WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

[Joffy1780]

It would be against the normal way of doing things, DAC chip manufacturers have this covered, there is little for the designer to do. The digital output isn't part of the dac so would need to be designed by them, unless some SOC they used did it for them. Didn't they change the volume steps for the digital output at some stage with firmware?

Reply from Wiim in same thread - Hi joffy1780,

There is a volume table ranging from 0 to 100 that applies to both digital and analog audio output. Our DAC supports 32-bit input, which we utilize to maintain bit depth. Additionally, intermediate processing is designed to preserve sample value accuracy throughout.

 

[wandulus]

I love this expression in English (I’m spanish) though I cannot capture exactly the essence of its meaning

Hasta ahora, todo bien.
Saludos desde Alicante!

 

[Miguelón]

Hasta ahora, todo bien.
Saludos desde Alicante!

Gracias desde Galicia!

 

[tsfreo]

I have posted this question on the WiiM Home Forum too, but I thought this community might have an additional technical perspective.
I am thinking about using a WiiM Ultra on my desktop (where I can see the and touch the screen easily or use the headphone out on occasion) to control the audio stream to a preamp and speaker setup at the back of my room which is connected to a WiiM Pro by digital coaxial (the Pro unit is now 'spare' for me since I picked up the Ultra). I would group the Ultra and the Pro in the app.
Basically I am trying to avoid having to run a 6m coaxial connection from my Ultra to the stereo on the back wall of my room - and instead get the same outcome wirelessly.
Main use would be streaming Tidal. I am content to have my preamp's DAC do its work (it is a Rotel RC 1572mkii and I have been happy with it).
What could be the downsides of that plan?

 

[Miguelón]

I have posted this question on the WiiM Home Forum too, but I thought this community might have an additional technical perspective.
I am thinking about using a WiiM Ultra on my desktop (where I can see the and touch the screen easily or use the headphone out on occasion) to control the audio stream to a preamp and speaker setup at the back of my room which is connected to a WiiM Pro by digital coaxial (the Pro unit is now 'spare' for me since I picked up the Ultra). I would group the Ultra and the Pro in the app.
Basically I am trying to avoid having to run a 6m coaxial connection from my Ultra to the stereo on the back wall of my room - and instead get the same outcome wirelessly.
Main use would be streaming Tidal. I am content to have my preamp's DAC do its work (it is a Rotel RC 1572mkii and I have been happy with it).
What could be the downsides of that plan?

I don’t see any issue, WiiM App allows you to control another WiiM device which is connected to the speaker, being Ultra the controller in your case, the Pro will act as a receiver. All features remain the same.

 

[tsfreo]

I don’t see any issue, WiiM App allows you to control another WiiM device which is connected to the speaker, being Ultra the controller in your case, the Pro will act as a receiver. All features remain the same.

I did test it and the practical functionality was great.
BUT one clever observation that came from elsewhere was that Wiim streamer groupings are limited to 48khz. So that may be a factor for some users.
In my test the 48 khz limit on grouped WiiMs was a thing.
I also did run cable direct from the Ultra instead and could get 192khz out of tracks with that sample rate.
Does it matter? For me, probably just FOMO about high sample rate tracks without really properly having tested whether it matters to what I hear in my system.
So, because I am weak, I have stuck with the long cable run.

 

[Miguelón]

I did test it and the practical functionality was great.
BUT one clever observation that came from elsewhere was that Wiim streamer groupings are limited to 48khz. So that may be a factor for some users.
In my test the 48 khz limit on grouped WiiMs was a thing.
I also did run cable direct from the Ultra instead and could get 192khz out of tracks with that sample rate.
Does it matter? For me, probably just FOMO about high sample rate tracks without really properly having tested whether it matters to what I hear in my system.
So, because I am weak, I have stuck with the long cable run.

No audible difference between 48 kHz and 192 kHz, but if you prefer like this is also ok

 

[JeremyFife]

It means if everything is working, not having problems up to the present moment then it's good.

