JustJones
Major Contributor
Manual says
- HDMI ARC input for connecting a TV
- supports 2-channel PCM only up to 24-bit/192kHz
That may be a TV limitation, or a limitation of the ARC device.My LG OLED E7N outputs 24bit audio via Toslink, but truncated 16bit audio via ARC.
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.From what I can tell, the ARC specification does not specify bit depths higher than 16bit.
The Ultra does not support eARC, so sould only be able to receive 16bit audio via HDMI.
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 )
????Just dropped to 327 Eur on AMZ...
That's a bit suspicious, maybe some faulty unit labeled as reconditioned?It wouldn't be the first time...I know.
It just happened for less of a couple hours, hope somebody got it that price.
I was not quick enough.
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.
Context is everything.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.
This. Is a great and lovely device, but for example in my case there is no need for it.Context is everything.
The subwoofer out has a 0 or 180 degree switch. I have not tried it on the WiiM, but on other systems where I have used it, it has not worked very well. But, it is there to experiment with.is there lip sync delay on the hdmi or toslink optical input from tv.
It used to be a problem with Wiim pro.
And does the dsp cause any delay.
Also, Has anyone documented their experience of room correction outside eq.
By this I mean time aligning with the sub.
I have the Wiim pro, and want to connect the sub to the analogue preouts while the stereo mains can go digital to my rme adi 2 dac into active monitors. Will there be time alignment problems with this setup.
I know this isn’t ideal, but I don’t want to have to purchase the Wiim ultra for the sub out to achieve integration.
The in built dac quality of the Wiim pro preouts doesn’t matter with a sub for low frequencies only.
And I have eq on the svs sub 2000 via Bluetooth app.
Sort of like the Minidsp 2x4 hd.
Would this work Since I already have the Wiim pro.
From the release notes it seems similar to the pro, which changed with firmware releases. See:is there lip sync delay on the hdmi or toslink optical input from tv.
It used to be a problem with Wiim pro.
And does the dsp cause any delay.
Other than the WiiM Mini, all of the products share the same CPU (Quad Core A53) and amount of RAM and Flash memory (512MB, 512MB). So other than differences specific to the HDMI processing, that should mean it is reasonable to expect same capabilities across the line.From the release notes it seems similar to the pro, which changed with firmware releases. See:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/wiim-ultra.50897/post-2045814
That's the expectation - there may be differences we don't know about. The ARC (not eARC) is essentially SPDIF/toslink over a different electrical interface, with capabilities exchanged so that the source doesn't send something the receiving end can't handle.Other than the WiiM Mini, all of the products share the same CPU (Quad Core A53) and amount of RAM and Flash memory (512MB, 512MB). So other than differences specific to the HDMI processing, that should mean it is reasonable to expect same capabilities across the line.