Which and when will the successor of the Wiim Ultra be released on the market?

[Smartplug]

Yes, or better room correction, which provides improvements for handling both, poorer-performing speakers as well as listening rooms that are not dedicated and/or not treated. Hence why I included a request to provide the ability to apply optional DIRAC Live correction (just as Bluesound streamers offer). Since it's optional, many/most buyers don't have to pay for it if they don't intend to use it, but those who want the benefits of DIRAC Live will still have the option to implement it by simply buying the license and the microphone. It shouldn't actually cost LinkPlay much money/resources to design the WiiM firmware to support DIRAC processing, and from an actual developmental standpoint, DIRAC has already sunken the costs/resources for development of the algorithm itself, so that actually offloads resources/development costs from LinkPlay.

I've seen plenty of complaints that WiiM RoomFit still isn't that great, even after all of the improvements (so far)--DIRAC still outperforms it by quite a margin (as it should, since it is a separate cost, and not cheap at that).

-Ed

I like to see Dirac live to be included especially for those people who want it. Having a choice is always better for consumers. I think both company would benefits let say if person purchase license 5 percent of that fee goes to wiim. This just an example how both company would benefits.

 

[harkpabst]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: WiiM is mostly a software driven company. There's no point for them in reselling 3rd party software. So no, I don't see Dirac coming to WiiM devices, not at all.

WiiM keep working on RoomFit and it's environment. The latest bit being the announcement of calibration files for popular smartphones and changes to the default settings. It's obvious they are not done with RoomFit.

 

[hgo58]

What about a top tier streamer transport? No display, no preamp, no EQ, filtered power supply, top quality outputs, S/PDIF, USB, completely shielded case.

Filtered power supply and shielded case makes no difference for a digital streamer.

 

[TimTim]

Filtered power supply and shielded case makes no difference for a digital streamer.

They do. They are more pricey. Some people enjoy paying more. People who get into arguments about which hard drives sound better probably will have very strong opinions on this as well.

I think that for most people the Ultra might just be all the hardware they realistically need. If you spend 20k on speakers, you are most likely not looking at an Ultra to feed them but I’m certain, it would be quite capable. All that I’d ask for would be better software.

 

[adias]

Filtered power supply and shielded case makes no difference for a digital streamer.

Limited system view. Think surrounding analog devices affected by EMI.

 

[adias]

They do. They are more pricey. Some people enjoy paying more. People who get into arguments about which hard drives sound better probably will have very strong opinions on this as well.

I think that for most people the Ultra might just be all the hardware they realistically need. If you spend 20k on speakers, you are most likely not looking at an Ultra to feed them but I’m certain, it would be quite capable. All that I’d ask for would be better software.

I think that with a few design tweaks the Ultra transport could approach an Auralic Aries G2.2 transport for a small fraction of its price.

 

[adias]

Yes, or better room correction, which provides improvements for handling both, poorer-performing speakers as well as listening rooms that are not dedicated and/or not treated. Hence why I included a request to provide the ability to apply optional DIRAC Live correction (just as Bluesound streamers offer). Since it's optional, many/most buyers don't have to pay for it if they don't intend to use it, but those who want the benefits of DIRAC Live will still have the option to implement it by simply buying the license and the microphone. It shouldn't actually cost LinkPlay much money/resources to design the WiiM firmware to support DIRAC processing, and from an actual developmental standpoint, DIRAC has already sunken the costs/resources for development of the algorithm itself, so that actually offloads resources/development costs from LinkPlay.

I've seen plenty of complaints that WiiM RoomFit still isn't that great, even after all of the improvements (so far)--DIRAC still outperforms it by quite a margin (as it should, since it is a separate cost, and not cheap at that).

-Ed

RC will never correct inherent analog or digital circuits' deficiencies. Lipstick on a pig?

People react to RC applications following the classic reaction defined by catastrophe theory. They perceive a difference, amplify it and internalize it as an improvement. Often it is not.

 

[EddNog]

RC will never correct inherent analog or digital circuits' deficiencies. Lipstick on a pig?

People react to RC applications following the classic reaction defined by catastrophe theory. They perceive a difference, amplify it and internalize it as an improvement. Often it is not.

What are you talking about? We're talking about objectively measured improvements in performance (and no, I'm not talking about mere frequency sweeps). DIRAC corrects for phase and impulse issues as well. All of this is easily measured. It is not a perception or subjective issue.

Circuit deficiencies? From known, objectively well-tested and well-measured devices? I see no pig here.

-Ed

 

[adias]

What are you talking about? We're talking about objectively measured improvements in performance (and no, I'm not talking about mere frequency sweeps). DIRAC corrects for phase and impulse issues as well. All of this is easily measured. It is not a perception or subjective issue.

