What's your setup/configuration look like?

[Zio_Acido]

The Ultra has just come into play, offloading DAC duties to the Eversolo (vastly superior to the onboard DAC) via USB. The Eversolo then feeds the Classe' preamp via balanced direct.. the Classe' balanced output then feeding either the ATC or the Anthem (depending on mood). Effectively the Ultra is just a transport for my purposes (Tidal and QoBuz). Though I may take the optical out from the Rega Jupiter CD (bottom left) and try that through the Ultra as well - currently, it's using the DAC built into the Classe'. We now have 3x Wiim's in the house.. this on the lounge system, a Pro+ in the kitchen feeding a small power amp and pair of monitors, then a Mini in the shed feeding a big Samsung speaker which I've had for about 15 years.. Have to say, I cannot fault the performance of any of the Wiim units. They've all worked flawlessly and do everything I ask of them.

 

[EddNog]

I'm also trying to make the best of 'decent budget speakers' with my system, and given your use of a WiiM Ultra, I'm trying to understand your aversion to adding a subwoofer. What's up with that?

I'm using two sets of the [2025 updated] Sony SS-CS5 (M2) speakers for mains, and recently had my Fosi SW10 subwoofer fail. I spent a few days without the subwoofer trying to PEQ the best sound from the Sonys alone before picking up an SVS SB-1000 Pro subwoofer (Best Buy open-box - I can relate ;-).

Because the Sonys struggle to produce much bass below 60Hz, and I've got an interesting ground-floor-Loft-overlapping-stereo-zones acoustical challenge, I've found that adding the SVS subwoofer at a 100Hz crossover with the help of the WiiM Ultra has allowed the Sonys to sound their best by only dealing with the upper bass on up.

The WiiM Ultra's subwoofer config/support,what I bought it for, seems to work well. I like using RoomFit targeting a Flat curve with Variable smoothing... At a 100Hz crossover for the SB100Pro and CS5-M2 mains, things seem to measure pretty well:
View attachment 35470View attachment 35468

So I have to admit that to my old ears, the system is now quite good and I'm wondering what main speaker upgrade(s) would be truly meaningful/imapctful to my listening. I feel I've augmented and tweaked the mass-market Sonys to their best performance, and I'm eager to hear what folks with the audiophile bug are experiencing with higher cost and [hopefully] higher-value equipment. Your ELAC DB63s are well regarded in their price range and I've considered grabbing a pair... but I'll be considering higher-end options as well before my next speaker upgrade (more reading to do on audiosciencereview.com, etc). There's an open-box set of KEF Q Concerto Metas at a nearby Best Buy that are calling to me...

Q Concerto Meta is a nice, solid buy at open-box pricing. Doesn't give up a ton to R3 Metas, and would pair up really nicely to SB-1000 Pro. The imaging ability of KEF Uni-Q is straight-up legendary--you will LOVE it if you do it! Doesn't have the headroom/bass limits of LS50 Meta, yet doesn't particularly give up a ton in terms of accuracy or detail extraction versus LS50 Meta; having owned LS50 Meta in the past, I'd take Q Concerto Meta over it any time, day, or place.

-Ed

 

[TonyE]

As long as things are cheap you don't give a shit what the source is?

It's IP (intellectual property) theft.

As someone who works in R&D I do NOT SUPPORT THIEVES.

I had one and only one interaction with AliExpress. There was one guy in China selling the Ultra for 20 bucks less than anyone else.

He never shipped it, he tried to cancel the transaction after I had paid him... took me a month to get my money back.

If you can not afford the real thing, then buy it used or build it yourself. DO NOT SUPPORT THE CHINESE IP THIEVES.

 

[TonyE]

The Ultra has just come into play, offloading DAC duties to the Eversolo (vastly superior to the onboard DAC) via USB. The Eversolo then feeds the Classe' preamp via balanced direct.. the Classe' balanced output then feeding either the ATC or the Anthem (depending on mood). Effectively the Ultra is just a transport for my purposes (Tidal and QoBuz). Though I may take the optical out from the Rega Jupiter CD (bottom left) and try that through the Ultra as well - currently, it's using the DAC built into the Classe'. We now have 3x Wiim's in the house.. this on the lounge system, a Pro+ in the kitchen feeding a small power amp and pair of monitors, then a Mini in the shed feeding a big Samsung speaker which I've had for about 15 years.. Have to say, I cannot fault the performance of any of the Wiim units. They've all worked flawlessly and do everything I ask of them.

Yes, exactly. My four Ultras all work the same way, into USB DACs. Then I can use the PC, our Android phones, tablets or Chromebooks as sources.

Bit perfect playback.

It sounds sort of sad to spend all that money on the DAC, room processing, etc, features... but I don't need them.. just an inexpensive way to play bit perfect from Tidal HiFi and the music in the NAS. Heck, I would like to get the Ultra processing even more out of the way. If I want balance control then I can use a preamp ( with dual gain controls ).

