WiiM amp not suitable for desktop PC use

J

jazd

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Joined
Oct 21, 2025
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So I was very happy with my new WiiM amp until I tried to use it with my desktop PC.

First - it does not have a USB audio input. So that necessitated buying a USB-SPDIF converter (SMSL PO100) because my motherboard does not have a SPDIF output.

Second - There's a noticeable delay when starting to play audio via the optical TOSLINK/SPDIF input. If you are continuously playing music there's no issue, but if sits silent for 2 minutes then it will take a second or so to resume playing audio. It cuts off the first second of audio. I've discussed this here
Z

Thread 'Lag starting Each Track - Using Optical Input'

I have my WiiM Pro being fed through its Optical Input*. I have the Optical Output set to fixed resolution 24/96.

For each track, there is a millisecond or first note delay. This happens on every track.

I don’t get this delay using Tidal Connect nor AirPlay.

* The long story is that I am streaming Lossless H-Res Apple Music through an old iPhone using the CCK, That goes to USBC to Optical converter (SMSL PO100 2024) into the WiiM Pro.

Any ideas on this? Is it expected through the Wiim’s optical input?

Third - There's a noticeable latency playing audio which is super distracting when on video calls, watching YouTube (lip sync delay), or using any interactive application that plays sounds. This can be measured using Oblique Audio's "RTL Utility" which measures round trip latency. Comparing the WiiM Amp to both a cheap USB speaker and the built in soundcard you can see that WiiM amp adds a 30ms delay. I could not find any settings which reduce this, turning off the equalizer, room correction etc didn't help. An extra 30ms doesn't sound like much, but it was very noticeable to me.
This has also been discussed in these two threads
A

Thread 'The latency is way too high.'

My previous amp doesn't have a parametric eq (none apparently does, except for the wiim), so I always struggled with room correction when monitoring my instruments. I was pretty hyped when I read about the WiiM and thought it might solve all my problems. Being only a casual musician (I just listen to other peoples music most of the time, and enjoy playing e-piano), I prefer to have smart hifi gear over studio hardware racks.

But then, after giving it a try, I realized it has a 50ms latency.

Never, ever, have I used any kind of audio hardware (for casual listening and for production) with...
  • Like
S

Thread 'Reduced latency on analog inputs'

I have a somewhat specific feature request. Some people might enjoy using Wiim Ultra's analog inputs to connect music equipment and play through the speakers with room correction eq applied. This might include stuff like DJ equipment, turntables, electric piano or some other instruments plugged into the line in. When I tried this I experienced so much latency that the unit is unusable for this application. I know Ultra is not designed for this application but direct monitoring option on the analog inputs would greatly expand functionality of the already great device. Thanks!

These things are obviously not a problem if you are streaming songs from Spotify etc. but it makes the WiiM amp kind of crap for desktop use.
 
jazd said:
So I was very happy with my new WiiM amp until I tried to use it with my desktop PC.

First - it does not have a USB audio input. So that necessitated buying a USB-SPDIF converter (SMSL PO100) because my motherboard does not have a SPDIF output.

Second - There's a noticeable delay when starting to play audio via the optical TOSLINK/SPDIF input. If you are continuously playing music there's no issue, but if sits silent for 2 minutes then it will take a second or so to resume playing audio. It cuts off the first second of audio. I've discussed this here
Z

Thread 'Lag starting Each Track - Using Optical Input'

I have my WiiM Pro being fed through its Optical Input*. I have the Optical Output set to fixed resolution 24/96.

For each track, there is a millisecond or first note delay. This happens on every track.

I don’t get this delay using Tidal Connect nor AirPlay.

* The long story is that I am streaming Lossless H-Res Apple Music through an old iPhone using the CCK, That goes to USBC to Optical converter (SMSL PO100 2024) into the WiiM Pro.

Any ideas on this? Is it expected through the Wiim’s optical input?

Third - There's a noticeable latency playing audio which is super distracting when on video calls, watching YouTube (lip sync delay), or using any interactive application that plays sounds. This can be measured using Oblique Audio's "RTL Utility" which measures round trip latency. Comparing the WiiM Amp to both a cheap USB speaker and the built in soundcard you can see that WiiM amp adds a 30ms delay. I could not find any settings which reduce this, turning off the equalizer, room correction etc didn't help. An extra 30ms doesn't sound like much, but it was very noticeable to me.
This has also been discussed in these two threads
A

Thread 'The latency is way too high.'

My previous amp doesn't have a parametric eq (none apparently does, except for the wiim), so I always struggled with room correction when monitoring my instruments. I was pretty hyped when I read about the WiiM and thought it might solve all my problems. Being only a casual musician (I just listen to other peoples music most of the time, and enjoy playing e-piano), I prefer to have smart hifi gear over studio hardware racks.