Circuit deficiencies? From known, objectively well-tested and well-measured devices? I see no pig here.

-Ed

OK!

 

[Ivan]

All this hype for room correction it's quite crazy. Take the equalisation, change the name in room correction, and people will be enthusiastic about it. Someone maybe too much...
In the past, when hifi was something real, and we listen to Linn, Mitchell, Audio Research, Mcintosh, etc... speak about equalising was worse than lipstick on pigs, but today the world is as it is, and so everybody is happy with "room correction"

 

[hgo58]

Limited system view. Think surrounding analog devices affected by EMI.

Mine are not affected at all. Digital all the way to the speakers. Speakers have the good power and filtering.

 

[EddNog]

All this hype for room correction it's quite crazy. Take the equalisation, change the name in room correction, and people will be enthusiastic about it. Someone maybe too much...
In the past, when hifi was something real, and we listen to Linn, Mitchell, Audio Research, Mcintosh, etc... speak about equalising was worse than lipstick on pigs, but today the world is as it is, and so everybody is happy with "room correction"

In the past we also used a pull cord to start the 2-stroke engines on our autocarriages, went every summer without air conditioning, got up to change the channel using the dial on our CRT television sets, and made calls via the switchboard or on rotary dial telephones.

Time and technology evolve. That's life.

-Ed

 

[Ivan]

The example is completely wrong, but if you want to compare a Mitchell Gyrodeck with Audio Research ampli, with a 300 euro class D stuff with some "Room correction" gimmicks, ok.
Everyone has a preferred cup of tea

 

[slartibartfast]

went every summer without air conditioning,

Most of us in the UK still do, except maybe in the car

 

[Skull]

Most of us in the UK still do, except maybe in the car

What’s aircon?
Oh that’s the cold stuff supermarkets have

 

[EddNog]

Most of us in the UK still do, except maybe in the car

Back in the summer of 2009, the company I was working for at the time put me on a flight to London to help the operations team in their London office with June month-end work as they'd suffered a rash of people quitting. I arrived to discover that temperatures were pushing nearly to 90 degrees F (past 30 C), and absolutely horrified to discover upon checking into my hotel room that the hotel had no air conditioning. I barely slept the first 2 nights because it was absolutely sweltering. My coworkers in the London office told me that the lack of AC was not abnormal as it was not that hot. I asked what was considered hot if 30C wasn't it. They answered that I could join them at the pub after hours to cool down. I asked if a nice warm bitter was supposed to be their best answer. Fortunately, we all had a good laugh as at least we had two things in common, our senses of humor and our overload of work.

-Ed

 

[slartibartfast]

Back in the summer of 2007, the company I was working for at the time put me on a flight to London to help the operations team in their London office with June month-end work as they'd suffered a rash of people quitting. I arrived to discover that temperatures were pushing nearly to 90 degrees F (past 30 C), and absolutely horrified to discover upon checking into my hotel room that the hotel had no air conditioning. I barely slept the first 2 nights because it was absolutely sweltering. My coworkers in the London office told me that the lack of AC was not abnormal as it was not that hot. I asked what was considered hot if 30C wasn't it. They answered that I could join them at the pub after hours to cool down. I asked if a nice warm bitter was supposed to be their best answer. Fortunately, we all had a good laugh as at least we had two things in common, our senses of humor and our overload of work.

-Ed

Sounds about right. You can't even open windows in many hotels

 

[EddNog]

Sounds about right. You can't even open windows in many hotels

Mine at least did open up, so I kept the shades open as well, and the other thing keeping me up was the fact that, in the summer, there's day light well into the evening due to the latitude. Significantly brighter in the 9-10pm time frame in London compared to where I'm originally from (New York city and Southern Westchester). Surprisingly quiet at night considering my hotel was right on The Strand (as was the office).

-Ed

 

[Skull]

Back in the summer of 2007, the company I was working for at the time put me on a flight to London to help the operations team in their London office with June month-end work as they'd suffered a rash of people quitting. I arrived to discover that temperatures were pushing nearly to 90 degrees F (past 30 C), and absolutely horrified to discover upon checking into my hotel room that the hotel had no air conditioning. I barely slept the first 2 nights because it was absolutely sweltering. My coworkers in the London office told me that the lack of AC was not abnormal as it was not that hot. I asked what was considered hot if 30C wasn't it. They answered that I could join them at the pub after hours to cool down. I asked if a nice warm bitter was supposed to be their best answer. Fortunately, we all had a good laugh as at least we had two things in common, our senses of humor and our overload of work.

-Ed

You do know hardly anyone drinks bitter anymore

 

[slartibartfast]

You do know hardly anyone drinks bitter anymore

Not in summer anyway. You want something cold in summer