Just bought a Wiim Ultra to help me get up to speed with modern audio. I started with what I thought was the most straightforward test and plugged my portable pc into the usb port only discover it doesn't seem to support usb audio in. A brief google and a usb-to-optical/coaxial/hdmi/... converter seems to be a common solution for this issue. What would people recommend? I would like to minimise the number of extra boxes required and so are people aware of a reasonable way to add full preamplifier functionality with a single extra box?
Wiim Ultra as modern preamplifier
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BGLeduc
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I use an older version of this, a Topping D10s.
USB from my Mac to the DAC, Optical from the DAC to the Ultra. This allows all audio from the Mac to go to the Ultra.
There are surely cheaper USB to Optical devices, but I have additional use cases where I need the analog out of the D10 to feed some additional equipment. Topping DACs in general measure very well, so having that capability in my system is useful to me.
Plus, I already had the D10 in my system before acquiring the Ultra.
USB from my Mac to the DAC, Optical from the DAC to the Ultra. This allows all audio from the Mac to go to the Ultra.
There are surely cheaper USB to Optical devices, but I have additional use cases where I need the analog out of the D10 to feed some additional equipment. Topping DACs in general measure very well, so having that capability in my system is useful to me.
Plus, I already had the D10 in my system before acquiring the Ultra.
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Thanks for the suggestion but unfortunately none of my current mic DACs, mixers or laptops have an optical/coaxial output. Desktop does but it is in the wrong room. For a new purchase I am leaning towards a basic usb-to-optical/coaxial converter. The wiim ultra doesn't seem to have a coaxial input either so perhaps just a usb-to-optical convertor.
On the other hand I'm not sure I would necessarily need a PC for audio input in working system. My local audio files would be streamed across the local network. The wiim can handle many types of audio streams from the web. Is there are a need to use a PC?
What I do need are more input sockets for the cd/dvd player (sometimes), fm tuner (better than dab but due to be turned off), cassette player (rarely used), tape machine (broken and likely not to be replaced), record player (not sure about the wiim mc input so may need to keep the phono preamp), squeezebox, TV, etc... One solution is to keep an old fashioned audio preamplifier in the loop but that would make the wiim yet another box and controller/app. I was hoping to pull at least the digital side into a single box/app.
Anyway don't wish to come across as negative because the wiim was purchased to make me think and learn about this kind of thing and so far that has gone well.
On the other hand I'm not sure I would necessarily need a PC for audio input in working system. My local audio files would be streamed across the local network. The wiim can handle many types of audio streams from the web. Is there are a need to use a PC?
What I do need are more input sockets for the cd/dvd player (sometimes), fm tuner (better than dab but due to be turned off), cassette player (rarely used), tape machine (broken and likely not to be replaced), record player (not sure about the wiim mc input so may need to keep the phono preamp), squeezebox, TV, etc... One solution is to keep an old fashioned audio preamplifier in the loop but that would make the wiim yet another box and controller/app. I was hoping to pull at least the digital side into a single box/app.
Anyway don't wish to come across as negative because the wiim was purchased to make me think and learn about this kind of thing and so far that has gone well.
Yes, stream the local files using whatever media server you use. That's why I bought wiims in the first place. No point buying and extra dac when you can use dlna/squeezelite etc to send the same digital files to the Wiim over WiFi.
What sort of amplifier is the Wiim going into? My cd player, cassette deck and turntable go directly into the amp. TV and local streaming into the Wiim which also handles the radio for me.
Then again, I have other cassette players and turntables and multi-room audio is not really my thing.
hgo58
Major Contributor
For the additional inputs (and outputs) I have added a WiiM Pro (Plus). By linking the two WiiMs in different directions and with different input and output configurations I can connect all as needed.
Currently it is going into NAD integrated amplifier but this may be swapped for an Arcam AVR depending on how things turn out. Unlike the wiim there is enough inputs for the current audio hardware with only a bit of fiddling now and again. The intention is to digitise most of the analogue media (tedious), get rid of most the analogue boxes and keep perhaps a record player and a cd/dvd player though possibly in a hobby area rather than living area.
