WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

[Brian Hall]

I'm happy only for the streaming and preamp. DAC for me is not satisfying in resolving. Sounds narrow and confused. Headphone amp is useless. So I connected the Wiim to an external DAC (loxjie d40 pro) and things are changed. Resolved the dac/headphone problems. The DAC is connected via XLR to a Fosi za3. I used the sub out of fosi instead of Wiim one. Someone has complained Fosi has a 100hz sub fiter, but for me is a perfect cut. The room correction doesn't fit my room. Maybe too wide. Any measurement produce horrible shapes. Bottom line for me a good streamer, but you can save money buying wiim pro and a nice dac

The DAC in the Ultra measures great and there is nothing wrong with the headphone amp. It is easily able to drive a Sennheiser HD800S and a Hifiman Stealth Arya Magnet.

 

[Pritaudio]

Is there lip sync with optical and hdmi input from tv.
Have the lip sync issues been fixed with firmware.

And how about crackling noises when playing digital sources through the ultra output.

 

[fdrulovic]

@kyuu. I got the WiiM Ultra. Maybe you don't. I understood few things in MI hi-Fi life: ears are not the same for anyone, DAC figures can tell you about distorsion, transparency and so on but nothing about depth and soundstage. I dislike WiiM ultra DAC for that reasons. Maybe my Klipsch Rp500 II don't fit this device. I don't know. And if you want to drive an high impedence headphone with wiim ultra... Good luck! Even a modest DX3pro+ is much better. I posted my experience. If you want to be devoted to figures go with your preference. Now I'm satisfied with my setup.

 

[Purité Audio]

Dacs have nothing whatsoever to do with ‘depth and soundstage’.
Keith

 

[Mort]

@kyuu Now I'm satisfied with my setup.

Satisfied is good. You don't need ASR to be satisfied.

You do need it if you want rigorous intellectual honesty.

 

[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.

 

[EddNog]

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

 

[EddNog]

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.

 

[EddNog]

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.

 

[EddNog]

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