Do you or have you experience(d) BT headphone streaming quality issues with your Ultra?

[motleypixel]

When voting "Yes" please provide the make and model BT headphones.

When voting "No" please provide the make and model BT headphones

Okay, for starters, I'm a new WiiM patron, just got the Ultra from amazon last week new and delivered to my door for $263.20 less 7% cash back. No one else has this type/quality Hi-Fi tech at this price point....PERIOD! It has been a wonderful product to use over the last week. It has replaced a hodgepodge of discrete chi-fi components (FiiO BTA30A Pro DAC, U-Turn Pluto phono pre-amp, Douk U3 headphone amp, and a Fosi P4 Preamp). Is the WiiM superior to all of these, probably not, I think the DAC is about the same, except the FiiO was a turd to operate, I'm pretty sure the U-Turn's phono stage is a wee bit better, but not noticeable to my ears and the fact it's integrated to the Ultra makes it awesome! The Douk headphone amp is the same, might every so slightly edge out the Ultra on measurements but I would never know the difference and again, it's baked in baby, right on the front! The Fosi P4 is a fantastic little pre-amp, but it's not needed now and doubt it's any better or worse.

FWD a few days and I discovered my lovely Sony XM-4 BT headphones were having poor streaming quality from the WiiM. After a number of hours over the past several days and working with WiiM support (which are FANTASTIC btw) and the forum users/moderators here, I have come to the conclusion that the Sony XM-4's flat out don't work with the WiiM Ultra. They have worked with everything else I have which is the FiiO BTA30A Pro, Arylic BP50 (it's my workbench troubleshooting all-in-one cheap pre-amp), several of our android phones, and my 2018 iPad Pro.

I just sold my XM-4 10 mins ago, so I'm on the search for a new set.

Thank you,
Roy

 

[motleypixel]

Yes: Sony XM-4

 

[hgo58]

No: Sennheiser Momentum 4

Except I have seen issues with connection setup and need to re-pair.

I do also have the Sony XM-3 but never really used them on the WiiM, as the Sennheiser is better.

 

[EddNog]

I voted yes, but I'm having occasional issues with the reverse; I am transmitting audio from my smart phone (HouseCurve app frequency sweeps) via bluetooth to my WiiM Ultra for performing checks on my frequency response and I get cracking and break-ups frequently. These issues never occur with any other source through my Ultra, only when bluetoothing.

-Ed

 

[motleypixel]

I voted yes, but I'm having occasional issues with the reverse; I am transmitting audio from my smart phone (HouseCurve app frequency sweeps) via bluetooth to my WiiM Ultra for performing checks on my frequency response and I get cracking and break-ups frequently. These issues never occur with any other source through my Ultra, only when bluetoothing.

-Ed

Interesting, I bet others would too. I send sweeps from REW from my PC speaker out (which I also created a cal file for) via 3.5mm stereo to RCA stereo into the line-in of the Ultra for measurements. I did this so I could get a baseline before RC. Thanks.

 

[motleypixel]

No: Sennheiser Momentum 4

Except I have seen issues with connection setup and need to re-pair.

I do also have the Sony XM-3 but never really used them on the WiiM, as the Sennheiser is better.

Thanks, I hope this thread gets some traction because it will likely heavily bias my future BT headphone purchase.

 

[Wiimer]

No.

Headphone
- Panasonic RP-HD500B

Earbuds
- Huawei freebuds pro 2 [Sold]
- Nothing Ear

Bluetooth Receiver Amp
-FiiO UTWS5
(+ 7HZ×Crinacle Zero 2)

Bluetooth transmitter USB adapter
- UGREEN [Sold]
(ASIN : B0D7CKV1J8)

 

[motleypixel]

No.

Headphone
- Panasonic RP-HD500B

Earbuds
- Huawei freebuds pro 2 [Sold]
- Nothing Ear

Bluetooth Receiver Amp
-FiiO UTWS5
(+ 7HZ×Crinacle Zero 2)

Bluetooth transmitter USB adapter
- UGREEN [Sold]
(ASIN : B0D7CKV1J8)
View attachment 24314

So no connected directly to the Ultra via BT transmit to your Panasonic RP-HD500B's, Huawei freebuds pro2 and nothing ear (interesting name)? I'm confused on the receive amp section? This is a poll if you have had issue or not only connecting from the Ultra to BT headphones.