But then, after giving it a try, I realized it has a 50ms latency.

Never, ever, have I used any kind of audio hardware (for casual listening and for production) with...
  • Like
S

Thread 'Reduced latency on analog inputs'

I have a somewhat specific feature request. Some people might enjoy using Wiim Ultra's analog inputs to connect music equipment and play through the speakers with room correction eq applied. This might include stuff like DJ equipment, turntables, electric piano or some other instruments plugged into the line in. When I tried this I experienced so much latency that the unit is unusable for this application. I know Ultra is not designed for this application but direct monitoring option on the analog inputs would greatly expand functionality of the already great device. Thanks!

These things are obviously not a problem if you are streaming songs from Spotify etc. but it makes the WiiM amp kind of crap for desktop use.
Click to expand...
So why use it for a desktop? The WiiM Amp is a network streamer with a built-in amplifier.

The delay you encounter is probably due to the SMSL PO100. I have no delay (that I can see) between my TV and my WiiM Ultra. Neither on HDMI nor optical.
 
hgo58 said:
So why use it for a desktop? The WiiM Amp is a network streamer with a built-in amplifier.
Click to expand...
Because I had hoped that it would be a suitable all around device in a nice package. Turns out it isn't. I am hoping someone has some suggestions which may help with the aforementioned issues.

hgo58 said:
The delay you encounter is probably due to the SMSL PO100.
Click to expand...
I don't believe it is, read the details in that other thread.
edit. I will verify this by measuring the latency when the SMSL PO100 is connected to a receiver.

hgo58 said:
I have no delay (that I can see) between my TV and my WiiM Ultra. Neither on HDMI nor optical.
Click to expand...
If you are just watching TV/movies you probably wont notice because lip sync can be adjusted (i.e. the video track can be delayed to match the audio). However if you are doing anything interactive (gaming console for example) you might notice it.
 
jazd said:
So I was very happy with my new WiiM amp until I tried to use it with my desktop PC.

First - it does not have a USB audio input. So that necessitated buying a USB-SPDIF converter (SMSL PO100) because my motherboard does not have a SPDIF output.

Second - There's a noticeable delay when starting to play audio via the optical TOSLINK/SPDIF input. If you are continuously playing music there's no issue, but if sits silent for 2 minutes then it will take a second or so to resume playing audio. It cuts off the first second of audio. I've discussed this here
Z

Thread 'Lag starting Each Track - Using Optical Input'

I have my WiiM Pro being fed through its Optical Input*. I have the Optical Output set to fixed resolution 24/96.

For each track, there is a millisecond or first note delay. This happens on every track.

I don’t get this delay using Tidal Connect nor AirPlay.

* The long story is that I am streaming Lossless H-Res Apple Music through an old iPhone using the CCK, That goes to USBC to Optical converter (SMSL PO100 2024) into the WiiM Pro.

Any ideas on this? Is it expected through the Wiim’s optical input?

Third - There's a noticeable latency playing audio which is super distracting when on video calls, watching YouTube (lip sync delay), or using any interactive application that plays sounds. This can be measured using Oblique Audio's "RTL Utility" which measures round trip latency. Comparing the WiiM Amp to both a cheap USB speaker and the built in soundcard you can see that WiiM amp adds a 30ms delay. I could not find any settings which reduce this, turning off the equalizer, room correction etc didn't help. An extra 30ms doesn't sound like much, but it was very noticeable to me.
This has also been discussed in these two threads
A

Thread 'The latency is way too high.'

My previous amp doesn't have a parametric eq (none apparently does, except for the wiim), so I always struggled with room correction when monitoring my instruments. I was pretty hyped when I read about the WiiM and thought it might solve all my problems. Being only a casual musician (I just listen to other peoples music most of the time, and enjoy playing e-piano), I prefer to have smart hifi gear over studio hardware racks.

But then, after giving it a try, I realized it has a 50ms latency.

Never, ever, have I used any kind of audio hardware (for casual listening and for production) with...
  • Like
S

Thread 'Reduced latency on analog inputs'

I have a somewhat specific feature request. Some people might enjoy using Wiim Ultra's analog inputs to connect music equipment and play through the speakers with room correction eq applied. This might include stuff like DJ equipment, turntables, electric piano or some other instruments plugged into the line in. When I tried this I experienced so much latency that the unit is unusable for this application. I know Ultra is not designed for this application but direct monitoring option on the analog inputs would greatly expand functionality of the already great device. Thanks!

