WiiM Ultra

[mlsstl]

I ask for a suggestion.

Wiim Ultra has finally arrived in Italy, it will arrive at the weekend.

I have read about several people who are trying it and they say that it sounds worse than the Pro Plus.

The sound is colder / metallic on high frequencies, and it is more tiring ... which I do not like at all!

This thing leaves me with many doubts, I thought it was an improvement compared to the Pro Plus (or even the same as I really liked the sound).

They say it sounds bad even using the Digital output therefore using an external Dac, in my case the one from the Rega Elicit MK5 amplifier.

As said I will receive it in a few days, but I do not like this thing.

Can you confirm this thing or are they all personal "rumors" without any foundation?

It seems strange to me that even with an external Dac it sounds "Metallic" on high frequencies ...
Thanks in advance.

I went from a Schiit multibit DAC to the Ultra and have no complaints about the Ultra. I'm very pleased with its performance and sound quality.

I'd give good odds that whatever comments you've read or heard were written or said by someone who hasn't actually heard the Ultra and their comments were based on the presence of an ESS DAC chip. Years ago ESS got a reputation for having an edgy sound, and like most apocryphal stories, once in circulation they never go away regardless of the facts. IMO, the implementation of the analog side of a DAC is far more important to sound quality that what digital decoder chip is used.

 

[Alexx]

Thank you very much guys you are always very kind.

No I did not read it on this forum, that's why I write to you when I have doubts and I do not believe.

I read it on Italian forums and I was very skeptical, especially because they say it sounds "Cold" even with an external dac???.....

I have a lot of respect for your impressions and suggestions, and the only thing to do is listen with my ears.

Tomorrow it will be delivered to me and then I will let you know.

@ Brantome no, it was a simple forum, even if they talked about many other brands -

@All the others, thank you very much!!!
I will let you know in the next few days.

 

[antcollinet]

The tv may insert noise when attempting to output digital to either hdmi or toslink optical.

What sort of noise?

 

[antcollinet]

I have read about several people who are trying it and they say that it sounds worse than the Pro Plus.

The sound is colder / metallic on high frequencies, and it is more tiring ... which I do not like at all!

They are mistaken - they are hearing what their cognitive biases are making them hear - not what is in the sound.

They say it sounds bad even using the Digital output

And that is even more ludicrous. Please stop listening to these people, they don't know what they are talking about. They cannot hear the difference any more than anyone else can.

 

[Abdo]

I don't know them but they are from Italy...

 

[Xibal]

I ask for a suggestion.

Wiim Ultra has finally arrived in Italy, it will arrive at the weekend.

I have read about several people who are trying it and they say that it sounds worse than the Pro Plus.

The sound is colder / metallic on high frequencies, and it is more tiring ... which I do not like at all!

This thing leaves me with many doubts, I thought it was an improvement compared to the Pro Plus (or even the same as I really liked the sound).

They say it sounds bad even using the Digital output therefore using an external Dac, in my case the one from the Rega Elicit MK5 amplifier.

As said I will receive it in a few days, but I do not like this thing.

Can you confirm this thing or are they all personal "rumors" without any foundation?

It seems strange to me that even with an external Dac it sounds "Metallic" on high frequencies ...
Thanks in advance.

Surely you know "suggestion" also means something imposed on a coscience through use of "suggestive" words, like "cold" "warm" "tonally deep"Jokes aside, i think italians (me included) are way too prone to suggestions like these, so if you are afraid of something just wait for measurements, anything else is a kind of manipulation, but if you are into it, it's very difficult to get out, because it influences every purchase in a romantic way, which finally is nothing else than a marketing trick.

 

[Adaboy4z]

I decided to buy one and it arrived today. My previous set up was a Samsung tablet connected to SMSL SU-1 into my B2 amplifier. That is a great setup for cheap. This WiiM is the Shiznit. The setup was easy it updated quickly. To my ears the sound is more dynamic and clearer. I stream Tidal, Radio Paradise and Deep House Radio and its a keeper.