Thanks,
Roy

 

[Wiimer]

So no connected directly to the Ultra via BT transmit to your Panasonic RP-HD500B's, Huawei freebuds pro2 and nothing ear (interesting name)? I'm confused on the receive amp section? This is a poll if you have had issue or not only connecting from the Ultra to BT headphones.

Thanks,
Roy

No. The headphones and earbuds work fine with the Ultra.

All headphones and earbuds work fine with a direct Bluetooth connection to Ultra.

The FiiO Receiver is a receiver to which the wired earbuds are connected. This also works fine with a Bluetooth connection to Ultra.


The UGREEN adapter is a Bluetooth transmitter that connects to the Ultra's USB port. I bought this to test if a Bluetooth transmitter would work with the Ultra's USB, but I have already sold it and don't have it with me.

 

[madsainty70]

Yes, Sony XM4's

 

[Ronnie D]

Yes, sony 720n. Gave them away. Sony's Ult Wear are ok though.

 

[chaeropus]

No.

Headphone
- Panasonic RP-HD500B

Earbuds
- Huawei freebuds pro 2 [Sold]
- Nothing Ear

Bluetooth Receiver Amp
-FiiO UTWS5
(+ 7HZ×Crinacle Zero 2)

Bluetooth transmitter USB adapter
- UGREEN [Sold]
(ASIN : B0D7CKV1J8)
View attachment 24314

Can I ask if you are having any sound issues (in poor quality and distortion) using chromecast?

I am using a Sennheiser BTD700 bluetooth adapter and works fine, except when I use it for Chromecast from an app such YouTube music or other Chromecast apps

I'm using Momentum 4 and Momentum 4 True wireless buds

 

[Wiimer]

Can I ask if you are having any sound issues (in poor quality and distortion) using chromecast?

I am using a Sennheiser BTD700 bluetooth adapter and works fine, except when I use it for Chromecast from an app such YouTube music or other Chromecast apps

I'm using Momentum 4 and Momentum 4 True wireless buds

Unfortunately I don't have the UGREEN Bluetooth adapter anymore, so I can't confirm this, but I didn't hear any issues with the Chromecast over the Bluetooth connection between the Ultra and my earbuds.

However, when listening to YouTube audio, I feel that it sounds slightly better when played on a TV app connected to the Amp Ultra's HDMI. (It may just be my imagination...).

Does the Chromecast still have issues when using a direct Bluetooth connection between the WiiM and your earbuds without the BTD700 adaptor?

 

[chaeropus]

Does the Chromecast still have issues when using a direct Bluetooth connection between the WiiM and your earbuds without the BTD700 adaptor?

I just went to double check as I'm pretty sure I did check this yesterday, but now it is playing OK through Chromecast, so not sure what's changed unless there was some interference yesterday. It played normal though through Qobuz etc. I only got the device last week so still trying things out

 

[motleypixel]

So I'm currently shopping for a replacement headset since I ditched my Sony XM-4's. I know of just a few sets that work and I'm thinking a better thread to start might be "What wireless BT headsets do you use directly with the WiiM Ultra?" I'm not interested in adding anything to my stack because it's the primary reason I bought the Ultra.

 

[Machiavelli]

My B&Ws Px8 and Px7S3 work well with the Ultra. Tried that only because I saw this thread.
No pops, no clicks, flawless.
But the reason I have them is use with phone or DAP. Not sure I would spend so relatively much only for using with any desktop or home-fi streamer.

 

[claudia.bailey]

When voting "Yes" please provide the make and model BT headphones.

When voting "No" please provide the make and model BT headphones

Okay, for starters, I'm a new WiiM patron, just got the Ultra from amazon last week new and delivered to my door for $263.20 less 7% cash back. No one else has this type/quality Hi-Fi tech at this price point....PERIOD! It has been a wonderful product to use over the last week. It has replaced a hodgepodge of discrete chi-fi components (FiiO BTA30A Pro DAC, U-Turn Pluto phono pre-amp, Douk U3 headphone amp, and a Fosi P4 Preamp). Is the WiiM superior to all of these, probably not, I think the DAC is about the same, except the FiiO was a turd to operate, I'm pretty sure the U-Turn's phono stage is a wee bit better, but not noticeable to my ears and the fact it's integrated to the Ultra makes it awesome! The Douk headphone amp is the same, might every so slightly edge out the Ultra on measurements but I would never know the difference and again, it's baked in baby, right on the front! The Fosi P4 is a fantastic little pre-amp, but it's not needed now and doubt it's any better or worse.

