WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

[GabrielPhoto]

Ok guys so in terms of performance, there is no real world sifference between picking up this Ultra (or even Pro Plu) to use the internal DAC vs a Mini + Topping E70?
I know the e70 has higher numbers but it would seem either option I mentioned is above human capabilities...right?
Just wondering which one you would choose.

 

[StevenSGT98]

Ok guys so in terms of performance, there is no real world sifference between picking up this Ultra (or even Pro Plu) to use the internal DAC vs a Mini + Topping E70?
I know the e70 has higher numbers but it would seem either option I mentioned is above human capabilities...right?
Just wondering which one you would choose.

The Ultra has been great. I haven’t felt the need to go any further.

 

[GabrielPhoto]

The Ultra has been great. I haven’t felt the need to go any further.

That is what I would think based on the measurements here as it seems beyond that point is all nice specs for marketing but you know how the mind keeps wondering...

 

[antcollinet]

I know the e70 has higher numbers but it would seem either option I mentioned is above human capabilities...right?

Right.

 

[Smislov]

What is opinion of connection Wiim ultra to Hypex Nc 500 (RCA input) … I know Hypex will not be full efficient (2.1v ultra - Hypex need 2.35)… Tnx

 

[testp]

somewhere there was a test of different streamers.. i have Wiim Ultra, but interested to find that article,

im using Peq in wiim, but am suprised how little boost in bass i get from +6db, almost nothing compared to my old days pc -> app -> eq boost in that same region, probably bias and what not, still will probably test it later.

also very interesting effect i got, if i add an Low-Shelf filter to the bass with these parameters:
Freq. 26hz, Gain: -12db, Q: doesnt matter but 24db. -> i get really heavy subwoofer bass from my monitors, but it seems to be added to everything a listen to and gets annoying fast, interesting that i get such a strong bass, no other eq/peq in use.

others owning wiim streamer, could test this as well

 

[Gorgonzola]

I think Amir for another incisive review.

I recently purchased a WiiM Ultra mostly to see what the stream craze is all about. In my case it was a disappointment, not with the sound quality but the music management functionality of the component and, especially, the WiiM Home app.

As for the sound, I tried two connection routes, both using access via Ethernet to my NAS-based music files

1. Coax to my Topping D90 DAC and hence my preamp;
2. RCA, i.e. utilizing the Ultra's built-in DAC, direct to my preamp.

The sound was quite satisfactory either way. The first method, however, does provided a differential output to my preamp which does not itself convert single-end signal to differential.

I qualify my functionality assessment with the fact that I do not use Roon nor a streaming service, nor do I intend to do so. I might have a use for the internet radio access that the Ultra can provide, but I must note that my favorite internet music is from CBC Music Playlists and, as far as I can see, this is inaccessible via the Ultra. What I do use is access to my NAS-based music files as implied.

As a mainly Classic music listener, a highly flexible music library browse capability is essential. Just like any streaming service I have tried from time to time, the WiiM Home app is very deficient for browsing a Classical music library. With WiiM Home one is limited to a fixed, rather restricted range of options. These happen to exclude 'Composer' which is essential to all Classic listeners I would say.

My preexisting tool for accessing my music was and is Foobar2000 running on a dedicated Windows computer. This player has the HUGE advantage of user-definable browse criteria. Thus I can define, for example, browse by Genre/Composer/Album, (my favorite), or Composer/Genre/Album or Artist/Composer/Album, etc., etc. The capability is absent from WiiM Home.

Unfortunately, for me, my conclusion is that the WiiM Ultra is a waste of money. Better for me or people with like requirements would be a (dedicated or otherwise), Windows computer. Cheap computers suitable for running Foobar2000, MediaMonkey, or the like, are available for US$ 200, cheaper than the Wiim Ultra and more functional.

 

[pieterv1]

I think Amir for another incisive review.

I recently purchased a WiiM Ultra mostly to see what the stream craze is all about. In my case it was a disappointment, not with the sound quality but the music management functionality of the component and, especially, the WiiM Home app.

As for the sound, I tried two connection routes, both using access via Ethernet to my NAS-based music files

1. Coax to my Topping D90 DAC and hence my preamp;
2. RCA, i.e. utilizing the Ultra's built-in DAC, direct to my preamp.

The sound was quite satisfactory either way. The first method, however, does provided a differential output to my preamp which does not itself convert single-end signal to differential.

I qualify my functionality assessment with the fact that I do not use Roon nor a streaming service, nor do I intend to do so. I might have a use for the internet radio access that the Ultra can provide, but I must note that my favorite internet music is from CBC Music Playlists and, as far as I can see, this is inaccessible via the Ultra. What I do use is access to my NAS-based music files as implied.

