So for $750 I can get a Wiim Ultra for my living room, a Wiim Pro Plus for my desk, and a WIIM Mini for my Patio and play the same music throughout the house? Wow, talk about cheapaudio Man!!!
I'm just waiting for the Wiim Ultra Plus to come out, hopefully Android friendly, all black and with a bigger screen. I would pay $800 for that over the EverSolo.
I ❤ Wiim. The minis go on sale for $70. I have 4 and the amp and enjoy whole home audio. I even have a mini in a Milwaukee construction boom box as a floater. The USB power and the hockey puck size is ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@@mattmiller4978 BTW: if you have a Wimm mini and link is to a Wiim member with Chromecast, will it play the Chromecasted content too? Should work, but whateverever I read on the fora makes me think Google thought about this and made it impossible.
I'd love for a successor to the Monitor Audio Airstream A100, with Airplay (2) but also Spotify Connect, Plex (and maybe Roon), etc., and HDMI ARC. OTOH, the more services you integrate, the more the chance that one of these services might stop being supported in the future. It sometimes happens. It's not like in the olden days where you put cinch connectors on the back of your amp, and it would work until the amp broke down; Spotify Connect only works as long as Spotify wants it to work. Maybe there is something to be said for a "dumb" (but digital) preamp with HDMI ARC, bluetooth, and ok, support for Google Cast and Airplay 2. But not for connecting to services. That can then be handled by dedicated devices, dongles, etc. And they can be cheap because they just output a digital signal; no high quality components are required.
Agreed...Apple Music is terrific, what I stream, sounds better than Amazon Hi-Res to my ears. Any streamer purchase decision would consider if Apple Music can stream on it.
Sorry to hear about the harrasment you and your wife experienced. Even worse when your family got affected as well. Very informative review and the UI of the Wiim looks super sharp and easy to use. Prices of Wiim products in Australia are very resonable.
Got my Ultra a week ago - surprisingly, analogue out sounds so much better than my Wiim Pro Plus. I actually ditched my 500$ Marantz DAC - no need for it in my (modestly priced) setup now. Quite incredible.
Great video. Thanks! I've had my Wiim Ultra for about three weeks and have been dazzled by it. And support? I've applied four updates since I received the unit. It's now faster at input switching and has more features. Now I'm thinking I need to plug it into my external DAC (Schiit Modi+) and do a real A/B. I've had no complaints about the sound so far, so probably I have 'cheap' ears. 😁
I got the Wiim Ultra to pair with my vintage system. At first tried the internal dac. Later added the SMSL SU-1 and it sounds much better. Guess I've gotten accustomed to the AKM sound. WIIM needs to add different skins for the V.U. Meter display. Options to match my Pioneer V.U. or a Marantz or whatever would be nice. Enjoy your channel.
I think one of the most impressive things about the WIIM Ultra is the box it comes in. My dad worked at a high-end packaging company, and I'm sure he would have been impressed.
Now that Bluesound and WiiM are going head to head, I would love to see what WiiM could do in the $700 to $900 range. Upgrade the DAC in the Ultra to an AKM 4499/4491, upgrade the power supply, upgrade (or eliminate) the phono preamp. Keep the great app and UX. Right now I run the Matrix Element X. Great sound, a little difficult to use, won't stream the missus' Amazon music. I dont want to spend a ton on another streamer, so an improved Ultra call it "Ultra Pro" would hit the spot.
Randy, it's unacceptable for you and especially your wife having to deal with ppl contacting and harassing y'all. I would say the majority of time, I agree with you 90% of the time? I do appreciate your hard work, your dedication and the Contact you put out for Everyone. Maybe I should Thank You or say it more often? You should definitely be proud what you have accomplished with this channel. Great job, Randy!
I have the WiiM Pro Plus which I’m very pleased with but as you stated I don’t think the room analysis is quite right. My room correction shows the bass needs boosting by about 10db at points. That’s too much and have scaled it down to a 3.5db boost which sounds balanced enough for me.
Loving the WiiM Ultra. I went from WiiM mini to Pro to Ultra. Loving it! Replaced my DAC, Streamer, MiniDSP and pre-amp with just the Ultra and it sounds great with my Linton 85th anniv. speakers. I'm not sure I will need to update ever again on those components. I can just focus on the speakers now.
Yeah, the Lintons are on my list. I have a pair of Q acoustic towers that I like, but I don't love them. I've really wanted to get a set of Lintons in here to try.
@@anonimushbosh Apple is so closed minded. They should offer an "Apple Music Connect" app for inclusion in streamers, but I guess they really don't care. If Steve Jobs were still alive that might be different. Airplay 2 as it is, defaults to converting everything to .aac 320Kbps max. That makes is about the same level of quality as Spotify. Better than most Bluetooth, but nothing to write home about, at best a "convenience" feature to have. Funny thing: You could buy a WiiM Mini that does have Airplay 2 and feed it into one of the inputs on the Ultra.
@@tibbified actually all WiiMs support AirPlay2, apart from the current versions of the elite, which has no AirPlay support, due to the chip inside and being launched before apple certified it. They said at launch that future versions will include AirPlay. I don’t know if that’s still the case.
In the Netherlands you go to a hifi fair always fun. Various rooms and then you go to e.g. Macintosh demo and you think wow what a sound. But then the price 17,000 euros just for an amplifier. High-end is only here if you read a review a few sentences and scroll down then it is unaffordable. Fortunately I am satisfied with set now. For many it becomes an not understanding hobby.
Been waiting for this review...so thank you, Randy. I've gone from the Pro to the Pro Plus (2 of each, one on each of my systems), I just don't think I need the Ultra.
Great review. For 2.5 years I have used a RME for my DAC and love it but it’s not for the non technical audio person at all, setup and configuration can be daunting. It as you have pointed out many times the apps to run streamers can be horrible. So I bought a BluSound Node for one reason, it’s App and I bypass the Nodes DAC to the RME. But heck if the app is this good on the Ultra too and with HDMI Arc input I might try this instead of my Node. Again , well done.
Randy , did you quit coffee ? I think this is the first video that you do not have a cup of joe in your hand. Say it isn’t so , my Wiim Pro sounds much better with a cup of joe.
Important sponsor today in this crazy world. I hope your harassment has ceased and peace has returned. As to the product, it certainly seems to be a really good centerpiece of an affordable sound system. Thank you as always for your time, perspectives, and for sharing this with us all. Stay well, Sir.
Yeah 200 calls a day = one call every 7 minutes within 24hr period. Super believable. But I do believe there are nuts out there with serious mental issues.
@@Grooverski You can automate those calls from multiple spoofed numbers, so it's definitely possible. You gotta be some kind of nut to do that, though.
Got my Wiim Ultra today. Curious if anyone has compared phono input versus phono pre-amp into the line-in. I tried but it sounds similar to me. My setup: AT LP120XBT-USB (VM540ML and phono out mode) -> Schiit Mani -> Wiim Ultra -> Denon AVR-X3300W -> Martin Logan Foundation F2
@cheapaudioman This is a very very interesting product. I think the next iteration of this will be the one I jump on, improved DAC and better Apple ecosystem support. They just keep getting better, even on the looks front. Like I said, very very interesting. Great time to be in this hobby, and appreciate your enthusiasm! Everyone else, don't just read this review, like it and become a member of the cheapaudioman channel!🙃
I've looked around and the Ultra doesn't seem to have a high pass option for the analog output. It would be great to get the low bass out of my main speakers and directed to my sub. Is it true that there is no highpass for the analog out -or- is it possible to use the EQ function to do this and have the EQ not effect the sub out?
Great review Randy! Super informative. I really want an Ultra, but I do NOT need one. I have two WiiM Pros, a Pro +, and a Node 2i (in my closet - haha). I think the best move for me would be to upgrade my SU-1 DAC to a J2S w/ AKM-4499. Right?
