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WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

Rate this streamer/DAC/Preamp:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 7 1.3%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 47 8.6%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 203 37.2%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 288 52.8%

  • Total voters
    545
eh I thought it's not Chinese company :(
Any similar alternative to 1.5k$ not from Chinese brand? My audio is only made in Europe so far :) I know that mamy Chinese brands and products are great but... not for me. Its already ordered so I will check anyway.
 
Are folks still having audio drop out issues with Wiim ultra when using HDMI arc?
Yes, non-stop, every couple minutes. Apparently might have something to do with using powered generic monitors? But either way, very annoying. I've contacted support multiple times to ask if it can be fixed in firmware but no response.
 
Yes, non-stop, every couple minutes. Apparently might have something to do with using powered generic monitors? But either way, very annoying. I've contacted support multiple times to ask if it can be fixed in firmware but no response.
I grabbed one yesterday and haven't seen a drop out thus far. But too soon to say. Mine is connected to an LG TV and to an external DAC using the USB out. The DAC is then connected to powered speakers using XLR.
 
I've had 3 or 4 instances where I'm trying to listen to music from Plex or Qobuz on my WiiM Ultra when all of a suddenly my music cuts out and I look up and find the TV has powered up to no signal and the WiiM has switched to ARC input, but my Apple TV 4K has not turned on, so I can't figure out where there may be a phantom signal from in the chain causing the TV and the WiiM to think the Apple TV has become active.

Also, it's rather annoying that my TV (Sharp Aquos) is smart enough to turn on and instruct the WiiM to turn on when the Apple TV turns on, but not smart enough to turn off when the Apple TV is turned off, even though it is smart enough to turn the WiiM off when the Apple TV is shut off--and the TV is in the middle of the two! I have to pick up my TV remote solely for the one purpose of turning the TV back off after my Apple TV and WiiM are shut off.

-Ed
 
In regards to the headphone amp, what exactly does non-zero output impedance mean?
It means the output amplifier has a output impedance more than zero Ohms. A good headphone amp has maybe a few or less Ohms of output resistance and a very good one has less than a Ohm output impedance. The lower the output impedance the better control the amp has over the transducer and the frequency response does not suffer as it does with a headphone amp that has maybe 20 Ohms or more output impedance. These numbers are subject to the impedance of the transducer and are not written in stone but are simple explanations. So don't take them to the bank... LoL. It's a complex subject and to condense the matters in 3 sentences is very difficult to do and is best addressed on a case by case basis.
 
It means the output amplifier has a output impedance more than zero Ohms. A good headphone amp has maybe a few or less Ohms of output resistance and a very good one has less than a Ohm output impedance. The lower the output impedance the better control the amp has over the transducer and the frequency response does not suffer as it does with a headphone amp that has maybe 20 Ohms or more output impedance. These numbers are subject to the impedance of the transducer and are not written in stone but are simple explanations. So don't take them to the bank... LoL. It's a complex subject and to condense the matters in 3 sentences is very difficult to do and is best addressed on a case by case basis.
So for example comparing this to something like the schiit heretic, which has very straight diagonal lines, the wiim ultra instead flattens out (on the distortion + noise vs output voltage graph). So this in turn could lead to issues with the frequency response due to the non linear relation? Am I understanding that correctly or am I way off
 
So for example comparing this to something like the schiit heretic, which has very straight diagonal lines, the wiim ultra instead flattens out (on the distortion + noise vs output voltage graph). So this in turn could lead to issues with the frequency response due to the non linear relation? Am I understanding that correctly or am I way off
Could you please link me to the graphs you are looking at? :D
 
I found the Schiit Heretic graph that I think you are referring to. There is another you can consider too and it is the following graphs. Now please show the Wiim graph because there are multiple Wiims and I want to make sure we are on the same page.
index.php

index.php
 
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Does the wiim pro plus work with airplay2 and Bluetooth. Thanks ahead for any info.
 
@Doodski This was the graph I was referring to

View attachment 419482
Hmmmz... IC why you asked the question and I for one am not sure what is occurring here. The Wiim amp and power supply interaction is different than what the Schiit Heretic uses. I am going to request a more expert person on this matter to chime in on what is occurring here with the Wiim. Can you post the frequency response graph for that Wiim too? Thanks for posting the graph. :D
 
OK there is no power amp and so that makes the situation even more unknown for me and I'm sure others will see this too in respect to the output level at varying frequencies. I still think this is a question best answered by a more knowledgeable person than I. :D
I still appreciate you attempting to help, so thank you
 
I still appreciate you attempting to help, so thank you
Your welcome. The Wiim gear uses some new circuitry that I am unfamiliar with and so I want to back off on being any sort of expert on this question.
 
Is it known what processing/sampling rate is used in the internal application of PEQ in the WiiM Ultra?

I asked WiiM, but there response shocked me!
Thank you for your feedback.

We do not have DSP processing.

Regarding your question, "Are there any plans to release a version with dual independent subwoofer outputs in the future?" — there are no plans at the moment.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Either they're being thick, or I am not understanding correctly?
A miniDSP states it operates at 32/96, the Eversolo I have seen stated 24/48 - I wanted a figure from WiiM to make a comparison.
 
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