WiiM Ultra

Updated on 5/25/2024

Check out this fuller thread about our official announcement of the WiiM Ultra - https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/meet-wiim-ultra-the-digital-hub-for-your-music.3487/

Updated on 4/19/2024

Hi Team,

We're excited to give you a sneak peek at the WiiM Ultra, your future go-to digital hub for all things music! We're putting the final touches on this innovative product and are on track for a Q2 release. Stay tuned for more updates as we gear up for launch!




Original message by Brantome:
As mentioned in a user reply from the WiiM/Linkplay CEO on the WiiM Fan Page on Facebook, WiiM are developing a new device called the WiiM Ultra which will have a screen, aluminium case and USB audio output. It should be available Q2 2024, so a good five to six months away.

Guess @Smartplug is due a prize (e.g. I'll lay off gently ribbing them about their constant 'when' questions) as I think they first suggested that name a while ago

That's the entirety of the information I have, but WiiM do say they'll release more details in due course.

 

[Metroid]

New member here, just joined to ask:

Will it have VU meter display options?

 

[Deleted member 404]

Since you're not realised what a universal can do, go into a Hifi and AV store, and ask for the following remotes.


Sony TV
Panasonic TV, with Yamaha AVR
Toshiba brand TV with Sony AVR
Projector
CD player
DVD player
BD Player
Video Streamer
Yamaha AVR remote
Sony AVR remote
Stereo pre amp
DAC
BIAS light
Main light
DAT
MD
Tuner
Tape
Portable radio remote

Place them all on the table. Now throw in your wife and ask her to figure out that from stack of remotes, that specific each display and source device is specific inputs.

Now
1) Switch on Sony TV, Yamaha AVR, BD player. Set Sony TV to HDMI 2, Yamaha to HDMI 2, switch on bias light. How many remotes do you need to pickup, put down, wait for device to switch on/boot, and pickup and look at each remote finding suitable button? You literally have a bucket of remotes to trawl through.

I can do that with one button press, and then it's all ready in that activity, with volume, aspect, BD player controls, TV controls, AVR volume controls all in that single hard/lcd button, I don't need another remote, nor app flip screens around.

Audio streamer is just part of all that, so for my use (in every system, in audio streamer activity mode) Those are just audio related activities, there's also video activities with TV etc

Room 1 (macro, amp on, to coaxial input, audio streamer on)
Audio streamer controls, AV pre amp controls

Room 2 (macro, amp on, to optical input, audio streamer on)
Audio streamer controls, AVR controls

Room 3 (macro amp to CD input, DAC to input 2, audio streamer on)
Audio streamer controls, stereo pre amp controls.

Portable radio
Audio streamer controls, radio controls

So integrated a audio streamer into a universal just makes it easier to use. I don't need to use a useless BT wiim remote.

Harmony Hub + Harmony App on tablet (with macros) + Music App (WHA, bubble, HiFi-Cast or Symfonium - depending on mood ;-)
Only the tablet or smartphone is used for control. I was really happy when I was able to banish all the remote controls from my table. For very rare occasions, however, I still have a Logitech remote control in the drawer which also works with the hub (but when I do, I only use it for TV evenings).

 

[Mr Ee]

New member here, just joined to ask:

Will it have VU meter display options?

Welcome.

Perhaps only one for the oldies / English:
Only Smarties Have The Answer.

I'm sure a YT reviewer will say so if it does, once they get their hands on one!
It is one of the most common questions after all

 

[bherren]

Welcome.

Perhaps only one for the oldies / English:
Only Smarties Have The Answer.

I'm sure a YT reviewer will say so if it does, once they get their hands on one!
It is one of the most common questions after all

WiiM replied to this already on the questions spreadsheet. They basically say it will come with a software update

 

[Smartplug]

Updated on 4/19/2024

Hi Team,

We're excited to give you a sneak peek at the WiiM Ultra, your future go-to digital hub for all things music! We're putting the final touches on this innovative product and are on track for a Q2 release. Stay tuned for more updates as we gear up for launch!

View attachment 6602
View attachment 6604

Original message by Brantome:
As mentioned in a user reply from the WiiM/Linkplay CEO on the WiiM Fan Page on Facebook, WiiM are developing a new device called the WiiM Ultra which will have a screen, aluminium case and USB audio output. It should be available Q2 2024, so a good five to six months away.

Guess @Smartplug is due a prize (e.g. I'll lay off gently ribbing them about their constant 'when' questions) as I think they first suggested that name a while ago

That's the entirety of the information I have, but WiiM do say they'll release more details in due course.

I’m buying this as soon it’s available for purchase.

 

[Mr Ee]

WiiM replied to this already on the questions spreadsheet. They basically say it will come with a software update

Gee, I only looked at it a day or so ago and it was pretty much bare then!

 

[Bozzz]

New member here, just joined to ask:

Will it have VU meter display options?

I doubt it. But maybe in a future update like on the Cambridge EVO. But the Ultra’s screen odd only like 3.5 inches so not sure how much wow effect it would

 

[Brantome]

Gee, I only looked at it a day or so ago and it was pretty much bare then!

I think it's already being used as a dumping ground for questions that aren't just applicable to the Ultra or indeed could be (or have been) answered by the community. Personally, I'd think it more productive if the question was asked here first then it could either be answered or the poster advised to submit it to the spreadsheet...

 

[es6rd6z]

Can you operate your touchscreen, without looking at it?

To be fair, you can't control an IR device without looking at where you're pointing, either. Or if there's a bright light source in the room, or if someone or something is standing in front of you, or if you're in another room, or if two devices use the same frequencies, and pressing 'play' causes both of them to start playing simultaneously, or...