I like this product a lot. Have it connected to a vintage Sansui amp and it sounds great. I replaced a sonos device because it didn't support the latest Sonos software. This is a huge improvement in functionality and even sound to my old ears. I just don't see Sirius/XM in the supported services (?). Maybe an update?
I have this plugged into an accuphase e800 and focal Sopra 2 speakers. Very lovely clean sound with no coloring to my ears. Works as intended and i dont mind the auto correction. It also has a sub out
I just received my WiiM Ultra this afternoon. I hooked it up to my Schiit Audio Bifrost 2/64 DAC, played a few of my reference albums via Qobuz, and I am impressed.
For me, having a streamer at $329 with USB out was a home run for WiiM. And, their user support is the best I have ever experienced. Fantastic product, fantastic company.
The Wiim is SO tempting--but as an Android user I will stay away until they fix that. Randy, please review the Marantz Stereo 70s as a 2.1 + television solution.
Another Excellent Review. Love the value represented by the WiiM Ultra, but there are two things that are missing that prevent me from purchasing it, are lack of XLR outputs and lack of HDMI out so that I can actually read the album art and information on my large screen TV. Not sure why they are not addressing these missing options. If you want to use this with ZA3 Mono Blocks and save on Ops Op Amps, then you need to use XLR Outputs (saves you the cost of 2 Op Amps). I believe there is a large audience that would purchase this device with these options.
I love the Wiim products and I think they are great for an industry that loves to slap audiophile and Hi-Fi badging on products and then charge a preposterous amount of money for that recognition. The UI is incredible - you absolutely nailed it - I have a mini and I downloaded the app and haven’t used it since adding my “Puck” to my ecosystem. (That’s literally what I renamed it, I had a good laugh when you mentioned Puck in the video) And actually I bought one because Amazon was running a lightning deal for like 65$ and I looked at the specs - pretty much did the eye blink meme, and punched that BUY NOW button. Previously I was super cheap and using Amazon Echo Dots as a poor man’s streamer RCA’d to my Carver MXR, but the Sleep issue that plagues these devices forced my hand. I am super cheap when it comes to audio - the Wiim cost more that my Carver MXR - Phase Linear 400 Cerwin Vega D-3 combo yard sale find by about 20$ 😂😂😂
Hmmm. I’m intrigued but after everyone’s glowing reviews of the Wiim Pro Plus, I bought one. But, the bass was so bloated and sloppy vs the DAC in my Marantz that I returned it. So, I’m “on the fence” on this one.
It is god for a desk audio or as second system in the garage. It is an excellent system for the price. However, it does not even come close to the sound quality of a higher priced streamer/pre amp
I am trying to build a setup with the Wiim ultra and a powered amp. In vodoeo you showed this has a trigger to activate the amp. Could you point me in the right direction. I have looked at Fosi, but none seem to have this trigger connection.
Great review but I think DACs come down to the connections you need. For me, this unit doesn’t have the connections I need. The Topping DX3 Pro+ has 2 Coax In, which is what I need for the equipment I have now. The Bluetooth on the DX3 Pro+ is good enough for me, I don’t need a touchscreen. So to me, the WiiM Ultra is really for the person who streams and wants to connect their turntable and TV, which that’s not me at this time. But for me this is great info for possible future upgrades to my setup.
IMO, the WiiM Ultra Pro is still a better deal at $150. For both products, unless there's no other choice, I wouldn't use the analog inputs (the ADC is overlooked in most reviews), and I wouldn't use the DAC either. Plus, I have no need for a glowing 3.5” artwork display sitting in the corner. I currently use and love two WiiM products, and I’d prefer if they built a device without analog inputs or a DAC. Instead, they could focus on investing in a higher-quality clock while keeping their software as good as it is. Can anyone recommend a streamer that does just that?
Maybe, but most people feeding a "good" external DAC want to use the better clocking in it, not the one in the streamer (on average). I mean, when you buy an "expensive" DAC in the $1000 to $2000 range, it will indeed have a better clocking chip in it than most streamers. (At least until you get up to the Aurrender or Lumin level of streamers). The Innuos streamers look (almost) to fit your bill, but even they have a "cheap" DAC. Maybe they add such DACs as a "convenience" feature, knowing most people will eventually get a better external DAC.
I ended up purchasing the WiiM Ultra. I initially wanted to get another Pro, but it appeared to be sold out on Amazon. I then realized that having USB external storage could be beneficial, and it has been-I connected a 2TB SSD, and it's working great. I'm feeding my Gustard X16 through coax.
well, I have a Ifi zen stream( mostly because I connect local media and already have DACS aplenty) and have it hooked up to an smsl d0200 pro and it sounds awesome, really good. The loosing connection sometimes annoys me but that may be down to the old phone that I am using as a remote. They are generally 399 but I bought a new one for 299 and used the extra to buy the super power supply. Did I mention it sounds great? Well if I didn't, I should have, it sounds fantastic "especially for the price". I hate that saying, it sounds great, all that needs to be said.
Late to this party, it very cool review. It’s like a HiFi Swiss Army knife for a solid set up, coupled with really good solid bang for buck amps and turntables, Cd players and such seems like it be a formidable system! Glad to m w you and the family were kept safe in that wild situation! Be safe and keep up the good work!
I love your reviews, in general. Is this one a paid advertisement, or did you overlook that the FIIO you referenced does have Apple Music available as a download, and it actually CAN play Apple music Hi-Res? Oversight, or intentionally left out?
Does WIFI work better (has more sensitivity) than does their Mini? The Mini could not connect to WIFI for me, even though other devices could easily do at the same distance. It was a show-stopper for me when the Mini would not connect near my A/V equipment no matter what I tried.
It's working the same - without any problem. Wiim mini has standard wifi range as any other wifi device. Works even on a long distance, problem occurs when other devices also have problem. In worst case you can use repeater.
@@trekkis Not so. Any of my laptops work fine at that location and my TV works fine too. The Mini was unable to connect. Possibly I received a defective unit. It was, however, able to connect when moved closer to my wireless router. Having worked with RF, this indicates inadequate sensitivity.
@@fredjoel8113 I have smart home system with 200 elements. Most are zigbee, some thread, but about 50 is wifi. Mini has definitely no worse connection than any of these, no any problem within 100m² area despite walls. Laptops usually have bit better antenas. As I said, you can use repeater or first of all, be sure to use AX router. AC minimum.
@@Loke2112 I want a versatile system that can play stereo music when I want, but also serve as an audio output for my Mac. Me wanting AirPlay is not for lossless music but the occasional RUclips video or whatever sound I need coming out of my laptop or phone.
I just got mine yesterday and it's great! My first Wiim was the Mini, then the Pro+ and now this. Wiim has added support for Android phones for the room correction function. Yesterday I discovered that I can plug my UMM-6 usb microphone into the usb C connector on my phone using an adapter. When I run room correction, it uses the UMM-6 instead of the unknown Android phone mic. I can't load the UMM-6 calibration file into the phone yet, but it still does a pretty good job and I wouldn't be surprised if that's supported in an upcoming release. Wiim certainly is responsive to user requests for new features. The panel display is very useful for changing inputs or selecting from preset EQ curves and I like the album art and song queue display. I was surprised by the weight of this thing considering the internal PSU is a switching type. Beside streaming music sources, I'm able to stream from my own collection via my home network. The USB rear connector will play music from a USB stick as well.
Doing the coin toss on this …especially with my having the Denafrips 12-1 Ares DAC …. Currently running the Wiim Pro as a streamer AND A Parametric EQ for my headphone amplifier….so there’s a lot to consider in this latest Wiim product.
