The phono stage is MM or MC viz. "Please check the Phono Stage specifications below: Gain: 41dB MM / 59dB MC MM: THD+N -75dB，SNR 76dB@5mV; MC: THD+N -58dB,SNR 56dB@0.5mV RIAA accuracy: < ±0.5dB / 20Hz - 20kHz"
It baffles me why this info isn’t in the press kit and wasn't detailed in Munich. :/ There also seems to be quite a bit of confusion about when the Ultra is shipping. But nevertheless, thank you SO much for sharing.
@@DarkoAudio Going by my gut and their previous releases, from the Q3 statement they have said, I’d guess July for the USA, hopefully Aug for the EU/UK, and the rest of the world in Sep onwards. But those are just guesses…
You are right: nobody needs the touchscreen when there is a well working app on your phone. But it looks so much better in the rack with the cover art displayed… 😊
I need a touchscreen for my wife or kids to be able to use it more functional than with a remote, when I'm not at home because the app is installed on my phone only.
For room correction, is there a way of using a MiniDSP UMIK-1 mic? It sounds like using a laptop isn't an option as you need a smartphone app? It's disappointing as it was a big selling feature for me to.
It's calibrated to the mic inside an iPhone which is easier for a manufacturer to do than all the various ones in all the Android phones. Maybe the ticket is to borrow a friend's iPhone, run the room correction DSP software, then leave it alone.
Touchscreen or not I like the screen for the ability to see song details with album art without having to touch my phone. I’m excited to see the future review!
Thank you for this useful coverage. I ordered the Ultra here in the US from Amazon delivery in about a week. I haven't bought any audio gear in five years as I thought my setup was complete! LOL
Sub-out and bass management is what really sets this apart from the Wiim Pro Plus. Hook this up to a good class A/B power amp with trigger/auto-on and you've got a killer setup!
Yes, this is potentially very interesting. Imagine this preamp at £329 plus a good power amp at say £800-£1000. Might be a very interesting competitor for a Hegel h95 or Rega Elex.
I have pre-ordered from Crutchfield. They Guesstimate Jun 5 availability here in USA. I have a feeling I am going to be pleased because I was blown away by the Wiim Mini ever since I got it. Looking forward to John's Review.
I am stunned by the audio quality of this little device - listening to it using a grado headphones. Very pleasant sound that’s not tiring at all. Even the phono input sounds great. And yes - I like the touchscreen as I do not want to use my phone all the time. And the interface works just fine.
I normally watch your channel to ooh and aah over things I'll never actually buy, even while respecting and adhering to your music-first manifesto. This may be the exception. That cost for what you get seems to be incredible value.
On your comments on Roon now playing screen on tv: the best solution for many reasons is to use a mini PC as your roon server and roon player. Plug it into your TV and control with a mouse from the couch. Now you have a great and affordable roon setup plus a fully functional PC connected to your TV as a monitor.
The current room correction beta firmware for the Pro, Pro Plus and Amp, which I suspect will be the same on the Ultra, doesn’t use two minutes of white noise but a single tone sweep and results in a 10 band PEQ set of parameters. The 10 band PEQ setting is alternatively available if you want to add the results from REW or HouseCurve.
@@adrianrorvik7488 Since this is already possible with the existing Pro, Pro Plus and Amp (non-beta, gold release firmware and app) I don't see why it shouldn't be with the Ultra. Since there's not import option you will have to transfer PEQ settings manually.
Sorry, that isn't entirely correct. Where are you getting your info? Apparently not from the same source as I, as I was to believe that the Room correction in the Ultra will be slightly different / an improvement to what is already happening in the Pro and Pro plus..., but then again maybe my source has got it all wrong..., obviously one of our two sources does 😉
I figured it would affordable but that price surprised me, this is going to be a pretty big deal for a lot people getting into two channel. Now Wiim just need a affordable power amp to pair with it, and it would also be nice to see Wiim get native Plex Amp support as I think thats going to appeal a lot more than Roon.
This looks cool, I'm still enjoying the wiim amp using the fantastic application provided by wiim. Dac sounds great to me, even when using a CD transport.
I just ordered one here in Denmark, the cheapest price was 394 usd on sale. I am satisfied with the price if it sound better than my old Bluesound node2 ☺️
Great video! Would love a video on how these streamers compare to a laptop? I have an external DAC so I would just be using the digital out of a streamer. Is the digital out from a streamer better than a laptop? Thanks!
Hi John I am an og watcher since the beginning of the channel and I no you like micro dynamics and a lot of duff duff and I am here to recommend the brand mission But particularly the qx serie I think you should give the qx2 a listen maybe as part of a £1000 pound kick ass system lol 😂 I know you will be impressed 👍 I also don’t think these speakers get enough attention or credit qx2 mk1 -mk2 are an absolute steal for the price
There are still some people in the world, including me, who don't own a cell phone and never will... hopefully...!!! So the touch screen on the Wiim is functionally important...!!! Great review, as I'm very interested in this product and was looking forward to your take on it... Thank you Mr. Darko...!!!