 

[Th0805]

I’m getting this thing set up. What a breeze! Couple of quick setup questions

Any benefit to changing dac filter?

When using room correction do you limit the gain boost? 10db of boost seems a lot

 

[Brian Hall]

The sound is colder / metallic on high frequencies, and it is more tiring ... which I do not like at all!

Not true. It sounds just like the Pro Plus and the Eversolo DMP-A6. The people saying that are probably mad that it is just as good or better than their overpriced dacs/streamers.

 

[Brian Hall]

I’m getting this thing set up. What a breeze! Couple of quick setup questions

Any benefit to changing dac filter?

When using room correction do you limit the gain boost? 10db of boost seems a lot

I couldn't tell any difference between the filters. I set it back to the default.

 

[Abdo]

Not true. It sounds just like the Pro Plus and the Eversolo DMP-A6. The people saying that are probably mad that it is just as good or better than their overpriced dacs/streamers.

I agree, you need to be very careful with your emotions and appearance. I don't see a problem with paying more for aesthetic reasons, but be aware that you won't play better.

 

[Jkdjedi]

Anybody notice the Roon Ready certification? Big deal or meh?

 

[Brian Hall]

I agree, you need to be very careful with your emotions and appearance. I don't see a problem with paying more for aesthetic reasons, but be aware that you won't play better.

I think the Wiim Ultra looks great in addition to being a great streamer, dac, headphone amp and preamp.

 

[sealpin]

Not true. It sounds just like the Pro Plus and the Eversolo DMP-A6. The people saying that are probably mad that it is just as good or better than their overpriced dacs/streamers.

Question: apart from price would you prefer the Eversolo DMP-A8 over WiiM Ultra?
I am struggling which to use in future. My complete cable setup is symmetrical and using the DMP-A8 would avoid a RCA - XLR device (Funk SAM 1C).

 

[rcstevensonaz]

Question: apart from price would you prefer the Eversolo DMP-A8 over WiiM Ultra?
I am struggling which to use in future. My complete cable setup is symmetrical and using the DMP-A8 would avoid a RCA - XLR device (Funk SAM 1C).

There will be a few technology jumps in the coming years. I know you said "apart from price", but one aspect of price is the ability to more easily jump up to a newer iteration after 2 to 3 turns of the respective product. The drastically lower cost of the WiiM Ultra allows you to much more easily make that next jump in 2 to 4 years since your sunk cost basis will be much lower.

 

[sealpin]

Good point. But to be honest, my setup is quite static. I lived happily with a SONOS Port for years until they screwed the software recently and I now want to switch to another brand.
So both WiiM and Eversolo have far more than I need.

Not sure about upcoming software improvements from either companies, but I guess both will have some kind of SW lifecycle plan. And as long as there are no real flaws which they do not solve, I would be fine with the existing features.

Big advantage of the DMP-A8 is the ability to add a SSD internally which could host all my audio files, so no need of any NAS based settings.
Second advantage are XLR outputs.

Of course I coud add USB harddisk to the WiiM as well as RCA2XLR converter, but this adds physical devices, more cabling and add. power supplies.

So from the pont of reducing complexity my heart goes to DMP-A8 but I do like the WiiM for size and price.

Sorry for beeing offtopic…

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

Just to flip the discussion, what more could the Ultra do?

Maybe balanced outs, and better room correction, but I think we’re clutching at straws after that.

 

[sealpin]

I hope to see Amir test the WiiM Ultra soon … and maybe his result compared to the test of the Eversolo will add the small kick for me to finally decide ( @amirm you can see how much influence your tests have to purchase decisions ).

 

[Brantome]

Anybody notice the Roon Ready certification? Big deal or meh?

It’s a big deal for Roon users, LMS users maybe not so much

 

[antcollinet]

Anybody notice the Roon Ready certification? Big deal or meh?

Its' a big deal for any Roon (or want to be) Users. It's Meh for everyone else.