@cheapaudioman what amp would compliment this streamer? I’m trying to power some klipschs rp-600m2. I have Magnet moving cartridge turntable and also rsl 10speed woofer. I currently have a t9 pro but was maybe thinking to “step up” in terms of amp. I appreciate your thoughts
The room correction is subjected to the smart device used. I used my Anthem ARC USB mic with better result than my Samsung S23 mic. We should never use price to determine what an audio device might sound like, they all use the same off the shelf electronics but vary by design philosophy. What really cost the money is mainly marketing and chassis designs. The Chinese manufacturers do not advertise the traditional way, they send an example to RUclipsrs for free... oh and they have the most efficient and best manufacturing process.
I've been using the WiiM Ultra for the past month, terrific device! Connect a pair of Fosi Audio V3 mono blocks and you have a very affordable audiophile grade streamer/DAC/preamp/amp. Hope the next version has XLR balanced in/out!
How does the Ultra compare to the new node Nano? Don't know if you have tested it or plan on doing a comparison but since they are priced about the same I'd be interested in seeing how they compare.
I have a problem with my Wiim mini recognizing songs and albums in in folders. I rip a cd into the folder and go to listen to it and the Wiim doesn’t see it.
*** New Bluesound node “icon” coming! Audiophile streamer Balanced xlr, all new hardware, 5” screen and you can even use Dirac on it. Looks amaz balls!!! $1000 but looks worth every penny from what I saw. No doubt it will upstage the wiim ultra.
@Randy. FINALLY! You got an Ultra in! The review was fantastic and you did something most didn't do on the many Wiim Ultra reviews I have seen already. That something was you answering a direct question I had and that was a sound comparison to another DAC. Specifically, I wondered if this unit was going to sound better than the SMSL SU-1. Was very shocked when you said, "No". I DID buy the SU-1 to try out on my CD player, but as it turned out, the CD player has a better DAC in it than the SU-1. Also, another question asked is how the phono input sounds. I was a bit surprised at that too as I was hoping for better. So in the end, it looks like that I would be needing a better DAC anyway and a better phono input. So it looks like I might better off with just getting separates and use a Wiim Pro for streaming. As for DACs I have been looking at both the Geshelli J2 with the 4499 chipset and also the Denafrips Aries II (Now called Enyo). Which of the two is better? Of course I am hoping that one of these units will top the DAC built into my CD player! So yeah, this was a good one, and a long awaited one. Thanks!
I got one and my existing HIFI is literally destroyed, the Wiim broke out of the box and beat the ship out of it, transistors, capacitors and phono sockets all over the floor.
I learned with my BluSound Node if I use an external dac the bass management is disabled. Are you able to do an external dac and still use the sub out on the WIIM?
I have a bluesound node n130 and use an external dac and bass management is still enabled. Dirac is coming also. Tomorrow is a big day for Bluesound users.
@@ScheleIndiaan What output are you using with the node? I used the USB out to my DAC and their web site told me this disable the analog output to the sub out and the bass management… love the Dirac feature coming
Well that sux concerning your wife. Sorry to hear that. Good to know you've handled it. Ahh come on Randy your saying you are not the Sharpest tool in the drawer...😂. Now if the WiiM Ultra had an opinion switch for phono stage choice now that would be sweet and provide a nice option.
Thanks for the reviews. Getting back to “cheap”… I’ve been following the WiiM products for a while now and have bought the WiiM Pro, but… I’ve been using it as a streamer only as I have a tiny, but awesome sounding Khadas Toneboard DAC which Ive owned for several years. It’s still on sale for about $70. Now, I had been considering an upgrade to the WiiM Ultra to remove the two box setup, until I found out that the Ultra uses the same DAC chip as the Khadas Toneboard! The ESS 9038Q2M. As I’m more a sound over aesthetics kinda person, I’m not sure I’d realise any benefit in changing this setup, especially as I run the Toneboard from a 5v DC battery so the noise floor is completely dead silent. May be a product for you to consider reviewing, at least as a cheap comparison. I also have the Toneboard in a plastic case which I’ve faraday caged using adhesive copper tape, probably something that you’d not want to do with a WiiM Ultra as it’d interfere with the inbuilt WiFi receiver.
Thanks for sharing the review. I thought you were going to talk about the Fosi v3 mono and how to leverage the setup (remember the foreshadowing 😊)? Do you recommend pairing the v3 for a more powerful amp?
You pointed out the great sound quality for the price point. I can't argue with that. I did upgrade the power cord to a Cullen Cable, because I had upgraded to a linear supply on my Pro with excellent results. It would be interesting if some company did a SMPS replacement like they did with the Bluesound. There wouldn't be room, but they could make a bypass to use an external supply. I am using mine with a Holo Spring KTE, and the sound is stellar. I just can't help but wonder if an Eversolo or Bluesound would sound any better than the Ultra when used with a top shelf DAC. In fact, as I wrote that sentence, you said "with an Ares, I don't feel the need to have an expensive streamer". My point exactly...but I have no experience with expensive streamers. I'm guessing you're in DFW, judging from your video trip to San Antonio. The next time you come to Austin (I suspect you do), bring an Eversolo or what have you, and let's see how it all sounds with an Emotiva preamp, single-ended 300Bs, and Cornwalls. You know what to do.
@@AndrewWong08 same here event tho i love more Spotify flexibility and UI i prefer the sound from apple music and the absence of Air Play 2 is a bit of a bummer.
@@AndrewWong08 To be honest not a lot of devices support Apple Music and it’s not going to happen soon, I had to admit to move to Tidal. Tidal Connect is great.
@@yendor86it won't come to the current hardware revision of the Ultra at least. It's missing the MFi chip to support Airplay and possibly Apple Music lossless. There's mixed reports about when Airplay support would come... A hardware update for the current Ultra in a few months or much later, possibly with an "Ultra MK2"
So true Randy, the Ultra is a giant leap in streaming, both hardware and software. I have a $2000 streamer setup right now, and then I received the Ultra... I can see a few more software updates on the WiiM platform taking the Ultra to darn near the same level of sound quality I am experiencing now out of this $2000 setup. And to be blunt, the Ultra is not that far from getting there. Put the Ultra on a Roon setup, like their Nucleus One @ $499, and I believe most folks would be very very happy. I could easily live with this setup, the Roon Nucleus One and the Ultra, all for under a grand.
Does anyone know if this wiim would be suitable to use with a pair of Q Acoustics M20 Bluetooth speakers? (Or any other Bluetooth active speakers). I'm really considering purchasing the wiim ultra to give my speakers that little bit extra power and sound quantity, not to mention the extra sound sources. My other concern is having the possibility of 2 Bluetooth devices connected to my phone at the same time. Will there be an issue?
Hey Randy, I picked up the Wiim amp and love it. I am planning on adding a turntable in the near future. The Wiim amp does not have dedicated phono input like the Ultra and therefore there is no grounding post. How would I ground a turntable to my Wiim amp?
If your turntable has a phono stage (amp) in it, then you should be able to ground it to the case, if you have any hum from a ground loop, using a small (not very long as you don't want it touching anything inside) self-tapping sheet metal screw on the back (assuming part of the case of the WiiM Amp is metal and not plastic). If your turntable does not have a phono stage (amp) in it that does all the RIAA curve magic, then you'd need to buy one like the Schiit Mani. Your TT would ground to the Mani in that case. And the Mani would simply feed into one of the RCA inputs on the WiiM amp.
Now I want to see them tackle serious Hi-Fi. All of these features but with Balanced outs including sub, quality analog preamp, better phono, multiple inputs for digital and analog, 4499 EX or ES9039, all metal construction, notable power supply (doesn't need to be linear, just good). If they could do all that with the best of the current feature set they'd body everyone else.
I'd love an Ultra with a bigger screen, no phono, no DAC (just a streamer only), but with the addition of I2S out. All metal construction or just about would be a plus.
