Seriously? No airplay for Wiim amp pro??

[airplay-for-amp-pro-plz]

This cannot be true. Why on earth would they take AWAY functionality? I specifically wanted to upgrade. This is not an upgrade. This is a dealbreaker.

The entire point of going with Wiim over a reputable amp/receiver company is the ease-of-use. That’s the whole value proposition. Super simple setup, excellent UX, seamless integration. That’s why I bought Wiim. I wanted simple and easy.

Not having AirPlay goes against that whole idea. I don’t want to have to cobble together some workaround. I have to return this device.

If the Wiim team sees this, get your act together! AirPlay is a must have!

 

[Burnside]

Next to no chance - see https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/what-products-youd-like-to-see-wiim-produce.725/post-126825

Did you check the supported features before purchase?

There are various workarounds such as using a Belkin Soundform Connect, or airplay express, or even a WiiM Mini connected to or paired with the Amp Pro. Or use Bluetooth, or software such as mentioned here https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/...-sonos-chromecast-players-using-airplay.4644/

 

[HansD-NL]

"This cannot be true" - It is.
"I have to return this device" - Do it.
Please don't address your frustration in this angry unsympathetic way because that will bring you nothing good.

 

[cc_rider]

Go whine at Apple.

 

[kinghol]

This cannot be true. Why on earth would they take AWAY functionality? I specifically wanted to upgrade. This is not an upgrade. This is a dealbreaker.

The entire point of going with Wiim over a reputable amp/receiver company is the ease-of-use. That’s the whole value proposition. Super simple setup, excellent UX, seamless integration. That’s why I bought Wiim. I wanted simple and easy.

Not having AirPlay goes against that whole idea. I don’t want to have to cobble together some workaround. I have to return this device.

If the Wiim team sees this, get your act together! AirPlay is a must have!

in the US most people with a smart phone are using an iPhone correct?
But there are other markets too.
Personally I am an iPhone/iPad user and do not miss Airplay!

 

[dangermouse]

This cannot be true. Why on earth would they take AWAY functionality? I specifically wanted to upgrade. This is not an upgrade. This is a dealbreaker.

The entire point of going with Wiim over a reputable amp/receiver company is the ease-of-use. That’s the whole value proposition. Super simple setup, excellent UX, seamless integration. That’s why I bought Wiim. I wanted simple and easy.

Not having AirPlay goes against that whole idea. I don’t want to have to cobble together some workaround. I have to return this device.

If the Wiim team sees this, get your act together! AirPlay is a must have!

This post is really rather silly. It has been obvious for a rather long time now that Airplay is not available on the Amp Pro. Did you not take the time to do the obvious research and read the specs before your purchase?

 

[Danny Linguini]

I cast from my iPhone to the Amp Pro via Bluetooth. Nothing to cobble together, a swipe and a couple of taps and it’s connected. I don’t understand what all the fuss is about no AirPlay - it works just fine without it, and it sounds great.

 

[BK308]

I wouldn't take anybody seriously who's user name is their biggest complaint about the product they just bought. Why not just buy the regular amp?

 

[EddNog]

Honestly though, all the complaints about lack of AirPlay are hilarious given AirPlay 2 isn't lossless anyway, so Bluetooth isn't any better or worse. Either go lossless, or just accept quality loss. I don't think any of LinkPlay's devices ever had AirPlay 1/lossless AirPlay support, so it really provided nothing that Bluetooth doesn't already provide.

@airplay-for-amp-pro-plz For proper LOSSLESS AirPlay, just get a FiiO SR11 if it so matters to you. It uses lossless AirPlay 1 and can easily integrate with your WiiM Amp Pro via optical connection. Then you're actually getting better sound quality than Bluetooth.

-Ed

 

[tabata]

Honestly though, all the complaints about lack of AirPlay are hilarious given AirPlay 2 isn't lossless anyway, so Bluetooth isn't any better or worse. Either go lossless, or just accept quality loss. I don't think any of LinkPlay's devices ever had AirPlay 1/lossless AirPlay support, so it really provided nothing that Bluetooth doesn't already provide.

@airplay-for-amp-pro-plz For proper LOSSLESS AirPlay, just get a FiiO SR11 if it so matters to you. It uses lossless AirPlay 1 and can easily integrate with your WiiM Amp Pro via optical connection. Then you're actually getting better sound quality than Bluetooth.

