WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

[Pearljam5000]

What will he the price on Amazon on Black Friday
Is it worth waiting?

 

[Somafunk]

Was available for £279 on Black Friday last year, I expect this year to be the same, unless you live in the U.S. where the orange tariffs may impact the price

 

[john61ct]

Arylic LP10 looks like a great way to add lossless AirPlay 2 to Wiim products missing that, via its TOSlink or analog output

although a fair bit of duplicated features, e.g. LAN or WiFi streaming from NAS, USB stick, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect directly

web control don't need the app

it isn't expensive, maybe iFruit aficionados just carry it to use wherever needed?

Arylic LP10 AirPlay 2 and Google Cast Streamer

https://www.arylic.com/products/lp10-music-streamer Looks like a great way to add lossless AirPlay 2 to Wiim products missing that although a fair bit of duplicated features, e.g. DAC, LAN or WiFi streaming from NAS, USB stick, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect directly it isn't expensive...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Soniclife]

Arylic LP10 looks like a great way to add lossless AirPlay 2 to Wiim products missing that, via its TOSlink or analog output

although a fair bit of duplicated features, e.g. LAN or WiFi streaming from NAS, USB stick, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect directly

web control don't need the app

it isn't expensive, maybe iFruit aficionados just carry it to use wherever needed?

Arylic LP10 AirPlay 2 and Google Cast Streamer

https://www.arylic.com/products/lp10-music-streamer Looks like a great way to add lossless AirPlay 2 to Wiim products missing that although a fair bit of duplicated features, e.g. DAC, LAN or WiFi streaming from NAS, USB stick, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect directly it isn't expensive...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Or use a wiin mini, smaller and cheaper, no extra app.

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

Can Ultra be used as usb dac? What I mean is that can I plug it to my PC (windows 11) via usb, and use it as a dac (with PEQ and bass management) like I'd use for example a Topping D70 etc. Or is the usb input just for external storage?

I'm running now Topping D50 II + Topping A70 Pro combo as my dac/preamp and I'd like to have a proper xover with the main L+R speakers and my subs.

 

[kyuu]

Can Ultra be used as usb dac?

USB can be used for external storage or as an output (e.g. to an external USB DAC/headphone amp). It cannot be used as an input. For your PC, you could use the SPDIF input instead. If your PC does not have a SPDIF output, you can use a cheap, external USB to SPDIF adapter.

 

[john61ct]

I'm running now Topping D50 II + Topping A70 Pro combo as my dac/preamp and I'd like to have a proper xover with the main L+R speakers and my subs.

passive or powered?

Wiim Amp Ultra can accept RCA inputs, act as power amp and handle xover

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Can Ultra be used as usb dac? What I mean is that can I plug it to my PC (windows 11) via usb, and use it as a dac (with PEQ and bass management) like I'd use for example a Topping D70 etc. Or is the usb input just for external storage?

I'm running now Topping D50 II + Topping A70 Pro combo as my dac/preamp and I'd like to have a proper xover with the main L+R speakers and my subs.

Unless you need the A70 Pro for gain-staging (your power amp doesn't have enough gain without it), you can eliminate the A70 Pro from the chain by going straight to your power amp from the DAC and utilizing the digital volume control of the WiiM Ultra, which will also handle bass management by hooking your sub up to the subwoofer output.

As someone else pointed out, however, the WiiM Ultra does not accept digital audio input via USB--you will need to connect your computer to the optical input (if your PC has an optical output) or use a USB to optical adapter to add one to your PC. Alternatively, if you have software on your PC that can transmit audio via UPnP/DLNA (such as Audirvana), then you can stream over the network losslessly/bit-perfect to the WiiM Ultra.

 

[WideEyedToad]

Just got the ultra installed.

Phone -> Wiim ultra -> peachtree carina 150 -> Kef Q Concerto & Sb2000 (2nd coming soon).

Wow, after room correction/bass management, it sounds freakin amazing.

 

[Bwaslo]

The USB can be used as an input if you plug in a usb drive that has WAV or FLAC files on it. It cataloga the files, along with album cover art.

 

[Acerun]

So for $263 I did the upgrade from the Wiim Pro even though I'm just feeding it into my Denon X8500H.

