What products you'd like to see WiiM produce?

[harkpabst]

A great example of everybody having their own opinion on what is needed and what isn't.

Obviously, WiiM came to the same conclusion as I did and decided that proper subwoofer management and room correction are main selling points and considered essential by others. Each to their own, WiiM will produce whatever they identify as well selling.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

If you have decent (and big enough) loudspeakers and and amp that can really drive them you don‘t need a sub for true sound reproduction in a home environment. Adding a sub to such a system is mere straining after effects.

One of my systems doesn’t need a subwoofer, but another one does.

 

[PaintItBlack]

It would need to be considerably larger in size and weight, but could be done.

I’m not sure whether there would be sufficient demand for such a product in the WiiM ecosystem.

The SVS 1000 is larger, but not that larger, in fact smaller in some dimensions. In fact this is one of the minuses (for me) of the current model, almost 40cm wide and only a 20cm woofer. To be precise 399 x 301 x 322 mm (WiiM) vs 342 x 330 x 352 mm (SVS 100 Pro). In fact if we want a smaller sub I would go for the 3000 Micro 278 x 297 x 271 mm, although at almost double the price of the WiiM.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

A great example of everybody having their own opinion on what is needed and what isn't.

Obviously, WiiM came to the same conclusion as I did and decided that proper subwoofer management and room correction are main selling points and considered essential by others. Each to their own, WiiM will produce whatever they identify as well selling.

Yes, I agree with you that WiiM will produce products that they believe the customer base will find appealing, and affordable.

 

[Deleted member 28380]

A great example of everybody having their own opinion on what is needed and what isn't.

Obviously, WiiM came to the same conclusion as I did and decided that proper subwoofer management and room correction are main selling points and considered essential by others. Each to their own, WiiM will produce whatever they identify as well selling.

Of course they will. And I realise that EQ and subs are THE big deal currently. One just needs to look at the topics on this forum. 80% subs and EQ.

I also have other hobbies in which I am more of an expert than in HiFi. There I can truely evaluate what is valid and what is BS fueled by the respective current hype. The parallels are more than obvious.

 

[harkpabst]

One of my systems doesn’t need a subwoofer, but another one does.

My Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2 sound superbly with no sub. But I assure you they really are even better with a stereo pair of Lyngdorf BW-2 subwoofers.

Admittedly, one big advantage of having great subwoofer integration as provided by WiiM is the fact that you can get along with pretty small main speakers. That's the obvious use case and it's important for many users. But there is still this other thing, that the perfect position for (sub-)woofer is not necessarily the perfect position for a speaker playing upper bass, mids and highs. Being able to separate the position can be beneficial even with pretty bass capable main speakers, even if it's not a must.

I'm happy WiiM gives us these options to choose from.

One just needs to look at the topics on this forum. 80% subs and EQ.

You might suspect fashion here, but I assure you it's not. Many ways to skin a cat and I sure as hell enjoy listening to my friends pair of Quad ESL fed by a 303 power amp and 44 pre-amp. No sub, not room correction, pure fascination. But in most domestic environments room correction and sub(s) provide great bang for the buck.

Unfortunately, both still need some work and understanding to be set up correctly in many cases.

 

[Deleted member 28380]

My Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2 sound superbly with no sub. But I assure you they really are even better with a stereo pair of Lyngdorf BW-2 subwoofers.

Admittedly, one big advantage of having great subwoofer integration as provided by WiiM is the fact that you can get along with pretty small main speakers. That's the obvious use case and it's important for many users. But there is still this other thing, that the perfect position for (sub-)woofer is not necessarily the perfect position for a speaker playing upper bass, mids and highs. Being able to separate the position can be beneficial even with pretty bass capable main speakers, even if it's not a must.

I'm happy WiiM gives us these options to choose from.


You might suspect fashion here, but I assure you it's not. Many ways to skin the cat and I sure as hell enjoy listening to my friends pair of Quad ESL fed by a 303 power amp and 44 pre-amp. No sub, not room correction, pure fascination. But in most domestic environments room correction and sub(s) provide great bang for the buck.

Unfortunately, both still need some work and understanding to be set up correctly in many cases.

You are 100% right … in absolute terms. But put in relation to what most people really need much of it is overkill.
A vast majority of people buy speakers that are cheap as chips and naturally feel that there something wrong or missing. No wonder. The next step is the rugged attempt to cure those shortcomings via EQ and the addition of one or more subs.

Executed correctly I am certain that those tools will bring out the optimum that can be achieved. But the regular user can have 90% at 10% of the fuss if he does it right. And that‘s what people are not seeing.

 

[nn_in]

Is vibe amp the best combo with pro plus ? Any other wiim amp suggestions?

 

[Mr Ee]

Is vibe amp the best combo with pro plus ?

If you mean within the wiim amp range, then yes, I think the vibelink is the best option.
Any of the other wiim amps would effectively replace the pro plus, and if you were to do that imo go with the amp ultra.

 

[edo gawa]

A mark II version of the Pro or Pro+ with USB in.

A nice little server.

 

[James!]

Would really like to see a sub controller we could add to network. Like something the size of a mini but that gives all the same sub output control we get with the wiim amp/ amp pro. Even if we could do it as a firmware update on a mini so there was a specific option to put it in sub mode.