Oh, in two systems I run the DAC directly to the amps. One of the DACs has dual inputs as well (analog and USB) so in such simple systems getting rid of the preamp will make it sound even better.

I got the Sound to replace my old bluetooth speaker. For trips... although 2.5Kg is a little on the heavy side...

 

[Zio_Acido]

Yes, exactly. My four Ultras all work the same way, into USB DACs. Then I can use the PC, our Android phones, tablets or Chromebooks as sources.

Bit perfect playback.

It sounds sort of sad to spend all that money on the DAC, room processing, etc, features... but I don't need them.. just an inexpensive way to play bit perfect from Tidal HiFi and the music in the NAS. Heck, I would like to get the Ultra processing even more out of the way. If I want balance control then I can use a preamp ( with dual gain controls ).

Oh, in two systems I run the DAC directly to the amps. One of the DACs has dual inputs as well (analog and USB) so in such simple systems getting rid of the preamp will make it sound even better.

I got the Sound to replace my old bluetooth speaker. For trips... although 2.5Kg is a little on the heavy side...

It's a bit sad, yes.. I'd happily pay for a nice transport, a very high res, pure transport from Wiim would be a real winner as many people chasing the best possible sound quality are already going with outboard DACs. I tend to run everything just through the Wiim app on the phone/tablet. Never touch the front panel controls. I have to give Wiim credit where due, managing multiple sources (Youtube music, Tidal, QoBuz) and multiple devices, (The Mini, Pro+ and Ultra) is seamless and intuitive with the app--works flawlessly and has been perfectly reliable. Something almost counter-intuitive perhaps for Wiim is that though they go for the whole "compact audio" thing, there are many, many Wiim units in full size systems - in fact, of the people I know personally who have them, they all have expansive, full size systems.. This adds another perhaps unrealised dynamic to their client base/potential client base..

 

[HansD-NL]

It's a bit sad, yes.. I'd happily pay for a nice transport, a very high res, pure transport from Wiim would be a real winner as many people chasing the best possible sound quality are already going with outboard DACs. I tend to run everything just through the Wiim app on the phone/tablet. Never touch the front panel controls. I have to give Wiim credit where due, managing multiple sources (Youtube music, Tidal, QoBuz) and multiple devices, (The Mini, Pro+ and Ultra) is seamless and intuitive with the app--works flawlessly and has been perfectly reliable. Something almost counter-intuitive perhaps for Wiim is that though they go for the whole "compact audio" thing, there are many, many Wiim units in full size systems - in fact, of the people I know personally who have them, they all have expansive, full size systems.. This adds another perhaps unrealised dynamic to their client base/potential client base..

What is a bit sad exactly?

 

[Zio_Acido]

What is a bit sad exactly?

Spending the money to use it as a headless transport.. It's an excellent one in fairness.. does a lovely job, but for all the bells and whistles that sit sidelined, it's a bit sad..

 

[HansD-NL]

Spending the money to use it as a headless transport.. It's an excellent one in fairness.. does a lovely job, but for all the bells and whistles that sit sidelined, it's a bit sad..

Wiim products are a steal considering what they can do. Most people use the bells and whistles just fine. The sidelining is what you chose to do, so you made yourself sad i guess?

 

[TonyE]

It's a bit sad, yes.. I'd happily pay for a nice transport, a very high res, pure transport from Wiim would be a real winner as many people chasing the best possible sound quality are already going with outboard DACs. I tend to run everything just through the Wiim app on the phone/tablet. Never touch the front panel controls. I have to give Wiim credit where due, managing multiple sources (Youtube music, Tidal, QoBuz) and multiple devices, (The Mini, Pro+ and Ultra) is seamless and intuitive with the app--works flawlessly and has been perfectly reliable. Something almost counter-intuitive perhaps for Wiim is that though they go for the whole "compact audio" thing, there are many, many Wiim units in full size systems - in fact, of the people I know personally who have them, they all have expansive, full size systems.. This adds another perhaps unrealised dynamic to their client base/potential client base..

Yep. I have interconnects that cost more than the Ultra.. Nevermind the speaker cables. And the power supply for the turntable.. Etc. I guess what we want, a Music-over-IP to Music-over-USB bridge would have a pretty small sales volume so it would cost a bundle... then add the requisite High End jewelry cabinetry, the sales markups and we'd be looking at 1500 bucks. I suppose we can piggy back on the mass market and save a lot of money. And the screen and the box look pretty enough ( mine are dark silver ).

In reality, the Ultra is ridiculously cheap. It's gotten where for 1000 bucks we can get some absolutely great sounding front end hi-rez digital.

Yep, I never touch the front panel controls.... I set up the screen to show then name of the file (song) being played.