Features wanted in a Wiim Ultra 2

[EddNog]

How did we ever enjoy listening to the dynamic range of vinyl?

When it was the best option available, I’m sure nothing was more enjoyable, but it’s the year 2025 and we can do better (speaking as a man born the same year as the Compact Disc).

As a personal answer to your question, #N/A: I never, “enjoyed,” the dynamic range of vinyl.

-Ed

 

[slartibartfast]

When it was the best option available, I’m sure nothing was more enjoyable, but it’s the year 2025 and we can do better (speaking as a man born the same year as the Compact Disc).

As a personal answer to your question, #N/A: I never, “enjoyed,” the dynamic range of vinyl.

-Ed

It was a good way to judge the volume setting before the music started
Anyway CD and digital generally have less dynamic range than vinyl these days...

 

[EddNog]

It was a good way to judge the volume setting before the music started
Anyway CD and digital generally have less dynamic range than vinyl these days...

Which is why probably more than half the music I listen to was mastered when I was still in school!

-Ed

 

[QuarryHunslet]

How did we ever enjoy listening to the dynamic range of vinyl?

Many of us still do, as it’s currently the only way to listen to a wide range of music that has not been made available on CDs, let alone any of the streaming services.

 

[rccarguy]

Bigger screen
Complete control like a squeezebox via touchscreen and IR remote
Better quality headphone amp, and 6.5mm
USB DAC input
Remote with more buttons, like the Squeezbox remote

 

[EddNog]

Many of us still do, as it’s currently the only way to listen to a wide range of music that has not been made available on CDs, let alone any of the streaming services.

That’s different when the choice is taken away.

-Ed

 

[slartibartfast]

That’s different when the choice is taken away.

-Ed

Streaming services often only have the latest compressed remaster or remix so you still need to go back to CD or vinyl.

 

[EddNog]

Streaming services often only have the latest compressed remaster or remix so you still need to go back to CD or vinyl.

Yes; my personal library on storage consists of uncountable numbers of CDs I’ve ripped to FLAC.

-Ed

 

[slartibartfast]

Yes; my personal library on storage consists of uncountable numbers of CDs I’ve ripped to FLAC.

-Ed

Mine also includes vinyl I've ripped to FLAC and removed the tell tale clicks and pops

 

[DazST]

I want something like this.

View attachment 31257

But does it have AirPlay?

 

[harkpabst]

But does it have AirPlay?

It looks like it may have something even more powerful like NoAirPlay for use in outer space.

 

[canard]

(One small detail...
forget the mm/mc on the phono side... stick to a correct/qualitatif mm... forget mc
or consider the possibility that this input is more of a line/phono input ? )
(If the headphone output is still included... then it might as well be of sufficient quality for at least low-power headphones or those with no complex impedance... or remove it altogether? (I think that would be a shame, especially P-EQ functionality from wiim is actually quite useful when using headphones..
Or, conversely, it could be decided to have a very sophisticated and comprehensive headphone section to make a future ultra highly desirable for headphone enthusiasts, with this peq... a very, very promising market...
)

 

[Mr Ee]

It looks like it may have something even more powerful like NoAirPlay for use in outer space.

Is that in the newly announced Wiim NoSound?
Only available in Outer Space Grey.

 

[canard]

Without getting carried away with a high-end product from Wiim, or even if it's a very marketable product like Eversolo and others, with impressive cases and screens... simply inviting Wiim to put a little more engineering and care into the audio hardware would already be a good thing... doing essentially the same thing but more refined thanks to their acquired experience... and wouldn't be much more expensive... Their approach to streaming is serious, and certain elements under development like RoomFit or PEQ mode, etc. (despite the problems with gain or DRC, etc.) are a real strength... Wanting to push them at all costs into markets where other powerful players already exist, where they don't have much legitimacy... and not just solidifying their strong position where they've made a lot of noise and gained a significant lead... and I find that a shame...


"Me, me, me... "I want"... "I need"... "My dream...at very low price, of course"".etc ..."
Yeah
;-)

But of course, this is just my feeling, having observed the brand since its beginnings... observing their strengths and weaknesses in their obvious and impressive success ;-)

 

[canard]

Sorry for the automatic translation... I just hope the general idea of my point is understood.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

Without getting carried away with a high-end product from Wiim, or even if it's a very marketable product like Eversolo and others, with impressive cases and screens... simply inviting Wiim to put a little more engineering and care into the audio hardware would already be a good thing... doing essentially the same thing but more refined thanks to their acquired experience... and wouldn't be much more expensive... Their approach to streaming is serious, and certain elements under development like RoomFit or PEQ mode, etc. (despite the problems with gain or DRC, etc.) are a real strength... Wanting to push them at all costs into markets where other powerful players already exist, where they don't have much legitimacy... and not just solidifying their strong position where they've made a lot of noise and gained a significant lead... and I find that a shame...


"Me, me, me... "I want"... "I need"... "My dream...at very low price, of course"".etc ..."
Yeah
;-)

But of course, this is just my feeling, having observed the brand since its beginnings... observing their strengths and weaknesses in their obvious and impressive success ;-)

I think I get that, but I'm not 100% sure.

Just in general, what I wouldn't want any future product to be is a £1,000 device. Pretty much everything asked for here, I think they could add and still keep the price under £500, certainly not much over.

I don't want WiiM to waste money on fixes for things that aren't broken, like a 'quieter power supply' when this Ultra is already quiet enough, etc.

What WiiM have done so very well so far is to spec things as being good enough, and not then chasing figures which make no difference, and instead focus on features.

 

[gcsa]

For me, I don't think there is anything 'broken' with the Ultra. For the price it is an incredible piece of kit, as is my Pro. It has transformed the ease and convenience of how we as a family listen to music & TV in the lounge. Having a single hub makes everyone's life so much easier, and it sounds darned good to boot.

My wishes are more input flexibility (more digi inputs) and quality (improved ADC for the line and phono in). The rest of it can stay the same as far as I'm concerned. I never use the volume control knob, and the screen is nice to see what's playing at a glance but is never used to control anything - I have a mobile phone and/or remote for all that malarky.

Oh yeah, the kids just reminded me: Airplay!

 

[canard]

(Looking at the all-in-one Eversolo play, or play with cd... the idea of an ultra integrating a cd on the side... and not an uninteresting "option" ;-) )

 

[gcsa]

(Looking at the all-in-one Eversolo play, or play with cd... the idea of an ultra integrating a cd on the side... and not an uninteresting "option" ;-) )

I've never really quite got the side loading CD player thing. All it does is restrict location of the unit, and cannot have anything at least a CD distance from one side, which effectively turns it into (almost) a full-width separate. Mine would hit either my turntable on one side, or my headphone stand on the other. If the Ultra 2 is to have a disc player then please let it be front slot-loading, adding half an inch to the height of the unit if necessary.

EDIT: And talking of headphones, how about having some aptX Bluetooth goodness? Hmm my wishlist expands as fast as my waistline at Christmas.

 

[canard]

I've never really quite got the side loading CD player thing. All it does is restrict location of the unit, and cannot have anything at least a CD distance from one side, which effectively turns it into (almost) a full-width separate. Mine would hit either my turntable on one side, or my headphone stand on the other. If the Ultra 2 is to have a disc player then please let it be front slot-loading, adding half an inch to the height of the unit if necessary.

EDIT: And talking of headphones, how about having some aptX Bluetooth goodness? Hmm my wishlist expands as fast as my waistline at Christmas.

It remains possible by keeping the reduced format and the large screen at the front... that's all... even if it does require lateral clearance... but above all, it highlights the possibility of it being possible with and without it...