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WiiM Ultra

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uofmtiger said:
then it is Wiim’s fault. The rest is pretty much irrelevant.
Click to expand...
This is a valid opinion. But it's not the only one.

If we knew as a fact that WiiM was the first and only manufacturer to ever start mass production prior to certification, that would make it a little more annoying. I for one don't know this at all but I can make a somewhat educated guess.

uofmtiger said:
I have not looked into whether there are third party apps that might be on iOS for AirPlay to Chromecast or AirPlay to DLNA, but may be worth looking into.
Click to expand...
mconnect Player might be a candidate.

apps.apple.com

mconnect Player‑App – App Store

Lade mconnect Player von ConversDigital Co., Ltd. im App Store herunter. Sieh dir Screenshots, Bewertungen und Rezensionen, Benutzertipps und weitere Spiele wie…
apps.apple.com apps.apple.com

I don't use any iOS or iPadOS devices privately so I have no personal experience but I've heard good things about it in other online communities.
 
rcstevensonaz said:
I've been wondering whether the sub-out was configurable so that there was an option of using post-DSP digital out interconnect (e.g. to active speakers) and the sub-out interconnect to the subwoofer(s).
Click to expand...
Yes, toslink and coax out do receive a signal that is high pass filtered if sub out is enabled. If you apply EQ this is also applied to the digital outputs and to the sub out.

USB out is still in beta right now and the current beta firmware does not support the WiiM bass management. This might well change before USB out is released for production. But if you absolutely need this combination, don't buy until you know for sure it's there. ;)
 
harkpabst said:
This is a valid opinion. But it's not the only one.

If we knew as a fact that WiiM was the first and only manufacturer to ever start mass production prior to certification, that would make it a little more annoying. I for one don't know this at all but I can make a somewhat educated guess.


mconnect Player might be a candidate.

apps.apple.com

mconnect Player‑App – App Store

Lade mconnect Player von ConversDigital Co., Ltd. im App Store herunter. Sieh dir Screenshots, Bewertungen und Rezensionen, Benutzertipps und weitere Spiele wie…
apps.apple.com apps.apple.com

I don't use any iOS or iPadOS devices privately so I have no personal experience but I've heard good things about it in other online communities.
Click to expand...
I took a look at some of these apps on iOS and they won’t work with Apple Music. This one will work with a NAS or external storage, though I believe Wiim have something built in with that function, as well.

I think the best bet is using another Wiim in pairing mode. Of course, you need a second Wiim for that, so not everyone can go that route.
 
uofmtiger said:
I took a look at some of these apps on iOS and they won’t work with Apple Music. This one will work with a NAS or external storage, though I believe Wiim have something built in with that function, as well.

I think the best bet is using another Wiim in pairing mode. Of course, you need a second Wiim for that, so not everyone can go that route.
Click to expand...
Thanks for checking.

I don't want to be cynical when saying that Bluetooth does work with Apple Music. Yes, it's lossy, it's primitive and I don't use it (apart from Android Auto). But AirPlay 2 is suffering from very similar weaknesses when it comes to sound quality. It does have a couple of bonus points (like multi room), but from my point of view AirPlay is proprietary and not essential.
 
Jkdjedi said:
The sub out features on this are crazy. Took a little tweaking but it's doing a better job than what my Denon (entry level) AVR was doing. Looking to grab a decent amp to compliment this unit for my bedroom bookshelf speaker setup. Emotiva BasX A2 or Schiit Vidar?
Click to expand...

The Fosi ZA3 will do the job for a lot less and sound just as good.
 
harkpabst said:
Thanks for checking.

I don't want to be cynical when saying that Bluetooth does work with Apple Music. Yes, it's lossy, it's primitive and I don't use it (apart from Android Auto). But AirPlay 2 is suffering from very similar weaknesses when it comes to sound quality. It does have a couple of bonus points (like multi room), but from my point of view AirPlay is proprietary and not essential.
Click to expand...
It's a convenience issue and the multi-room issue. As you mentioned, Airplay 2 is compressed anyway, which is why I would rather them use Airplay (1). That being said, I don't know how many people are buying this device to use with Airplay, but I have seen a lot of people that aren't happy about it. I really don't care, which is why I am keeping the Ultra.

I also don't know if many people realize that Airplay 2 was a step down in audio quality from the original Airplay.
 
FYI. tried casting ( not AirPlay) to the ultra from Airfoil on my Mac and it did not work. Could be the fact that it is an M1, but it does work with casting to a Chromecast. The Ultra makes a noise showing it attached to casting but no other sound. I can cast to the Ultra from apps on my phone with casting built in, so must be an issue with my computer or Airfoil.
 
So... Right now I'm using a Topping E70 in pre mode. And while I am extremely pleased with the sq, the UI is clunky. I've been using a Shield TV Pro, laptop, and bt to stream. I use a Schiit Sys switch to switch between the E70 and a Technics SL-1300 w/ ART Precision phono stage.

I was looking at adding a Wiim Pro to feed the E70 and ditching the lappy and Android TV. But now I'm looking at the Ultra and wondering... do I keep the E70 and run it in DAC mode from the Ultra, or just ditch the E70? The system runs to an Adcom 545 and KEF Reference 103.4s. My ear is super picky.

