WiiM Ultra

[gwing]

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.

None of the small 'lifestyle' active speakers produce anything near good quality sound (at least in my opinion and for the various ones I have listened to) although they are perhaps fine for casual background listening. I don't know how demanding you are but to get near traditional hifi quality best look for either a compact traditional speaker and amp setup or perhaps one of the 'studio monitor' type active speakers such as the Genelec. - I'll leave others to make suggestions for these though as it's not a route I have followed.

 

[ejr]

I am using Genelec speakers on all my setups. The speakers and subwoofer in my bedroom are those that I originally used on my DAW and to edit video before I retired. They have a longer throw than you would think given their intended use and I expected that they would do nicely on top of my dresser, under the wall-mounted TV. The distance to the bed (and my ears) is about 8 feet. I ran this by Genelec Tech Support. They told me this setup would be ideal. And, as always, they didn't let me down.

Genelec says that its current G series speakers are "sonically equivalent" to my studio monitors. Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with any of their products. The smallest and cheapest Genelec speakers I own are a pair of G Ones that I use on one of my computers. I am surprised by how much bass I can get out of these little things. But bigger is better and the subwoofer I have is incredible and subtle (providing that you set it up the way it was designed and connect it to the Left and Right speakers, rather than plugging it into a "subwoofer" jack on your preamp).

I also like JBL speakers. They have a wide range of products and I haven't heard one yet that I didn't sound good to me, regardless of the size.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

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

I’d be interested to hear which other streamer without a screen comes even close to the Ultra and anything like a comparable price, or one with a better screen which doesn’t cost c.2x as much upwards.

 

[TonyJZX]

theres none

i mean lets not kid ourselves

you need about $1k to get close?

 

[gwing]

theres none

i mean lets not kid ourselves

you need about $1k to get close?

Proplus with a dedicated Android tablet next to it?

 

[soundwave76]

None of the small 'lifestyle' active speakers produce anything near good quality sound (at least in my opinion and for the various ones I have listened to) although they are perhaps fine for casual background listening. I don't know how demanding you are but to get near traditional hifi quality best look for either a compact traditional speaker and amp setup or perhaps one of the 'studio monitor' type active speakers such as the Genelec. - I'll leave others to make suggestions for these though as it's not a route I have followed.

Yep, happy Genelec customer here 8020 might be a good choice. Maybe one could hook up the Wiim on to the backside of the Genelec by using a wall mount adapter etc.

 

[somebodyelse]

I’d be interested to hear which other streamer without a screen comes even close to the Ultra and anything like a comparable price, or one with a better screen which doesn’t cost c.2x as much upwards.

For the very specific use case that was asked about, the Ultra doesn't improve on the Pro Plus. If you aren't going to use the extra capabilities the Ultra has that the Pro Plus doesn't then you may as well buy the Pro Plus, or maybe even the Pro if you already have a decent external DAC.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

Proplus with a dedicated Android tablet next to it?

How much was the tablet?

The Pro Plus doesn’t have the same bass management capabilities, which is one of the big draws for many.

 

[TonyJZX]

these devices need an amp

if you're already into this for $219 then $110 extra for a vol. knob, screen peq and RC isnt too much to ask

i'm cheap but i'm not poor and would be quite willing to spend a bit extra to get a LOT more capability

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

I’m of the opinion that the Ultra is extraordinary value for money (though I’ll caveat that * ).

For several years people posted here asking for Topping to add PEQ to their DACs, and the reply came back that it would be too difficult to do well.

Just forget the streaming side for a second, just a DAC with PEQ, sub out, and bass management for $320 is above and beyond. Add in the extensively capable streaming functionality and usability, and this is a complete game changer.

* Caveat. In the current market, it’s great VFM. But given that WiiM have added PEQ to the £90 Mini, one is left wondering whether WiiM have conducted witchcraft to manage this, or if other manufacturers simply been too lazy, or to inept to spot the hole in the market. I’ve long suspected, and the Ultra appears to confirm this, that signal manipulation in the digital domain is actually relatively easy and cheap.

 

[Petrushka]

I’m of the opinion that the Ultra is extraordinary value for money (though I’ll caveat that * ).

For several years people posted here asking for Topping to add PEQ to their DACs, and the reply came back that it would be too difficult to do well.