Dumb question, and maybe I missed something- for a Wiim Pro or amp for ex. , connect an external DAC (via opt) like an SMSL for improvement? Many thanks. I’m considering the ultra, have a pro n amp, but looking for the best external dac for a secondary.
I bought the Ultra and I use it in my CJ pre/B&K Amps and Lintons. Running through an old Aragon D2A DAC it sounds wonderful. Room correction wasn’t worth it with my system.
its great for what you can get for $329 - I even used it for a few days as a sole preamp - i used it with the internal dac - with an outboard dac - i used the eq and the subwoofer out - after a few days u realize its just ok when compared to much better preamps, dacs and streamers - i got to the point where i had to take it out of my system - because its glarry and hashy and not so refined as u first think. its very good for the money - but no david defeating goliath - It really isnt
Bluesound yesterday launched the Node Nano that is a cheaper Node that meets the wiim right here as the price is about the same but, as you said, the quality is better. 🤔
Everything you review now a days is the BEST. Hard to take you SERIOUSLY!😊 I almost watch your videos for ENTERTAINMENT VALUE and not to learn about new products 😅
the way my eyes lit up when I saw the Elac 3 !! can't wait for your review on it !! would love a few short clipped microphone recorded samples like what new record day does . Regarding streamers, I use Apple Music so I was thinking of just plugging in my phone/iPad straight into a schiit multi bit 2 via usb. Though the Wiim ultra does look really amazing though, I do love the way they designed it aesthetically . It's great to see a company be really innovative for it's customer base.
The Ultra is my 4th WiiM purchase after two Pros and a Pro Plus. And I still have a Bluesound Node. Roon support is key to me but they all work as well with file sharing from the Accent DLNA software running on my NAS. They use the same FLAC files as my Roon server uses. The Ultra is missing Apple AirPlay but I think the Ultra can take a Belkin sound stream input but haven’t tried it yet. Tank you and take care.
I just purchased a WiiM Ultra and a ZA3 from Amazon for a total of $460 delivered in one day. I decided to get this for the Master as a second system to pair with my RP-600 M's that I purchased in used but excellent condition for $200. All in for $660. After listening to you and picking up a pair of SSCS-5's a while back with my Class D entry of a DA2120C, I decided to continue down this hobby or "Abbey Road" further so thanks again. My next step will be rolling Op Amps but that can wait for a bit. I'll probably wait for Cyber Monday for those..... 😆
Ultra into the Fosi BT20a pro with a pair of Klipsch 600m ii (got these at a great price $250.00 from a co-worker) Yes the treble and bass can still be used while running the ultra. 🎼🎼🔊🔊 no sub yet as I am scouting marketplace and forums, so might be a few weeks.
I fully agree with you WiiM app is incredibly user friendly compared to many other streamers and has a variety of options like Tidal Connect, Roon Endpoint and so fort.. The question is will its streamer part do as well as much higher priced steamer / DACs like Ever Sole DMP6 or DMP6 Master Edition or Volumio Rivo. I have been able to test WiiM Pro with HiFi Rose RS250 going to the same DAC Gustard R26 and I could hear the streamer sound difference. Rose had a little bolder sound and deeper base where WiiM sounded slightly thinner but Its not a huge difference when compared to the huge price difference
This is a good question, and being a Volumio Rivo owner, I can tell you that out of the box, head to head, Ultra vs Rivo, the price differential is not worth it, get the Ultra. Now, add a quality power supply to the Rivo, you cannot do this with the Ultra, now we start parting ways. Then add Roon, and we are up another notch or two depending upon your system. Now we are at say $2000 with the Rivo, LPS power supply and Roon. $329 vs $2000? Again, unless you have money to burn, stick with the Ultra. I think I am keeping my Ultra, as WiiM updates the software so often, and the Ultra, at least to my ear, sounds much better than the WiiM Pro+ due to the better build quality of the streamer in the Ultra. I could see with a few more software updates, if done properly, will destroy my Rivo system. Randy is spot on, this is a giant leap in the audio streamer industry.
Very curious to know how a WiiM Mini connected to an SMSL SU-1 or a Gesheli J2 (AKM) sounds compared to the Ultra. (Especially, given your experience with the room correction.)
I like the display for album art. Just can't get a sense of the sound on the WiiM ultra just for music. Does it have a built-in app, tone control, and or EQ?
What do you do if one of your music streaming services (Presto) isn’t supported? Is there some “alternate” way for the Wiim to play it? If yes, will it sound worse than if it were supported?
So for $750 I can get a Wiim Ultra for my living room, a Wiim Pro Plus for my desk, and a WIIM Mini for my Patio and play the same music throughout the house? Wow, talk about cheapaudio Man!!!
I'm just waiting for the Wiim Ultra Plus to come out, hopefully Android friendly, all black and with a bigger screen. I would pay $800 for that over the EverSolo.
@@Paul-tw3yiNo one waiting for the Wiim Ultra Minus - screen but no dac?
I ❤ Wiim. The minis go on sale for $70. I have 4 and the amp and enjoy whole home audio.
I even have a mini in a Milwaukee construction boom box as a floater. The USB power and the hockey puck size is ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@@mattmiller4978 BTW: if you have a Wimm mini and link is to a Wiim member with Chromecast, will it play the Chromecasted content too? Should work, but whateverever I read on the fora makes me think Google thought about this and made it impossible.
@@anonimushbosh just get a wiim mini then and use optical out to your own DAC. That is exactly what you're after.
In the context of a review, the omission of Airplay 2 on this product is probably worth mentioning.
This. Also mentioning it will NEVER come to the device definitely needs to be mentioned
@@ParkerTylerI think it will never come to the already built devices, but may be included in the future on new builds.
@@robertldcarlsonthat’s what I read too. It’ll be on future versions, but it can’t come to existing models due to the chip inside.
I'd love for a successor to the Monitor Audio Airstream A100, with Airplay (2) but also Spotify Connect, Plex (and maybe Roon), etc., and HDMI ARC.
OTOH, the more services you integrate, the more the chance that one of these services might stop being supported in the future. It sometimes happens. It's not like in the olden days where you put cinch connectors on the back of your amp, and it would work until the amp broke down; Spotify Connect only works as long as Spotify wants it to work.
Maybe there is something to be said for a "dumb" (but digital) preamp with HDMI ARC, bluetooth, and ok, support for Google Cast and Airplay 2. But not for connecting to services. That can then be handled by dedicated devices, dongles, etc. And they can be cheap because they just output a digital signal; no high quality components are required.
Agreed...Apple Music is terrific, what I stream, sounds better than Amazon Hi-Res to my ears. Any streamer purchase decision would consider if Apple Music can stream on it.
Sorry to hear about the harrasment you and your wife experienced. Even worse when your family got affected as well. Very informative review and the UI of the Wiim looks super sharp and easy to use. Prices of Wiim products in Australia are very resonable.
I would have made a non-touchscreen display, and used that money for better internals instead. I really don't see the need for a touchscreen.
Given today's prices on such things, it probably wasn't that much more than a non-touch screen, and they could tout it as a "feature".
or a display :p
@@rosswarren436Yes. 5 years ago I priced the same HP Chromebook with 14" FHD screen - touch was $20 more, for a much larger screen than the Wiim's.
What do you do with better internals if sound is already transparent?
@@radicalturkeyno HDMI Arc on either of those 👎
Got my Ultra a week ago - surprisingly, analogue out sounds so much better than my Wiim Pro Plus. I actually ditched my 500$ Marantz DAC - no need for it in my (modestly priced) setup now. Quite incredible.
Great video. Thanks!
I've had my Wiim Ultra for about three weeks and have been dazzled by it.
And support? I've applied four updates since I received the unit. It's now faster at input switching and has more features.