Anybody have any insight? I'm 99% I'm going with an Ultra, I just don't know whether to keep the E70 or if it's not worth it.
 
FLS3 said:
So... Right now I'm using a Topping E70 in pre mode. And while I am extremely pleased with the sq, the UI is clunky. I've been using a Shield TV Pro, laptop, and bt to stream. I use a Schiit Sys switch to switch between the E70 and a Technics SL-1300 w/ ART Precision phono stage.

I was looking at adding a Wiim Pro to feed the E70 and ditching the lappy and Android TV. But now I'm looking at the Ultra and wondering... do I keep the E70 and run it in DAC mode from the Ultra, or just ditch the E70? The system runs to an Adcom 545 and KEF Reference 103.4s. My ear is super picky.

Anybody have any insight? I'm 99% I'm going with an Ultra, I just don't know whether to keep the E70 or if it's not worth it.
Click to expand...
I have the Topping E70 Velvet, and I think the Ultra's DAC is just as good. I may still run my E70V to get balanced XLR out, but not sure yet.
 
We are still waiting for Roon certification for the Wiim Ultra, I received an Ultra this week. I am still testing it, but one curious thing is that Roon marks it as already tested, but not yet ready. So far so good, so I am using Chromecast to use the Ultra together with Roon, the transmission works but Roon does not send the information to the Wiim LCD of what is playing etc. Is this normal using Chromecast to transmit? Thanks
 
Any reason not to go with a Wiim Amp or Wiim Amp pro (is this out yet?) if it's more of a secondary system and ditch the separate amp?

I think it has all the features of the Ultra but with an amp. Might not be the greatest amp ever but probably sufficient for a bedroom system and with the benefit of fewer boxes.

I've been thinking of getting an Ultra for my main system and a Wiim Amp for a secondary system that is currently an Airport Express and an old Griffin 20 (class D amp with a little thing that takes an old Airport Express).

Jkdjedi said:
The sub out features on this are crazy. Took a little tweaking but it's doing a better job than what my Denon (entry level) AVR was doing. Looking to grab a decent amp to compliment this unit for my bedroom bookshelf speaker setup. Emotiva BasX A2 or Schiit Vidar?
Click to expand...
 
rgruber said:
Any reason not to go with a Wiim Amp or Wiim Amp pro (is this out yet?) if it's more of a secondary system and ditch the separate amp?

I think it has all the features of the Ultra but with an amp. Might not be the greatest amp ever but probably sufficient for a bedroom system and with the benefit of fewer boxes.

I've been thinking of getting an Ultra for my main system and a Wiim Amp for a secondary system that is currently an Airport Express and an old Griffin 20 (class D amp with a little thing that takes an old Airport Express).
Click to expand...
The Amp Pro has been shown, but has no release date.
 
rgruber said:
Any reason not to go with a Wiim Amp or Wiim Amp pro (is this out yet?) if it's more of a secondary system and ditch the separate amp?

I think it has all the features of the Ultra but with an amp. Might not be the greatest amp ever but probably sufficient for a bedroom system and with the benefit of fewer boxes.

I've been thinking of getting an Ultra for my main system and a Wiim Amp for a secondary system that is currently an Airport Express and an old Griffin 20 (class D amp with a little thing that takes an old Airport Express).
Click to expand...
WiiM Amp Pro vs. WiiM Ultra:
  • No optical output
  • No coax output
  • No phono input
  • No line output (in case you wanted to use a different power amp later on)
  • No display, and finally, as @Petrushka stated:
  • Not yet available with no official release date
If you don't need any of the missing features and don't have to buy right now it might be worth the wait.
:)

Edit:
WiiM Amp vs. WiiM Amp Pro:
  • Missing Post Filter Feedback, thus a little load dependency
  • Inferior DAC
  • Older networking/Bluetooth hardware stack
 
harkpabst said:
WiiM Amp Pro vs. WiiM Ultra:
  • No optical output
  • No coax output
  • No phono input
  • No line output (in case you wanted to use a different power amp later on)
  • No display, and finally, as @Petrushka stated:
  • Not yet available with no official release date
If you don't need any of the missing features and don't have to buy right now it might be worth the wait.
:)

Edit:
WiiM Amp vs. WiiM Amp Pro:
  • Missing Post Filter Feedback, thus a little load dependency
  • Inferior DAC
  • Older networking/Bluetooth hardware stack
Click to expand...
Basically I’ve been looking for the Ultra for several years. I don’t need it to have airplay, so it has everything I want.
 
harkpabst said:
I have no reason not to believe that. :)
Click to expand...
It’s almost too good to be true. I still have LPs I want to convert, and it has multiple digital outputs.

Of course, everyone will be horrified I plan to feed a Sonos Port. The Ultra will be the hub for everything not streaming, and Sonos will be the distribution hub.

My understanding is, the Ultra has automatic source switching, and the Port switches automatically to line input.

I know this forum is dedicated to sound quality, but there’s a case to be made for being family friendly.

I’ve had systems that took me two hours to re-cable after a move. And required several remote controls. I’m tired of that.
 
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