WiiM Pro Plus: Connection advice

[CrimsonSword]

My setup:

• LP Player: Sony PS-LX310BT
• WiiM device: WiiM Pro Plus
• Speakers: Klipsch The Fives
• Headphones: AirPods Pro 3
• Projector driven by: Apple TV 4K
• Calibration mic: DAYTONAUDIO iMM-6C (USB-C)

Query 1:
I’d like to know if with what I’ve setup with the inputs and outputs available – if I’m getting the best out of the first 4 use cases listed below (mainly first 2)

Basically I’m running everything from the WiiM Pro Plus to the Klipsch The Fives from the WiiM Pro Plus’ optical output to Klipsch The Fives optical input.

The Klipsch The Fives has the following inputs:

• HDMI-ARC with CEC
• Bluetooth
• Phono/Line analog (with switch and ground screw terminal)
• Optical digital
• 3.5mm analog mini jack (n/a)
• USB digital (n/a)

With the use cases below should I change to any of the other inputs via the Wiim Pro Plus?

I think at one point got lazy and just used one input on the Klipsch The Fives, perhaps due to reliability on auto switching.


Query 2:
Essentially: Back to wired headphones route for vinyl.

WiiM Ultra 2 integrated into this setup (losing AirPlay - or running AirPlay off the WiiM Pro Plus to the WiiM Ultra keeping AirPlay in the game).

Wondered how people faired with WiiM Ultra and wired headphones and vinyl?

Or if in all honesty it wont be that life changing for me?

Other interest in WiiM Ultra is the display and the volume dial.


About the room:

Kept as visible wire free as possible.
Speakers, LP player, and WiiM in a unit in corner of room. Don’t want lots of wires to this area basically (hence use of AirPlay from AppleTV)
Room Correction with WiiM Pro Plus using the DAYTONAUDIO iMM-6C has been a revelation. So I want to run everything I can via the WiiM Pro Plus when using the Klipsch The Fives, as the placement of those without room correction was quite bass heavy and imbalanced.

About me:

Former tech obsessed but over years have simplified things, from – hi-res flac files on random drives, headphone amps and Beyerdynamic headphones to just wanting a setup family and guests can use. Working hours + family life and limited time = I’ve gone for quick enjoy music/movies with fleeting time to me obsessing on settings and setup before enjoying media and running out of time.


Use cases:

1) Spotify (Lossless) to WiiM Pro Plus (Query 1)

Connections:

WiiM Pro Plus: Optical out > Optical In: Klipsch The Fives

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2) Vinyl on speakers (Query 1)

Connections:

Sony PS-LX310BT: Phono cable > Phono in: WiiM Pro Plus: Optical Out > Optical In: Klipsch The Fives

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3) Projector with Apple TV 4K (Query 1)

Connections:

Apple TV 4K: AirPlay audio > AirPlay: WiiM Pro Plus: Optical out > Optical In: Klipsch The Fives

This may get replaced with me moving a Sony Ht-9 to this room and running the Apple TV 4K through that instead of AirPlay to the Klipsch the Fives

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4) AirPlay (Query 1)

Occasionally guests/family visiting who use Apple Music instead of Spotify or I dabble in a Apple Music trial but thats less likely to happen as family locked into Spotify (which I’m ok with now Spotify finally has lossless)

Connections:

Apple device: AirPlay audio > AirPlay: WiiM Pro Plus: Optical out > Optical In: Klipsch The Fives

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5) Vinyl on Headphones (Query 2)

Sony PS-LX310BT: Phono cable > Phono in: WiiM Pro Plus: Bluetooth Out > Bluetooth: AirPods Pro 3

Dire I know to play vinyl via Bluetooth headphones but it’s nice and easy with the WiiM Pro Plus. BT from the Sony with the AirPods Pro 3 kept being a faff to turn on.

 

[Mr Ee]

Welcome @CrimsonSword

There's a lot to unpack there and I'm trying to separate questions from 'statements', so I'll try for the two main points I see.

Pro Plus to Klipsch: I believe the Fives perform adc on the analog input (as does the pro plus) so connecting these via optical and not using the Fives dsp (as you use Wiim RoomFit) would be my choice.

Wired headphones: I can't comment on the vinyl side of this, but unless you want the other things an ultra provides then I'd get a good dac/hp amp and go coax out (or rca out if just an amp) from the pro plus to that.
The ultra has a phono input, but you must already have either a line out from your TT or a phono stage to use the pro plus analog input. No idea if the phono input on the ultra is better than what you have.
The ultra has a headphone out, which I've said here many times is pretty good for an all in one, but I've also said can be fairly easily bettered with an external hp dac/amp (or just amp if using ultra analog out). As ever ymmv, and you could always try and external hp dac/amp later.
One current 'issue' with the ultra headphone output is volume management - always check the volume before putting on the 'phones!

Hope that's of some help.
Maybe split further questions into bite-sized chunks