Ultra Airplay

[joostdh]

Buy an AirPort Express. Make sure it’s the A1392 model. They were designed as Apple’s version of a mesh network and have Airplay 2. I found one online years ago for $30 and used it to stream to an older amp using its line out to rca input on the amp. Easy to setup and has been 100% reliable for me.
I’ve now connected it to my Ultra via RCA input, and output via the Ultra to my simple Primare I32 amp. Works perfect.

I’ll give you an even better idea: instead of using RCA, use the Express’ built-in optical output. The mini jack port is dual function: it also accepts mini-Toslink. That way you use the (probably much much better) DAC of the Ultra.

 

[Olaf W.]

Since I found the loss of airplay quite annoying I did setup a virtual machine with Daphile (contains the LMS, formerly know as Squeezebox Server). Using the plugins „Shairtunes2“ and „UPNP/DLNA bridge“ enables the Ultra as an Airplay target. Cover artwork is functional and the Ultra states „16-Bit / 48kHz“ so there is some transcoding at play, but I can live with this for now.

 

[Burnside]

Since I found the loss of airplay quite annoying I did setup a virtual machine with Daphile (contains the LMS, formerly know as Squeezebox Server). Using the plugins „Shairtunes2“ and „UPNP/DLNA bridge“ enables the Ultra as an Airplay target. Cover artwork is functional and the Ultra states „16-Bit / 48kHz“ so there is some transcoding at play, but I can live with this for now.

You shouldn’t need the UPnP/DLNA bridge in my understanding as the Ultra already is a UPnP renderer. ShairTunes identifies it as an Airplay 1 endpoint and should support lossless CD quality.

See this link for other options also based on AirConnect

AirConnect: Send audio to UPnP/Sonos/Chromecast players using AirPlay

Didn't quite know which subforum to post this in, so general thoughts it is... AirConnect is a package developed by philippe44 who is pretty well known in LMS circles for his 'bridge' plugins which allow the transfer of audio between different protocols. This particular bridge allows UPnP...

forum.wiimhome.com

 

[Olaf W.]

You are right, UPNP brigde is not needed for the Ultra. But it‘s still transcoding to 48kHz

 

[pieterv1]

For those still bemoaning the lack of AirPlay on the Ultra, this post may be of interest

Thread 'AirConnect: Send audio to UPnP/Sonos/Chromecast players using AirPlay'
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/...-sonos-chromecast-players-using-airplay.4644/

I can definitely vouch for this solution! Works just as if Airplay was always built-in

 

[Bazkav]

I might be late to the party but I’ve just realised send Apple Music through airplay to my mini then link mini and Ultra and bang! Apple Music on both not sure of the specific quality on the Ultra but sounds good to me.

 

[Wanderer35]

I currently have the mini and I wanted to get the Ultra for the USB out and room correction. The issue is I use Apple music so airplay is kind of a necessity. I know they said that this current hardware version will never be able to get airplay. Do you guys think they will come out with an updated version with airplay relatively soon, like within a year? Obviously this is speculation but I am curious on your thoughts. It just seems like such a big omission, especially when it was supposed to have airplay at release, that they need to update it relatively soon.

I have had a wiim Ultra.When I bought it Airplay to Homepods was available and I bought homepods ..the sound was great then one day could not connect and learned that airplay had been switched off ..I can guess why..ever since we have been gas lighted that it is not possible to get airplay but obviously is because it worked before?

 

[slartibartfast]

I have had a wiim Ultra.When I bought it Airplay to Homepods was available and I bought homepods ..the sound was great then one day could not connect and learned that airplay had been switched off ..I can guess why..ever since we have been gas lighted that it is not possible to get airplay but obviously is because it worked before?

When did the Ultra have Airplay? It was the first WiiM device that didn't have Airplay.

 

[jjue1979]

I Airplay to an old Apple TV that has an HDMI DAC to output to one of the inputs on my WiiM Ultra. I also have an old Apple Airport Express sitting around in case I decide to get another WiiM Ultra.