As a mainly Classic music listener, a highly flexible music library browse capability is essential. Just like any streaming service I have tried from time to time, the WiiM Home app is very deficient for browsing a Classical music library. With WiiM Home one is limited to a fixed, rather restricted range of options. These happen to exclude 'Composer' which is essential to all Classic listeners I would say.

My preexisting tool for accessing my music was and is Foobar2000 running on a dedicated Windows computer. This player has the HUGE advantage of user-definable browse criteria. Thus I can define, for example, browse by Genre/Composer/Album, (my favorite), or Composer/Genre/Album or Artist/Composer/Album, etc., etc. The capability is absent from WiiM Home.

Unfortunately, for me, my conclusion is that the WiiM Ultra is a waste of money. Better for me or people with like requirements would be a (dedicated or otherwise), Windows computer. Cheap computers suitable for running Foobar2000, MediaMonkey, or the like, are available for US$ 200, cheaper than the Wiim Ultra and more functional.

Seems like you're talking mostly from experience listening to a self-hosted library.

Nobody ever stated the WiiM Home app would offer a better browsing experience than a fully fledged desktop computer, but what the Ultra and other WiiM products do best is that they're a playback endpoint for basically every popular streaming service out there. On top of that they support protocols like Chromecast, UPNP, Airplay etc. And it all just works out of the box. The WiiM Home app is just a bonus and I use it mainly for changing settings/presets.

If you have the space for it, then by all means, just install a dedicated computer with external DAC to your HiFi system. The WiiM products are more about simplicity.

 

[Matt_Holland]

Unfortunately, for me, my conclusion is that the WiiM Ultra is a waste of money.

I think that’s an unfair conclusion because you could have reached it without purchasing the product, therefore not wasting any money.

For your needs (I assume you are looking g for a user interface that works on mulit-platforms) I think Roon is ideal. Then you could purchase any Roon Ready streamer to connect to your Topping DAC. The Wiim Pro is a great value option for this functionality.

 

[Gorgonzola]

I think that’s an unfair conclusion because you could have reached it without purchasing the product, therefore not wasting any money.

For your needs (I assume you are looking g for a user interface that works on mulit-platforms) I think Roon is ideal. Then you could purchase any Roon Ready streamer to connect to your Topping DAC. The Wiim Pro is a great value option for this functionality.

Please REREAD my post: I clearly stated the I had bought the WiiM Ultra.

There is a good chance that IF I should ever use Roon and/or a streaming service, I would use the Ultra. But I note that my PC will also host Roon if I wanted it to.

 

[rgruber]

Yes, for you it's a waste of money, but even a cursory reading of it's feature set would have told you that.

If you're not looking to stream music why would you buy a a component that is primarily a streamer?

Sounds like you want a music server for static files and the ability to stream a single, esoteric internet radio station.

WiiM products probably aren't for you. Seems like, as you concluded, you are better off with a computer running a more customizable software.

Personally I stream most of my music and I have my music library on a usb stick that is connected to the WiiM that I use infrequently, along with a turntable.

For this usage, the WiiM is fantastic. The phono preamp along with the ability to adjust the preamp pre gain and utilize the room correction is a game changer and the sound quality through a separate DAC is great. No complaints.

I think if my focus was more on stored music and less on streaming I'd probably use something like Roon.

I think Amir for another incisive review.

I recently purchased a WiiM Ultra mostly to see what the stream craze is all about. In my case it was a disappointment, not with the sound quality but the music management functionality of the component and, especially, the WiiM Home app.

As for the sound, I tried two connection routes, both using access via Ethernet to my NAS-based music files

1. Coax to my Topping D90 DAC and hence my preamp;
2. RCA, i.e. utilizing the Ultra's built-in DAC, direct to my preamp.

The sound was quite satisfactory either way. The first method, however, does provided a differential output to my preamp which does not itself convert single-end signal to differential.

I qualify my functionality assessment with the fact that I do not use Roon nor a streaming service, nor do I intend to do so. I might have a use for the internet radio access that the Ultra can provide, but I must note that my favorite internet music is from CBC Music Playlists and, as far as I can see, this is inaccessible via the Ultra. What I do use is access to my NAS-based music files as implied.

As a mainly Classic music listener, a highly flexible music library browse capability is essential. Just like any streaming service I have tried from time to time, the WiiM Home app is very deficient for browsing a Classical music library. With WiiM Home one is limited to a fixed, rather restricted range of options. These happen to exclude 'Composer' which is essential to all Classic listeners I would say.

