Wiim Ultra before buying questions

[Rehm]

Hello! As a newbie, I’m interested in purchasing a Wiim Ultra but need some help clarifying the following as I see contradictory advice whilst googling and want to 100% certain.

I want to ensure I have misunderstood the product and its capabilities.


1. Can the Ultra play songs from USB in mp3 format?

2. Can it stream the songs stored on the usb drive plugged into the Ultra and play them on my phone using the Wiim app so I can stream and listen to songs stored on the usb drive on my phone wirelessly?

3. Does it show album art when using the above 1. and 2. and some say it shows the Bluetooth logo only?

4. Can I stream sound via Bluetooth headphones or speaker? How stable is it?

5. I understand that Airplay isn’t available but is the Apple Music app available as a streaming service on the device?

6. Can I use my phone as a remote to control the Ultra as to what’s playing?

7. Can I stream music from my phone to the Ultra so it plays out the connected speakers?

8. Are there any rumours to the successor of the Ultra which may have better Apple support?

Thanks.

 

[Mr Ee]

Welcome

1. Yes
2. The wiim app is not a player. But other apps can see the wiim's usb drive as a media server.
3.Yes, but not if using bluetooth to play to it.
4. Yes. Some issues with some headphones reported.
5. No.
6. Yes.
7. Yes.
8. No. Unlikely, imo.

Hope I got 8 out of 8

 

[harkpabst]

1. Can the Ultra play songs from USB in mp3 format?

Yes.

2. Can it stream the songs stored on the usb drive plugged into the Ultra and play them on my phone using the Wiim app so I can stream and listen to songs stored on the usb drive on my phone wirelessly?

The WiiM Home app cannot do that, it's not a music player. But any DLNA capable music player like e.g. BubbleUPnP or Hi-Fi Cast can.

3. Does it show album art when using the above 1. and 2. and some say it shows the Bluetooth logo only?

If the file contains album art (or if there is a folder.jpg or cover.jpg file in the same folder), it will be displayed by the player app. The player app might have configuration settings regarding the size and quality of the picture.
Please note that you must not connect your phone via Bluetooth in the above case. The phone must be on the same network (usually Wi-Fi) as the WiiM Ultra.

4. Can I stream sound via Bluetooth headphones or speaker? How stable is it?

Bluetooth is an output option available with the WiiM Ultra. Only one output can be active at a time. The reach and stability depend on too many external factors to be predictable. There are now known problems, at least

5. I understand that Airplay isn’t available but is the Apple Music app available as a streaming service on the device?

No. Bluetooth from your phone to the Ultra is possible. There are some other workarounds to be found in this forum.

6. Can I use my phone as a remote to control the Ultra as to what’s playing?

Yes, that's what the WiiM Home app is for.

7. Can I stream music from my phone to the Ultra so it plays out the connected speakers?

The WiiM Ultra is a streamer, so normally its task is to retrieve the stream from a network address (Internet or local) while you just control it through your phone. Are you referring to music physically stored on your phone? This is still possible through Bluetooth.

8. Are there any rumours to the successor of the Ultra which may have better Apple support?

No.

Edit:
I have to learn a thing or two about efficiency.

 

[Ronnie D]

Are you referring to music physically stored on your phone? This is still possible through Bluetooth.

On Android phones or tablets you can also, in the wiim home app go to MY MUSIC, LOCAL and stream locally stored files from there using DNLA.(at least I think that's what's happening. Someone with more knowledge than me can check) It's works well for me
I don't have an iPhone so someone else could test this for you.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

On Android phones or tablets you can also, in the wiim home app go to MY MUSIC, LOCAL and stream locally stored files from there using DNLA.(at least I think that's what's happening. Someone with more knowledge than me can check) It's works well for me
I don't have an iPhone so someone else could test this for you.

You can also do this on Apple devices.

 

[Burnside]

On Android phones or tablets you can also, in the wiim home app go to MY MUSIC, LOCAL and stream locally stored files from there using DNLA.(at least I think that's what's happening. Someone with more knowledge than me can check) It's works well for me
I don't have an iPhone so someone else could test this for you.

Don't think it's DLNA, probably some Linkplay internal protocol between the WiiM app and WiiM device, and it works both on Android for music files it can find, and on Apple for files that the Apple Music app can see.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

Don't think it's DLNA, probably some Linkplay internal protocol between the WiiM app and WiiM device, and it works both on Android for music files it can find, and on Apple for files that the Apple Music app can see.

It would be great if it could play Apple Podcasts, then I wouldn't need to use AirPlay.

 

[Burnside]

It would be great if it could play Apple Podcasts, then I wouldn't need to use AirPlay.

Have you tried searching for your podcast under Tunein in the WiiM Home app?

 

[QuarryHunslet]

Have you tried searching for your podcast under Tunein in the WiiM Home app?

I hadn't, but have just had a look and found a couple of them there.

 

[Burnside]

Yeah, I wasn't aware or hadn't noticed them under Browse on the Tunein page either