 

[Burnside]

I think there’s some confusion here - when publicly released, the Ultra did not support AirPlay. What @Wanderer35 is perhaps referring to is the ability to cast AirPlay which was available on earlier models but removed shortly before the Ultra’s release.

 

[Wanderer35]

When did the Ultra have Airplay? It was the first WiiM device that didn't have Airplay.

The first ultra did have Airplay..like I said it stopped working suddenly without notice...I used it to stream to my airpods.Since then wiim act like it never had it.if you bought it on Amazon you could return it.

 

[slartibartfast]

The first ultra did have Airplay..like I said it stopped working suddenly without notice...I used it to stream to my airpods.Since then wiim act like it never had it.if you bought it on Amazon you could return it.

Well nobody else in the forum has ever said that the Ultra supported Airplay. My Amp did until it was removed. It was originally thought that it would be added at a later date but obviously that never happened.

 

[Burnside]

The first ultra did have Airplay..like I said it stopped working suddenly without notice...I used it to stream to my airpods.Since then wiim act like it never had it.if you bought it on Amazon you could return it.

I stand by my comment #30 - no retail Ultra ever supported AirPlay, neither reception nor casting. Only the models before that supported both (not sure about the Mini tbh) before AirPlay sending was removed just before the Ultra’s public release.

Let’s just say that several notable members of the group have the same experience as I did having had access to pre-release beta hardware…

 

[slartibartfast]

Let’s just say that several notable members of the group have the same experience as I did having had access to pre-release beta hardware…

Hmm, was this a lie then?
"It will not be able to have AirPlay due to a hardware limitation."

 

[Burnside]

Hmm, was this a lie then?
"It will not be able to have AirPlay due to a hardware limitation."

No. I still say this post is the best summation of the situation

Post in thread 'What products you'd like to see WiiM produce?'
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/what-products-youd-like-to-see-wiim-produce.725/post-126825

 

[slartibartfast]

No. I still say this post is the best summation of the situation

Post in thread 'What products you'd like to see WiiM produce?'
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/what-products-youd-like-to-see-wiim-produce.725/post-126825

So did the pre-release beta hardware not support airplay either?

 

[Burnside]

Perhaps beta test units would have be a better description - given they used the same Linkplay module, they too would have had the same “hardware limitation” as production Ultras and later models that prevented them being sold as AirPlay compatible. As per the link I posted, we can only speculate on what that limitation is.

 

[hgo58]

Perhaps beta test units would have be a better description - given they used the same Linkplay module, they too would have had the same “hardware limitation” as production Ultras and later models that prevented them being sold as AirPlay compatible. As per the link I posted, we can only speculate on what that limitation is.

As a Raspberry Pi with "shairport-sync" can emulate AirPlay via software, I am pretty sure that no special hardware is needed for AirPlay support.

It's all about license from Apple. So it could have been included on the Ultra initially and removed when the license was not provided.

GitHub - mikebrady/shairport-sync: AirPlay and AirPlay 2 audio player https://share.google/UflfUNEhfnLWOH8TC

 

[Burnside]

As a Raspberry Pi with "shairport-sync" can emulate AirPlay via software, I am pretty sure that no special hardware is needed for AirPlay support.

It's all about license from Apple. So it could have been included on the Ultra initially and removed when the license was not provided.

GitHub - mikebrady/shairport-sync: AirPlay and AirPlay 2 audio player https://share.google/UflfUNEhfnLWOH8TC

Different markets (commercial v. hobby/enthusiast) and there’s nothing to say Apple wouldn’t jump on them at some point as Spotify have just done in relation to librespot trying to implement lossless Spotify support.

 

[Burnside]

As a Raspberry Pi with "shairport-sync" can emulate AirPlay via software, I am pretty sure that no special hardware is needed for AirPlay support.

It's all about license from Apple. So it could have been included on the Ultra initially and removed when the license was not provided.

GitHub - mikebrady/shairport-sync: AirPlay and AirPlay 2 audio player https://share.google/UflfUNEhfnLWOH8TC

A quick look at its documentation suggests that its AirPlay 2 support also has “limitations”