WiiM Ultra

[harkpabst]

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.

No, rest assured. I took your words for what they are, literally. As the certification process is completely under Apple's control and you can bet on them having an airtight NDA with their licensees (and prospects) it's not very likely that real evidence will ever be provided.

I’d love to know what really happened.

Everybody would. But see above.

I'd say the logical conclusion is that Apple is the problem here and made unreasonable demands/changes to authorize the Wiim Ultra.

Another thing we know for a fact is that WiiM removed the AirPlay casting feature from all their devices, which also isn't to WiiM's advantage at all. It's save to conclude that they have been forced to do so. From there on it's all speculation, but it's well possible that Apple wasn't amused and simply decided to play it hard with WiiM as far as the Ultra certification goes. Little information about the process is known to the public, but here are the four basic steps:

• 3. Certification
  Use Apple’s certification tools to help ensure optimal user experience and interoperability. Submit production-ready samples and packaging materials for review.
• 4. Mass Production
  Upon completion of certification approved by Apple, begin manufacturing and sales.

Source: https://mfi.apple.com/en/how-it-works

It's pretty obvious that WiiM had already started mass production before approval and my guess is that this is how it's often done in practice. Formally they were told not to do that, so if Apple would ever comment on the issue they could stand up and rightfully say it's been WiiM's fault.

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.

It's not Apple having AirPlay in nearly "every single streamer". It's those streamers having AirPlay because they payed Apple for having it. Including all other WiiM streamers, as you say. So I don't see how you come to that strange conclusion. Let me repeat: The Ultra is technically capable of working as an AirPlay receiver (and probably an AirPlay cast device).

 

[harkpabst]

Review and Measurements of Chromecast Audio Analog Performance

This is a follow up to my review and measurements of Google Chromecast Audio's digital performance. As mentioned there, the Chromecast audio is a streaming device with integrated DAC. In the other review, I measured its Toslink digital output for usage with an external DAC. Here, I will be...

www.audiosciencereview.com

JSmith

You don't really believe that the Ultra would contain the hardware of the totally outdated Google Chromecast Audio device, do you?

Subtle hint: It does not.

 

[VintageFlanker]

@VintageFlanker Where are you?

Actually, in vacations in Riga, Latvia.

 

[Xibal]

Actually, in vacations in Riga, Latvia.

Oh, sorry for bothering, i'm actually waiting for your measurements to jump in. Have a nice holiday, pay may omage to Victor von Doom

 

[uofmtiger]

It's not Apple having AirPlay in nearly "every single streamer". It's those streamers having AirPlay because they payed Apple for having it. Including all other WiiM streamers, as you say. So I don't see how you come to that strange conclusion. Let me repeat: The Ultra is technically capable of working as an AirPlay receiver (and probably an AirPlay cast device).

We will disagree on this because, like I said, thousands of products have AirPlay. It isn’t an exclusive club. Wiim Ultra is the odd man out for some reason. If I have 10,000 healthy kids that are able to jump through a hoop and one kid that can’t, I don’t think the hoop is the issue. The reason has something to do with the individual kid.

Apple is quickly becoming a services company. Services takes up a bigger slice of the pie than iPad, wearables and Macs put together. They want their services to be compatible with products and that is obvious why you see so many devices with Airplay. Why this device doesn’t have it is obviously up to speculation, so we will continue to disagree until I hear more actual facts that support your opinion or visa versa.

 

[Jkdjedi]

I'd love to see the next Wiim product come out with a screen across the entire face of it minus the knob ...that would be SICK.

 

[uofmtiger]

I'd love to see the next Wiim product come out with a screen across the entire face of it minus the knob ...that would be SICK.

I would really like the HDMI to put out video whether they increase the screen size or not.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

We will disagree on this because, like I said, thousands of products have AirPlay. It isn’t an exclusive club. Wiim Ultra is the odd man out for some reason. If I have 10,000 healthy kids that are able to jump through a hoop and one kid that can’t, I don’t think the hoop is the issue. The reason has something to do with the individual kid.

Apple is quickly becoming a services company. Services takes up a bigger slice of the pie than iPad, wearables and Macs put together. They want their services to be compatible with products and that is obvious why you see so many devices with Airplay. Why this device doesn’t have it is obviously up to speculation, so we will continue to disagree until I hear more actual facts that support your opinion or visa versa.

I didn’t think AirPlay was all that ubiquitous.

 

[Jkdjedi]

I would really like the HDMI to put out video whether they increase the screen size or not.

To put your album art on the big screen?

 

[Raxumit]

I would really like the HDMI to put out video whether they increase the screen size or not.

To put your album art on the big screen?

I would actually prefer the medium screen - say a 7" - 10" HDMI display sitting next to or near the Wiim. Something that would be always on with the Wiim, something you can read text on from across the room, which I definitely can't with my Ultra, at least not until they add some display options.

Something for Wiim to consider with the Wiim Ultra Plus (with XLRs and a better physical volume knob). We just have to hope they don't engineer such a thing exclusively for the HDTV case, in which case the text might still be unreadable if a 1080p 50" UI is scaled down to 7".