These things are obviously not a problem if you are streaming songs from Spotify etc. but it makes the WiiM amp kind of crap for desktop use.
Click to expand...
Any digital device that digitizes analog audio, is buffering some data needed to play a (digital) source and has some kind of DSP will introduce latency, some a lot some not so much. Syncing audio to video using such a device has to be done if it's roughly more than 20ms. Reading all your frustrations I think you expect your WiiM Amp to be something it simply isn't.
 
HansD-NL said:
Any digital device that digitizes analog audio, is buffering some data needed to play a (digital) source
Click to expand...
I agree, but this is no issue for a cheap USB speaker (Creative Stage Air V2), I measured it and it does not introduce any noticeable additional latency over a direct line out from my PC.
HansD-NL said:
has some kind of DSP will introduce latency
Click to expand...
This is I think the issue, the WiiM does everything through DSP and there's no way to bypass it. Receivers typically have a raw/pure mode, or a gaming mode for this purpose.
HansD-NL said:
Reading all your frustrations I think you expect your WiiM Amp to be something it simply isn't.
Click to expand...
Correct, that is the point of the thread. To point out that it is not suitable for this use. I'd be glad if it was suitable, but I may be returning this device.
 
jazd said:
I agree, but this is no issue for a cheap USB speaker (Creative Stage Air V2), I measured it and it does not introduce any noticeable additional latency over a direct line out from my PC.
Click to expand...
Low latency certainly is possible.
jazd said:
This is I think the issue, the WiiM does everything through DSP and there's no way to bypass it. Receivers typically have a raw/pure mode, or a gaming mode for this purpose.
Click to expand...
It does, there is a lot going on in it's DSP even when EQ, RoomFit and such are not used. And you're right that some AVR's have a pure direct/raw mode to avoid latency but all "special" functions like Audessy, any EQ, highpass, and multichannel audio will be disabled than.
jazd said:
Correct, that is the point of the thread. To point out that it is not suitable for this use. I'd be glad if it was suitable, but I may be returning this device.
Click to expand...
Fair enough, point taken. It's clear to you and us now. Maybe buy a Fosi Audio V3 or similar amplifier for your desktop use and keep the WiiM Amp for all it's great streaming features when listening to something other than simultaneous video/audio from you pc.
 
HansD-NL said:
Maybe buy a Fosi Audio V3 or similar amplifier for your desktop use and keep the WiiM Amp for all it's great streaming features when listening to something other than simultaneous video/audio from you pc.
Click to expand...
Yeah I think this is my plan. I was thinking the SMSL RAW-HA1 coupled with a WiiM Pro Plus. I'll return the WiiM Amp.
 
jazd said:
Yeah I think this is my plan. I was thinking the SMSL RAW-HA1 coupled with a WiiM Pro Plus. I'll return the WiiM Amp.
Click to expand...
perhaps a WiiM Pro is better if you'll be using HA-1's DAC.
my original setup was Wiim Pro to SMSL M500MK II DAC to SMSL A300 Amp. My PC is directly connected to A300's USB Port to minimize latency.
 

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radbase said:
perhaps a WiiM Pro is better if you'll be using HA-1's DAC.
my original setup was Wiim Pro to SMSL M500MK II DAC to SMSL A300 Amp. My PC is directly connected to A300's USB Port to minimize latency.
Click to expand...
True, even the mini has a optical output.
 
Now that I have a SMSL RAW-HA1 on my desk, here's some latency measurements using RTL Utility. Note these are round trip measurements and include the latency of the mic. I used Windows Audio (Exclusive Mode), 48Khz output/input. The equalizer, room adjustment, subwoofer crossover etc were all turned off on the WiiM Amp.

PC aux out -> WiiM Amp aux in -> Speakers -> USB microphone
144 samples: 67ms
640 samples: 106ms
960 samples: 132ms

PC USB -> SMSL PO100 -> WiiM Amp optical in -> Speakers -> USB microphone
144 samples: Not available
640 samples: 136ms
960 samples: 163ms

PC aux out -> SMSL RAW-HA1 aux in -> Speakers -> USB microphone
144 samples: 16ms
640 samples: 55ms
960 samples: 81ms

PC USB -> SMSL PO100 -> SMSL RAW-HA1 optical in -> Speakers -> USB microphone
144 samples: Not available
640 samples: 104ms
960 samples: 130ms

PC USB -> SMSL RAW-HA1 USB in -> Speakers -> USB microphone
144 samples: 50ms
640 samples: 89ms
960 samples: 115ms

Conclusion
  • SMSL PO100 adds around 15ms of latency
  • WiiM amp ADC and DSP adds around 50ms of latency when using the analog AUX input compared with the SMSL RAW-HA1
  • WiiM amp DSP adds around 32ms of latency when using the digital optical input compared with the SMSL RAW-HA1
Note: The WiiM amp also goes into the standby "No audio" mode and cuts off the start of sounds even when using the analog AUX input.
 
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