My two-cents Review of my WiiM Ultra :)

[pjorgenunes]

Hi all,

After a few months of using my WiiM Ultra I think is time for a review of it.

First of all versions:
WiiM Home App - v3.1.2 (on iPhone 11 and Samsung Galaxy A42
WiiM Ultra Firmware - 5.2.705437

My system is:
WiiM Ultra
Fosi ZA3 power Amp
B&W 805S Speakers
Audio Technica turntable AT-LP120 with AT-VM540ML cartridge

For some months I've used my Topping D10S DAC connected to WiiM via a USB HUB which also hold my USB HDD 2TB with my CD collection ripped.

Issue #1 - with the USB DAC + trigger cable connected I had to get the trigger cable in a specific position to not have audible noise (like radio noise or similar). Tried several trigger cables and usb cables and always the same behaviour. I believe is something to do with noise via USB which I never understood why neither could solved it (only with that positioning of the cable...).

Positive #1 - Since I don't get audible difference in sound quality using the internal DAC of WiiM ultra, I simplified things removing the Topping which is also very good, and I will use it for getting music from my PC with quality.

My room is acoustical uneasy, with a strong room mode around 49Hz.
After several experiments with room auto-correction (most of them with satisfatory results) I come to a very good measurement and results.
I've used:
- iPhone 11 internal MIC, with 3 measurments
- Harman Target Curve
- Freq from 40Hz-600Hz
- Max Q 10
- Smoothing 1/12 Octave

Now I have deep (considering the room / speakers) and controlled bass, which allows the rest of the spectrum (mids and highs) to be crystal clear. This is so for low to high volume sound levels.
Separation of instruments and voices, spatial sensation.

I'm using the AMP at full volume (as a power amp) and the volume is controlled by WiiM.
WiiM Output level of 800mV (at 95% max volume limiting) so to match maximum output of WiiM to input sensitivity of Fosi AMP.

I'm also using ReplayGain album gain feature of WiiM (what a great add-on from WiiM guys support to new features).

So I'm far from bitperfect but what matters is the final result since there are a lot of variables in listening to music (the room being one of the most importants).

What I like more:
- Sound quality of the whole system;
- WiiM implementation of features and listening to what users want;
- The APP is very good and it's what I use for choose music to play from my USB HDD or Spotify connect.
- The presets where we can choose lot's variables.
- The MM phono input is surprisingly good.
- The pre-gain between inputs.
- The remote (simple but nice and functional).
- Development of new features

What I dislike more / wish to have (not hardware related):
- An appealing vu-meter with source music level and not output volume variable
- A way to control the Wiim (playing related, choosing library music, etc) via browser. Lot´s of times I'm working on PC listening to music and have to use the phone to choose music.
- The sort of music is nothing but strange...:
- I mainly play full albums;
- Have files tagged with year;
- Have albums on directories like AC/DC-(1980) Back In Black, AC/DC-(1981) For Those About To Rock
But the result is I never get this on year order (so it doesn't order by year tag neither by directory name on HDD)...
- DIRAC or at least FIR filtering room auto-correction (although I'm very pleased with my last auto-correction )

That's my two cents.
Very happy with WiiM Ultra and, IMHO, a very good cost/performance relationship.

 

[kwolter]

Hi all,

After a few months of using my WiiM Ultra I think is time for a review of it.

First of all versions:
WiiM Home App - v3.1.2 (on iPhone 11 and Samsung Galaxy A42
WiiM Ultra Firmware - 5.2.705437

My system is:
WiiM Ultra
Fosi ZA3 power Amp
B&W 805S Speakers
Audio Technica turntable AT-LP120 with AT-VM540ML cartridge

For some months I've used my Topping D10S DAC connected to WiiM via a USB HUB which also hold my USB HDD 2TB with my CD collection ripped.

Issue #1 - with the USB DAC + trigger cable connected I had to get the trigger cable in a specific position to not have audible noise (like radio noise or similar). Tried several trigger cables and usb cables and always the same behaviour. I believe is something to do with noise via USB which I never understood why neither could solved it (only with that positioning of the cable...).

Positive #1 - Since I don't get audible difference in sound quality using the internal DAC of WiiM ultra, I simplified things removing the Topping which is also very good, and I will use it for getting music from my PC with quality.

My room is acoustical uneasy, with a strong room mode around 49Hz.
After several experiments with room auto-correction (most of them with satisfatory results) I come to a very good measurement and results.
I've used:
- iPhone 11 internal MIC, with 3 measurments
- Harman Target Curve
- Freq from 40Hz-600Hz
- Max Q 10
- Smoothing 1/12 Octave

Now I have deep (considering the room / speakers) and controlled bass, which allows the rest of the spectrum (mids and highs) to be crystal clear. This is so for low to high volume sound levels.
Separation of instruments and voices, spatial sensation.

I'm using the AMP at full volume (as a power amp) and the volume is controlled by WiiM.
WiiM Output level of 800mV (at 95% max volume limiting) so to match maximum output of WiiM to input sensitivity of Fosi AMP.

I'm also using ReplayGain album gain feature of WiiM (what a great add-on from WiiM guys support to new features).

So I'm far from bitperfect but what matters is the final result since there are a lot of variables in listening to music (the room being one of the most importants).

