Jkdjedi
Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2018
- Messages
- 81
- Likes
- 41
I'm so stoked over this thing I ordered a amp (Emotiva) to complement the thing. It will replace the integrated (Denon ) receiver.
-
Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
WiiM Ultra
- Thread starter MKR
- Start date
sealpin
Member
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2019
- Messages
- 23
- Likes
- 37
simply because I use my KH120 on my Laptop as sound device for business with a scarlett solo USB interface.
And if I want to take advantage of all streaming stuff and my music on my NAS I cannot do so on my business laptop - limitations of my business laptop (our IT dept. is quite restrictive - no private use allowed).
So if I could use the WiiM Ultra as interface for Laptop audio plus I could switch to my music on the WiiM using the same speakers (they are privat owned so is the scrarlett) it would be a small use case ...
terryforsythe
Major Contributor
USB A.
antcollinet
Grand Contributor
What does it do, that a laptop (Plus a DAC) cant?
(EDIT : assuming the laptop is not a locked down device belonging to someone else
)
antcollinet
Grand Contributor
Got it. Makes sense in this case.
input for a phono, input for other analog you might want to send it (Radio),input for optical in (CD player). It also comes with a remote for just telling it what you want to hear on services like Amazon/Spotify. No fan noise (which some laptops are known for).What does it do, that a laptop (Plus a DAC) cant?
(EDIT : assuming the laptop is not a locked down device belonging to someone else
There are also issues with some apps sending out hi res from a computer. The Ultra has a digital or analog input for your phone/iPad that allows hi res from a source like Apple Music. I believe Amazon had that same issue (no hi res) on the Mac and no bit rate switching on the fly. No such issue on the Ultra. Not sure about Windows. I have an Alienware laptop with loud fans, so would not use if for audio.
antcollinet
Grand Contributor
The use case discussed was having the laptop as the source.
We interpreted it differently . He asked if he could use it with a laptop. I didn't see where that was his only source. I use mine with a computer, but its not my only source.
As an unrelated side note, I connected the Ultra to my TV via HDMI. Since the TV has Airplay built in, I can stream to it and get Airplay to the Ultra via ARC. It sends out 24/48, so I am not sure if that is what it is being sent or if it is converting it (my guess is that it believes the TV is an AppleTV, so sending out 24/48, but no way for me to check). The TV will show album art, so that could make up for the lack of it on the Ultra.
Last edited:
staticV3
Grand Contributor
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2019
- Messages
- 12,500
- Likes
- 20,790
The Ultra does not support eARC, so sould only be able to receive 16bit audio via HDMI.
somebodyelse
Master Contributor
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2018
- Messages
- 5,133
- Likes
- 4,688
That's not an ARC limitation, and I'd be surprised if the Ultra failed to announce the capability for higher sample rates and bit depths. Do you have a source for this?
staticV3
Grand Contributor
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2019
- Messages
- 12,500
- Likes
- 20,790
My LG OLED E7N outputs 24bit audio via Toslink, but truncated 16bit audio via ARC.
From what I can tell, the ARC specification does not specify bit depths higher than 16bit.
The read out on the Ultra shows 24/48.
somebodyelse
Master Contributor
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2018
- Messages
- 5,133
- Likes
- 4,688
That may be a TV limitation, or a limitation of the ARC device.
I'll have to see if I can track down the docs again. From what I found it allows same sample rates and bit depths as toslink (and maybe spdif) as it's the same signalling protocol over a different electrical interface. However it only mandates base capabilities - the higher sample rates and bit depths depend on capability announcement similar to the video capability exchanges on HDMI. This stops the problem of loud noise when a source blindly sends something the receiver can't cope with.
I'm using the HDMI ARC input now, playing music from my Linux PC and the Ultra display shows 2304kbps | 24bit | 48.0khz.
Signal chain is Linux PC HDMI out -> HDMI kvm switch -> 4k monitor HDMI in. 4k monitor HDMI ARC to Ultra.
