WiiM Pro with Marantz NR1504

[troythector]

I was thinking of purchasing a WiiM Pro streamer and connecting it via optical to my Marantz NR1504 thus bypassing the WiiM Pro's internal DAC as I actually like the sound of my Marantz NR1504 with the set of Bowers & Wilkins speakers I am using.

I have 2 questions though:

• How does the DAC on the WiiM Pro compare to the Marantz NR1504?
• Using the optical in on my receiver, will the Marantz receiver automatically turn on when I stream music from the WiiM Pro?

Thanks,

 

[BK308]

I’m sure both DAC’s sound great. What do your ears tells you? In this hobby everything is pretty subjective. Not too sure about the second question though. Usually you need electrical trigger. I’m not too familiar with them.

 

[Mr Ee]

I was thinking of purchasing a WiiM Pro streamer and connecting it via optical to my Marantz NR1504 thus bypassing the WiiM Pro's internal DAC as I actually like the sound of my Marantz NR1504 with the set of Bowers & Wilkins speakers I am using.

I have 2 questions though:

• How does the DAC on the WiiM Pro compare to the Marantz NR1504?
• Using the optical in on my receiver, will the Marantz receiver automatically turn on when I stream music from the WiiM Pro?

Thanks,

2nd question first - I highly doubt it.

I have a Marantz nr1510 into some Polk bookshelf speakers.
I'm making the completely unfounded assumption that the 1510 'sounds' like the 1504.
This might be as wrong as assuming a pro sounds like a pro plus.
I can try running a pro into my 1510 via optical and rca and see what I think if you like. Got to work today and go out tonight, so it might not be until later tomorrow.
Fair warning though - I'm not a fan of the Pro's analog output.

However, if you are happy with the current sound then maybe just go optical to the 1504

 

[Doublej]

What do you plan to use the WiiM for?

 

[Mr Ee]

What do you plan to use the WiiM for?

Yeah, I though of asking that then realised, in the nicest way, I didn't care!

To bypass Heos??
LMS??
Tidal Connect??

 

[Mr Ee]

It took me 10 minutes to connect everything and go into the Marantz menu to set it up so that all I needed to do was change the oudio output in the wiim app from line out to optical for the Marantz to auto switch between analog and optical.
And just 10 seconds to conclude that optical into the Marantz is the way to go.

 

[Wiimer]

It took me 10 minutes to connect everything and go into the Marantz menu to set it up so that all I needed to do was change the oudio output in the wiim app from line out to optical for the Marantz to auto switch between analog and optical.
And just 10 seconds to conclude that optical into the Marantz is the way to go.

I did not know AVR could do that.

Can the Marantz receive the optical signal from the WiiM and automatically switch from line-in to optical-in? Without using the Marantz remote?

 

[Mr Ee]

I did not know AVR could do that.

Can the Marantz receive the optical signal from the WiiM and automatically switch from line-in to optical-in? Without using the Marantz remote?

Yes.
Not a great photo, but in this case i set CD to be both Optical and Analog 3 with Auto input mode.
Then just change wiim output in now playing screen and marantz auto switches.

 

[Wiimer]

Yes.
Not a great photo, but in this case i set CD to be both Optical and Analog 3 with Auto input mode.
Then just change wiim output in now playing screen and marantz auto switches.
View attachment 13686

So, only when the AVR has CD input, it can automatically switch between Line-in and Optical-in?

If so, it is a useful feature. Perhaps my Yamaha does not have this feature...

Thank you

 

[Mr Ee]

So, only when the AVR has CD input, it can automatically switch between Line-in and Optical-in?

No, I just chose to use the one nominally called CD.
I could have hooked the pro up via coax and also via rca to the amp's analog 2 input instead, then configured the Chromecast line in that photo to be coax for digital, and with it set to auto it'd switch between all 4 inputs depending on which was active.
You can assign each of the available hdmi/digital/analog/video inputs to one of the named inputs however you see fit. Then, within each named input, the avr can auto switch to whichever physical input is active.

Quite neat, and a good way to be able to test a single wiim's analog, optical and coax outputs simply by switching outputs in the wiim app's now playing screen. I've done this before into my main amp by having 3 grouped wiims each using a different output and changing the amp's input.
However, any half decent audiophile wouldn't even consider using an avr over a 2 channel amp

But we (you!) have dragged the thread a bit off topic, so to summarise, yes, I definitely recommend the OP bypasses the wiim's dac and keep the sound you like.
Or... try a pro plus!

 

[troythector]

2nd question first - I highly doubt it.

I have a Marantz nr1510 into some Polk bookshelf speakers.
I'm making the completely unfounded assumption that the 1510 'sounds' like the 1504.
This might be as wrong as assuming a pro sounds like a pro plus.
I can try running a pro into my 1510 via optical and rca and see what I think if you like. Got to work today and go out tonight, so it might not be until later tomorrow.
Fair warning though - I'm not a fan of the Pro's analog output.

However, if you are happy with the current sound then maybe just go optical to the 1504

I think the NR1510 should similar to the NR1504. I would appreciate if you can test the RCA (WiiM DAC) vs Optical (NR1510 DAC) and hear your opinion.

I would just like to see if it is worth it or not spending the extra funds on getting the WiiM Pro Plus if I do not intend using the better DAC and yes, I'm aware it also comes with a remote but this device will be hidden away in a cabinet in another room, so I doubt I will get use out of that either.

 

[troythector]

What do you plan to use the WiiM for?

I plan a getting a Tidal subscription and was hoping I would also be able to listen to my lossless audio which is on my NAS. Is this even possible with the WiiM software?

 

[Mr Ee]

I plan a getting a Tidal subscription and was hoping I would also be able to listen to my lossless audio which is on my NAS. Is this even possible with the WiiM software?

Yes, you can play your nas files to the wiim using numerous apps, including the wiim app itself.
What nas?
Install something like minimserver on it.

 

[Mr Ee]

I would appreciate if you can test the RCA (WiiM DAC) vs Optical (NR1510 DAC) and hear your opinion.

See my earlier post.
"10 seconds to conclude that optical into the Marantz is the way to go"

If you want a bit more description:

The pro analog out sounded dull, flat, compressed, boring.
How to describe it better? Like it was just some noise coming from the vicinity of my speakers.
Not news to those who've read my thoughts on the pro analog out before!

As soon as I switched to optical and using the Marantz dac the sound became clearer, cleaner, more "stereo-ness"; the instruments and vocals had better separation and placement and no longer sounded like they were just jumbled up in the noise.

These are not great speakers; they are small bookshelf speakers that I paid A$100 for 2nd hand.
The amp is hardly a masterpiece either.
And yet despite not being a resolving system (just for Burnside ) the difference was staggering.

 

[troythector]

Yes, you can play your nas files to the wiim using numerous apps, including the wiim app itself.
What nas?
Install something like minimserver on it.

Well, I have 2 options ... direct access to SMB share or use Plex server or any docker I can install quickly on UNRAID.

I also read and liked your feedback on the test you did, thank you, much appreciated.

 

[Doublej]

I plan a getting a Tidal subscription and was hoping I would also be able to listen to my lossless audio which is on my NAS. Is this even possible with the WiiM software?

I don't think you need a WiiM. I think you can do this from your Marantz.

 

[troythector]

I don't think you need a WiiM. I think you can do this from your Marantz.

I find the Marantz interface to be a bit clunky and the WiiM will give me a lot more options.

 

[Doublej]

I find the Marantz interface to be a bit clunky and the WiiM will give me a lot more options.

Then the choice is easy. I would spend the extra few $$ and get the Pro Plus.