 

[uofmtiger]

I didn’t think AirPlay was all that ubiquitous.

It’s everywhere.

I looked for an all inclusive list, but I couldn’t find one. Here is part of an article from

What is AirPlay 2? How it works, and what speakers and devices support it

Apple's take on wireless multi-room audio lets you easily stream content from iOS devices to AirPlay 2-compatible TVs and products

www.whathifi.com

“Plenty of products outside of the Apple ecosystem support AirPlay 2. In fact, it's one of the most common inclusions for wi-fi, streaming products these days – even more so than Chromecast and, arguably, Bluetooth. So if you're shopping for a new wireless speaker, music streamer, streaming amplifier, AV receiver or networked hi-fi system, or have bought one in the past few years, chances are it supports AirPlay 2.


For example, Sonos, Naim, Bose, Cambridge Audio, Bang & Olufsen, KEF, Devialet, Bowers & Wilkins, Bluesound, Technics, Audio Pro, Denon, Marantz, Yamaha and, unsurprisingly, the Apple-owned Beats all have devices that are compatible with the technology.”

They also have a link to a long list from Apple, but it is not all inclusive. Most of the products I own are not listed. AirPlay 2 is backward compatible with AirPlay 1, so it pulls in products from years ago to today.

To put your album art on the big screen?

yep- would love to have lyrics, but just the album art would work.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

Does anyone know if @amirm has, or is getting one of these in for review? Or do we wait in vain?

 

[uofmtiger]

I would actually prefer the medium screen - say a 7" - 10" HDMI display sitting next to or near the Wiim. Something that would be always on with the Wiim, something you can read text on from across the room, which I definitely can't with my Ultra, at least not until they add some display options.

Something for Wiim to consider with the Wiim Ultra Plus (with XLRs and a better physical volume knob). We just have to hope they don't engineer such a thing exclusively for the HDTV case, in which case the text might still be unreadable if a 1080p 50" UI is scaled down to 7".

You need something like a mini computer running wiim app with a monitor or a tablet running Wiim for that feature now. HDMI would better.

 

[staticV3]

Does anyone know if @amirm has, or is getting one of these in for review? Or do we wait in vain?

No need to wait. @onlyoneme is posting Ultra measurements on the WiiM Forum.

Btw, could we unban him please @Jimbob54. I felt that he provided good content to the community.

 

[Petrushka]

We will disagree on this because, like I said, thousands of products have AirPlay. It isn’t an exclusive club. Wiim Ultra is the odd man out for some reason. If I have 10,000 healthy kids that are able to jump through a hoop and one kid that can’t, I don’t think the hoop is the issue. The reason has something to do with the individual kid.

Apple is quickly becoming a services company. Services takes up a bigger slice of the pie than iPad, wearables and Macs put together. They want their services to be compatible with products and that is obvious why you see so many devices with Airplay. Why this device doesn’t have it is obviously up to speculation, so we will continue to disagree until I hear more actual facts that support your opinion or visa versa.

Those products don’t cast.

 

[uofmtiger]

Those products don’t cast.

It would still be up to Wiim to either fall inside Apple’s guidelines or not like thousands of other devices. If this is some restriction, then it still falls in Wiim’s court to implement inside the guidelines or not include it. It’s still up to Wiim.

Sonos/Denon/Yamaha have AirPlay and multiroom audio and other Wiim devices can (currently) link and share audio to the Ultra. If Apple restricted this, why is it still available on my Wiim Mini?

 

[BrooklynNick]

It would still be up to Wiim to either fall inside Apple’s guidelines or not like thousands of other devices. If this is some restriction, then it still falls in Wiim’s court to implement inside the guidelines or not include it. It’s still up to Wiim.

Sonos/Denon/Yamaha have AirPlay and multiroom audio and other Wiim devices can (currently) link and share audio to the Ultra. If Apple restricted this, why is it still available on my Wiim Mini?

I just checked the WiiM Mini's Amazon page and it now says: "KINDLY NOTE: This is a receiver-only device and does not transmit AirPlay 2 signals."

 

[Petrushka]

It would still be up to Wiim to either fall inside Apple’s guidelines or not like thousands of other devices. If this is some restriction, then it still falls in Wiim’s court to implement inside the guidelines or not include it. It’s still up to Wiim.

Sonos/Denon/Yamaha have AirPlay and multiroom audio and other Wiim devices can (currently) link and share audio to the Ultra. If Apple restricted this, why is it still available on my Wiim Mini?

Casting used to be available. It’s not a hardware problem. Roon can cast. It’s a licensing issue.

 

[BrooklynNick]

Does that make Roon the only non-Apple Airplay 2 transmitter? I hope they have a license!

Edit: It looks like Belkin, Denon, and a couple others make devices.

 

[uofmtiger]

I just checked the WiiM Mini's Amazon page and it now says: "KINDLY NOTE: This is a receiver-only device and does not transmit AirPlay 2 signals."

Interesting, I wonder if they will kill that feature via an update? I just tested this by sending to my Wiim Mini and grouping it with the Ultra and it will still allow for Airplay 2 transmission. See Airplay sign at top and Cave +1 below (+1 is the Ultra)