My preexisting tool for accessing my music was and is Foobar2000 running on a dedicated Windows computer. This player has the HUGE advantage of user-definable browse criteria. Thus I can define, for example, browse by Genre/Composer/Album, (my favorite), or Composer/Genre/Album or Artist/Composer/Album, etc., etc. The capability is absent from WiiM Home.

Unfortunately, for me, my conclusion is that the WiiM Ultra is a waste of money. Better for me or people with like requirements would be a (dedicated or otherwise), Windows computer. Cheap computers suitable for running Foobar2000, MediaMonkey, or the like, are available for US$ 200, cheaper than the Wiim Ultra and more functional.

 

[telemike]

A raspberry Pi running Volumio, Moode, etc would better serve local files from a NAS

 

[GabrielPhoto]

A raspberry Pi running Volumio, Moode, etc would better serve local files from a NAS

I actually got an Ultra recently but I am really just running everything from a NAS or EMBY. So I guess I need to research that option if its better as you say.

 

[JaccoW]

Anybody using the Wiim Ultra with Home Assistant?

I've been trying to set it up with the Music Assistant add-on but since it show up as a Chromecast, DLNA or something else and I've been trying to set it up so it shows properly.

Especially showing my Plex cover art on the device has been elusive.

 

[Gorgonzola]

Yes, for you it's a waste of money, but even a cursory reading of it's feature set would have told you that.

If you're not looking to stream music why would you buy a a component that is primarily a streamer?

Sounds like you want a music server for static files and the ability to stream a single, esoteric internet radio station.

WiiM products probably aren't for you. Seems like, as you concluded, you are better off with a computer running a more customizable software.

Personally I stream most of my music and I have my music library on a usb stick that is connected to the WiiM that I use infrequently, along with a turntable.

For this usage, the WiiM is fantastic. The phono preamp along with the ability to adjust the preamp pre gain and utilize the room correction is a game changer and the sound quality through a separate DAC is great. No complaints.

I think if my focus was more on stored music and less on streaming I'd probably use something like Roon.

Yes, I'll admit I wasted my money if my saying so vindicates your opinion.

In fact I generally use the WiiM Ultra to access my 'popular' i.e. non-classical, music files. I may subscribe to a streaming service at some point in the medium term in which case I'll likely use the Ultra.

 

[Matt_Holland]

Please REREAD my post: I clearly stated the I had bought the WiiM Ultra..

I know.
That’s why I said you didn’t need to waste your money. You could have determined it was a waste of your money without buying it.

 

[Gorgonzola]

I know.
That’s why I said you didn’t need to waste your money. You could have determined it was a waste of your money without buying it.

Yes, a fool and his money, right?

I'll conclude by saying that the WiiM Ultra and "streamers" in general for all but the most causal listeners are not a great deal. Most of us would be better off with a cheap Windows computer or a Raspberry Pi plus an inexpensive DAC than a streamer at any price.

 

[Sokel]

Yes, a fool and his money, right?

I'll conclude by saying that the WiiM Ultra and "streamers" in general for all but the most causal listeners are not a great deal. Most of us would be better off with a cheap Windows computer or a Raspberry Pi plus an inexpensive DAC than a streamer at any price.

Next time ask the crazy of the village when it comes to classical playback

Seriously now, I must have been amongst the first to try a streamer a long before they become a trend ,an Aurender.
Nice machine, nice looks, etc, the works.

Totally useless for classical, as everything from then on.
foobar is still king to that when it comes to stored stuff, light years away in terns of ease browsing and customizable to its last bit.
So...

 

[mlsstl]

Yes, a fool and his money, right?

I'll conclude by saying that the WiiM Ultra and "streamers" in general for all but the most causal listeners are not a great deal. Most of us would be better off with a cheap Windows computer or a Raspberry Pi plus an inexpensive DAC than a streamer at any price.

I don't consider myself a "casual listener" -- I have a fairly eclectic local collection (64K tracks) and a Qobuz subscription and have little problem locating the material I want to listen to at any given moment. I'll concede that for the rabid classical fan who has multiple versions of the same composition (different orchestras, conductors, soloists, arrangements, etc.) that there is other software better suited to managing that than Wiim. I guess that could also apply to the classical rock fan who has all 142 remasters of the one 70s group that he listens to 24/7. (/hyperbole off)

Like any other product out there, the reason there are lots of options available is because different people focus on different aspects. I'm grateful that we have so many choices!

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

I'll conclude by saying that the WiiM Ultra and "streamers" in general for all but the most causal listeners are not a great deal.

I believe this is a statement which absolutely requires the attachment of “in my opinion”.

Apart from anything else, your main gripe was with it not including a search for composers for classical music. The majority of people never stream classical music, so I’m not sure you can just wave them away as being only casual listeners.