You could buy an iPad instead of a cellphone. And use it to control the streamer. Or even another tablet based on Android (but not an Amazon Kindle which is artificially limited in apps by Amazon).
Phone/tablet is necessary with a streamer. And this is someone with a audio streamer with a larger touchscreen audio streamer. Makes it easier to use and with information worth it Get a tablet
Yes, I got hold of an old galaxy tablet, and use that for the WiiM Home App, and all my other media-related stuff. I even have my cd and amp remote velcroed on the tablet case-cover, so no more up-and -down on the sofa!
We are living in a truly golden age of audio. Highly affordable products with great performance. Inexpensive access to vast streaming libraries. $329 for so much functionality, that’s insanely good. Twenty five ago I paid $1,100 (probably $2,000 in today’s money) for a tube linestage. All it could do was switch inputs and adjust volume. It had audibly worse performance.
It's not just iPhones that will work with room correction, it's any modern IOS device (even iPads from a few generations ago). I'm an Android user, but have an iPad as display/album art. RC worked well using it instead of an iPhone, although the better mic on newer iPhones will probably do a better job.
How do you use sub out with an integrated amplifier? Let's say I want room correction and want to use the bass management tools on the Wiim. Can I connect my subwoofer on the Wiim to then have the unit output via lineout so my integrated amp controls volume? I don't want to use 2 volume controls! But how would the Wiim control the sub volume?
Why have a touchscreen? Because they can and it's nice to have! Bummer they don't correctly color code the ports on the back (like the sub and coax rca). Fantastic that this has room correction and that it's 2.1, and actually like that it has a phono preamp built-in and a headphone jack. Well done for the price! I wasn't interested in a WiiM until the WiiM Ultra, now I'll add one to the mix.
John, do you still use the chrome cast audio device? It sucks that google never made an updated version of the chrome cast audio device with usb c, newer and faster wifi chip while still retaining the same features and functionality of the old chrome cast audio device while maybe adding dsd support for dsd users. I still have my old chrome cast audio device and I wish it had usb c instead of micro usb and a newer and faster wifi chip.
When they did the sneak peek of this is when I thought, maybe what I've been looking for is finally here. Well I'll be sure to check it out at T.H.E. Show in California in a couple of weeks. If it does what I hope it's going to do, I might buy two for myself and another one for my friend. LOL
I love your RU-vid videos and have a request. Obviously you have an expansive library of music, artists, groups, etc. based on references in your equipment reviews. Could you do a video (or series) on music you enjoy and can recommend? I’m in a rut and really need some new input.
Nice one John. Price in Australia is set to be $599! Au so once you convert exchange rate we cop another $100 extra than the US price. So bang for buck a little diminished down here but still more than worth it I feel if the SQ is right. The screen for me is all about the album art display and Ifeel that's the big draw card. Look forward to your review and as always thanks for posting !
can i use that display just as a huge volume display? i want to be able to see the volume from across the room although i will be using the hdmi arc so ill probably see that on my tv but i haven’t tried that before….
This is highly unlikely, but I really hope it can mix multiple inputs to a single output. Like to chrome cast audio to it while still being able to hear notifications from a PC input.
I want this with 3xhdmi in and 1x out. The rest is good enough. I can find someone with an iphone once and with a set of activ speakers... That would do .. just need an integrated HDMI switch, but none have that for stereo use
So this plus an integrated amp like a Fosi ZA3 would be "all you need" right? At least if you want affordable Type-D setup. Or you could get the new Wiim Amp Pro as an all in one. Am I missing anything key? If you were really picky you could get a standalone DAC too.
Just a question, can I connect the Ultra to my Onkeyo home cinema set with a 7.1 speaker set, for example? via the fiber optic connection and the sound with, for example, Tidal connect would then be better than just via the Onkeyo home cinema set and I would still have Dolby if Tidal also supplies Dolby to the WIIM Ultra
Hi, I am looking for a solution that would allow me to stream from my turntable (phone preamp included) to a pair of Homepods. I think that maybe the Wiim Ultra will allow me to do this, but do not find any mention of support for Airplay 2, and if it does not support it, then streaming to Homepods is not possible. Could you help me clarify if this is possible.
One spec I haven’t seen mentioned is whether the two way Bluetooth supports transmission in Aptx. I’m currently considering the Node X as a Roon endpoint with Aptx transmission for headphones and the Wiim Ultra could be a real contender if it had the same capability.
Having the touchscreen is a massive plus, those of us with a mrs will have an easier time selling it to the other half if they can use it by pressing the screen!!!!
When you said "analogue pre amp" not quite, it will convert all analogue sources into digital. So it's not like a old school analogue stereo pre amp. For records, analogue sources this conversion can be seen as a bad thing
Roon ready is coming later as is Apple Airplay. Plus, the Room correction doesn’t yet work with a subwoofer. Hopefully a firmware update will address this. And there is no direct source selection on the remote. You need to toggle through them all like all Chinese remotes.
I have a screen on my streamer, but it’s not atouchscreen. That’s fine, as it’s just another item to collect fingerprints, and I can perform needed functions from my tablet or the remote control.