It's really only vanity but I really like it. I've needed a clock in my living room setup for a long time it's so stupid but I really like it now. Turned off all the colorful crap and just a black and white maximum dimmed clock. I also love from a distance seeing the album cover it's so ridiculous but I like it. And also as a unit looks less like a small piece of plastic and an actual quality unit sitting on the entertainment center. So there you have it if $140 is worth something, which is the difference between $119 pro and $263 ultra that's it for me. Can't say the ones and zeros are better but who knows.

 

[john61ct]

Or use a wiim mini, smaller and cheaper, no extra app.

Wiim announce WiiM Amp Ultra

selling direct is the sustainable way now, keeps prices lower

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

passive or powered?

Wiim Amp Ultra can accept RCA inputs, act as power amp and handle xover

Yeah I know but I already have an Ncore power amp so Amp Ultra is out of the question.

But thanks for the advice!

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

To clarify I am using EQapo on my htpc for equalizing and I'd prefer using it when listening to music/watching movies via the htpc. There's no spdif output on my pc and I do not want to have adapters etc just for simplicity, I also do not want to use the rca input on Wiim Ultra for obvious reasons.

My only problem with the current setup (pc - Topping D50III - Topping A70 Pro - nCore power amp XLR /sub RCA) is the lack of proper xover between my main speakers (Elac fs247) and my sub (Elac 2030) and the fact that the polarity of the rca outputs on my A70 Pro are inverted for some reason (yeah, wtf Topping...but that's another topic). I'm going to use the A70pro solely as a headphone amp with my laptop in the future so it would not be in the setup anyway.

With no ability to use usb input from pc to Wiim I'll look into other options, perhaps a Minidsp Flex would do the job.

Thaks everyone for the advices and information!

 

[antcollinet]

and I do not want to have adapters etc just for simplicity

A USB to Toslinnk adapter is little more than a lump in a cable. Not sure how it would harm simplicity.

 

[john61ct]

Ncore power amp so Amp Ultra is out of the question.

Compared to buying a MiniDSP just for crossover, you could sell off the Ncore and get all in one with WAU. I agree the USB-S/PDIF adapter does no harm, adds no complexity.

 

[Saponetto]

Had bad experiences with this Cubilux thing, trying to use it between my PC and the Ultra.
Never able to get a stable 96/24 link, so ended using a PO100AK that was unused somewhere.

 

[JeremyFife]

To clarify I am using EQapo on my htpc for equalizing and I'd prefer using it when listening to music/watching movies via the htpc. There's no spdif output on my pc and I do not want to have adapters etc just for simplicity, I also do not want to use the rca input on Wiim Ultra for obvious reasons.

My only problem with the current setup (pc - Topping D50III - Topping A70 Pro - nCore power amp XLR /sub RCA) is the lack of proper xover between my main speakers (Elac fs247) and my sub (Elac 2030) and the fact that the polarity of the rca outputs on my A70 Pro are inverted for some reason (yeah, wtf Topping...but that's another topic). I'm going to use the A70pro solely as a headphone amp with my laptop in the future so it would not be in the setup anyway.

With no ability to use usb input from pc to Wiim I'll look into other options, perhaps a Minidsp Flex would do the job.

Thaks everyone for the advices and information!

The MiniDSP Flex is a lovely piece of kit. If you don't need it for EQ/DSP , just as a crossover, then it's slightly overkill - but it will do the job nicely

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

A USB to Toslinnk adapter is little more than a lump in a cable. Not sure how it would harm simplicity.

View attachment 482941

Because of bad experiences. Similar to the ones @Saponetto told. Less adapters, less problems.

But.. I might get the WU to my another setup in near future. Tested Wiim Amp in it and it was quite nice indeed, I especially liked the UI but the device lacks power. Luckily I have a 250wpc power amp which I could pair with Ultra.

So MiniDSP Flex to number one setup, Wiim Ultra to number two, and Topping D50II + Topping A70 Pro combo to laptop setup.

 

[nn_in]

For second system Iam considering NAD 298 1)wiim pro plus analog output > Nad 298 or 2) use wiim pro plus analog output> fosi p4 pre amp > nad 298 . Will this work ? Hope the nad 298 does not make the sound too warm. I can't audition nad 298 before buying.I infer from this thread wiim ultra analog output is driving nad 298.Currenly using wharfedale super dentons with audiolab 9000A and wiim pro plus.