FWD a few days and I discovered my lovely Sony XM-4 BT headphones were having poor streaming quality from the WiiM. After a number of hours over the past several days and working with WiiM support (which are FANTASTIC btw) and the forum users/moderators here, I have come to the conclusion that the Sony XM-4's flat out don't work with the WiiM Ultra. They have worked with everything else I have which is the FiiO BTA30A Pro, Arylic BP50 (it's my workbench troubleshooting all-in-one cheap pre-amp), several of our android phones, and my 2018 iPad Pro.

I just sold my XM-4 10 mins ago, so I'm on the search for a new set.

Thank you,
Roy

When voting "Yes" please provide the make and model BT headphones.

When voting "No" please provide the make and model BT headphones

Okay, for starters, I'm a new WiiM patron, just got the Ultra from amazon last week new and delivered to my door for $263.20 less 7% cash back. No one else has this type/quality Hi-Fi tech at this price point....PERIOD! It has been a wonderful product to use over the last week. It has replaced a hodgepodge of discrete chi-fi components (FiiO BTA30A Pro DAC, U-Turn Pluto phono pre-amp, Douk U3 headphone amp, and a Fosi P4 Preamp). Is the WiiM superior to all of these, probably not, I think the DAC is about the same, except the FiiO was a turd to operate, I'm pretty sure the U-Turn's phono stage is a wee bit better, but not noticeable to my ears and the fact it's integrated to the Ultra makes it awesome! The Douk headphone amp is the same, might every so slightly edge out the Ultra on measurements but I would never know the difference and again, it's baked in baby, right on the front! The Fosi P4 is a fantastic little pre-amp, but it's not needed now and doubt it's any better or worse.

FWD a few days and I discovered my lovely Sony XM-4 BT headphones were having poor streaming quality from the WiiM. After a number of hours over the past several days and working with WiiM support (which are FANTASTIC btw) and the forum users/moderators here, I have come to the conclusion that the Sony XM-4's flat out don't work with the WiiM Ultra. They have worked with everything else I have which is the FiiO BTA30A Pro, Arylic BP50 (it's my workbench troubleshooting all-in-one cheap pre-amp), several of our android phones, and my 2018 iPad Pro.

I just sold my XM-4 10 mins ago, so I'm on the search for a new set.

Thank you,
Roy

I would say that the quality of BT headphones is not great. On the Ultra, I am using Soundcore Q45, which are not expensive. I have no issue with connecting or dropouts, but lip syncing is not great; music just sounds dull. However, I am finding wired listening excellent, and for that, I use NEEWER NW-2000, which has never sounded so good, and they were so cheap.

 

[motleypixel]

Thanks @Machiavelli I wish I could edit my OP, perhaps I will just accumulate confirmed working sets from this post and later start a new post. I too got flawless clean streaming over my Sony XM-4's 95% of the time when first starting a session. The remaining 5% of the time was very poor quality at the start. What would normally happen is a song or two down the road very poor quality would start and the only thing to fix would be to disconnect and reconnect.

So far confirmed working "headphone" sets (assuming users played them directly connected to the WiiM for a good amount of time) are:

***CONFIRMED WORKING***

Sennheiser Momentum 4
B&Ws Px8 and Px7S
Sony's Ult Wear
Panasonic RP-HD500B
Soundcore Q45
JBL Live500BT
....

 

[motleypixel]

I would say that the quality of BT headphones is not great. On the Ultra, I am using Soundcore Q45, which are not expensive. I have no issue with connecting or dropouts, but lip syncing is not great; music just sounds dull. However, I am finding wired listening excellent, and for that, I use NEEWER NW-2000, which has never sounded so good, and they were so cheap.

Agree, if I want best experience then I will use my Sennheiser Massdrop-X HD58X open backs, but when my Sony XM-4's did play back w/o issue the sound was great too, so there are options for quality BT listening.

 

[motleypixel]

Anyone use Soundcore Life Q30 by Anker BT headphones with the Ultra? I