddled this product at a local store and I thought the unit was somehow broken as the rotary encoder felt as if it was grinding against the plastic front plate as @amirm wrote in his review. Why on earth would they leave it like that in the end product? I mean if you compare it to the Wiim Amp for example, it has a delightful stepped rotary encoder which moves smoothly between the steps. The one on Wiim Ultra feels like scratching finernails agains a chalk board.

I understand this is mainly used via the app (which works wery well in my opinion) but still.. why..?

I received one last week and it does not have this issue. The knob feels fine, so perhaps an isolated issue.

 

[Joffy1780]

I received one last week and it does not have this issue. The knob feels fine, so perhaps an isolated issue.

I'm sure it is not isolated, many people have mentioned this, but hopefully it has been fixed!

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

I received one last week and it does not have this issue. The knob feels fine, so perhaps an isolated issue.

Nice! But I do think it is not an isolated issue as there's a lot of talk about it online.

Maybe there's something wrong with the tolerances of the vol knob in the first production batch/batches. If that's the case, I think it should somehow be compensated.

 

[holbob]

Only tangentially related to the Wiim but here it is on the Topping display base. Found a place on Amazon that sold the Large model for the same price as the Small model. Doesn't add anything to the audio quality but it looks nice.

Does it do your body fat and pulse as well?

 

[Godataloss]

Nice! But I do think it is not an isolated issue as there's a lot of talk about it online.

Maybe there's something wrong with the tolerances of the vol knob in the first production batch/batches. If that's the case, I think it should somehow be compensated.

If it hampers functionality I'd agree. I don't think you can expect perfection in a device at this price point with the features it has.

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

If it hampers functionality I'd agree. I don't think you can expect perfection in a device at this price point with the features it has.

I kind of agree with you - there's a ton of functionality in that little box. And it looks good aswell. However (at least for me) that kind of defect would be a no-go, as how things feel is quite important to me. But you're right, it doesn't affect the functionality per se but I think it does affect the user experience.

Anyway I think it is a good value for money if the knob-feel's not an issue for one.

 

[harkpabst]

If it hampers functionality I'd agree. I don't think you can expect perfection in a device at this price point with the features it has.

That's it exactly.

And the scratchyness does get better with time, indeed. Still not as nice as the knob on the WiiM Amp, but back then people were complaining about the play icon rotating along with it, so WiiM tried something new. Not entirely successfully, but nothing serious, really.

I went with Qudelix 5k and plugged into the USB. No subwoofer output on USB (yay) and I can set the headphone EQ separately from the Wiim.

Did you know that WiiM are already working on per-output EQ? I don't think there's a lot of competition offering such a feature.