WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

[Crashtest33]

Received my Wiim Ultra and I'm VERY happy! I use it purely to stream Ultra HD via Amazon Music Unlimited into my Holo Cyan 2 DAC.
Can I confirm that a USB cable directly is the best method of data transfer?

 

[Pritaudio]

Does the ultra (or other pro models) do digital volume control in the Wiim app. This would enable me to adjust the volume before it gets sent to a digital endpoint ( such as dac with toslink or active speakers with toslink). And not rely on adjusting the volume seperately on the endpoint device, since I’m already using the Wiim app to choose the music.

 

[morillon]

Received my Wiim Ultra and I'm VERY happy! I use it purely to stream Ultra HD via Amazon Music Unlimited into my Holo Cyan 2 DAC.
Can I confirm that a USB cable directly is the best method of data transfer?

either you hear a difference and therefore have a preference...
or you don't hear a difference and therefore there is no question.

 

[Joffy1780]

Does the ultra (or other pro models) do digital volume control in the Wiim app. This would enable me to adjust the volume before it gets sent to a digital endpoint ( such as dac with toslink or active speakers with toslink). And not rely on adjusting the volume seperately on the endpoint device, since I’m already using the Wiim app to choose the music.

Yes.

 

[Deleted member 72219]

Does the ultra (or other pro models) do digital volume control in the Wiim app. This would enable me to adjust the volume before it gets sent to a digital endpoint ( such as dac with toslink or active speakers with toslink). And not rely on adjusting the volume seperately on the endpoint device, since I’m already using the Wiim app to choose the music.

Yes, otherwise the subwoofer integration would not be of much use.

-Ed

 

[JaccoW]

Just for fun I mocked up some size comparisons in PowerPoint to get a feel for how this streamer would look with various DACs.

Conclusions;

• The Topping DX9 is insanely big.
• The Topping E70 looks like the nicest fit in width
• The Topping D70 looks pretty classy
• The SMSL PL200 CD player looks like a pretty cute combo together

Topping E30


Topping E50


Topping E70


Topping D70


Topping D90


Topping DX9


SMSL PL200 CD-player

 

[Deleted member 72219]

Just for fun I mocked up some size comparisons in PowerPoint to get a feel for how this streamer would look with various DACs.

Conclusions;

• The Topping DX9 is insanely big.
• The Topping E70 looks like the nicest fit in width
• The Topping D70 looks pretty classy
• The SMSL PL200 CD player looks like a pretty cute combo together

Topping E30


Topping E50


Topping E70


Topping D70


Topping D90


Topping DX9


SMSL PL200 CD-player

Yeah, unfortunately for some of these wider DACs, they're not deep enough to sit under the WiiM Ultra. I have a D90 III Discrete and it's wider but shallower than the WiiM Ultra, so it can't be under the Wiim Ultra because it's not deep enough, and DAC's too wide to look good sitting on top of the Wiim Ultra.

-Ed

 

[Romario]

Just for fun I mocked up some size comparisons in PowerPoint to get a feel for how this streamer would look with various DACs.

Conclusions;

• The Topping DX9 is insanely big.
• The Topping E70 looks like the nicest fit in width
• The Topping D70 looks pretty classy
• The SMSL PL200 CD player looks like a pretty cute combo together

Topping E30


Topping E50


Topping E70


Topping D70


Topping D90


Topping DX9


SMSL PL200 CD-player

The Fiio k11 has the matching form factor as the Ultra, but it' 's smaller unfortunately. It has DDC, 1400 mw HP balanced and unbalanced amp. And it's cheap.

 

[Bernard23]

Ultra replaced a pro plus for me, the RC with sub out means I can use it as a preamp, and phono in means that can also benefit from RC. Couldnt care less about the volume knob as I use the remote! All this for £350, bonkers value. The only negative is the headphone output is not great, but I personally didn't buy it for that so again not concerned.

 

[Pritaudio]

Yes, otherwise the subwoofer integration would not be of much use.

-Ed

How about the Wiim pro and pro plus then.
Also, can the Wiim mini do this too.

 

[Bernard23]

How about the Wiim pro and pro plus then.
Also, can the Wiim mini do this too.

No sub out on any of those devices.

 

[Pritaudio]

Can I have digital attenuation out from Wiim ultra, pro, pro plus and mini.
This is before any dac processing on the coaxial and toslink digital outputs.
Can I control the volume of the digital out through the Wiim app.
As I would if I change the volume for analogue out on the software.
That is what I am asking.

 

[Deleted member 72219]

Can I have digital attenuation out from Wiim ultra, pro, pro plus and mini.
This is before any dac processing on the coaxial and toslink digital outputs.
Can I control the volume of the digital out through the Wiim app.
As I would if I change the volume for analogue out on the software.
That is what I am asking.

All WiiMs can control volume digitally, yes. I use the Ultra has my preamp, with the exterior DAC set to fixed volume.

-Ed

 

[Pritaudio]

Can I have more than one remote in a house system.
I know the remote uses Bluetooth. But can I assign a remote to each streamer without any mixups.
And is there a volume limiter for such cases.

 

[Deleted member 72219]

Can I have more than one remote in a house system.
I know the remote uses Bluetooth. But can I assign a remote to each streamer without any mixups.
And is there a volume limiter for such cases.

Each remote can be independently sync’d to a specific WiiM and yes, there is a volume limiter setting.

-Ed

 

[Mort]

Wiim Ultra turned out to be a gateway drug to MiniDsp Flex HT and DiracLive which are nearly 3x the Ultra price but have much better DSP. I've switched back to Wiim Pro for streaming. I can't complain about the Ultra device, but it wasn't enough for me, and I have the budget to upgrade.

 

[pogo]

and I have the budget to upgrade.

If that's what you're after, you'd be better off with a Node N132 and you have everything in one device.

 

[Mort]

With DiracLive, which the Node does not have yet, it'll be the same price or very close to a Flex with Dirac live I think.
I use other Wiim and Minidsp devices and will stick with those platforms.
Edit - also only single sub, flex will do two which I need. And not enough inputs.

 

[pogo]

You could integrate additional inputs via a Bluesound HUB (up to 4 HUBs possible) and you wouldn't be more expensive than the miniDSP/Wiim solution.
miniDSP Flex HT processing (Dirac Live, ...) only @32 bit/48 kHz is a no go for me.

 

[Mort]

only @32 bit/48 kHz is a no go for me.

I can't hear above that. I'm good.

It's good to know there are alternatives. I don't think MiniDsp has to worry a lot about the price comparison. I think it ends up a hair cheaper.