Linux PC is playing a ripped CD at 16/44.1. The monitor is probably upscaling everything to 48.
I have a pair of aerial 10Ts but I’ve been trying out a pair of BMR Monitors I found a fair deal on used. Now that I have the Ultra hooked up I tested out the room correction using them.
Set the max q to 10, max gain to only 4, and measured a range of 50hz to 4khz. I tried the flat curve first and found the results uninspiring. Different but not better. I switched to Harmon curve next and the results were really good! The bass response was much improved and micro details came more to the front of the presentation. The B&K curve was the one that really shined. There was a bit more bass with the Harmon curve, but it sounded more neutral with b&k. The detail was as good as the Harmon curve but the vocals seemed to become more holographic. Over all it was a much improved sense of realism in the overall presentation to not using the RC at all
Impressed so far. I’m really interested to try with my 10Ts. They’re over all better speakers, but where they play flat down to near 20hz I think the bass linearity could see some nice improvement
Set the max q to 10, max gain to only 4, and measured a range of 50hz to 4khz. I tried the flat curve first and found the results uninspiring. Different but not better. I switched to Harmon curve next and the results were really good! The bass response was much improved and micro details came more to the front of the presentation. The B&K curve was the one that really shined. There was a bit more bass with the Harmon curve, but it sounded more neutral with b&k. The detail was as good as the Harmon curve but the vocals seemed to become more holographic. Over all it was a much improved sense of realism in the overall presentation to not using the RC at all
Impressed so far. I’m really interested to try with my 10Ts. They’re over all better speakers, but where they play flat down to near 20hz I think the bass linearity could see some nice improvement
Sorry for the delay but I wanted to connect it first and listen to it with my own ears...
I didn't find anything wrong, it sounds perfect and for my tastes I also raised the highs a little from the equalizer, I can confirm that it doesn't sound "metallic as I had read".
Can you tell me if Bluetooth can be disabled if it's not needed, I ask for the one in transmission (bidirectional) in transmission can it be disabled if it's not needed, or is it disabled by default until you select the item from the menu?
Thank you very much everyone, you've been very helpful.
I didn't find anything wrong, it sounds perfect and for my tastes I also raised the highs a little from the equalizer, I can confirm that it doesn't sound "metallic as I had read".
Can you tell me if Bluetooth can be disabled if it's not needed, I ask for the one in transmission (bidirectional) in transmission can it be disabled if it's not needed, or is it disabled by default until you select the item from the menu?
Thank you very much everyone, you've been very helpful.
Yorkshire Mouth
Major Contributor
What does it do, that a laptop (Plus a DAC) cant?
(EDIT : assuming the laptop is not a locked down device belonging to someone else
General answer - a laptop + DAC is a streamer + DAC. The Ultra is a digital streaming pre amp with DAC and EQ/bass management and a sub out.
Now more specifically, these days you can get a PC to do pretty much anything these days, including a lot of the above.
But one of the glories of the Ultra is one box, plug & play.
Getting a PC to do all of the above involves downloading programmes/apps, learning to use them (not always easy) possibly buying extra boxes/soundcards/miniDSP, installing, learning how to use.
You’re going to have to do quite a bit to a PC to turn it into a pre amp with line level, phono and HDMI inputs.
And ultimately, whilst possible, if you wanted to cover all bases on the in and out front, that’s not going to come cheap.
Finally, whilst we’re still waiting for Amir to review and measure the ADC on the WiiM, that’s yet another base that needs covering.
Sorry, did I say finally? Adding facility for both a remote, and control from your phone, that’s not going to be either free or plug and play either.
Hopefully I’ve covered everything.
GiBo61
Senior Member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2021
- Messages
- 335
- Likes
- 351
????
Keepa tracking shows €399 on all European Amazon stores selling in Euro
Similar threads
