How far are we from a "roon-like" software solution ?

[thierryb92]

I have 2 WiiM-based systems at home (one with a WiiM Ultra and a Vibelink, the other with a WiiM Amp). My music (FLAC) is stored on a Synology NAS.

I have been a Roon subscriber for a18 months and I stopped.

Partially because it is freaking expensive (in a world of WiiM prices, not for McIntosh buyers, I get that).

Also because, for MY use case, it looks like WiiM app carries a lot of my needs.

Although my "favorite" streaming platform is Apple Music, I had, in order to get the benefits of WiiM and Roon, to add a subscription to Tidal. Now with the recent improvement of the app regarding the flac files on the NAS, I feel like the WiiM ecosystem evolves towards a complete local/stream solution closer to what Roon brings.

Of course, I understand that there is not (yet) a full integration between local and streamed music e.g. in playlists. not a big deal for me

I also get that I miss the "magazine-like" browsing of my library, meaning I have to go back and forth towards Wikipedia when serious about exploring an artist of a genre.

I get it that I do not have the benefits of the sound improvements of Roon's Muse, which I never used

Finally, I do miss Roon ARC, especially in my car, and, although there is a CarPlay enabled Tidal App (meh) and various remote Flac apps (meh again), I still rely on Apple Music for these moments, meaning I have to pay for two subscriptions and maintain parallel universes.

In my "ideal" world, Apple would open a "connect" API for WiiM to tap in my Apple Music subscription and WiiM would further enhance the WiiM app experience towards a Roon-light situation.

What do you think ? Do you share my concerns ? Have you found some good workarounds (any good iOS app able to cope with 10,000 flac songs on my NAS from CarPlay ?)

Happy to discuss my experience.

Thierry

 

[Burnside]

While it doesn’t support Apple Music, I’m sure an experienced Lyrion user like @d6jg, @rccarguy or @slartibartfast will explain how you might be able to achieve your other aims.

Here’s a starter for ten…

Thread 'WiiM Pro, Raspberry Pi 4 8GB'

Jul 3, 2023

Just set up LMS on a 8GB Raspberry Pi 4 in a nice metal case with a 1TB SSD containing my ripped CDs, some LPs and more MP3s I should get round to replacing…





Who needs Roon?

• Brantome
• Replies: 63
• Forum: What's your WiiM Pro & Pro Plus setup?

• 

 

[jfbuk]

As regards Lyrion and Wiim this may be of interest

Announce: Radio Now Playing plugin - Lyrion : Community : Forums

Announce: Radio Now Playing plugin Extended track and/or programme information for a many radio stations - along with a menu to choose the station to play. See also http://radionowplaying.com From Settings you can disable the handling of individual broadcasters - and you might want to because...

forums.lyrion.org

 

[jfbuk]

Also see my post #215 in this thread

Thread 'Something Big is Coming to WiiM Home'

Mar 21, 2025

Exciting news! The WiiM home audio experience is getting a screen-worthy upgrade. Soon, you'll enjoy seamless access to all your favorite features in a whole new way. Stay tuned—something big is coming to your living room!

Update on March 30:

A new version 1.0.2 has been released with fixes for the album art issue affecting AirPlay, Roon, and Samba playback.
In full-screen mode, you can now also choose your background style—either a solid color or a blurred background—directly from the app settings.
Give it a try and let us know how it works for you!

• RyanWithWiiM
• tv display wiim home app
• Replies: 244
• Forum: General WiiM Announcements

• 
• 
• 

 

[rccarguy]

While it doesn’t support Apple Music, I’m sure an experienced Lyrion user like @d6jg, @rccarguy or @slartibartfast will explain how you might be able to achieve your other aims.

Here’s a starter for ten…

Thread 'WiiM Pro, Raspberry Pi 4 8GB'

Jul 3, 2023

Just set up LMS on a 8GB Raspberry Pi 4 in a nice metal case with a 1TB SSD containing my ripped CDs, some LPs and more MP3s I should get round to replacing…





Who needs Roon?