Now I'm thinking I need to plug it into my external DAC (Schiit Modi+) and do a real A/B. I've had no complaints about the sound so far, so probably I have 'cheap' ears. 😁
I am as well wondering the same.
I got the Wiim Ultra to pair with my vintage system. At first tried the internal dac. Later added the SMSL SU-1 and it sounds much better. Guess I've gotten accustomed to the AKM sound. WIIM needs to add different skins for the V.U. Meter display. Options to match my Pioneer V.U. or a Marantz or whatever would be nice. Enjoy your channel.
I think one of the most impressive things about the WIIM Ultra is the box it comes in. My dad worked at a high-end packaging company, and I'm sure he would have been impressed.
@@davidalmieda6617 it is almost more heavier than WiiM itself kk
Just got my WIIM Ultra set up. Works great with Sonos amp using RCA cables. Love it.
Now that Bluesound and WiiM are going head to head, I would love to see what WiiM could do in the $700 to $900 range. Upgrade the DAC in the Ultra to an AKM 4499/4491, upgrade the power supply, upgrade (or eliminate) the phono preamp. Keep the great app and UX. Right now I run the Matrix Element X. Great sound, a little difficult to use, won't stream the missus' Amazon music. I dont want to spend a ton on another streamer, so an improved Ultra call it "Ultra Pro" would hit the spot.
Wiim Ultra + Unico Primo + Wharfdale Linton 85 = 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Randy, it's unacceptable for you and especially your wife having to deal with ppl contacting and harassing y'all. I would say the majority of time, I agree with you 90% of the time? I do appreciate your hard work, your dedication and the Contact you put out for Everyone. Maybe I should Thank You or say it more often? You should definitely be proud what you have accomplished with this channel. Great job, Randy!
I have the WiiM Pro Plus which I’m very pleased with but as you stated I don’t think the room analysis is quite right. My room correction shows the bass needs boosting by about 10db at points. That’s too much and have scaled it down to a 3.5db boost which sounds balanced enough for me.
I have this same issue as well.
Can you connect ifi zen dac to the wiim ultra
Loving the WiiM Ultra. I went from WiiM mini to Pro to Ultra. Loving it! Replaced my DAC, Streamer, MiniDSP and pre-amp with just the Ultra and it sounds great with my Linton 85th anniv. speakers. I'm not sure I will need to update ever again on those components. I can just focus on the speakers now.
Spoiler alert: with Linton 85th you do not need to upgrade speakers😁
Yeah, the Lintons are on my list. I have a pair of Q acoustic towers that I like, but I don't love them. I've really wanted to get a set of Lintons in here to try.
May i ask which amp do you use with the Lintons?
Do you think an external DAC is necessary? I was excited until he said an SU1 DAC sounded better?!?!!
Which model? What dont you enjoy? @@limulus61
WiiM Ultra does not support AirPlay. I think you said it does.
Yeah… bit of a letdown. No Apple Music now or ever (apparently) for Ultras. Odd!
@@anonimushbosh Apple is so closed minded. They should offer an "Apple Music Connect" app for inclusion in streamers, but I guess they really don't care. If Steve Jobs were still alive that might be different.
Airplay 2 as it is, defaults to converting everything to .aac 320Kbps max. That makes is about the same level of quality as Spotify. Better than most Bluetooth, but nothing to write home about, at best a "convenience" feature to have.
Funny thing: You could buy a WiiM Mini that does have Airplay 2 and feed it into one of the inputs on the Ultra.
It will be on future versions, but existing models can’t be updated as it needs a different chip.
@@anonimushbosh Its not really odd. Apple sucks at anything to do with audio.
@@tibbified actually all WiiMs support AirPlay2, apart from the current versions of the elite, which has no AirPlay support, due to the chip inside and being launched before apple certified it. They said at launch that future versions will include AirPlay. I don’t know if that’s still the case.
In the Netherlands you go to a hifi fair always fun. Various rooms and then you go to e.g. Macintosh demo and you think wow what a sound. But then the price 17,000 euros just for an amplifier. High-end is only here if you read a review a few sentences and scroll down then it is unaffordable. Fortunately I am satisfied with set now. For many it becomes an not understanding hobby.
Been waiting for this review...so thank you, Randy. I've gone from the Pro to the Pro Plus (2 of each, one on each of my systems), I just don't think I need the Ultra.
Looking forward to some head to head dac comparisons on the ultra
Great review. For 2.5 years I have used a RME for my DAC and love it but it’s not for the non technical audio person at all, setup and configuration can be daunting. It as you have pointed out many times the apps to run streamers can be horrible. So I bought a BluSound Node for one reason, it’s App and I bypass the Nodes DAC to the RME. But heck if the app is this good on the Ultra too and with HDMI Arc input I might try this instead of my Node. Again , well done.
Just got over 200 hours on my Ultra. Very, very nice!
Mine arrived yesterday. I’m still tweaking the sound to get it where I want it but so far I’m pretty blown away.
Thank you Mr. ..and greeatings from Germany. It was (as always) a pleasure to see a video from and with you :)
Randy , did you quit coffee ? I think this is the first video that you do not have a cup of joe in your hand. Say it isn’t so , my Wiim Pro sounds much better with a cup of joe.
Important sponsor today in this crazy world. I hope your harassment has ceased and peace has returned. As to the product, it certainly seems to be a really good centerpiece of an affordable sound system. Thank you as always for your time, perspectives, and for sharing this with us all. Stay well, Sir.
Yeah 200 calls a day = one call every 7 minutes within 24hr period. Super believable. But I do believe there are nuts out there with serious mental issues.
@@Grooverski You can automate those calls from multiple spoofed numbers, so it's definitely possible. You gotta be some kind of nut to do that, though.
Got my Wiim Ultra today. Curious if anyone has compared phono input versus phono pre-amp into the line-in. I tried but it sounds similar to me.
My setup: AT LP120XBT-USB (VM540ML and phono out mode) -> Schiit Mani -> Wiim Ultra -> Denon AVR-X3300W -> Martin Logan Foundation F2
@cheapaudioman This is a very very interesting product. I think the next iteration of this will be the one I jump on, improved DAC and better Apple ecosystem support. They just keep getting better, even on the looks front. Like I said, very very interesting. Great time to be in this hobby, and appreciate your enthusiasm! Everyone else, don't just read this review, like it and become a member of the cheapaudioman channel!🙃
Does using the sub out activate any bass management or anything? I think I'm going to get one but this is important to me to know first.
I've looked around and the Ultra doesn't seem to have a high pass option for the analog output. It would be great to get the low bass out of my main speakers and directed to my sub. Is it true that there is no highpass for the analog out -or- is it possible to use the EQ function to do this and have the EQ not effect the sub out?
Good question
Great review Randy! Super informative. I really want an Ultra, but I do NOT need one. I have two WiiM Pros, a Pro +, and a Node 2i (in my closet - haha). I think the best move for me would be to upgrade my SU-1 DAC to a J2S w/ AKM-4499. Right?
I like this product a lot. Have it connected to a vintage Sansui amp and it sounds great. I replaced a sonos device because it didn't support the latest Sonos software. This is a huge improvement in functionality and even sound to my old ears. I just don't see Sirius/XM in the supported services (?). Maybe an update?
I have this plugged into an accuphase e800 and focal Sopra 2 speakers. Very lovely clean sound with no coloring to my ears. Works as intended and i dont mind the auto correction. It also has a sub out
I can't believe someone would bring your wife into a so called disgruntlement.
Totally uncalled for and ridiculous in my eyes.
Exceptional value to performance. Personally I use just WiiM Pro with much more expensive DAC with exceptional analogue output section.
I just received my WiiM Ultra this afternoon. I hooked it up to my Schiit Audio Bifrost 2/64 DAC, played a few of my reference albums via Qobuz, and I am impressed.