Universal remotes are nice, but IR isn't. There's also a reason why WiiM's marketing doesn't show massive setups with twenty different audio and video devices connected to it, and why WiiM devices are compact and 'stylish'.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

To be fair, you can't control an IR device without looking at where you're pointing, either. Or if there's a bright light source in the room, or if someone or something is standing in front of you, or if you're in another room, or if two devices use the same frequencies, and pressing 'play' causes both of them to start playing simultaneously, or...

Universal remotes are nice, but IR isn't. There's also a reason why WiiM's marketing doesn't show massive setups with twenty different audio and video devices connected to it, and why WiiM devices are compact and 'stylish'.

I think there’s a connection with the whole vinyl revival.

People have had over a decade of lifestyle product, all-in-one Sonos speakers. Now, just like the vinyl lovers, they want to go back to ‘proper hi-if’.

That used to be a CD player, amp and speakers. But they don’t play CDs any more, so that’s just a streaming amp and speakers.

Enter WiiM at just the right time with an affordable streaming amp.

 

[onlyoneme]

But the Ultra’s screen odd only like 3.5 inches so not sure how much wow effect it would

First iPhone had the same display size. And it was enough for plenty of wow effects

 

[s3igell]

Harmony Hub + Harmony App on tablet (with macros) + Music App (WHA, bubble, HiFi-Cast or Symfonium - depending on mood ;-)
Only the tablet or smartphone is used for control. I was really happy when I was able to banish all the remote controls from my table. For very rare occasions, however, I still have a Logitech remote control in the drawer which also works with the hub (but when I do, I only use it for TV evenings).

Since Logitech discontinued the Harmony Hub back in 2021, how confident are you that your investment (time/money) will remain operable for years to come?? It appears the last App update was a year ago, and no recent Devices have been added - correct??
I don't own one, but have been considering picking one up from eBay (used) to explore.

 

[Brantome]

Since Logitech discontinued the Harmony Hub back in 2021, how confident are you that your investment (time/money) will remain operable for years to come??

While they discontinued production of the hub and related remotes, they still appear to be supporting the kit and maintaining their database.

Logitech Media Server survived a fairly long time after the demise of the squeezebox hardware, but despite that I’m sure many Harmony Hub users like me aren’t naive enough to think we’ll get indefinite support.

 

[s3igell]

While they discontinued production of the hub and related remotes, they still appear to be supporting the kit and maintaining their database.

Logitech Media Server survived a fairly long time after the demise of the squeezebox hardware, but despite that I’m sure many Harmony Hub users like me aren’t naive enough to think we’ll get indefinite support.

Does the Hub require communication to some Logitech Server during Startup or Setup or (heaven forbid) Daily Use?? That is where my first concern would be, having experienced "failure" of beloved discontinued products when the Company removes the remaining Server(s) to regain space or money.

 

[Brantome]

During setup and after config changes as it syncs those to your harmony cloud account. Guess it might also do periodic calls back to the mothership for firmware updates. The cloud server is required as well for its support of the related Alexa skill so that running activities which change the power/inputs state of a device are reflected back to the remote. So, yes, it relies on a backend company server in much the same way LMS used to rely on squeezebox.com for some of its services.
I think there may have been grumbling about trying to decouple it from the cloud after some unpopular firmware change but that probably subsided when Logitech caved in and rolled back the contentious change.

 

[rccarguy]

Since Logitech discontinued the Harmony Hub back in 2021, how confident are you that your investment (time/money) will remain operable for years to come?? It appears the last App update was a year ago, and no recent Devices have been added - correct??
I don't own one, but have been considering picking one up from eBay (used) to explore.

The remote I have uses a off line utility, so it doesn't matter if support is dropped. All you need is a IR remote, and you just learn the codes directly into the remote.

 

[Deleted member 404]

Since Logitech discontinued the Harmony Hub back in 2021, how confident are you that your investment (time/money) will remain operable for years to come?? It appears the last App update was a year ago, and no recent Devices have been added - correct??
I don't own one, but have been considering picking one up from eBay (used) to explore.

...I'll cross the bridge when it comes . I could, for example, look for an alternative (e.g. Broadlink). Years ago I also had a button remote (One For All, Xsight), the macros were programmed online and then transferred to the remote. Later, the online service was discontinued and I had a bit more electronic waste again. Button remotes will also not last indefinitely and/or be supported for life, so the reprogramming effort would also be required for the successor model.

Everyone should use the option that suits them best. I prefer to do everything on the screen (tablet/phone) simply because of the wealth of information and the graphic presentation, plus I have it to hand anyway when I'm listening to music. So why should I bother with a button remote? As I said, it's up to you. As long as Logitech's servers are online, I will continue to use this ingenious SW/HW

BTW, my newer SMSL-Dac SU-6 is supported, pls. read also
https://support.myharmony.com/en-rs/harmony-remote-manufacturing-update#:~:text=There should be no impact,as customers are using it.

 

[cooky560]

So is there anywhere I can pre-order the ultra? Or indeed the amp pro?

 

[Brantome]

I believe Crutchfield in the USA and FutureShop in the UK are. The latter is saying they’re expecting early June but I think they’re saying more than their prayers - it appears that the device on show in Munich wasn’t even the proposed aluminium case. I’d still say early Q3 for the USA is optimistic, with international orders following a month or so later as has been the experience with previous WiiM launches. Even WiiM won’t put a date on UK availability in their Ultra question spreadsheet.

 

[Fa5en]

Hopefully my Eichmann Bullet Plugs will fit in those recessed RCA in/outputs Looks really tight for space...