In the near future the intention is to move the power amplifiers from the amplifier boxes into the speakers. Ideally I would then want a single control box in the living area. The wiim is something of a first step in this direction.
I would be looking to have smaller systems in other rooms eventually but it is low priority at the moment.
Thanks. This has possibilities. One can choose the same or different music in the two locations? One can control the remote player?
Thanks. This was on my list along with the Douk U2 (third party reviews of them working cleanly) but if a cheap £10 usb-to-toslink adaptor will also pass 24bit 96kHz cleanly then that would be the one for me. But will it?
Aquaman
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@honestguv
You didn‘t mention where your music files are stored. There a numerous ways of getting them into the Ultra. On a USB stick directly into the Ultra, via a UPnP or Lyrion server on the network or any other UPnP casting app. Foobar works very nicely here.
The Ultra is definitly a proper pre-amp.
TV in via HDMI ARC, turntable into phono-in and the CD/DVD player into your TV where it belongs for DVD use and your FM tuner into line-in.
If I have counted corretly that would even leave the optical input idle.
As you said your tape deck is broken, so why bother.
You didn‘t mention where your music files are stored. There a numerous ways of getting them into the Ultra. On a USB stick directly into the Ultra, via a UPnP or Lyrion server on the network or any other UPnP casting app. Foobar works very nicely here.
The Ultra is definitly a proper pre-amp.
TV in via HDMI ARC, turntable into phono-in and the CD/DVD player into your TV where it belongs for DVD use and your FM tuner into line-in.
If I have counted corretly that would even leave the optical input idle.
As you said your tape deck is broken, so why bother.
You can also choose to default to an HDMI source... On my most recent endeavor to setup a 'modern home hifi system', I first purchased a Fosi ZD3 that they call their "Flagship Desktop DAC Preamplifier". My plan had been to feed it with a PC, iPad Pro and a WiiM Mini or Pro. I then remembered the ZD3 has an HDMI input with ARC support, so I plugged it into an old (1st-gen) Apple TV 4K and recalled the joys of controlling all the power, volume and media play controls via HDMI CEC. Since you mentioned a possible AVR in your mix, I thought I'd share this approach.
Of course this requires a TV or monitor with HDMI ARC support if you don't want to steal your main TV's audio return channel... I found an excellent LG "Smart Monitor" with a 27" IPS panel, 2 HDMI ports and [e]ARC support ('open-box' at BestBuy for just US$89 - hopefully you've got similar options). I don't actually use this monitor to 'watch TV' but a music video playlist or simply 'what's playing' album art works well.
I switched out the ZD3 for the WiiM Ultra primarily because I wanted the DSP functions for subwoofer crossover & phase management and its RoomFit and PEQ smarts, and was delighted to discover that WiiM even has an Apple TV app that's pretty useful. Now, I can use the ATV4K's Siri Remote and ask for any song, album or station from Apple Music, or pick up the WiiM Ultra's remote and ask Alexa to hear music from... about any other source. Of course, if you're not in the Apple ecosystem, a Google TV or Fire TV might be your preference. Same kind of HDMI benefits if you can fit a display into your layout.
While I'm curious about using the analogue inputs on the WiiM Ultra, I'm afraid such music sources have been missing in my life for quite a while... I ripped all my CD library onto a server years ago, and my well-cared for album collection of a 20-something was stolen quite a while before that
. You've got lots of options, I'm amazed at how flexible this WiiM Ultra is.
Of course this requires a TV or monitor with HDMI ARC support if you don't want to steal your main TV's audio return channel... I found an excellent LG "Smart Monitor" with a 27" IPS panel, 2 HDMI ports and [e]ARC support ('open-box' at BestBuy for just US$89 - hopefully you've got similar options). I don't actually use this monitor to 'watch TV' but a music video playlist or simply 'what's playing' album art works well.