• Brantome
• Replies: 63
• Forum: What's your WiiM Pro & Pro Plus setup?

• 

Yeah something like that but a 32gb drive is plenty.
No need for 8gb ram pi either.

 

[d6jg]

I’m not going to claim that Lyrion is as good as Roon because at its price point ($€£0) it’s clearly better!

I came to WiiM seeking a hardware device that would work natively with Lyrion which all of the WiiM devices bar the Mini do without any compromise so I have never really delved into WiiMs software offering. All I can say really is that Lyrion has everything that WiiM does except Amazon Music. However it also has lots more. Bucket loads more. Neither has Apple Music but that’s not really any negative.

To use a WiiM or WiiMs with Lyrion you need to forget the WiiM Home App completely after you have completed setup.

 

[rccarguy]

I’m not going to claim that Lyrion is as good as Roon because at its price point ($€£0) it’s clearly better!

I came to WiiM seeking a hardware device that would work natively with Lyrion which all of the WiiM devices bar the Mini do without any compromise so I have never really delved into WiiMs software offering. All I can say really is that Lyrion has everything that WiiM does except Amazon Music. However it also has lots more. Bucket loads more. Neither has Apple Music but that’s not really any negative.

To use a WiiM or WiiMs with Lyrion you need to forget the WiiM Home App completely after you have completed setup.

I use wiim home app just for changing eq presets and running the eq wizard

Would be good if choose eq preset within lms

 

[d6jg]

Lyrion is plugin based.

The key plugins that take it into and beyond Roon territory are:

Material skin
Music & Artist Information
LastMix
BBC Sounds
Radio Now Playing
Radio Paradise
Qobuz
Tidal
Spotify

 

[d6jg]

Also.
Lyrion has a couple of people actively developing iOS apps that include CarPlay

 

[rccarguy]

I’m not going to claim that Lyrion is as good as Roon because at its price point ($€£0) it’s clearly better!

I came to WiiM seeking a hardware device that would work natively with Lyrion which all of the WiiM devices bar the Mini do without any compromise so I have never really delved into WiiMs software offering. All I can say really is that Lyrion has everything that WiiM does except Amazon Music. However it also has lots more. Bucket loads more. Neither has Apple Music but that’s not really any negative.

To use a WiiM or WiiMs with Lyrion you need to forget the WiiM Home App completely after you have completed setup.

It's also independent of any manufacturer supplied apps.

if Wiim Home App is dropped, requires a new phone OS, removed from play store, unavailable to download, or the company goes bust you have a useless product. Unless they release it as open source. No IP control either, compared to picoreplayer/LMS you can adjust it from a phone, linux, Windows

 

[r5yk5]

Now with the recent improvement of the app regarding the flac files on the NAS, I feel like the WiiM ecosystem evolves towards a complete local/stream solution closer to what Roon brings

Wiim is no where near removing the need for a separate music server if you have a large music collection. Too basic, too many missing features that many people would consider standard.That's not a complaint or a dig, I didn't buy my Wiims for that. If they ever get there then I would probably would use the usb music server feature but I can't see that happening anytime soon, if ever.
So there is a place for Roon or Lyrion within a Wiim set up and will be for a long time to come.
Not in mine though

 

[rccarguy]

Wiim is no where near removing the need for a separate music server if you have a large music collection. Too basic, too many missing features that many people would consider standard.That's not a complaint or a dig, I didn't buy my Wiims for that. If they ever get there then I would probably would use the usb music server feature but I can't see that happening anytime soon, if ever.
So there is a place for Roon or Lyrion within a Wiim set up and will be for a long time to come.
Not in mine though

yeah it's not even close. They need to release their own server service, open source. Have the Wiim home app open source, IP control.

 

[castalla]

yeah it's not even close. They need to release their own server service, open source. Have the Wiim home app open source, IP control.

A better option would be to actively contribute to Lyrion. Why reinvent the wheel? Just make it better.