What I like more:
- Sound quality of the whole system;
- WiiM implementation of features and listening to what users want;
- The APP is very good and it's what I use for choose music to play from my USB HDD or Spotify connect.
- The presets where we can choose lot's variables.
- The MM phono input is surprisingly good.
- The pre-gain between inputs.
- The remote (simple but nice and functional).
- Development of new features

What I dislike more / wish to have (not hardware related):
- An appealing vu-meter with source music level and not output volume variable
- A way to control the Wiim (playing related, choosing library music, etc) via browser. Lot´s of times I'm working on PC listening to music and have to use the phone to choose music.
- The sort of music is nothing but strange...:
- I mainly play full albums;
- Have files tagged with year;
- Have albums on directories like AC/DC-(1980) Back In Black, AC/DC-(1981) For Those About To Rock
But the result is I never get this on year order (so it doesn't order by year tag neither by directory name on HDD)...
- DIRAC or at least FIR filtering room auto-correction (although I'm very pleased with my last auto-correction )

That's my two cents.
Very happy with WiiM Ultra and, IMHO, a very good cost/performance relationship.

Nice. I was using it with a Geshelli J2 DAC. I took it out as I felt the Ultra sounded as good. Now I’m selling it to fund some other purchases.

 

[simbun]

- The sort of music is nothing but strange...:
- I mainly play full albums;
- Have files tagged with year;
- Have albums on directories like AC/DC-(1980) Back In Black, AC/DC-(1981) For Those About To Rock
But the result is I never get this on year order (so it doesn't order by year tag neither by directory name on HDD)...

That's interesting I hadn't noticed that about MiniDLNA (the underlying server) before. MiniDLNA doesn't send the release date tag with the album data but it does with the track data. That's why it's not possible to sort albums by year but it is for songs.

It shouldn't be too hard to add so it's worth raising a ticket through the app (More > Send us feedback).

To be clear, the above is based on the open source project not the implementation in the Amp or Ultra as I only have a Pro.

 

[hgo58]

Issue #1 - with the USB DAC + trigger cable connected I had to get the trigger cable in a specific position to not have audible noise (like radio noise or similar).

This is a common issue with USB. The best option is then optical output.

An appealing vu-meter with source music level and not output volume variable

This is discussed in several other threads.

A way to control the Wiim (playing related, choosing library music, etc) via browser.

This is also discussed in other threads.

 

[Scimitar]

Hi all,

After a few months of using my WiiM Ultra I think is time for a review of it.

First of all versions:
WiiM Home App - v3.1.2 (on iPhone 11 and Samsung Galaxy A42
WiiM Ultra Firmware - 5.2.705437

My system is:
WiiM Ultra
Fosi ZA3 power Amp
B&W 805S Speakers
Audio Technica turntable AT-LP120 with AT-VM540ML cartridge

For some months I've used my Topping D10S DAC connected to WiiM via a USB HUB which also hold my USB HDD 2TB with my CD collection ripped.

Issue #1 - with the USB DAC + trigger cable connected I had to get the trigger cable in a specific position to not have audible noise (like radio noise or similar). Tried several trigger cables and usb cables and always the same behaviour. I believe is something to do with noise via USB which I never understood why neither could solved it (only with that positioning of the cable...).

Positive #1 - Since I don't get audible difference in sound quality using the internal DAC of WiiM ultra, I simplified things removing the Topping which is also very good, and I will use it for getting music from my PC with quality.

My room is acoustical uneasy, with a strong room mode around 49Hz.
After several experiments with room auto-correction (most of them with satisfatory results) I come to a very good measurement and results.
I've used:
- iPhone 11 internal MIC, with 3 measurments
- Harman Target Curve
- Freq from 40Hz-600Hz
- Max Q 10
- Smoothing 1/12 Octave

Now I have deep (considering the room / speakers) and controlled bass, which allows the rest of the spectrum (mids and highs) to be crystal clear. This is so for low to high volume sound levels.
Separation of instruments and voices, spatial sensation.

I'm using the AMP at full volume (as a power amp) and the volume is controlled by WiiM.
WiiM Output level of 800mV (at 95% max volume limiting) so to match maximum output of WiiM to input sensitivity of Fosi AMP.

I'm also using ReplayGain album gain feature of WiiM (what a great add-on from WiiM guys support to new features).

So I'm far from bitperfect but what matters is the final result since there are a lot of variables in listening to music (the room being one of the most importants).

What I like more:
- Sound quality of the whole system;
- WiiM implementation of features and listening to what users want;
- The APP is very good and it's what I use for choose music to play from my USB HDD or Spotify connect.
- The presets where we can choose lot's variables.
- The MM phono input is surprisingly good.
- The pre-gain between inputs.
- The remote (simple but nice and functional).
- Development of new features

What I dislike more / wish to have (not hardware related):
- An appealing vu-meter with source music level and not output volume variable
- A way to control the Wiim (playing related, choosing library music, etc) via browser. Lot´s of times I'm working on PC listening to music and have to use the phone to choose music.
- The sort of music is nothing but strange...:
- I mainly play full albums;
- Have files tagged with year;
- Have albums on directories like AC/DC-(1980) Back In Black, AC/DC-(1981) For Those About To Rock
But the result is I never get this on year order (so it doesn't order by year tag neither by directory name on HDD)...
- DIRAC or at least FIR filtering room auto-correction (although I'm very pleased with my last auto-correction )

That's my two cents.
Very happy with WiiM Ultra and, IMHO, a very good cost/performance relationship.

Ever thought about a Wiim Mini for your PC speakers? Mine have more than one Input and I switch between the Mini and the PC. I use active speakers from Nubert, the PC is connected through the USB-Input and the Mini through optical SPDIF.