What does no native support for Apple Music mean?

mikm27

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I'm considering buying a WIIM Pro Plus for my household with an Android/Deezer user and a iPhone/Apple Music user. I understand that WIIM does not support Apple Music natively but I'd like to understand that better. I see in the WIIM user guide that an iPhone user can play Apple Music via WIIM by using AirPlay. And I understand that the sound quality will be limited using AirPlay. Are there any other implications for native vs non-native support? Is the WIIM Home app different for Deezer which is supported natively vs Apple Music which is not?
 
Apple Music will Airplay fine to a WiiM Pro or WiiM Pro Plus. I use it all the time and the quality is quite good. Apple’s AAC codec is very good.
 
“native support” basically means wiim directly calls the streaming service api. that’s all really. there’s a number of workarounds. if you’d like to play apple music lossless the only option comes into my mind is to use wired connection (digital or analog) between an apple device and wiim
 
“native support” basically means wiim directly calls the streaming service api. that’s all really. there’s a number of workarounds. if you’d like to play apple music lossless the only option comes into my mind is to use wired connection (digital or analog) between an apple device and wiim
Does Apple TV only support up too 24bit/48kHz lossless? It’s a shame HiRes lossless isn’t supported for AirPlay.
 
Does Apple TV only support up too 24bit/48kHz lossless? It’s a shame HiRes lossless isn’t supported for AirPlay.
If you're talking about Apple TV -> TV -> WiiM (through toslink or hdmi), then yes. Most if not all tv's work at a fixed sample rate of 48kHz
 
Does Apple TV only support up too 24bit/48kHz lossless? It’s a shame HiRes lossless isn’t supported for AirPlay.
Apple TV OS does resampling to 24bit/48kHz. Some believe the resampling (especially when the original frequency is not 48 or a multiple of 48) degrades the sound quality.

There is a detailed post with measurements on ASR where author in fact found some resampling artifacts but levels were way below -100dB

However since apple tv only has hdmi output you’re gonna trust your tv/hdmi extractor doesn’t mess with the sound signal.
 
But it does work rather well, particularly for multi room usage, where ultimate sound quality is perhaps less important.

Having said that, the general sound quality is still perfectly acceptable.
They offer high resolution loseless only be castrated on their airplay. Why they don’t update their airplay to support 24/192? Maybe the revenue they get on this is just a peanut that’s why they’re not putting an effort. If this was an iPhone they will be on it.
 
They dont as I expect they dont want all the support callls about drop outs and understand that most consumers dont get networking and 99.9% use their phones to Airplay from lossy sources to start with. Phones are not the best devices to stream uncompressd media as the network chips are compromised and to serve lossless hires audio to multiple deivices at once, and given most peoples wifi setups are not optomised is asking a lot. KISS is Apples approach and they likely get much less support issues with Airplay as a result. Chromecast and other protocols are a handoff the phone is purely a remote not a sending device. Airplay only hands off to Apples own devices such as ATV and homepods.
 
I believe so. AirPlay is a sad implementation of a casting protocol…
It’s not “casting” though is it? It needs the originating device to remain on and connected to the source.
Casting is controlling a device from a control point which once initiated doesn’t need to stay on or connected to the source.
Airplay isn’t very efficient from a bandwidth POV but actually AirPlay 1 audio at 16bit/44.1kbps is quite good if there is sufficient bandwidth for it to work correctly. AirPlay 2 on the other hand is really hampered.
 
It’s not “casting” though is it? It needs the originating device to remain on and connected to the source.
Casting is controlling a device from a control point which once initiated doesn’t need to stay on or connected to the source.
Airplay isn’t very efficient from a bandwidth POV but actually AirPlay 1 audio at 16bit/44.1kbps is quite good if there is sufficient bandwidth for it to work correctly. AirPlay 2 on the other hand is really hampered.
That’s why it’s a sad implementation when it’s not even casting ;)
 
If apple is their main eco system, I would pick different brand of streamer. I think eversolo support Apple app as well as you know which brand that is none other than Sonos. I’m Apple myself but not on music. I only like their tablet and cell phone products. I’m not a fan of ear piece or any tiny device just to get by in music.
 
Apple app
They have issues now as Apple dont allow Apple Music to work on Rooted Android devices and this is rooted or the app thinks it is. This means they are now stuck on an outdated version which will at some point be depractaed and no longer work. They added a simialr approach to HifiRose and added access via the WebAPI like Sonos. This isnt great and limited to AAC only. I think Fiio are the best choice with the R7 or R9 as these work with the Apple app perfectly well.
 
Its all bs. Just cant understand why they don’t allow having native playback from most streamers. Even when using their own hardware its clunky. I think their strategy is garbage but somehow apple music is a very good resource. Same thing with codecs etc. Always 8 steps behind and they wont give a sh. At least we have usb c instead of freakin weird connection now
 
The level of technicality from many of you is truly remarkable.. unfortunately it’s over the head for the other simple simple folk. I am in the market for a streamer/ Dac to use for a newly upgraded simple 2.1 Stereo system. LRS + Maggie’s, Rogue tube preamp, Emotiva XPA 2 Gen power Amp, a turntable for my vinyl and a Pioneer CD changer. I am very happy using this new, unique app called TREBEL where I can download songs for free and store in my library and listen without the need of internet if need be. My research led me to strongly consider the Wiim Ultra only to find it doesn’t support airplay2 which is from what I understand is the favorable way to use this particular app on my iPhone. Now I can opt for the pro Plus version but I lose the features and connectivity that the Ultra has. Can someone please explain in plain English any way to get around this dilemma? The other option is another brand for more cash
Thanks in advance
 
The level of technicality from many of you is truly remarkable.. unfortunately it’s over the head for the other simple simple folk. I am in the market for a streamer/ Dac to use for a newly upgraded simple 2.1 Stereo system. LRS + Maggie’s, Rogue tube preamp, Emotiva XPA 2 Gen power Amp, a turntable for my vinyl and a Pioneer CD changer. I am very happy using this new, unique app called TREBEL where I can download songs for free and store in my library and listen without the need of internet if need be. My research led me to strongly consider the Wiim Ultra only to find it doesn’t support airplay2 which is from what I understand is the favorable way to use this particular app on my iPhone. Now I can opt for the pro Plus version but I lose the features and connectivity that the Ultra has. Can someone please explain in plain English any way to get around this dilemma? The other option is another brand for more cash
Thanks in advance
As the downloaded files in Trebel seem to be only lossy MP3, you could simply use Bluetooth which would be of comparable quality to AirPlay.
 
So I found a severed link from Wiim team regarding this topic which was bastardized and deleted. The response essentially apologized for the inconvenience and disappointed users regarding the omission of airplay on the Ultra due to technical aspects. It appears they wanted to get this newly released version out there before finding a solution to incorporate this feature You would think technology would find a way. Their idea of using Bluetooth as an alternative doesn’t quite jive with me as my understanding tells me there’s no way sonically it’s as good as AirPlay. I’ve used Bluetooth to play my music before and it craps out all the time. One user posted the idea of using an AirPlay adapter into the optical output and doing it that way. Hmmmmm. I’m going to have to look into that… could be a viable solution indeed.
 
Saying Bluetooth isn’t sonically as god as Airplay is rather moot when all you’re playing via Trebel is lossy MP3 tracks which both the Bluetooth sbc/aac codecs can accommodate.

Yes, you could add an AirPlay receiver like the Belkin or indeed even a WiiM Mini as an AirPlay gateway into the Ultra.
 
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