-Ed

Not lossless does not equal “Bluetooth isn’t any better or worse.” BT has far worse bandwidth and antenna reach. Plus, for people who use it, Airplay 2 is a fantastic, one-stop-shop for multiroom audio. I use Tidal Connect anytime I’m really listening, and Airplay 2 all the time with the kids or when I just need music spread through the house.

There was huge outcry when people realized WiiM was effectively dropping Airplay. Just because OP is way, way late to the punch and didn’t do his research doesn’t mean than it isn’t a glaring omission in the WiiM feature set.

 

[EddNog]

Not lossless does not equal “Bluetooth isn’t any better or worse.” BT has far worse bandwidth and antenna reach. Plus, for people who use it, Airplay 2 is a fantastic, one-stop-shop for multiroom audio. I use Tidal Connect anytime I’m really listening, and Airplay 2 all the time with the kids or when I just need music spread through the house.

There was huge outcry when people realized WiiM was effectively dropping Airplay. Just because OP is way, way late to the punch and didn’t do his research doesn’t mean than it isn’t a glaring omission in the WiiM feature set.

Okay. Well I know it’s not ideal to spend extra money on it, but the SR11 does solve the problem, and potentially improves sound quality in the process (lossless AirPlay 1, rather than lossy AirPlay 2).

Also, if an Apple TV is hooked up to the TV and then the TV to the WiiM Amp Pro via ARC, one could use that too.

-Ed

 

[DariuszP]

Well, I genuinely love WiiM and despite its absence of Airplay, I bought Ultra anyway, and I don’t regret it. However, it’s challenging to agree with those voices above that dismiss the lack of Airplay as a “no problem” or even a blessing (trying to convince themselves that it’s lossy, useless, etc.). No, the absence of Airplay is a significant drawback. It’s evident and difficult-to-accept limitation of functionality. I’m certain that WiiM loses many potential customers due to this. I haven’t had the time to follow all those Airplay discussions on the forum, but it’s hard to understand WiiM’s position here. Almost all modern streamers, including even very affordable ones, support Airplay, so it doesn’t seem like a mission impossible task to add it back to WiiM. Even if the price had to increase slightly, I would happily pay this extra for just having the option to Airplay to WiiM Amp Ultra (regardless of how infrequently I would use it). Perhaps it’s not too late for WiiM to reconsider this decision, especially considering the entry of competing products into the market at a similar price point that would offer this feature (see: Eversolo Play)?

 

[HansD-NL]

There was huge outcry when people realized WiiM was effectively dropping Airplay. Just because OP is way, way late to the punch and didn’t do his research doesn’t mean than it isn’t a glaring omission in the WiiM feature set.

Fair enough, also a good way of looking at it.

 

[cc_rider]

Well, I genuinely love WiiM and despite its absence of Airplay, I bought Ultra anyway, and I don’t regret it. However, it’s challenging to agree with those voices above that dismiss the lack of Airplay as a “no problem” or even a blessing (trying to convince themselves that it’s lossy, useless, etc.). No, the absence of Airplay is a significant drawback. It’s evident and difficult-to-accept limitation of functionality. I’m certain that WiiM loses many potential customers due to this. I haven’t had the time to follow all those Airplay discussions on the forum, but it’s hard to understand WiiM’s position here. Almost all modern streamers, including even very affordable ones, support Airplay, so it doesn’t seem like a mission impossible task to add it back to WiiM. Even if the price had to increase slightly, I would happily pay this extra for just having the option to Airplay to WiiM Amp Ultra (regardless of how infrequently I would use it). Perhaps it’s not too late for WiiM to reconsider this decision, especially considering the entry of competing products into the market at a similar price point that would offer this feature (see: Eversolo Play)?

Unlikely a WiiM decision. Far more likely just Apple being Apple.

 

[Burnside]

Honestly though, all the complaints about lack of AirPlay are hilarious given AirPlay 2 isn't lossless anyway, so Bluetooth isn't any better or worse. Either go lossless, or just accept quality loss. I don't think any of LinkPlay's devices ever had AirPlay 1/lossless AirPlay support, so it really provided nothing that Bluetooth doesn't already provide.