For me, having a streamer at $329 with USB out was a home run for WiiM. And, their user support is the best I have ever experienced. Fantastic product, fantastic company.
USB out? Does this mean I can connect this to my PC and not have any audio delay? Like the Sonos amp?
@@juandoe7802 I connect it to a Raspberry Pi running CamillaDSP and camilladsp-setrate.
@@juandoe7802 wouldn’t that be USB in (on Wiim)?
@@stefan_luptak I'm not sure to be honest, I don't understand much of this stuff.
The Wiim is SO tempting--but as an Android user I will stay away until they fix that. Randy, please review the Marantz Stereo 70s as a 2.1 + television solution.
Just borrow a relative's or friend's iPhone for a bit and set it up, make some adjustments, then leave it alone.
Room correction is fixed, updated and working on Android now.
Another Excellent Review. Love the value represented by the WiiM Ultra, but there are two things that are missing that prevent me from purchasing it, are lack of XLR outputs and lack of HDMI out so that I can actually read the album art and information on my large screen TV. Not sure why they are not addressing these missing options. If you want to use this with ZA3 Mono Blocks and save on Ops Op Amps, then you need to use XLR Outputs (saves you the cost of 2 Op Amps). I believe there is a large audience that would purchase this device with these options.
XLR outputs would price it out of the reach for many.
Thay did a good job on the design ❤
I love the Wiim products and I think they are great for an industry that loves to slap audiophile and Hi-Fi badging on products and then charge a preposterous amount of money for that recognition. The UI is incredible - you absolutely nailed it - I have a mini and I downloaded the app and haven’t used it since adding my “Puck” to my ecosystem. (That’s literally what I renamed it, I had a good laugh when you mentioned Puck in the video) And actually I bought one because Amazon was running a lightning deal for like 65$ and I looked at the specs - pretty much did the eye blink meme, and punched that BUY NOW button. Previously I was super cheap and using Amazon Echo Dots as a poor man’s streamer RCA’d to my Carver MXR, but the Sleep issue that plagues these devices forced my hand. I am super cheap when it comes to audio - the Wiim cost more that my Carver MXR - Phase Linear 400 Cerwin Vega D-3 combo yard sale find by about 20$ 😂😂😂
Do you think this would pair well with my SMSL A12 or should I seek another amp or instead powered speakers?
Hmmm. I’m intrigued but after everyone’s glowing reviews of the Wiim Pro Plus, I bought one. But, the bass was so bloated and sloppy vs the DAC in my Marantz that I returned it. So, I’m “on the fence” on this one.
It is god for a desk audio or as second system in the garage. It is an excellent system for the price. However, it does not even come close to the sound quality of a higher priced streamer/pre amp
Is that your subjective opinion or the outcome of a double blind test, just curious?
I am trying to build a setup with the Wiim ultra and a powered amp. In vodoeo you showed this has a trigger to activate the amp. Could you point me in the right direction. I have looked at Fosi, but none seem to have this trigger connection.
Great review but I think DACs come down to the connections you need. For me, this unit doesn’t have the connections I need. The Topping DX3 Pro+ has 2 Coax In, which is what I need for the equipment I have now. The Bluetooth on the DX3 Pro+ is good enough for me, I don’t need a touchscreen. So to me, the WiiM Ultra is really for the person who streams and wants to connect their turntable and TV, which that’s not me at this time. But for me this is great info for possible future upgrades to my setup.
IMO, the WiiM Ultra Pro is still a better deal at $150. For both products, unless there's no other choice, I wouldn't use the analog inputs (the ADC is overlooked in most reviews), and I wouldn't use the DAC either. Plus, I have no need for a glowing 3.5” artwork display sitting in the corner.
I currently use and love two WiiM products, and I’d prefer if they built a device without analog inputs or a DAC. Instead, they could focus on investing in a higher-quality clock while keeping their software as good as it is.
Can anyone recommend a streamer that does just that?
Maybe, but most people feeding a "good" external DAC want to use the better clocking in it, not the one in the streamer (on average). I mean, when you buy an "expensive" DAC in the $1000 to $2000 range, it will indeed have a better clocking chip in it than most streamers. (At least until you get up to the Aurrender or Lumin level of streamers).
The Innuos streamers look (almost) to fit your bill, but even they have a "cheap" DAC. Maybe they add such DACs as a "convenience" feature, knowing most people will eventually get a better external DAC.
I ended up purchasing the WiiM Ultra. I initially wanted to get another Pro, but it appeared to be sold out on Amazon. I then realized that having USB external storage could be beneficial, and it has been-I connected a 2TB SSD, and it's working great. I'm feeding my Gustard X16 through coax.
@@01010100001010101001 how well did it find and index your 2TB SSD? Can you search and find albums to play in a reasonable amount of time? Thanks.
well, I have a Ifi zen stream( mostly because I connect local media and already have DACS aplenty) and have it hooked up to an smsl d0200 pro and it sounds awesome, really good. The loosing connection sometimes annoys me but that may be down to
the old phone that I am using as a remote. They are generally 399 but I bought a new one for 299 and used the extra to buy the super power supply. Did I mention it sounds great? Well if I didn't, I should have, it sounds fantastic "especially for the price". I hate that saying, it sounds great, all that needs to be said.
Late to this party, it very cool review. It’s like a HiFi Swiss Army knife for a solid set up, coupled with really good solid bang for buck amps and turntables, Cd players and such seems like it be a formidable system! Glad to m w you and the family were kept safe in that wild situation! Be safe and keep up the good work!
I love your reviews, in general. Is this one a paid advertisement, or did you overlook that the FIIO you referenced does have Apple Music available as a download, and it actually CAN play Apple music Hi-Res? Oversight, or intentionally left out?
@@ssalbo9117 Don't forget that the Eversolo he mentioned can also download Apple Music and play hi-res as well. Makes you wonder, huh?
I found this to be very informative. A great product to start one’s journey into HiFi.
Does WIFI work better (has more sensitivity) than does their Mini? The Mini could not connect to WIFI for me, even though other devices could easily do at the same distance. It was a show-stopper for me when the Mini would not connect near my A/V equipment no matter what I tried.
It's working the same - without any problem. Wiim mini has standard wifi range as any other wifi device. Works even on a long distance, problem occurs when other devices also have problem. In worst case you can use repeater.
@@trekkis Not so. Any of my laptops work fine at that location and my TV works fine too. The Mini was unable to connect. Possibly I received a defective unit. It was, however, able to connect when moved closer to my wireless router. Having worked with RF, this indicates inadequate sensitivity.
@@fredjoel8113 I have smart home system with 200 elements. Most are zigbee, some thread, but about 50 is wifi. Mini has definitely no worse connection than any of these, no any problem within 100m² area despite walls. Laptops usually have bit better antenas. As I said, you can use repeater or first of all, be sure to use AX router. AC minimum.
Lack of Air Play2 support is kind of a dealbreaker.
Not for me it isn't.
@@leecooper8589 Good for you.
If hooked to an Apple TV it’s a non issue for me at least.
The lacks of ability for AirPlay 2 to stream lossless was a deal breaker for me the heck with Apple
@@Loke2112 I want a versatile system that can play stereo music when I want, but also serve as an audio output for my Mac. Me wanting AirPlay is not for lossless music but the occasional RUclips video or whatever sound I need coming out of my laptop or phone.