I would like to buy this product, but my question is how do I use my Tidal music app or I have to blueooth the music to the streamer?!! I think I would lose resolution if my Iphone doest have APTx ?!!
On paper it has everything for a very good price. This and a good poweramp and you have a very nice system. The big, big question is what the sound quality will be. I gladly would have paid double if Wimm could make a giant killer.
Forget the power amp and just use active speakers? One box solution. The Wiim mini is already ridiculously good for the price. This has everything. Bass management AND room correction too? No brainer.
Two questions if I can ask: Isnt WiiM Ultra more or less same thing as Squeezebox Touch? Is it possible to get VU meters on screen of WiiM ULTRA? thank you
This might just tick all the boxes for me to replace my old preamp. Even if I hate the way the DAC and phono stage sound, I can run my existing gear. For the price I feel like I have to just try it.
P.S . I using Qobuz 24/192 streams . And optical output only gives 16 bit CD quantity. The Wiim FAQ says it put out 29/192 from optical but it does. for the. Wiim Pro+
I am trying to replace my Sonos AMP (as it has no BT and Chromecast), what AMP I can pair with the Ultra to get a similiar or even better audio performance? I'm using the Monitor Audio Silver 100.
As someone who has owned a wiim mini and now uses a bluesound node x, I think Wiim has a great app but I prefer bluesound’s app more. I also prefer the aesthetic of bluesound over wiim (I know, silly part of how I view them in competition). That said, if you’re using Wiim digital out to a dac, it sounds great just as the node x does doing the same. Tldr I prefer BluOS over Wiim Home app and that is my main reason I switched to a more expensive streamer!
Is there a setup where you can connect a low cost CD player to the WiiM device and play thru connected speakers?? Maybe not the best but is it possible?
I'm going to buy a pair of lintons or jbl 4329p's. Is this device all I need to play my music over tidal? Do the speakers plug into this device and job done? Or do I need to buy an amp which connects to the speakers and this device?
Help, is the Dragonfly cobalt obsolete as a portable DAC or do you think it is still just as valuable and good. It is now about $200 on sale. I have a Fiio btr5, and I have looked at some other small portable DACs, none of them are nearly as strong as the cobalt .Thank you and happy work
So I connect everything to this and then I still have to connect it to an amp? Really wish it were an amp itself. I hate having so many products just to play records and digital. Plus, WiiM doesn’t play well with any external EQ, (which is a deal breaker for me.) The native EQ seems to kill the soundstage. Not that the WiiM Amp had much of one to begin with.
I have to ask. Why install yet another app on your phone that duplicates the functionality of the device on your shelf. At least the device on the shelf should keep working at it's current software level after the vendor decides not to support the phone app any more. For example, not audio related but similar. My son has an electric bike that he can not use because the app is no longer compatible with his phone.
Googling “Wiim ultra blog” will get you their webpage which states “Versatile streaming options including Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast Audio (CastLite), Alexa built-in, DLNA, Roon (in cert), and Squeezelite.”. Also, WiiM devices have tended to be evolutionary building upon the previous products and even the diminutive WiiM Mini supports AirPlay 2, with later more powerful models supporting AirPlay casting.
Why is it so difficult for manufacturers to just give us the ability to display cover art on an attached tv? With the plethora of integrateds, dac/amps, etc that now have hdmi onboard, why is this so hard?
To me, the touch screen has a value beyond being a nice artwork display. Manufacturers hate having to keep apps updated for many years to suit the latest Android or iOS versions due to the ongoing cost (been there, done that). In theory, they could stop updating the app in, say, five or six tears from now, but the product still remains usable provided that the UI is sufficiently complete.
I know at this price point it can't be all things to all people, but I was bummed to find out that an early review was wrong and it does NOT offer USB digital output, only an input. Oh well, still for the crazy price, I might buy one and use for a while. But to use the better clock in my external DAC, I need a low-cost streamer with USB Output. The information at Crutchfield does not match the information at WiiM's website. So, I guess we can still hold out hope for USB Output. Fingers crossed.
@@sneakyds I downloaded the instruction manual from WiiM and YES, it is a USB OUTPUT! Super great for passing to a better DAC with a better reclocking circuit in it for less jitter. I'm thinking in my system, paring the WiiM Ultra with a Schiit Bifrost 2/64 will be my end game streamer/DAC combination. Looking forward to it.
I have a Pro hooked up to an old NAD AV receiver. Breathed new life into an old system. I am also running a couple of minis to the system in the kitchen and the TV room
Never been a wiim fan but this one is different I use tidal so I don’t care about Apple Lossless.. You said before that tidal only has 10% in hi-res, that’s totally incorrect. I have a huge library and at least 70-80% is in hi-res. Btw……
That's why I bought an old Galaxy tablet for my media apps, nothing worse than your phone distracting, or worse, interupting your listening. I leave my phone outdoors.
All WiiM devices support Amazon Music Unlimited up to 24/192 even when casting from the Amazon Music app (so isn’t only available from the WiiM app as stated in the video)
wiim needs to ditch the phono input and swap it out to an additional analog input. with 2 analog inputs an external dac and phono preamp could be used easily.
