WiiM Ultra

[harkpabst]

When it first detect my TV (eARC) though and I turn on then my CD-Player it doesn't seem to want to switch. While when I first turn on my CD-Player and the the TV it switches easily to it. So I guess that is more smartness than in my BlueSound but still not perfect.

HDMI ARC always takes precedence over optical, if I remember correctly.

 

[somebodyelse]

HDMI ARC always takes precedence over optical, if I remember correctly.

Time to make a feature request? A configuration option to use the newly appearing device, or to use a configurable preference order.

 

[AudioJester]

Okay, everything arrived yesterday and I set everything up but I only used it for like 2-3 hours. So first I only tried my new cables, so coaxial to BNC adapter -> 25cm BNC cable -> Neutrik NADITBNC-M -> AES/EBU Cable -> Genelec -> AES/EBU Cable (I used normal microphone cable previously so now everything has correct impedance finally) -> Genelec. This worked pretty much without problems.

Then I switched my BlueSound Node for the WiiM Ultra which of course is the more important part in this review. First the setup was fantastic, it worked so flawless and in matter of few minutes (excluding a firmware update). Remembering how long it took and how many on my BlueSound node it's just a shame BlueSounds puts out such a product.
Auto Switching between something like Spotify connect and my TV (eARC) works perfect, just like it did with the BlueSound. But here I have an additional feature on the WiiM it says it can auto detect Optical input. So thats where my CD-Player is connected to. Sadly it seems to work semi good. When I'm in standard mode (so Wifi input I guess) and turn on the CD-Player it switches to the input correctly. When it first detect my TV (eARC) though and I turn on then my CD-Player it doesn't seem to want to switch. While when I first turn on my CD-Player and the the TV it switches easily to it. So I guess that is more smartness than in my BlueSound but still not perfect.

For the display I looked shortly at it. It's nice that it shows the song cover artwork when playing spotify (or chromecast or so I guess) but it's just distracting when watching TV or playing CD. I like to have almost no other light source when my TV. So an option for the display to be turned off when connected to eARC would be cool, but I have hidden the WiiM Ultra now completely inside my TV-bench, so I guess I would still keep it that way. Nice and minimalistic.

Sadly though I have noticed one major problem, I also had when I first got the Genelecs and tried to connect them directly through TV optical out -> optical to coaxial converter -> coaxial to aes/ebu cable -> genelecs. So sometimes the sound drops out but like not really. It's like first the left speaker goes quiet and immediately again to normal volume (feels like a smooth transition too) and directly after that the right speaker. It's not as often as with my initial connection method through the TV optical but on the Node I got it to be basically non existent. I turned on the "Optical/HDMI Audio De-noising" feature but it doesn't seem to help. I also tried another samplerate for the coax output, maybe that works better. I have to test some more in the following days. If I can't fix it I probably will switch back to the BlueSound, which would make me very sad, since it seems so great otherwise.

Have you tried analogue outs from WiiM to Genelec?

Your coax to AES seems overly complicated? Do you do the same with Bluesound?

 

[5onderling]

Have you tried analogue outs from WiiM to Genelec?

Your coax to AES seems overly complicated? Do you do the same with Bluesound?

I don't have cables for that. I only tried the complicated coax to AES shortly with the BlueSoind so I don't know if the same problem appears there. I could try using my simple coax to AES cable with the WiiM and see if it disappeares. I don't (want to) believe it though since my complicated coax to AES should be technically more correct when what I was doing before.

 

[AudioJester]

I don't have cables for that. I only tried the complicated coax to AES shortly with the BlueSoind so I don't know if the same problem appears there. I could try using my simple coax to AES cable with the WiiM and see if it disappeares. I don't (want to) believe it though since my complicated coax to AES should be technically more correct when what I was doing before.

I have been there before. Getting overly complicated to be more technically correct often creates gremlins.
Sometimes simpler is better, particularly when in reality there is no audible difference.

 

[tw99]

I don't have cables for that. I only tried the complicated coax to AES shortly with the BlueSoind so I don't know if the same problem appears there. I could try using my simple coax to AES cable with the WiiM and see if it disappeares. I don't (want to) believe it though since my complicated coax to AES should be technically more correct when what I was doing before.