AirPlay 2 can be lossless, even with Apple Music where it normally only delivers 256kbps AAC - see what must be my most quoted reference at https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/bits-and-bytes/apple-music-lossless-mess-part-2-airplay-r1026/ where setting the system-wide AirPlay device on macOS supports it.

Plus the Airconnect solution I linked to in comment #2 allows WiiM devices to appear as airplay 1 targets thereby enabling CD quality transmission.

For proper LOSSLESS AirPlay, just get a FiiO SR11 if it so matters to you. It uses lossless AirPlay 1 and can easily integrate with your WiiM Amp Pro via optical connection. Then you're actually getting better sound quality than Bluetooth.

I don’t believe airplay is involved when using a FiiO or Eversolo device - they run the Apple Music app on a version of Android with a modified audio subsystem to directly output a hi res lossless stream to their DAC. I believe the Eversolo app (and I suspect FiiO do similarly) remotely controls that Apple Music app on their streamer but there’s no actual audio transferred between the phone app and streamer.

Nor do you need a FiiO or Eversolo to deliver lossless over optical into a WiiM - a simple USB to optical adaptor (such as Cubiliex), using the Apple camera kit if you have a lightning connector, from your iOS device into a WiiM achieves that.

 

[EddNog]

AirPlay 2 can be lossless, even with Apple Music where it normally only delivers 256kbps AAC - see what must be my most quoted reference at https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/bits-and-bytes/apple-music-lossless-mess-part-2-airplay-r1026/ where setting the system-wide AirPlay device on macOS supports it.

Plus the Airconnect solution I linked to in comment #2 allows WiiM devices to appear as airplay 1 targets thereby enabling CD quality transmission.


I don’t believe airplay is involved when using a FiiO or Eversolo device - they run the Apple Music app on a version of Android with a modified audio subsystem to directly output a hi res lossless stream to their DAC. I believe the Eversolo app (and I suspect FiiO do similarly) remotely controls that Apple Music app on their streamer but there’s no actual audio transferred between the phone app and streamer.

Nor do you need a FiiO or Eversolo to deliver lossless over optical into a WiiM - a simple USB to optical adaptor (such as Cubiliex), using the Apple camera kit if you have a lightning connector, from your iOS device into a WiiM achieves that.

You seem to be confusing the SR11 for the S15, R7, or R9 streamers. The SR11 is not Android-based. It is an actual AirPlay (1) endpoint and costs a small fraction what the S15 or R-series streamers cost.

-Ed

 

[Burnside]

You seem to be confusing the SR11 for the S15, R7, or R9 streamers. The SR11 is not Android-based. It is an actual AirPlay (1) endpoint and costs a small fraction what the S15 or R-series streamers cost.

-Ed

Ok, but my other points stand.

 

[Mike in NY]

in the US most people with a smart phone are using an iPhone correct?

The iPhone's U.S. market share is about 56.6% depending on the measurement period, so no not "most people" but more than half.

I don't use an iPhone but I do use an iPad and Mac computers, and I definitely do not miss the train wreck that is AirPlay2 in any way.

AirPlay was cool in 2007 or so, today not so much. Various other solutions are better in that they actually deliver lossless audio, and do not route the stream through the phone itself, unlike AirPlay that whacks the phone's battery and puts unnecessary wear and tear (in the form of heat) on the device.

 

[s3igell]

There was huge outcry when people realized WiiM was effectively dropping Airplay.

The absence of Airplay is a significant drawback. It’s evident and difficult-to-accept limitation of functionality. I’m certain that WiiM loses many potential customers due to this. I haven’t had the time to follow all those Airplay discussions on the forum, but it’s hard to understand WiiM’s position here.

You need to direct your ire at Apple.
It has been obvious that Apple has denied WiiM any Certification for use of AirPlay. Despite the "fig leaf" that WiiM employed late in the marketing run-up to release of the Ultra "that WiiM Ultra didn't have" whatever was lacking for AirPlay, it was obvious that they had fully expected Apple AirPlay Certification when they did up the Ultra Marketing Plan. Even if it was a hardware lack for the Ultra, that would surely have been rectified by a board revision, and surely would have been properly corrected for the follow-on Amp Pro.