WiiM Ultra launch price

[cooky560]

The idea of showing the now playing out on a HDMI or display port output seems to be a popular one, as a lot of people have their hifi around a flat TV, I can understand why this might be a good idea.

Aren't there a few raspberry pi projects to achieve this?

 

[Roml2112]

If it’s only background music, play the music app on the TV and send the audio to the Ultra.

I get that (I have a Wiim pro now so I am a fan) and there always workarounds like the Spotify app on my Roku that is plugged in to my receiver via hdmi. In the end it will come down to whether the quality of the phono stage (better than marantz 6014) and the dac are good enough to justify the expense. We will see.

 

[Roml2112]

The idea of showing the now playing out on a HDMI or display port output seems to be a popular one, as a lot of people have their hifi around a flat TV, I can understand why this might be a good idea.

Aren't there a few raspberry pi projects to achieve this?

definitely an interesting thing if you are good at those sorts of projects. my attraction to the wiim is that its done for me. having said that, what ever the ultra is worth to me without that feature (based on dac, phono stage etc), it would be worth an extra $50-100 with it.

 

[courtesy]

One thing I would want to know besides what has been mentioned (maybe it goes without saying) is whether I can put the image from the built in screen on to my tv screen using the hdmi. I have a full home theater so no need to run sound from tv to this.

If it’s only background music, play the music app on the TV and send the audio to the Ultra.

If it’s only background music, play the music app on the TV and send the audio to the Ultra.

It would be nice to be able to cast the display to a Chromecast device. I can do this in Roon, and it is great, but for those that do not have Roon, I can see this as being a very nice feature.

That said, I would imagine you can cast from iPhone screen to an AirPlay screen.

 

[Wiimer]

One thing I would want to know besides what has been mentioned (maybe it goes without saying) is whether I can put the image from the built in screen on to my tv screen using the hdmi. I have a full home theater so no need to run sound from tv to this.

I remember asking the same question as you when the WiiM amp was released. And @Brantome responded in the same way. History repeats itself.

Certainly, there are times when it is convenient to be able to do so. In my case, I thought it would be convenient if I could display the WiiM home setting screen on the TV and operate it with the remote control.

 

[Matterhorn]

IMO, this pool makes any sense. WiiM marketing team haven’t provided any meaningful specs yet for the WiiM Ultra.

All I’ve seen so far it’s just a pretty render. There are similar looking devices anything from $150 to $3500.

I have so many questions:
What is the screen resolution? is it OLED? Will it finally support AptX/LDAC? What kind of phono MM or MM/MC? Etc…

I'd like the Ultra to have LDAC but I'm not holding my breath since they'd have to pay for the right to use it

 

[harkpabst]

I'd like the Ultra to have LDAC but I'm not holding my breath since they'd have to pay for the right to use it

Would you want the WiiM Ultra to use LDAC as a sender or as a receiver? What would be the use case for the latter?

From Wikipedia:

The encoder of LDAC is open-source under Apache License 2.0, so that any device can be coded to transmit LDAC streams without patent or licensing issues.

 

[sral]

Would you want the WiiM Ultra to use LDAC as a sender or as a receiver? What would be the use case for the latter?

From Wikipedia:

Sending music over Bluetooth?

 

[harkpabst]

Sending music over Bluetooth?

True. I was more thinking about headphones. Streaming to the device via Bluetooth is too far from my reality.

 

[Bill Mac]

One thing I would want to know besides what has been mentioned (maybe it goes without saying) is whether I can put the image from the built in screen on to my tv screen using the hdmi. I have a full home theater so no need to run sound from tv to this.

I'm the opposite. I do not want to use my display (60" plasma) to be on and really do not want a static image on it either. I have an Eversolo DMP-A6 with an HDMI output. It's great to be able to play 5.1 files now without having my display on. Before buying the DMP-A6 I played the files (on hard drive) with my Oppo 203 which required the display to be on to navigate the files.