 

[rccarguy]

Would really like to see a sub controller we could add to network. Like something the size of a mini but that gives all the same sub output control we get with the wiim amp/ amp pro. Even if we could do it as a firmware update on a mini so there was a specific option to put it in sub mode.

There's Minidsp HD.

 

[harkpabst]

That's $225 vs $89. Plus the costs for UMIK-1 or UMIK-2. Plus the costs for a Dirac Live license, if you don't want to use REW.

Not sure if this is what @James! has been asking for.

 

[rccarguy]

That's $225 vs $89. Plus the costs for UMIK-1 or UMIK-2. Plus the costs for a Dirac Live license, if you don't want to use REW.

Not sure if this is what @James! has been asking for.

Don't need dirac license. but yeah need umik1 and experience with REW so not exactly easy to use.

But it does a lot, doubt Wiim can offer something like that...only thing I guess that is lacking I suppose is wireless outputs, ethernet in (to control from app or ideally internet browser) and also to stream to it.

Have one myself. Use it for a triple sub setup in one system and fourth output used in another system so pretty good value for money.

A better easier to use unit would be good for the mass market, just add app control, measurement, PEQ pre and post EQ results, multi sub time alignment, alignment with speakers, etc

 

[harkpabst]

Don't need dirac license. but yeah need umik1 and experience with REW so not exactly easy to use.

That's why I wrote "... if you don't want to use REW." From my point of view REW is a strong contender for the "best software ever award, but it also presents a steep learning curve not everybody wants to spend time on.

A better easier to use unit would be good for the mass market, just add app control, measurement, PEQ pre and post EQ results, multi sub time alignment, alignment with speakers, etc

I don't think miniDSP are more likely to come up with this than WiiM.

The Mini has been used for subwoofer integration with other WiiM devices in the past by fellow members, but it's not as easy as pressing a button or two and there is still functionality missing.

Also I'm not sure how much of a market there really is for such a device. The expected price point (much closer to the WiiM Mini than to the HD) could attract some, but those who are more serious about the topic will probably demand more control and spend money on a more flexible device anyway.

 

[James!]

That's $225 vs $89. Plus the costs for UMIK-1 or UMIK-2. Plus the costs for a Dirac Live license, if you don't want to use REW.

Not sure if this is what @James! has been asking for.

Nah you are right but I probably didnt explain it well enough, I'm happy with the sub output settings on the wiim amp. Got another amp (pro) for my kitchen but space limited so can't fit the wiim sub dont have any way to run sub cables, but small wireless sub would work fine. Could go with something like svs soundpath but costs more than a mini and that's another discrete wireless network adding interference to my smart home setup so another wiim device on same network would be preferable. Know the mini would 80% do the job but doesn't have the advanced EQ that the amp provides, plus would require separate volume control which is fine for me but not ideal for wife or kids using if I'm not around, they only ever call music from alexa.

Was thinking a cheap(ish) adaptor that will turn basically any normal sub into having functionality of the wiim pro sub would be perfect for me and think defo something other people would buy if that want to add their current sub into the ecosystem. Would think it could be potentially be achievable on the current mini hardware with some firmware tweak, I'd definitely buy one if they released as a standalone unit even or added the functionality to the mini

 

[EddNog]

That's why I wrote "... if you don't want to use REW." From my point of view REW is a strong contender for the "best software ever award, but it also presents a steep learning curve not everybody wants to spend time on.


I don't think miniDSP are more likely to come up with this than WiiM.

The Mini has been used for subwoofer integration with other WiiM devices in the past by fellow members, but it's not as easy as pressing a button or two and there is still functionality missing.

Also I'm not sure how much of a market there really is for such a device. The expected price point (much closer to the WiiM Mini than to the HD) could attract some, but those who are more serious about the topic will probably demand more control and spend money on a more flexible device anyway.

miniDSP did have a software release that allowed for an auto-calibrate style function for REW (similar to HouseCurve app on iOS), so you don’t necessarily need to go the full learning curve to take advantage of REW calibration/correction with a miniDSP. Last I heard I think it’s like a $25-30 upgrade, so it’s a lot cheaper than full DIRAC license.

-Ed

 

[Horsey]

A mark II version of the Pro or Pro+ with USB in.

A nice little server.

With USB out too!

 

[CliffyBC]

I'd like to see Wiim have a go at making proper passive loudspeakers not these gimmicky sound speakers they sell. Both floor standing and bookshelf would be good.

 

[Deleted member 28380]

I'd like to see Wiim have a go at making proper passive loudspeakers not these gimmicky sound speakers they sell. Both floor standing and bookshelf would be good.

What do passive speakers have to do with WiiM/Linkplay?
This business is mainly about software. The attached hardware is just to show what this can do.
There are a about a trillion manufacturers of passive speakers out there, 10% of which make decent loudspeakers. The market is fully saturated. So there are only two ways to enter this market as a newby. Either with cheap-as-shit fancy stuff or as a supplier of super high-end luxury. And with the latter you REALLY have to deliver, or you‘re dead.
None of this is WiiM. You may call them cheap, this they are. With the electronics they offer this works. With passive speaker this will not work. They are the last analogue domain in HiFi which cannot be conquored by software.