 

[r5yk5]

A better option would be to actively contribute to Lyrion. Why reinvent the wheel? Just make it better.

That's an option and I, for one, would love some squeezebox-esque remote control navigation. But I reckon lyrion is too much of a faff to set up for your average punter.

Maybe do a deal with minim server or asset. Asset for example is £28 for life on 5 devices. So 4 or 5 quid on the price of an Ultra with some sensible config options in the Wiim home app. I'd be happy to pay for the option to use that.......

...... But even if they did either of those things, I'd still probably use a different media server anyway. Which is why I originally bought a Wiim in the first place.

 

[castalla]

That's an option and I, for one, would love some squeezebox-esque remote control navigation. But I reckon lyrion is too much of a faff to set up for your average punter.

Maybe do a deal with minim server or asset. Asset for example is £28 for life on 5 devices. So 4 or 5 quid on the price of an Ultra with some sensible config options in the Wiim home app. I'd be happy to pay for the option to use that.......

...... But even if they did either of those things, I'd still probably use a different media server anyway. Which is why I originally bought a Wiim in the first place.

My use of a server is for media (not just music) and despite the name (which I objected to when it was changed ) I listen to Radio, podcasts & CDs. There's really no alternative to LMS.

 

[r5yk5]

There's really no alternative to LMS.

But there is though, isn't there?
I also have dvd rips, photos and a large collection of audio dramas on my server, none of which lyrion handles well, or at all.

I loved my squeezeboxes. I can remember being on the phone to Chad from slim devices back in the early 2000s, when I didn't know a sample rate from a sausage. Imagine if Wiim had a phone support line! I have a quick go from time to time. But I've moved on. I get why some still love it though.

Wiims are for connecting what ever software I Iike to my speakers. But I do think that if they're going to advertise media server capabilities, they should really up their game. I don't think the answer should be "Install LMS" (or minim or whatever) when someone is struggling to set up their USB library.

 

[castalla]

But there is though, isn't there?
I also have dvd rips, photos and a large collection of audio dramas on my server, none of which lyrion handles well, or at all.

I loved my squeezeboxes. I can remember being on the phone to Chad from slim devices back in the early 2000s, when I didn't know a sample rate from a sausage. Imagine if Wiim had a phone support line! I have a quick go from time to time. But I've moved on. I get why some still love it though.

Wiims are for connecting what ever software I Iike to my speakers. But I do think that if they're going to advertise media server capabilities, they should really up their game. I don't think the answer should be "Install LMS" (or minim or whatever) when someone is struggling to set up their USB library.

Well, I sort of agree up to a point. I enjoy music videos, for example, so a video replay feature would be welcome. LMS is already open & Wiim could use it to customise Wiim features. A big plus for me has always been the bridge plugins to consolidate an array of different speakers. I'm sure Wiim would be welcomed warmly by the LMS community

 

[rccarguy]

But there is though, isn't there?
I also have dvd rips, photos and a large collection of audio dramas on my server, none of which lyrion handles well, or at all.

I loved my squeezeboxes. I can remember being on the phone to Chad from slim devices back in the early 2000s, when I didn't know a sample rate from a sausage. Imagine if Wiim had a phone support line! I have a quick go from time to time. But I've moved on. I get why some still love it though.

Wiims are for connecting what ever software I Iike to my speakers. But I do think that if they're going to advertise media server capabilities, they should really up their game. I don't think the answer should be "Install LMS" (or minim or whatever) when someone is struggling to set up their USB library.

I prefer to keep music and video scanner seperate. Lms for audio

For video I browse by folder. That works fine. Scanner doesn't always name it correctly.

 

[castalla]

I prefer to keep music and video scanner seperate. Lms for audio

For video I browse by folder. That works fine. Scanner doesn't always name it correctly.

What is needed is a Swiss-army-knife media server (ironic given Logitech was/is a Swiss company). They went open source on the original server years ago, and even provided back-end services for the long defunct radios until last year at which time LMS was renamed Lyrion.