To state the obvious, you can’t Chromecast to AirPlay compatible speakers like HomePods etc
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WiiM Ultra
- Thread starter MKR
- Start date
All WiiM devices have native Qobuz support, and all but the mini can be chromecasted to from the Qobuz app itself. WiiM devices also support Tidal, Amazon Music and Deezer inter alia
Thanks!
Apple devices
Here is the one and only official statement on AirPlay and the WiiM Ultra:
WiiM Ultra and No AirPlay
Hi WiiM Community, We always strive to be transparent with this forum, sharing early product announcements, specifications, and addressing your concerns and questions. We realize the lack of availability of AirPlay in the WiiM Ultra has caused confusion and we apologize for that. The WiiM Ultra...
forum.wiimhome.com
In addition I can confirm that technically the Ultra is technically capable of acting as an AirPlay receiver. This feature has been available during early beta testing but had to be removed prior to general availability.
Are there any (audible) reasons to prefer the Ultra to the Pro Plus?
I will use it as a “classical” streamer setup: WiiM (Ultra or Pro) controlled by iPhone => RCA output => RCA input active monitors.
I will use it as a “classical” streamer setup: WiiM (Ultra or Pro) controlled by iPhone => RCA output => RCA input active monitors.
A different and (potentially) better DAC, reportedly higher grade OP amps.
I can't compare the two.
somebodyelse
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I doubt it, but we haven't seen the measurements yet to confirm. The Pro Plus should already be transparent, so nothing audible to improve on. I doubt they would make the Ultra worse. The choice is more about features and capabilities.
JaccoW
Senior Member
How would you set up the WiiM in a setup with a PC over USB and a DAC?
I have a Topping E50 DAC that can play all my local music bit-perfect over ASIO but I would like to be able to use the WiiM as well.
So far I see two options:
So either I do:
Phono stage is another question of course. The ones built into the speaker are pretty good for a €500 pair but no idea how the WiiM sounds just yet.
Other devices potentially in the chain are:
I have a Topping E50 DAC that can play all my local music bit-perfect over ASIO but I would like to be able to use the WiiM as well.
So far I see two options:
So either I do:
- A: PC > DAC > Streamer > Active Speakers
- RCA to WiiM
- RCA to Speakers
- B: Streamer + PC > DAC > Active Speakers
- Toslink to DAC
- RCA to Speakers
Phono stage is another question of course. The ones built into the speaker are pretty good for a €500 pair but no idea how the WiiM sounds just yet.
Other devices potentially in the chain are:
- Turntable (Active speakers or WiiM)
- 4K Blu-ray player (Coax or HDMI)
- CD player (Coax or TOSlink)
With the Wiim software (though it could change), you can put the Wiim Mini in a separate room and link it to the Ultra in the Wiim app. It will allow you to Airplay to the Mini and share the stream to the Ultra.
Also, depending on how you have the Wiim setup, you may be able to get Airplay from a computer or TV (if your TV is Airplay compatible and are directly connected).
There are a lot of ways to get Airplay to a Wiim Ultra. I have an old AirPort Express connected to the optical input, but I have a few other ways to get Airplay to the Wiim outside of optical.
Chromecast usually won't work as a substitute for Airplay if you want to stream from iOS apps that do not have Casting available (which is most apps). You can cast from Apple Music's web app on a Mac via a Chrome browser, though.
I doubt if there any detectable differences in output.
Non audible reasons are HDMI ARC input, phono input, nice screen, rotary volume knob, built in headphone amp.
Reading specs I perhaps add usb output to use an external DAC. Maybe interesting since my DAC has balanced XLR outputs.
I'm using the USB port for an SSD drive with my ripped CD collection.
The Wiim Ultra makes it available as a UPnP source. The one on the right is my Linux music server. I guess I could retire the Linux server.
Did you tried the usb as an audio output to a DAC? I red some contradictory comments about this function
No. No need for an external dac in my setup and it wouldn't improve anything.
Probably no need for an external DAC. The DAC in the Ultra is pretty good.
I use USB out to a Rasberry Pi for DSP and it is working great. I have had no issues whatsoever.
Is not for the DAC itself: my active monitors have balanced XLR inputs, and I don’t want to buy more cables, my actual DAC has also balanced outputs and only usb c digital input.
So my setup can has 2 possible ways:
1- Streamer => RCA to XLR cable => Active monitors.
2- Streamer => usb C cable => DAC => balanced XLR cable => Active monitors.
Any advice? Thanks!
Aha, thanks!
That is I red about, but didn’t remember well! So the PEQ feature doesn’t work with usb c output. I should imagine that the usb c transfers just the file as it is.
Is there no problem concerning RCA to XLR cables? I think not, but I’m not sure. It will be the same RCA to RCA respect to voltage and interferences compared to RCA to XLR?
No, the PEQ works with the USB (A) output. The USB output differs from the coax and optical outputs because it does not apply a high pass filter to the signal if you are using the subwoofer output.
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