WiiM Ultra

[Cal_Cobra]

it's a big mess and it seems to me that we can hardly hope before the latest case announced by certain large distributors, namely at the end of August...
maybe we should hope so if it allows wiim to avoid the sad episode of the first batches of wiim amp...
and then it's not a new medication for serious illness, no emergency...
(what becomes tiring is that the teams wiiim while present on their own forum etc do not try to clarify these kinds of subjects situations..but I imagine that the interest is to generate traffic on the net on their products....)

This is my first wiim product, so not sure what went down with the first batches of wiim amp.

I agree, there's no emergency for this product, it can wait.

 

[sweetchaos]

There’s no preorder from either Amazon.ca or Crutchfield.ca, sadly.

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Is this even practical in a home? Can you name a system that does this? Prices?

Home AVRs have been doing it for decades, so yes.

 

[Joffy1780]

If they added balanced XLR out, total home run!!!!

It was a misunderstanding, I'm afraid, there are no XLR outputs.

 

[Esprit]

Is this even practical in a home? Can you name a system that does this? Prices?

A Mac or PC and Dirac

 

[Petrushka]

A Mac or PC and Dirac

Dirac home software seems pricy, but it’s cheaper than Roon. Not bad for significant software. I worked for a software that leased mortgage management software for 100k a year. And it was a bargain.

 

[Cal_Cobra]

It was a misunderstanding, I'm afraid, there are no XLR outputs.

I see that. Still, there's a demand for a balanced version with XLR outputs (XLR inputs would be GREAT as well), perhaps they'll build it one of these days.

 

[Joffy1780]

I see that. Still, there's a demand for a balanced version with XLR outputs (XLR inputs would be GREAT as well), perhaps they'll build it one of these days.

I think they will, yes, as you say there does seem to be demand for it.

 

[Brian Hall]

I wish Wiim or someone else would just produce a great streamer only (no DAC, no inputs) with a nice screen at around the price of the Pro Plus. Multiple output options to connect to a DAC.

Since I have the Loxjie A40 now, I'm only using the Wiim Pro Plus as a simple streamer using the coax out. It would be nice to have a screen on it, but not worth $329.

With this setup, I was able to retire the Schiit Saga S preamp, the Schiit Modius DAC, the Schiit Lokius EQ and the Schiit Midgard and have a much simpler but still great sounding desktop system.

 

[Petrushka]

I wish Wiim or someone else would just produce a great streamer only (no DAC, no inputs) with a nice screen at around the price of the Pro Plus. Multiple output options to connect to a DAC.

Since I have the Loxjie A40 now, I'm only using the Wiim Pro Plus as a simple streamer using the coax out. It would be nice to have a screen on it, but not worth $329.

With this setup, I was able to retire the Schiit Saga S preamp, the Schiit Modius DAC, the Schiit Lokius EQ and the Schiit Midgard and have a much simpler but still great sounding desktop system.

You can get a Sonos Port on eBay for $350. Fifty or more services. Coax out.

 

[Brian Hall]

You can get a Sonos Port on eBay for $350. Fifty or more services. Coax out.

It doesn't appear to have a screen. So not even as good as the Wiim Pro Plus.

 

[Petrushka]

It doesn't appear to have a screen. So not even as good as the Wiim Pro Plus.

I’ll take 50 services any day. One of them is Audible, audio books.

 

[Brian Hall]

I’ll take 50 services any day. One of them is Audible, audio books.

I have access to Audible several ways. I don't care about 50 services. Only the ones I use and I said I want a simple streamer only with a nice screen.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

I wish Wiim or someone else would just produce a great streamer only (no DAC, no inputs) with a nice screen at around the price of the Pro Plus. Multiple output options to connect to a DAC.

I suspect it has something to do with addressable market size combined with the high cost of carrying individual SKUs.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

I think the inclusion of a cheap DAC and audio outs costs next-to-nothing, whilst adding functionality which can be useful if/when things go wrong.

 

[somebodyelse]

I wish Wiim or someone else would just produce a great streamer only (no DAC, no inputs) with a nice screen at around the price of the Pro Plus. Multiple output options to connect to a DAC.

Since I have the Loxjie A40 now, I'm only using the Wiim Pro Plus as a simple streamer using the coax out. It would be nice to have a screen on it, but not worth $329.

With this setup, I was able to retire the Schiit Saga S preamp, the Schiit Modius DAC, the Schiit Lokius EQ and the Schiit Midgard and have a much simpler but still great sounding desktop system.

What functionality do you want out of the screen? Does @Ralph_Cramden's display for Wiim cover it?

 

[Brian Hall]

What functionality do you want out of the screen? Does @Ralph_Cramden's display for Wiim cover it?

A screen on the front of the streamer like the Wiim Ultra without the need for any other components. I don't need a touchscreen. Just a "What is playing" display.

 

[Brantome]

I am most interested to see how the screen works with Amazon Music and I don't want to use Alexa.

I currently have my iPad mini connected to my Loxjie D30 via USB, with the output going to an Emotiva preamp and Genelec speakers. Amazon Unlimited sounds great through the Apple Amazon Music app, but I hate the filmsy USB cable with the tiny connector, which looks like it could fall out if you breathe on it.

I intitally streamed from the iPad using Bluetooth, but I wasn't always happy with the sound quality or the stability of the connection. (Wifi seems more reliable and has a higher bandwidth. Surprsingly good, given the density of detectible Wifi devices in my area.)

As replied to in the other thread, the touchscreen isn’t meant as a replacement for the WiiM app nor Amazon Music, and you’d still need to use your iPad mini to configure the Ultra and initiate the playback of Amazon Music, whether that be from the more limited interface in the WiiM Home app, or via the Amazon Music app using AlexaCast. At least those means will both be bit perfect and wireless compared to the non-bit-perfect and cabled usb connection you currently use.

 

[ejr]

In that case, the WiiM Ultra would not be worth it for me. Thanks.

 

[soundwave76]

I have Bluesound node and speakers in my house in different rooms. If I were to switch to Wiim, any recommendations for small good quality active speaker which I could hook up with Wiim Mini in rooms like kitchen, garage etc? Bluesound speaker does not have good sound. The Wiim Ultra sure looks like a nice product.