There's also a hint of doom, of the problems yet to come, of not getting too comfortable with the status quo.
Of course, I'm a Scot and so naturally pessimistic

 

[antcollinet]

There's also a hint of doom, of the problems yet to come, of not getting too comfortable with the status quo.
Of course, I'm a Scot and so naturally pessimistic

Yes, there is an implied "Let's wait and see" as in "everything has been OK up to now, who knows what comes next" And you don't even need to be a Scot.

 

[Miguelón]

Yes, there is an implied "Let's wait and see" as in "everything has been OK up to now, who knows what comes next" And you don't even need to be a Scot.

I’m Galician, pessimism is idiosyncratic to our culture. The most often phrase (today is getting lost, fortunately) in our infancy was “hasta mañana si dios quiere” to say good night (“see you tomorrow if God wants”).

Uncertainty principle was apparently invented in Galicia and copied by Heissemberg without authorization

 

[tsfreo]

No audible difference between 48 kHz and 192 kHz, but if you prefer like this is also ok

Cheers. I will end up giving it a proper listen both ways and see where I end up.

 

[Miguelón]

Cheers. I will end up giving it a proper listen both ways and see where I end up.

Should not be any difference unless basic adjustments, only possibility can be ground loops or interference from cable connection between the DAC and the master WiiM. Wireless connection, by default should be cleaner.

 

[tsfreo]

unless basic adjustments

I get your core point about wireless being cleaner. Not too sure what 'unless basic adjustments' means though?

 

[Miguelón]

I get your core point about wireless being cleaner. Not too sure what 'unless basic adjustments' means though?

Ensure voltage output is in 2 Vrms, same EQ sent wireless than by cable, volume setting are the same… not the first time I perceive “big differences” due to change on basic settings. It should be the same just by changing output, but for example voltage line output is not preserved by SPDIF.

Maybe other values non preserved by changing output. An advantage of cabled connection can be the sub output of Ultra, but not sure you can send mains by coaxial and sub by RCA.

 

[tsfreo]

Ensure voltage output is in 2 Vrms, same EQ sent wireless than by cable, volume setting are the same… not the first time I perceive “big differences” due to change on basic settings. It should be the same just by changing output, but for example voltage line output is not preserved by SPDIF.

Maybe other values non preserved by changing output. An advantage of cabled connection can be the sub output of Ultra, but not sure you can send mains by coaxial and sub by RCA.

Ah. Thanks. That makes sense.

 

[Abdo]

5.2.634663 (In Progress)​

Release date:

11 / 5 / 2024

What's New:

1. Auto Timing Alignment: Syncs main speakers and subwoofer automatically for optimal audio timing (requires app version 2.12.2+).
2. USB Disk Ejection: Added manual USB ejection (coming in next app update).
3. Bluetooth Sound Control: Disabled connection notifications when not in Bluetooth input mode.
4. Google Cast Upgrade: Fixed Output Resolution support and improved sync with Google Speaker Groups.
5. New Clock Faces: Two clock face options for display (coming in next app update).
6. Playback Fixes: Improved metadata, fixed skipping issues, added WMA lossless support, and reduced Preset latency.

Bug Fixes:

1. Offline Responsiveness: Improved response without internet.
2. General Enhancements: Various performance boosts and bug fixes.

 

[Romario]

Oh wow, subwoofer and speaker synch is just added in the subwoofer menu. Something I looked forward to. Playing time this weekend.

 

[Miguelón]

Oh wow, subwoofer and speaker synch is just added in the subwoofer menu. Something I looked forward to. Playing time this weekend.

What is the advantage? I’m curious, don’t have a subwoofer yet

 

[JeremyFife]

What is the advantage? I’m curious, don’t have a subwoofer yet

Subwoofer integration (speaking as a novice, and I could be wrong!) is more than just the frequency crossover and PEQ, which is what WiiM offered until now. Different drivers in different places in your room (i.e. your subwoofer) are slightly out of time and better integration tools adjust for that - that's the new functionality.

As I understand it, the next things to look for are crossover slope and phase adjustment ... that's getting into 'proper' territory.

Pretty impressive for such inexpensive boxes

 

[Romario]

What is the advantage? I’m curious, don’t have a subwoofer yet

One could already manually delay the main speakers from the subwoofer but now it can measure the time alignment. I just needed an excuse to get the mic out anyway and this is it haha.