What products you'd like to see WiiM produce?

[canard]

The truly new feature might be the stereo (-mono) subwoofer output... there's a bit of everything currently available, even if some features are still developing and have yet to be fully realized... except for that...



(Then there's the home cinema sector... but there, processing and amplification solutions already exist from other brands, brands with a strong history and expertise in these areas, and not so much related to the primary use of Wiim products for audio streaming.)

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

The truly new feature might be the stereo subwoofer output... there's a bit of everything currently available, even if some features are still developing and have yet to be fully realized...

Well, that's something that sprang to my mind, too.

But the second RCA out is just hardware. The sub signal is already in stereo, and they have to fold it down to mono for the mono sub out, so no problem there. And as for room correction, I don't see a problem.

Let's say you currently hav a very large pair of floorstanders which go down to 20Hz. Then you switch to a pair of standmounts whih handlef 80Hz and above, and a pair of subs for below 80Hz. The Ultra can alrady hsndle 80Hz down to 20Hz for your floorstanders. Why would it need anything new for the same frequencies for stereo sub outs? At the very 'worst'/most you'd just need enough grunt to effectively have 2 lots of room correction going on instead of one.

 

[EddNog]

I may be wrong here, but I think there'll be a difference between anything new and the Ultra, in comparison to the Ultra vs the older streamers.

With the latter, the Ultra wasn't just new hardware, there was a lot of new app-based functionality. I remember lots of talk about how the bass management would work (would there be a delay setting for the sub, etc.), and stuff like that.

I don't think there's too much in the world of app-based functionality which the Ultra hasn't now developed, and most of anything new on an Ultra Plus will be the basic hardware (more ins and outs, etc.).

If they add a CD tray to the Ultra X, that would necessitate a bit of extra (software) development; meta data/tag search & download, logic for ripping to storage, and perhaps even adding some sort of an nVME drive slot/bay.

-Ed

 

[dominikz]

Well, that's something that sprang to my mind, too.

But the second RCA out is just hardware. The sub signal is already in stereo, and they have to fold it down to mono for the mono sub out, so no problem there. And as for room correction, I don't see a problem.

Let's say you currently hav a very large pair of floorstanders which go down to 20Hz. Then you switch to a pair of standmounts whih handlef 80Hz and above, and a pair of subs for below 80Hz. The Ultra can alrady hsndle 80Hz down to 20Hz for your floorstanders. Why would it need anything new for the same frequencies for stereo sub outs? At the very 'worst'/most you'd just need enough grunt to effectively have 2 lots of room correction going on instead of one.

Though there are really two ways dual subwoofer outputs could be utilized:
1) To get stereo bass optimized for a single listening position (i.e. left channel routed to left sub, right channel to right sub),
2) To get mono bass optimized for a wider listening area (i.e. along the lines of what is possible with DLBC and MSO).

Personally I'd love to have both options, with the flexibility to switch between them (including related RoomFit profile and bass management settings) with presets and/or based on selected source.

That would definitely require some new SW develoment!

 

[canard]

The problem is that if it's not present from the start, the first scenario can't be managed or even considered... (unless you dedicate another Wiim to this purpose, etc., which isn't so simple... etc.)

 

[jdavis417]

Room correction tapestries

 

[jdavis417]

Satellite speaker slippers.

 

[jdavis417]

One of those things they put on your dog to stop them from chewing out their stitches but to enhance human listening. The cone of aim!

 

[jdavis417]

The ability for the doorbell and various household timers to interrupt a broadcast with a reminder.

 

[jdavis417]

VR visualizer

 

[Karlaka]

I may be wrong here, but I think there'll be a difference between anything new and the Ultra, in comparison to the Ultra vs the older streamers.

With the latter, the Ultra wasn't just new hardware, there was a lot of new app-based functionality. I remember lots of talk about how the bass management would work (would there be a delay setting for the sub, etc.), and stuff like that.

I don't think there's too much in the world of app-based functionality which the Ultra hasn't now developed, and most of anything new on an Ultra Plus will be the basic hardware (more ins and outs, etc.).

Good afternoon everyone.

I agree. With the Fosi S3 already released (at a price I didn't expect, I must say), it occurs to me that the potential Ultra Plus should have balanced outputs for those who (without justification, myself included) request them.
Another feature I'd love to see is Dirac Live compatibility.
I'd also like to see a slight improvement in build quality (the volume knob on the current version feels like a toy).
Just expressing my minor wishes.
Cheers!

 

[HotDiggedy]

What products would you like to see based on what you've experienced so far?

Black editions. Possibly tweaked versions with higher audio quality too?

Based on experience with a Wiim amp in my bedroom I’ve just ordered an Ultra for my main Hifi rig, it will be going into a Chord Dave and through that into a Norma amp. I’ve gone for space grey but black would have been a better fit for most users.
It would be good if they had two usbs - one for audio out to dac (galvanically isolated) and another for music storage. The ability to add an external power supply would be good also .

 

[Mr Ee]

It would be good if they had two usbs - one for audio out to dac (galvanically isolated) and another for music storage.

Welcome.

This can be done with a usb hub.
Can also have multiple dacs this way.

 

[harkpabst]

Black editions. Possibly tweaked versions with higher audio quality too?

For some reason I feel strangely intrigued by the idea of higher grade "black edition" of the WiiM Ultra and WiiM Amp Ultra.

It would probably just need a higher quality volume knob, black casework and a higher price. Maybe more prominent feet and rhodium plated connectors. Higher audio quality would come along with that automatically, even with identical firmware.

 

[jfbuk]

Higher audio quality would come along with that automatically, even with identical firmware.

Audiophiles please form a disorderly queue

 

[chrisnew]

What products would you like to see based on what you've experienced so far?

A higher end device above wiim ultra.
Basically a streaming preamp with non digitalized analog input, xlr outputs and a better power supply or a 12v input option. Maybe throw in sfp as well?

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

A higher end device above wiim ultra.
Basically a streaming preamp with non digitalized analog input, xlr outputs and a better power supply or a 12v input option. Maybe throw in sfp as well?

Hi Chris, I don't know how many times this needs saying, but the power supply in the Ultra is more than good enough; it's completely inaudible. The Ultra (with its current power supply) exibits distortion and noise below the threshold of human hearing.

When thinking about what I'd like WiiM to produce in the future, I'd say anthing which does not waste money 'improving' things which are already as good as they can be.

The other things, that's very interesting. Non-digitised inputs, I get the point, for sure. But an awful lot of why we love WiiM is done in the digital realm. You can have purely analogue EQ and crossovers for your sub, etc. But if we wanbt those to be as ditortion and noise free as the Ultra, you're talking about spending a hell of a lot more money.

For me, just improve the ADC. Much cheaper. Much better.

 

[Burnside]

... and I'll make the point again that Linn's latest amp/streamers also digitise analog inputs even for their flagship LP12 turntable in systems that cost at least ten times more than WiiM gear. Nor can we ignore than that many if not all modern vinyl pressings are mastered in the digital domain. Digitising analog streams being "a bad thing" is another of these hi fi beliefs that in my opinion need to be re-examined given the advance in technology.

 

[Roedelheim]

More and more even long time die-hard analog fans - I know a lot - learned about the advantages of digital processing. Time and technology develops and I for example take the best from two worlds. "Analog" today is more used as a lifestyle, a feeling. For those still loving tubes there is still a great field they can harvest. So what?

 

[Burnside]

I'm sure there are those who still prefer flared trousers and platform soled shoes too and I'd be the first to not mock them. Well, maybe a little bit