WiiM Pro or Pro Plus

[Ivkyy1]

Hi!
Just to ask before i buy any ....WiiM Pro or Pro Plus if I connect the device to a Yamaha A-S501 integrated amplifier. I'm asking this because I don't know if it's worth paying more for the Pro Plus because of the DAC it has and how can I tell if it's better than the Yamaha DAC amplifier...

 

[Aquaman]

Detecting fundamental differences between up-to-date DACs by ear and embellishing them with frills like LPSs or similar gadgets I’ll leave to those who are more lyrically inclined.

I'm not sure if the TI (Burr Brown) PCM5121 DAC (in Mini and Pro) would qualify as "up-to-date". The first version of it's spec sheet is from 2012.
But so is that of the PCM 5102A in my Lyngdorf SDA-2400, which I cannot distinguish from the Ultra's DAC.
It has indeed better specs than that in the Mini & Pro, but again I wouldn't call it up-to-date.

So regardless of how old the design is the different specs seem to be audible, which I will still have to verify for myself.

 

[Deleted member 33971]

I'm not sure if the TI (Burr Brown) PCM5121 DAC (in Mini and Pro) would qualify as "up-to-date". The first version of it's spec sheet is from 2012.
But so is that of the PCM 5102A in my Lyngdorf SDA-2400, which I cannot distinguish from the Ultra's DAC.
It has indeed better specs than that in the Mini & Pro, but again I wouldn't call it up-to-date.

So regardless of how old the design is the different specs seem to be audible, which I will still have to verify for myself.

View attachment 33876

I assumed that. The DACs in the Mini and Pro are not up to date.

 

[Aquaman]

Out of interest I've just taken a look at the spec sheet of the ESS Sabre ES9038PRO which sits in the Ultra.
This isn't much younger. It was released in 2015!!! So much for "up-to-date" .

 

[Deleted member 33971]

Jack of all trades, master of none.

 

[Mr Ee]

Out of interest I've just taken a look at the spec sheet of the ESS Sabre ES9038PRO which sits in the Ultra.
This isn't much younger. It was released in 2015!!! So much for "up-to-date" .

The ES9028Q2M in my rme adi 2 dac is from 2016.
The ES9038PRO is in my smsl su9.
Both sound great.

Listening to my smsl stack now, fronted by a wiim pro optical out.
Bliss.

 

[rccarguy]

Get the Pro if you're going to use digital out
Get the Pro Plus if you're going to use analogue out

Although the Pro Plus comes with the remove as standard if I recall, so the price difference might not be so great when you factor in the £15 remote

 

[Ivkyy1]

Get the Pro if you're going to use digital out
Get the Pro Plus if you're going to use analogue out

Although the Pro Plus comes with the remove as standard if I recall, so the price difference might not be so great when you factor in the £15 remote

Do i need remote control if i download WiiM home app on android TV and use TV remote?

 

[rccarguy]

Do i need remote control if i download WiiM home app on android TV and use TV remote?

No, just that if you want or need the bluetooth remote, I guess comes in handy if want to pause/skip etc without using phone.

Personally I wish Wiim add IR receiver then allows me to use Squeezebox remote as that has tons of buttons

 

[Burnside]

Do i need remote control if i download WiiM home app on android TV and use TV remote?

The WiiM home tv app doesn’t have preset nor input selection buttons, and I’m not sure if the tv remote could control its volume

 

[Ivkyy1]

The WiiM home tv app doesn’t have preset nor input selection buttons, and I’m not sure if the tv remote could control its volume

I got it.

 

[harkpabst]

Out of interest I've just taken a look at the spec sheet of the ESS Sabre ES9038PRO which sits in the Ultra.
This isn't much younger. It was released in 2015!!! So much for "up-to-date" .

The Ultra uses the ES9038Q2M, though, not the ES9038PRO.

If I remember correctly, the PRO is the older design but supports multiple channels, which can be used in parallel. The Q2M is strictly 2-channel.

 

[Aquaman]

The Ultra uses the ES9038Q2M, hough, not the ES9038PRO.

If I remember correctly, the PRO is the older design but supports multiple channels, which can be used in parallel. The Q2M is strictly 2-channel.

You‘re right. That one is actually from 2016.

 

[Aquaman]

The ES9028Q2M in my rme adi 2 dac is from 2016.
The ES9038PRO is in my smsl su9.
Both sound great.

Listening to my smsl stack now, fronted by a wiim pro optical out.
Bliss.

Excellent.
The fact that a number of ‚flagship‘ DACs are already 10-year-old designs supports the statement that DACs are indeed a solved problem.

 

[IanP]

My Pro Plus is set to Coax out which lets my speakers do the DAC duties.

 

[Swann36]

Hi!
Just to ask before i buy any ....WiiM Pro or Pro Plus if I connect the device to a Yamaha A-S501 integrated amplifier. I'm asking this because I don't know if it's worth paying more for the Pro Plus because of the DAC it has and how can I tell if it's better than the Yamaha DAC amplifier...

I have both and your amp I prefer the pro plus assuming you are using the pro plus dac .. otherwise it’s hard to tell the difference if using the Yamaha’s dac .. having said all that I have the Pro Plus in the system with the Yamaha and the Pro in a different casual set up now .. if that helps

 

[Ivkyy1]

Thanks for response...I already use Pro Plus and connect with Line out and i am really pleased.

 

[rubato]

This is not meant provocatively, but can anyone really HEAR a difference between those DACs? I know, some measure better than others but any of those differences seem to lie in inaudible regions.

I don't know if I can hear a difference or not. Same with high-resolution digital sources. I went with the Pro Plus mainly to minimize regret: the price difference is small and I didn't want to find myself, five years later, wondering if the Pro Plus would have sounded better after all.

I do have a Pro that I bought in 2024, and it came with a remote then. Apparently that has changed now. I use it with the optical out, so the DAC doesn't matter.

 

[harkpabst]

I do have a Pro that I bought in 2024, and it came with a remote then. Apparently that has changed now. I use it with the optical out, so the DAC doesn't matter.

There have also been variations depending on the target market. Those still considering the WiiM Pro should check thoroughly if a remote is included or not, if they even want it.

I do use my phone a lot for playing music but I prefer to have a physical remote within reach. Yes, I feel old.

 

[DarrenH]

I also have an as501 and previously had it paired with a wiim mini (yamaha dac was better), before changing to a wiim ultra (better than yamaha). I agree you should go with the pro plus if you want a better dac.

Quick question - if you’re running a sub, did you connect that to the Pro Plus or the Yammy? I’m thinking of hooking a Pro Plus to my Yammy RX-V585. Thanks.

 

[Burnside]

Quick question - if you’re running a sub, did you connect that to the Pro Plus or the Yammy? I’m thinking of hooking a Pro Plus to my Yammy RX-V585. Thanks.

The pro plus doesn't have a sub out.