Cool Runnings
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Managed to order the Ultra on the Amazon US site for shipping to where I am in Asia. But it looks like I have to wait awhile for the unit to be shipped.
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WiiM Ultra
- Thread starter MKR
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WiiM has stated that airplay will never be coming to the current Ultra. Why all their other products have airplay except this one has never been clarified (Apple is to blame is a common unfounded rumour). All discussion on airplay have been closed or is closed on the Wiim forums which is mildly annoying.
Bringing up airplay also provokes responses as to why you would need it as there are alternatives A, B and C. And besides it is not (always) lossless. I get the impression these responses come from those that have never seen the extreme convenience of AirPlay. I use AirPlay plenty to cast audio that is not lossless in the first place (like internet radio). My family uses AirPlay for all kinds of stuff, they prefer convenience over sound quality any day (I know…). And it is very nice to be able to cast any audio you might have on your phone, regardless of the app it’s from.
I was extremely enthusiastic for the Ultra but cancelled my order because the lack of AirPlay is a downgrade and I’m not sure yet that using a different device as AirPlay receiver will not cause issues. Even if it has no further downsides I fell weird for buying a device that I know lacks something I would really like it to have.
Edit: I guess I’m just annoyed because I have and love the Wiim amp which is perfect for my situation besides the amplification part. The Ultra together with the Fosi V3 monos seem a perfect affordable upgrade.
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Cool Runnings
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Yup totally. The convenience of AirPlay for many iPhone users beyond just listening to music is a huge purchase factor. But I’m happy to try pairing with a Wiim mini given that it seems either impossible or at least a long wait for Ultra to have AirPlay. And even with the additional cost of a mini there isn’t any comparable device in the market for this value.
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This for sure. I feel like the Eversolo A8 is the only real next step up (hdmi arc is essential for me) and that is about four times the price.
Makes no sense to me, either.When people chime in just to say they don't need it.
Cool Runnings
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I was looking hard at the A8. It’s 5-6 times the price for me vs ultra. I think the A8 is pretty much end game SOTA streamer/dac/preamp device atm. But the form factor, sub out and value of the ultra wins it for me. I don’t think SQ is distinguishable to my ears.
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The other option, at a bit more expense, is a WiiM Pro ($105 *with remote* from WiiM's eBay refurbished page) if you prefer connecting via Ethernet and to gain back the S/PDIF input port (since you effectively lose that port for another device on the Ultra).
https://www.ebay.com/itm/126298782521
I don’t want guitar lessons
Nobody really needs a music streamer, anyway.
What does my kettle do that a gas hob and pan can't?
BobPM
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I would think it really comes down to the software. The WiiM seems less likely to ever be orphaned than does the Eversolo. I haven't tried the Eversolo, but find teh WiiM easy to use.
KellysFella
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I’m in *almost* the same boat as you, only my current setup utilises an Apple AirPort Express rather than the chromecast. My amplifier is analog only but I’m getting to the point where I’d like to integrate my Plex library, or to plug a hard drive with my library on into a raspberry pi running Kodi, so would like a DAC or streaming unit to facilitate that. I’m down to a choice between the Wiim or the Eversolo A6, and I’m pretty much 95% settled on the Wiim - at this point I’m just waiting for one of the ASR gurus to test the Ultra, and to hear a bit of feedback on Plex integration, before I pull the trigger.
As I’m working in the budget basement category I can’t see the Eversolo units, as great as they test, being so much audibly better than the Ultra (if at all) to justify the increase in what I would be paying. Plus there’s a lot to be said for room correction and what appears to be extremely dynamic after sales software support from Wiim. The Ultra would also let me integrate a sub into my existing 2 channel setup at a later point.
I think all you need to ponder is whether or not you really need a USB DAC built in to the unit really (this was my most important consideration, and I decided I didn’t really need one), but you wouldn’t need that if you’re keeping your Schiit.
As I’m working in the budget basement category I can’t see the Eversolo units, as great as they test, being so much audibly better than the Ultra (if at all) to justify the increase in what I would be paying. Plus there’s a lot to be said for room correction and what appears to be extremely dynamic after sales software support from Wiim. The Ultra would also let me integrate a sub into my existing 2 channel setup at a later point.
I think all you need to ponder is whether or not you really need a USB DAC built in to the unit really (this was my most important consideration, and I decided I didn’t really need one), but you wouldn’t need that if you’re keeping your Schiit.
It's a bit more than a rumour. Technically, the Ultra can do AirPlay. I happen to know for sure. Support has been removed prior to the first production firmware. Who can come up with a funny tale of why that would have been WiiM's idea?
The net result is still the same: Customers don't get AirPlay with the Ultra.
I'm certainly not the one to tell you that you don't need it.You know that better than me. It's just that I don't need it and for people like me the Ultra is still an absolute bargain. Running it with V3 Monos now, but will probably replace them with the 3e Audio A5, once it becomes available.
How is this combination sounding to you?
Haven't purchased either but have been eagerly following both of these products and am curious to hear your impressions of them together.
Haven't purchased either but have been eagerly following both of these products and am curious to hear your impressions of them together.
Ah, now this is news for me.
I hope you are not implying that I think it’s Wiims idea. I just said the reasoning has not been clarified. And I said that blaming Apple was unfounded, in the most literal meaning that there is no evidence to support this.
I don’t know what is going on. It all smells funny, even more so if the Ultra can do Airplay technically. WiiM shutting down all discussions is also weird. I’d love to know what really happened.
I agree with this. Besides the AirPlay (and relatedly Apple Music) deficiency, the Ultra is amazing for the price. Not perfect but honestly much better than you could hope for at this rrp.
I was under the impression the analog output of the Chromecast audio was not so great?
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I know nothing about the WiiM and Apple situation or their discussions... responding purely to this one sentence.
In many cases, the outcome of a corporate "discussion" can be an agreement to abide by a Cease & Desist Order that includes non-disparagement and non-defamation clauses, and penalties for failure to abide by those terms. If such was the outcome between WiiM and Apple, it would not be weird at all for the losing party (e.g., WiiM) to discontinue the part(s) of their product(s) that is subject to the Cease & Desist Order, to issue a generic press statement that they were not able to come to agreement on the functionality, to not speak ill of the other company or situation, and then to just shut up.
It is to Wiim's advantage to support as many providers as possible. Apple is predatory and wants you to be locked in to using their stuff as much as possible.
I'd say the logical conclusion is that Apple is the problem here and made unreasonable demands/changes to authorize the Wiim Ultra.
I'd say the logical conclusion is that Apple is the problem here and made unreasonable demands/changes to authorize the Wiim Ultra.
Apple has AirPlay in nearly every single streamer on the market including those in most receivers and every other Wiim product.
This product is the odd man out. That sounds more like a Wiim issue to me. As I have mentioned, it was still worth it for me because I have workarounds to get AirPlay onto the device. However, I am not just going to blame Apple when I have AirPlay built into more than a half dozen non-Apple devices around the house ( new and old) and Wiim has the only streamer I own that doesn’t include AirPlay.
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