That's a lot of connections and different media for a passive SPDIF to AES conversion. I have had similar problems with my D&D 8Cs, where using a passive SPDIF to AES solution, the cable runs are just too long to reliably get a good enough signal level, and you get dropouts from one speaker or the other after some random period of time. Maybe it works with the Bluesound because the level is just marginally higher.

 

[Zwepp]

Time to make a feature request? A configuration option to use the newly appearing device, or to use a configurable preference order.

It has nothing to do with Wiim, it's just how HDMI ARC works when CEC is enabled.

 

[somebodyelse]

It has nothing to do with Wiim, it's just how HDMI ARC works when CEC is enabled.

What does CEC have to do with Wiim's choice of how to implement input switching?

 

[James240]

Sorry this is gonna sound embarrassing but the Genelec G3 arrived this morning along with some wireworld RCA connects cables.

But I'm sitting here just confused lol as the back of the Genelec monitor there is only 1 RCA input and not the usual RED and WHITE ones to connect to the back of my Wiim.

 

[Grotti]

Sorry this is gonna sound embarrassing but the Genelec G3 arrived this morning along with some wireworld RCA connects cables.

But I'm sitting here just confused lol as the back of the Genelec monitor there is only 1 RCA input and not the usual RED and WHITE ones to connect to the back of my Wiim.

That's correct: one cable per channel from the RCA out (left and right). Why are you confused?

 

[Leeken]

Anyone know when the ultra pro will be here? Hanging on for the balanced version

 

[Zwepp]

Anyone know when the ultra pro will be here? Hanging on for the balanced version

If Wiim can pull it off to merge the Wiim Ultra into an Eversolo DMP-A8 form factor (but keep the Wiim design language) for let's say $ 1,099.- that would be mighty awesome! I like the large screen from the Eversolo streamer/DACs, those virtual VU-meters are great, but it's a shame that both the DMP-A6 and DMP-A8 don't have dedicated subwoofer outputs with proper bass management like the Wiim Ultra has. Wiim can really undercut Eversolo if a Wiim Ultra Pro gets balanced outputs and a 6" (minimal) screen.

 

[harkpabst]

Anyone know when the ultra pro will be here? Hanging on for the balanced version

There's not the slightest indication so far of such a device happening at all.

Also, those asking for a version with bigger display and more connections might be outnumbered by those asking for a version with no display and no DAC and fewer inputs.

Luckily, I don't care either way ...

 

[Zwepp]

There's not the slightest indication so far of such a device happening at all.

Also, those asking for a version with bigger display and more connections might be outnumbered by those asking for a version with no display and no DAC and fewer inputs.

Luckily, I don't care either way ...

The regular Wiim Pro comes really close to a no display and no DAC version, since you can easily ignore the DAC.

 

[Pearljam5000]

There's not the slightest indication so far of such a device happening at all.

Also, those asking for a version with bigger display and more connections might be outnumbered by those asking for a version with no display and no DAC and fewer inputs.

Luckily, I don't care either way ...

I just want them to add XLR lol

 

[Mort]

I'd be surprised if they do add XLR. Form factor would have to change most likely. Maybe TRS but still, I wouldn't hold my breath. This is a mass market device. Even Sonos didn't add XLR.

 

[Mort]

There's not the slightest indication so far of such a device happening at all.

Also, those asking for a version with bigger display and more connections might be outnumbered by those asking for a version with no display and no DAC and fewer inputs.

Luckily, I don't care either way ...

I love the touchscreen and size as it is, but I agree it's only usable as a desktop device.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

I'd be surprised if they do add XLR. Form factor would have to change most likely. Maybe TRS but still, I wouldn't hold my breath. This is a mass market device. Even Sonos didn't add XLR.

That would be the two new models: WiiM Pro Pro and WiiM Pro Plus Pro

And if they launched the WiiM Pro Pro, I'd be ecstatic! XLR or TRS is fine.

 

[harkpabst]

The regular Wiim Pro comes really close to a no display and no DAC version, since you can easily ignore the DAC.

Don't shoot the messenger.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

The regular Wiim Pro comes really close to a no display and no DAC version, since you can easily ignore the DAC.

This!!! From a quality and price perspective, you do not want them releasing too many variations that are essentially the same thing. Unless omitting the DAC portion has a material improvement (e.g., quality, form factor, price, etc.), a single SKU where user simply does not use the DAC portion will be much better in the long run.

And I am pretty sure the cost overhead of a separate SKU will outweigh any savings from not including the DAC chip.