Just forget the streaming side for a second, just a DAC with PEQ, sub out, and bass management for $320 is above and beyond. Add in the extensively capable streaming functionality and usability, and this is a complete game changer.

* Caveat. In the current market, it’s great VFM. But given that WiiM have added PEQ to the £90 Mini, one is left wondering whether WiiM have conducted witchcraft to manage this, or if other manufacturers simply been too lazy, or to inept to spot the hole in the market. I’ve long suspected, and the Ultra appears to confirm this, that signal manipulation in the digital domain is actually relatively easy and cheap.

Hardware is cheap. Software not so easy. ***Sonos***

 

[fordiebianco]

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.

The Edifier R1280T measure well and are a steal. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/.../edifier-r1280t-powered-speaker-review.16112/

I have a pair, and they are lovely for the office.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

Hardware is cheap. Software not so easy. ***Sonos***

I’m sure. Though that begs the question as to how WiiM have managed to do this so cheaply.

And indeed how the people behind PEQ apps for PCs manage to do it and give it away for free.

 

[gwing]

I’m sure. Though that begs the question as to how WiiM have managed to do this so cheaply.

And indeed how the people behind PEQ apps for PCs manage to do it and give it away for free.

I believe Wiim aren't a small mass manufacturer that lack software development resource but essentially part of the established 'Linkplay' software company whose business is providing these sort of applications to other manufacturers and as such have the required skills already. They have just started making their own hardware to run their own software now and so have come to the attention of the consumer market.

 

[Petrushka]

I’m sure. Though that begs the question as to how WiiM have managed to do this so cheaply.

And indeed how the people behind PEQ apps for PCs manage to do it and give it away for free.

I think successful free apps are resume enhancers. Sometimes they are sold to a big guy.

 

[Petrushka]

I believe Wiim aren't a small mass manufacturer that lack software development resource but essentially part of the established 'Linkplay' software company whose business is providing these sort of applications to other manufacturers and as such have the required skills already. They have just started making their own hardware to run their own software now and so have come to the attention of the consumer market.

More likely a software company that has made a deal with generic hardware manufacturers. Perhaps they determine the features, but I doubt if they do the hardware engineering.

 

[gwing]

I think successful free apps are resume enhancers. Sometimes they are sold to a big guy.

There is a whole world of free open source software out there where people freely give up their time for something they believe in or otherwise wish to support. I have contributed a tiny, trivial bit of this myself, just one of over a hundred developers working on it (photo processing software not audio).

 

[tjf]

Just about to get my Ultra from Amazon next week...

Why did I part with my $329?

1st: USB functionality - both as "host" for use with USB drives (for my ripped CD's - and avoiding UPNP/DLNA routes to listen to my CD collection) and USB audio output -- might try my Qudelix T71/5K with this (as I have with my Node 130) -- I hear some ask why when the Wiim has PEQ? -- because the Qudelix PEQ is more comprehensive - more than 12db boost/cut, and true HPF/LPF filter functions...

2nd: Curious to hear how the ESS DAC sounds vs. the AKM in my Pro Plus (yeah - I know - it shouldn't matter - but I'm still curious)

3rd: Curious how good the headphone output is vs. my Topping NX7 or my ancient Creek OBH 11...

4th: Bass mgmt. - hope to use this function soon with my updated hifi system

5th: 3.5" Touchscreen display....just kidding....the display is useless as far as I'm concerned...

Lastly - Wiim's next products prediction: a "Ultra Pro/Plus" with XLR outputs and at some point a speaker - hope it's high performace to go up against the Sonos Play5/Era 300 - hopefully it'll adhere to some Harman/Toole design principles so the ASR crowd will bless it -- I believe ASR is a major driver for Wiim products in the market...

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

I believe Wiim aren't a small mass manufacturer that lack software development resource but essentially part of the established 'Linkplay' software company whose business is providing these sort of applications to other manufacturers and as such have the required skills already. They have just started making their own hardware to run their own software now and so have come to the attention of the consumer market.

Yes, I am aware. But how many items have they produced with PEQ?

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

I think successful free apps are resume enhancers. Sometimes they are sold to a big guy.

I’m sure that’s correct. I’m not sure it negates the point.