I just got mine yesterday and it's great! My first Wiim was the Mini, then the Pro+ and now this. Wiim has added support for Android phones for the room correction function. Yesterday I discovered that I can plug my UMM-6 usb microphone into the usb C connector on my phone using an adapter. When I run room correction, it uses the UMM-6 instead of the unknown Android phone mic. I can't load the UMM-6 calibration file into the phone yet, but it still does a pretty good job and I wouldn't be surprised if that's supported in an upcoming release. Wiim certainly is responsive to user requests for new features. The panel display is very useful for changing inputs or selecting from preset EQ curves and I like the album art and song queue display. I was surprised by the weight of this thing considering the internal PSU is a switching type. Beside streaming music sources, I'm able to stream from my own collection via my home network. The USB rear connector will play music from a USB stick as well.
£345.00( $450) here in rip off Britain but still one hell of a bargain!!!
$599 in Australia! ???! Why ???
@@TheChrisleekay in UK advertised with the 20% VAT, sales tax is applied at purchase time in USA.
Arrrr yeah forgot you don't add vat to the sale price 😊
Doing the coin toss on this …especially with my having the Denafrips 12-1 Ares DAC ….
Currently running the Wiim Pro as a streamer AND A Parametric EQ for my headphone amplifier….so there’s a lot to consider in this latest Wiim product.
What amp would one pair with this?
CAM did an amp video 1 or 2 weeks ago. You could do a class D or even Emotiva A2m for
Berry good question!
Good video. You should include where the products you review are designed and manufactured. Thanks.
Cheap (Randy) - Good news! My Denafrips Enyo 15th has arrived. Sweet!
@cheapaudioman what amp would compliment this streamer? I’m trying to power some klipschs rp-600m2. I have Magnet moving cartridge turntable and also rsl 10speed woofer. I currently have a t9 pro but was maybe thinking to “step up” in terms of amp. I appreciate your thoughts
Maybe Emotiva A2m?
The room correction is subjected to the smart device used. I used my Anthem ARC USB mic with better result than my Samsung S23 mic. We should never use price to determine what an audio device might sound like, they all use the same off the shelf electronics but vary by design philosophy. What really cost the money is mainly marketing and chassis designs. The Chinese manufacturers do not advertise the traditional way, they send an example to RUclipsrs for free... oh and they have the most efficient and best manufacturing process.
I've been using the WiiM Ultra for the past month, terrific device! Connect a pair of Fosi Audio V3 mono blocks and you have a very affordable audiophile grade streamer/DAC/preamp/amp. Hope the next version has XLR balanced in/out!
Out of curiosity would you buy this, the loxjie a40 or the yamaha as301 for a small setup used mainly for producing and listening to vinyl. Much love
How does the Ultra compare to the new node Nano? Don't know if you have tested it or plan on doing a comparison but since they are priced about the same I'd be interested in seeing how they compare.
Is the RTA only shown with HDMI? I could not find the option
you knocked it out of the park! Great job Randy
I have a problem with my Wiim mini recognizing songs and albums in in folders. I rip a cd into the folder and go to listen to it and the Wiim doesn’t see it.
*** New Bluesound node “icon” coming!
Audiophile streamer
Balanced xlr, all new hardware, 5” screen and you can even use Dirac on it.
Looks amaz balls!!!
$1000 but looks worth every penny from what I saw.
No doubt it will upstage the wiim ultra.
Wait about 2 hours. It’s not the icon but I got something special and new
@@cheapaudioman awesome! I’ll be here !
@@Audiodreamer192-24 and no peq.
@Randy. FINALLY! You got an Ultra in! The review was fantastic and you did something most didn't do on the many Wiim Ultra reviews I have seen already. That something was you answering a direct question I had and that was a sound comparison to another DAC. Specifically, I wondered if this unit was going to sound better than the SMSL SU-1. Was very shocked when you said, "No". I DID buy the SU-1 to try out on my CD player, but as it turned out, the CD player has a better DAC in it than the SU-1. Also, another question asked is how the phono input sounds. I was a bit surprised at that too as I was hoping for better. So in the end, it looks like that I would be needing a better DAC anyway and a better phono input. So it looks like I might better off with just getting separates and use a Wiim Pro for streaming. As for DACs I have been looking at both the Geshelli J2 with the 4499 chipset and also the Denafrips Aries II (Now called Enyo). Which of the two is better? Of course I am hoping that one of these units will top the DAC built into my CD player! So yeah, this was a good one, and a long awaited one. Thanks!
I got one and my existing HIFI is literally destroyed, the Wiim broke out of the box and beat the ship out of it, transistors, capacitors and phono sockets all over the floor.
I hope you wore protection.
🤣🤣🤣
I learned with my BluSound Node if I use an external dac the bass management is disabled. Are you able to do an external dac and still use the sub out on the WIIM?
Yes, which is absolute killer feature. :)
I have a bluesound node n130 and use an external dac and bass management is still enabled.
Dirac is coming also. Tomorrow is a big day for Bluesound users.
@@ScheleIndiaan What output are you using with the node? I used the USB out to my DAC and their web site told me this disable the analog output to the sub out and the bass management… love the Dirac feature coming
@@mrmessyjesse coaxial. I can recommend you try that output wholeheartedly. It gave me much better sound than a USB connection.
Would this sound better than raspberry pl with a coax pi hat ? I'm not using a dac just the input on the back of the parasound p6 .
No. Exactly the same. If your pi does not create noise or distortion. Which it shouldn't
Well that sux concerning your wife. Sorry to hear that. Good to know you've handled it. Ahh come on Randy your saying you are not the Sharpest tool in the drawer...😂. Now if the WiiM Ultra had an opinion switch for phono stage choice now that would be sweet and provide a nice option.
Thanks for the reviews. Getting back to “cheap”… I’ve been following the WiiM products for a while now and have bought the WiiM Pro, but… I’ve been using it as a streamer only as I have a tiny, but awesome sounding Khadas Toneboard DAC which Ive owned for several years. It’s still on sale for about $70. Now, I had been considering an upgrade to the WiiM Ultra to remove the two box setup, until I found out that the Ultra uses the same DAC chip as the Khadas Toneboard! The ESS 9038Q2M.
As I’m more a sound over aesthetics kinda person, I’m not sure I’d realise any benefit in changing this setup, especially as I run the Toneboard from a 5v DC battery so the noise floor is completely dead silent. May be a product for you to consider reviewing, at least as a cheap comparison. I also have the Toneboard in a plastic case which I’ve faraday caged using adhesive copper tape, probably something that you’d not want to do with a WiiM Ultra as it’d interfere with the inbuilt WiFi receiver.
Thanks for sharing the review. I thought you were going to talk about the Fosi v3 mono and how to leverage the setup (remember the foreshadowing 😊)? Do you recommend pairing the v3 for a more powerful amp?
You pointed out the great sound quality for the price point. I can't argue with that.
I did upgrade the power cord to a Cullen Cable, because I had upgraded to a linear supply on my Pro with excellent results. It would be interesting if some company did a SMPS replacement like they did with the Bluesound. There wouldn't be room, but they could make a bypass to use an external supply.
I am using mine with a Holo Spring KTE, and the sound is stellar. I just can't help but wonder if an Eversolo or Bluesound would sound any better than the Ultra when used with a top shelf DAC. In fact, as I wrote that sentence, you said "with an Ares, I don't feel the need to have an expensive streamer". My point exactly...but I have no experience with expensive streamers.
I'm guessing you're in DFW, judging from your video trip to San Antonio. The next time you come to Austin (I suspect you do), bring an Eversolo or what have you, and let's see how it all sounds with an Emotiva preamp, single-ended 300Bs, and Cornwalls. You know what to do.
Just got it because of this video. Thank you! I have Klipsch the Nines… how would you set this system up? Optical cable or ???
Can I ask how you get the spectrum analyser display please? Thanks.
The only thing holding me back is the lack of Apple Music support.
@@AndrewWong08 same here event tho i love more Spotify flexibility and UI i prefer the sound from apple music and the absence of Air Play 2 is a bit of a bummer.
I don't see Apple lossless coming to WiiM. Eversolo streamer with an external DAC is great for Apple Music users.