 

[courtesy]

I'm the opposite. I do not want to use my display (60" plasma) to be on and really do not want a static image on it either. I have an Eversolo DMP-A6 with an HDMI output. It's great to be able to play 5.1 files now without having my display on. Before buying the DMP-A6 I played the files (on hard drive) with my Oppo 203 which required the display to be on to navigate the files.

Hi Bill!! Hope you are well!
I also use an Eversolo DMP-A6 via HDMI, mainly as a Roon endpoint. I got it primarily because I could do multichannel with it.
BTW...it's Curtis. I have not been on AVS much in the past few years or so, but I am still around.

 

[Bill Mac]

Hi Bill!! Hope you are well!
I also use an Eversolo DMP-A6 via HDMI, mainly as a Roon endpoint. I got it primarily because I could do multichannel with it.
BTW...it Curtis. I have not been on AVS much in the past few years or so, but I am still around.

Hey Curtis... glad you are enjoying the DMP-A6! Don't spend much time on AVS anymore. My new forum of choice is the Steve Hoffman forum. It's a great forum although since joining my physical music spending is out of control! Take care.

 

[Mike in NY]

Aren't there a few raspberry pi projects to achieve this?

Yes, Moode, Volumio, piCorePlayer, possibly others too.

Ooops, off-topic for the pricing thread. Derailed again (by me).

 

[nrupen]

Wiim ultra as affordable alternative to bluesound, cambridge or even newcomer like eversolo would be the ultimate answer. HDMI and phono inputs are most appreciated addition addition to wim pro plus. Screen for nice vu meter or album art, what else one can ask?

IMO low price would kill every competition. 250 is great price.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

Wiim ultra as affordable alternative to bluesound, cambridge or even newcomer like eversolo would be the ultimate answer. HDMI and phono inputs are most appreciated addition addition to wim pro plus. Screen for nice vu meter or album art, what else one can ask?

IMO low price would kill every competition. 250 is great price.

Against that competition, given the Ultra’s feature set, £450 is a great price…but yes, I’d happily pay £250 instead.

 

[cooky560]

The current pro plus is close to 250. I think we’re talking 400 for the ultra.

If the other device is a $400 power amp. Then we have a formidable system for under $1000

 

[Aquarius]

Wiim ultra as affordable alternative to bluesound, cambridge or even newcomer like eversolo would be the ultimate answer. HDMI and phono inputs are most appreciated addition addition to wim pro plus. Screen for nice vu meter or album art, what else one can ask?

IMO low price would kill every competition. 250 is great price.

Im afraid that 250 will kill more than the competition. WiiM as a company cant survive solely on sales-volume if they’re not making a profit huge enough to be sustainable :-/

 

[Zeltwig]

If I'm putting out a poll about pricing and setting the lowest selection at $349, I'd be sure to offer the device at an introductory price of $299 to exceed all expectations. I don't see how it helps WiiM to hint at $349 and then ask $400+. But that's me.

J

 

[mlsstl]

The idea of showing the now playing out on a HDMI or display port output seems to be a popular one, as a lot of people have their hifi around a flat TV, I can understand why this might be a good idea.

Aren't there a few raspberry pi projects to achieve this?

Yes, the Raspberry Pi boards have HDMI output and make a great streamer if one wants to go to the work of putting things together, burning a SD card and programming it. I have one in my main system using the pCP OS. Currently, the big WiiM advantage is ease of setup, but none of the current products support a video display. It'd be a nice upgrade if their new model does.

 

[nrupen]

Im afraid that 250 will kill more than the competition. WiiM as a company cant survive solely on sales-volume if they’re not making a profit huge enough to be sustainable :-/

$99 for streamer ti start with. That kills most and still wiim can sail.
$150 for most connections with pro, nails it.
Few more for better dac and so is the ultimate streamer.

Now missing hdmi and phono with ultra, if that is not affordable.. ppl would go bluesound for 450, mark my word.

This company is market disruptor. If not then it has no value addition. Eversolo is there with better solution. Mark my word, if ain't cheap, done with this company. They know it that is why this survey and I need to be honest. $250 to $300 dollars or else ppl would go bluesound or eversolo.

After that you get yourself a lap dance..