I switched out the ZD3 for the WiiM Ultra primarily because I wanted the DSP functions for subwoofer crossover & phase management and its RoomFit and PEQ smarts, and was delighted to discover that WiiM even has an Apple TV app that's pretty useful. Now, I can use the ATV4K's Siri Remote and ask for any song, album or station from Apple Music, or pick up the WiiM Ultra's remote and ask Alexa to hear music from... about any other source. Of course, if you're not in the Apple ecosystem, a Google TV or Fire TV might be your preference. Same kind of HDMI benefits if you can fit a display into your layout.
While I'm curious about using the analogue inputs on the WiiM Ultra, I'm afraid such music sources have been missing in my life for quite a while... I ripped all my CD library onto a server years ago, and my well-cared for album collection of a 20-something was stolen quite a while before that
. You've got lots of options, I'm amazed at how flexible this WiiM Ultra is.
Put a Parasound Zpre downstream of the analog outputs of the Ultra.
Use audio over IP ( ethernet or WiFi ) to stream your audio to the Ultra.
Also, if you have the music files in the network, mount the drive in the Ultra and then use WiiM Home in the PC to control it.
The Ultra is IP centric, it is not a "sound card" interface.
Use audio over IP ( ethernet or WiFi ) to stream your audio to the Ultra.
Also, if you have the music files in the network, mount the drive in the Ultra and then use WiiM Home in the PC to control it.
The Ultra is IP centric, it is not a "sound card" interface.
They are stored on harddisks accessible across the home network. They are played directly or indirectly via a music server. This is not as smooth as I would like and improving it is part of the exercise once I have learnt a bit more about the pros and cons of how things are done these days.
It has a range of missing features compared to a traditional analogue preamplifier which would typically have 6-8 line level inputs with support for taping and monitoring. However, the task is to get up to speed with modern domestic audio which is primarily digital and doesn't need to support a wide range of analogue audio hardware. It is unquestionably an example of a modern audio preamplifier/control unit. But will a pair of active speakers plus the wiim ultra be sufficient in the living area? Maybe if most of the analogue sources that are to be retained are moved out to a project area.
I have moved the TV from optical to HDMI after I found an hdmi to hdmi cable. Plugged in computers will use the optical when I have purchased a usb to optical convertor but this is likely to be an occasional rather than permanent connection. The wiim seems to look mainly to the home network for audio streams and so learning about and developing this side is part of the current task. Does it support all the audio streams and sources one would like to use going forward? Don't know and so finding out is part of the current task.
It's not the tape recorder (I can always hire/borrow one if needed) but the recordings. I have digitised the important ones and the less important ones are degraded. The cassette tapes were/are of modest quality for portable use and have degraded. The player still works but hasn't been used in a long time. The DAT recorder died long ago and hasn't been missed though I still have the tapes somewhere.
The AVR is a couple of decades old and purchased for it's power amplifier channels to drive multi-way DIY active speakers. I've never used it as an AVR but it's an option. A 10" android tablet was intended to be the main controller but it recently died. Depending on what I find out it may be replaced with something similar. The wiim screen and phone screens are a bit small for old eyes.
Two big screens in the living area had not been considered but isn't attractive. Would like to hide the TV screen which doesn't get used much. It's a big glossy thing and so disguising it as a picture isn't an option. Using it as a display for controlling audio is something I would like to do but the TV's OS isn't helpful.
I used an apple laptop for a few years when they were the only decent laptops around. It soon became clear that I did not value what apple had to offer and that apple was not much interested in users of my kind. Fair enough. I am primarily a linux/android user with Windows as secondary. I may soon be only a linux/android user given the current decline in usability of Windows.
I have never asked to get music to play but learning how is part of the current catching up exercise. It would likely be the google one or whatever runs on linux. I very briefly tried the bixby one on the "smart" TV but gave up. After purchasing the wiim I learnt what casting audio meant and used bluetooth for audio rather than a mouse. Good stuff.
