WiiM Home App vs Native Apps

[mathewilson]

I'm looking for some insight on the differences (if there are any) between the approach to using streaming services on WiiM.

So we can either link various streaming services inside the WiiM Home app, or we can use the native streaming apps and have options to use "[Spotify/Tidal/Qobuz] Connect" or Cast.

1. Do each of the three approaches result in the same (highest?) quality stream being used?
2. Do the latter two require some kind of constant communication, where closing the native app will kill playback?
3. Am I just getting confused with the broadcast approach and quality issues of Bluetooth/Airplay?
4. If there are no real differences, then what's the appeal of linking services to the WiiM app if I already need the native apps on my phone for when I'm out and about?

 

[hgo58]

I'm looking for some insight on the differences (if there are any) between the approach to using streaming services on WiiM.

So we can either link various streaming services inside the WiiM Home app, or we can use the native streaming apps and have options to use "[Spotify/Tidal/Qobuz] Connect" or Cast.

1. Do each of the three approaches result in the same (highest?) quality stream being used?

Yes. The app on your phone or tablet is just a controller app and no matter what app you use for the Connect, the audio data is sendt directly from the server to the WiiM. For the Google Cast, the server may be your own device if you play local content, else it's just like the Connect protocols.

Do the latter two require some kind of constant communication, where closing the native app will kill playback?

You can usually close the control app and the WiiM will continue receiving the audio data from the server. In some cases (e.g. free accounts) the close of the controller app may stop the audio data.

Am I just getting confused with the broadcast approach and quality issues of Bluetooth/Airplay?

Bluetooth is a low performance peer to peer communication. So lower quality than is possible with the other protocols.

AirPlay is also a local communication between your device and the WiiM. So your iPhone/iPad is receiving the audio data from the external server and is re-transmitting it via your local network to the WiiM. Quality is fine in this case but your device and app needs to be running.

If there are no real differences, then what's the appeal of linking services to the WiiM app if I already need the native apps on my phone for when I'm out and about?

For the Connect protocols there is no quality difference, so it is only about what you feel most convenient. The WiiM Home App have it all in one place, including Presets, Alarms, Radios and Open Network Streams.

 

[Burnside]

Re 4, I'd say it's not uncommon to find that the API streaming services provide to third parties like WiiM for inclusion in their app are often less feature rich than the streaming service's own app, so personally I lean towards the latter and use casting and only occasionally trigger music from the WiiM app itself.

 

[r5yk5]

On the other hand apps that are integrated into the Wiim home app can have items added to presets which is great. For example I could run 3 servers, Plex, Emby and Navidrome indexing the exact same files on the exact same hard drive, connected to the exact same computer.

But I can only make the Wiim remote (or touch screen) play a playlist via Plex.......

......without some serious messing about.

 

[R. Neal]

If you use Qobuz and you listen to playlists, the Wiim Home app is the only way to get volume leveling/normalization.

Other than that, using native apps with connect means you always get the latest updates and features.

 

[goodmore]

I use the WiiM app almost all of the time. Larely I've been using the app on the Firestick to control the Amp Pro.