@@Feliciano12v Why don’t you think Apple Lossless will come to the WiiM?
@@AndrewWong08 To be honest not a lot of devices support Apple Music and it’s not going to happen soon, I had to admit to move to Tidal. Tidal Connect is great.
@@yendor86it won't come to the current hardware revision of the Ultra at least. It's missing the MFi chip to support Airplay and possibly Apple Music lossless. There's mixed reports about when Airplay support would come... A hardware update for the current Ultra in a few months or much later, possibly with an "Ultra MK2"
So true Randy, the Ultra is a giant leap in streaming, both hardware and software. I have a $2000 streamer setup right now, and then I received the Ultra... I can see a few more software updates on the WiiM platform taking the Ultra to darn near the same level of sound quality I am experiencing now out of this $2000 setup. And to be blunt, the Ultra is not that far from getting there. Put the Ultra on a Roon setup, like their Nucleus One @ $499, and I believe most folks would be very very happy. I could easily live with this setup, the Roon Nucleus One and the Ultra, all for under a grand.
Hi all,
Can you still use the room correction and eq functions of the Ultra if you use an external dac?
Does anyone know if this wiim would be suitable to use with a pair of Q Acoustics M20 Bluetooth speakers? (Or any other Bluetooth active speakers). I'm really considering purchasing the wiim ultra to give my speakers that little bit extra power and sound quantity, not to mention the extra sound sources. My other concern is having the possibility of 2 Bluetooth devices connected to my phone at the same time. Will there be an issue?
Hey Randy, I picked up the Wiim amp and love it. I am planning on adding a turntable in the near future. The Wiim amp does not have dedicated phono input like the Ultra and therefore there is no grounding post. How would I ground a turntable to my Wiim amp?
If your turntable has a phono stage (amp) in it, then you should be able to ground it to the case, if you have any hum from a ground loop, using a small (not very long as you don't want it touching anything inside) self-tapping sheet metal screw on the back (assuming part of the case of the WiiM Amp is metal and not plastic). If your turntable does not have a phono stage (amp) in it that does all the RIAA curve magic, then you'd need to buy one like the Schiit Mani. Your TT would ground to the Mani in that case. And the Mani would simply feed into one of the RCA inputs on the WiiM amp.
Can the Ultra be completely controlled on the front screen, or do you still need a phone/tablet/computer with the app downloaded?
You need app.
Now I want to see them tackle serious Hi-Fi. All of these features but with Balanced outs including sub, quality analog preamp, better phono, multiple inputs for digital and analog, 4499 EX or ES9039, all metal construction, notable power supply (doesn't need to be linear, just good). If they could do all that with the best of the current feature set they'd body everyone else.
I'd love an Ultra with a bigger screen, no phono, no DAC (just a streamer only), but with the addition of I2S out. All metal construction or just about would be a plus.
i think the front side makes it look very cheap.
anyway, can i use a turntable with built in phono stage connected to this? does it make sense?
Dumb question, and maybe I missed something- for a Wiim Pro or amp for ex. , connect an external DAC (via opt) like an SMSL for improvement? Many thanks. I’m considering the ultra, have a pro n amp, but looking for the best external dac for a secondary.
Yes, use the Wiim Optical output into your external DAC. In that way you use the external and bypass the internal Wiim DAC.
I bought the Ultra and I use it in my CJ pre/B&K Amps and Lintons. Running through an old Aragon D2A DAC it sounds wonderful. Room correction wasn’t worth it with my system.
its great for what you can get for $329 - I even used it for a few days as a sole preamp - i used it with the internal dac - with an outboard dac - i used the eq and the subwoofer out - after a few days u realize its just ok when compared to much better preamps, dacs and streamers - i got to the point where i had to take it out of my system - because its glarry and hashy and not so refined as u first think. its very good for the money - but no david defeating goliath - It really isnt
Can it also function as a music server via the USB port of I connect a hard drive or have a NAS drive in my network?
Bluesound yesterday launched the Node Nano that is a cheaper Node that meets the wiim right here as the price is about the same but, as you said, the quality is better. 🤔
Everything you review now a days is the BEST.
Hard to take you SERIOUSLY!😊
I almost watch your videos for ENTERTAINMENT VALUE and not to learn about new products 😅
the way my eyes lit up when I saw the Elac 3 !! can't wait for your review on it !! would love a few short clipped microphone recorded samples like what new record day does . Regarding streamers, I use Apple Music so I was thinking of just plugging in my phone/iPad straight into a schiit multi bit 2 via usb. Though the Wiim ultra does look really amazing though, I do love the way they designed it aesthetically . It's great to see a company be really innovative for it's customer base.
The Ultra is my 4th WiiM purchase after two Pros and a Pro Plus. And I still have a Bluesound Node. Roon support is key to me but they all work as well with file sharing from the Accent DLNA software running on my NAS. They use the same FLAC files as my Roon server uses. The Ultra is missing Apple AirPlay but I think the Ultra can take a Belkin sound stream input but haven’t tried it yet. Tank you and take care.
I just purchased a WiiM Ultra and a ZA3 from Amazon for a total of $460 delivered in one day. I decided to get this for the Master as a second system to pair with my RP-600 M's that I purchased in used but excellent condition for $200. All in for $660. After listening to you and picking up a pair of SSCS-5's a while back with my Class D entry of a DA2120C, I decided to continue down this hobby or "Abbey Road" further so thanks again. My next step will be rolling Op Amps but that can wait for a bit. I'll probably wait for Cyber Monday for those..... 😆
Ultra into the Fosi BT20a pro with a pair of Klipsch 600m ii (got these at a great price $250.00 from a co-worker)
Yes the treble and bass can still be used while running the ultra. 🎼🎼🔊🔊 no sub yet as I am scouting marketplace and forums, so might be a few weeks.
Nice review. Thanks..
I fully agree with you WiiM app is incredibly user friendly compared to many other streamers and has a variety of options like Tidal Connect, Roon Endpoint and so fort.. The question is will its streamer part do as well as much higher priced steamer / DACs like Ever Sole DMP6 or DMP6 Master Edition or Volumio Rivo. I have been able to test WiiM Pro with HiFi Rose RS250 going to the same DAC Gustard R26 and I could hear the streamer sound difference. Rose had a little bolder sound and deeper base where WiiM sounded slightly thinner but Its not a huge difference when compared to the huge price difference
This is a good question, and being a Volumio Rivo owner, I can tell you that out of the box, head to head, Ultra vs Rivo, the price differential is not worth it, get the Ultra. Now, add a quality power supply to the Rivo, you cannot do this with the Ultra, now we start parting ways. Then add Roon, and we are up another notch or two depending upon your system. Now we are at say $2000 with the Rivo, LPS power supply and Roon. $329 vs $2000? Again, unless you have money to burn, stick with the Ultra. I think I am keeping my Ultra, as WiiM updates the software so often, and the Ultra, at least to my ear, sounds much better than the WiiM Pro+ due to the better build quality of the streamer in the Ultra. I could see with a few more software updates, if done properly, will destroy my Rivo system. Randy is spot on, this is a giant leap in the audio streamer industry.
I agree with you
Very curious to know how a WiiM Mini connected to an SMSL SU-1 or a Gesheli J2 (AKM) sounds compared to the Ultra. (Especially, given your experience with the room correction.)
I like the display for album art. Just can't get a sense of the sound on the WiiM ultra just for music. Does it have a built-in app, tone control, and or EQ?
The WiiM products are very good and very affordable.
The bandwidth of anything that streams is limited below what audio is
What do you do if one of your music streaming services (Presto) isn’t supported? Is there some “alternate” way for the Wiim to play it? If yes, will it sound worse than if it were supported?
You can streaming all by Chromecast or bt, but such methods are worse.