Downstream is currently my old analogue audio setup which is due to be replaced by DIY active speakers. I would like to avoid the need for something like the parasound but agree it addresses some of what is absent in terms of inputs on the wiim. The question is how best to go about things. I already have a conventional audio amplifier (and several working alternatives) and have no wish to accumulate more. Ideally I would like only a single control box and a pair of active speakers in the living area.
Yes this is hopefully what is being worked towards.
Other devices in the home will want to access the files. Will the wiim turn on and off when needed and run a music server that is compatible?
Agreed and understanding the pros and cons is the current task.
One of the biggest advantages the WiiM Ultra offers over traditional gear is RoomFit room correction and powerful GEQ and PEQ. This is available only for sources directly connected to the Ultra. Either through its physical inputs or through streaming.
Any sources connected to a downstream pre-amp cannot take advantage of these killer features.
Any sources connected to a downstream pre-amp cannot take advantage of these killer features.
Good point in general but in my particular case I want the wiim to perform no processing. The DIY active speakers perform the DSP splitting the signal for the distributed subs and various drivers in the main cabinets. The coefficients are determined using a measuring mic in various locations and then optimising for the response around the listening position. This sort of thing is a hobby interest.
Yes but it costs £100 compared to £10 for cheap convertor or £30-40 for a convertor that has been third party tested to be clean.
Can someone confirm or not whether a music library on a hard disk plugged into the usb port can have tracks added/removed and tags corrected from other computers on the network. If not is the expectation users unplug the drive (losing the playing music), plug into a computer, perform the tedious modifications (without listening to music), plug back into the wiim, reindex (which is presumably written to the hard disk?) and then start listening to music again? Playing devil's advocate a bit but it seems an odd choice (if true) given NFS, samba and such.
hgo58
Major Contributor
Not possible yet but hopefully soon.
From the Roadmap:
"NAS Mode (SMB Write): Transform the WiiM Ultra into a true network music server. Manage and transfer files to your attached USB drive wirelessly over the network."
WiiM Ultra Roadmap
Updated on Dec 28, 2025 Building the Future Together At WiiM, we believe your device should get better over time. We are sharing this roadmap to give you full visibility into our engineering pipeline—from active development to future concepts...
Aquaman
Senior Contributor
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I have mentioned it earlier but maybe not clearly enough.
You neither need to plug your PC not any USB storage into the WiiM.
From the PC you can stream (technically it is a cast, not a stream) via your wifi to the WiiM using a player software like foobar2000. This is fully lossless using the UPnP protocol. In this case the PC will not offer itself as a server in the Wiiym Home app, but you will need to control your playback from the PC.
Even more comfortable is running a server software like Minim or Plex and others. This can run on your PC or on an NAS. Such servers will advertise themselves on the network and will be visible in the WHA, so playback can be controlled through the app on your mobile device(s).
Connecting a USB storage device directly to the WiiM is still only an auxilliary option. Currently you cannot access this from outside. You will need to unplug it for any changes. There are plans to make it accessible over the network, but it‘s not here yet.
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Looks good.
As a test I plugged an old usb external drive with some music files on into a raspberry pi I am using for other things, installed the lyrion music server package but when it came to configure it couldn't access the music files. It was a permission problem which I temporarily fixed by unmounting the drive, making the owner of the mount point squeezeboxserver (a user that appeared after the installation) and remounting. This enabled the files to be accessed, the library indexed and tracks played via the wiim to the speakers. Adding an entry in /etc/fstab can perform a mount that works for a fixed disk but a removable disk will create a mount point owned by the user not squeezeboxserver. Anyone know how to get round what would seem to be a fairly common problem? (I tried to join the lyrion forum to ask but new users are currently disabled due to a technical issue, I cannot seem to find the relevant linux documentation and so I thought I would try here).
