WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

[Pritaudio]

I’m trying to use the ultra with rew on a pc with umik 1 mic.
How can I connect the pc to the ultra while calibrating.
Does the usb work?

 

[Pritaudio]

Unfortunately, I have to take back my comments about WiiM customer support. After an initial promising interaction where they offered to replace my WiiM Ultra due to defective coax/optical out, it’s now been one month and I have not received a new unit and they stopped responding to my inquiries 3 weeks ago. Radio silence. So I guess I’m stuck with a WiiM Ultra with unusable coax/optical out. Instead I’m using the usb out to a dac (for the xlr connection on the dac), which means i cannot connect my usb music library. Bummer, not what I was expecting.

Is this common.
Are there many cases of defective digital connections.
Is there a dedicated thread for this anywhere?

 

[Pritaudio]

Yes, it allows you to attach an external DAC to USB WHILE attaching a subwoofer to the LFE output and having it apply bass management across the two outputs (digital crossover etc.)

-Ed

This would be of importance when choosing between the ultra and amp pro.
It would mean full sub integration within the digital domain along with the mains too.
And with the bonus of having an amp built in for versatility.

 

[Burnside]

I’m trying to use the ultra with rew on a pc with umik 1 mic.
How can I connect the pc to the ultra while calibrating.
Does the usb work?

You can’t. Either use the umik on the Ultra and use its RC, or plug the umik into the PC, use REW and manually enter the resulting peq values into the WiiM home app

 

[EddNog]

I’m trying to use the ultra with rew on a pc with umik 1 mic.
How can I connect the pc to the ultra while calibrating.
Does the usb work?

In short, no--it does not work.

You must plug the UMIK-1 directly into your smart device that has the WiiM Home app installed (smartphone or tablet) to use the microphone with the WiiM's room correction feature. The PC with REW would have to be a totally separate process. If you're using REW on the PC to do the room correction and not the WiiM to do the room correction calculations, set REW up to correct using 10 PEW curves for each channel, then after completing your room correction modeling in REW, manually apply the 10 PEQ curves per channel into the WiiM Home app.

-Ed

 

[EddNog]

This would be of importance when choosing between the ultra and amp pro.
It would mean full sub integration within the digital domain along with the mains too.
And with the bonus of having an amp built in for versatility.

This feature is already in beta testing stage with end-users. I stopped using the LFE output because having bass management turned on disables the ability to use L/R-distinct room correction, so I have now hooked the subwoofer up (in stereo) to my DAC's RCA outputs, the loudspeaker monobloc amps to the DAC's XLR outputs, and the DAC to the WiiM digitally, running the loudspeakers full-range and only blending the subwoofer in to get a decent B&K curve approximation, then running the WiiM's room correction full range L/R mode. Looks like this is not a problem for you since you can use your laptop with REW to do the room correction calcs instead. I took a cursory look at this, but REW is just too complicated/advanced for a simpleton like me, so I gave up. Plus I'm too lazy to transfer 20 PEQ adjustments from REW to the WiiM manually every time I run a room correction.

-Ed

 

[Pritaudio]

This feature is already in beta testing stage with end-users. I stopped using the LFE output because having bass management turned on disables the ability to use L/R-distinct room correction, so I have now hooked the subwoofer up (in stereo) to my DAC's RCA outputs, the loudspeaker monobloc amps to the DAC's XLR outputs, and the DAC to the WiiM digitally, running the loudspeakers full-range and only blending the subwoofer in to get a decent B&K curve approximation, then running the WiiM's room correction full range L/R mode. Looks like this is not a problem for you since you can use your laptop with REW to do the room correction calcs instead. I took a cursory look at this, but REW is just too complicated/advanced for a simpleton like me, so I gave up. Plus I'm too lazy to transfer 20 PEQ adjustments from REW to the WiiM manually every time I run a room correction.

-Ed

Every time you run room correction? How many times would that be ?
Also, does your svs sub have the app, or is that only for the newer pro models.

 

[EddNog]

Every time you run room correction? How many times would that be ?
Also, does your svs sub have the app, or is that only for the newer pro models.

Does not have to be a newer model; just has to be the right model. For 1000 and 2000 series models, needs to be a Pro model, for 3000 series and up, they should all have an app. For the new 17 Ultra series, they now have built-in room correction for the sub, a feature no other model line has (yet).

I run correction every time I make an adjustment to the placement of my speakers and/or sub. I experiment with that regularly due to having to make adjustments to suit lifestyle events (such is life with two young, growing/evolving boys).

-Ed

 

[Pritaudio]

Yeah I was hoping to use a servo sub with it.
But no suppliers here in the uk.

 

[Burnside]

Unfortunately, I have to take back my comments about WiiM customer support. After an initial promising interaction where they offered to replace my WiiM Ultra due to defective coax/optical out, it’s now been one month and I have not received a new unit and they stopped responding to my inquiries 3 weeks ago. Radio silence. So I guess I’m stuck with a WiiM Ultra with unusable coax/optical out. Instead I’m using the usb out to a dac (for the xlr connection on the dac), which means i cannot connect my usb music library. Bummer, not what I was expecting.

Try posting your WiiM ticket number in the WiiM forum (https://forum.wiimhome.com/) for the attention of the admin team (RyanwithWiim, WiiM Team, WiiM Support) and see if that jolts them into action. I presume your ticket gave details of where you bought the unit etc.

You can simply add a small usb hub like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CQRN5CB9/ and you can use the Ultra’s USB out as well as connecting your USB library - I and many others already do that.

 

[Good Vibes]

Hi, I use a DSPeaker Antimode 8033 have just bought a WiiM Ultra. I am unsure if it’s best to continue to use it along with the Ultra’s PEQ/RC. Can anyone advise me on this?

 

[nerone]

Hi, does the Pre section work well with the remote control?
I would like to drive the Fosi V3 monos
Thank you

 

[EddNog]

Hi, does the Pre section work well with the remote control?
I would like to drive the Fosi V3 monos
Thank you

Works perfectly. Much more consistent and responsive than the remote that came with Topping D90 III Discrete.

-Ed

 

[nerone]

Works perfectly. Much more consistent and responsive than the remote that came with Topping D90 III Discrete.

-Ed

I asked this question because with the Wiim Pro Plus the preamp section is not good, I had to use a passive preamp

 

[EddNog]

I asked this question because with the Wiim Pro Plus the preamp section is not good, I had to use a passive preamp

I’m afraid ASR is the wrong place to discuss this. Everyone here will tell you that digital volume control is superior/fully transparent due to better objective measurement/perfect channel balance.

-Ed

 

[antcollinet]

I asked this question because with the Wiim Pro Plus the preamp section is not good, I had to use a passive preamp

In what way do you think it is not good?

 

[nerone]

In what way do you think it is not good?

I hear a sound like there is a blanket in front of the speakers

 

[Matt_Holland]

I hear a sound like there is a blanket in front of the speakers

I strongly suggest that the problem is the direction of your interconnect cables. Plug them in the other way round and I am sure you’ll find the veil (blanket) will be lifted.

Sorry. Couldn’t resist.

 

[nerone]

I strongly suggest that the problem is the direction of your interconnect cables. Plug them in the other way round and I am sure you’ll find the veil (blanket) will be lifted.

Sorry. Couldn’t resist.

I already did these tests before asking the question about the Wiim Pro Plus, which is why I was asking if the Wiim ultra was superior since I don't own it

 

[holbob]

The wiim will only lift the veil if you agree to marry it. Eventually though, the tweeters will drop into the flabby midrange.