As you say, a great device. I’ve listened to the WiiM and the mxn10 side by side for a while. The WiiM actually sounded better to me. Not by a huge margin, but noticeably so. I still ended up with the mxn10 for its build quality, the app and the fact that DSD did not (yet) work on the WiiM.
Most entertaining Riff yet chaps. Mike's technical analysis of a cheese and tomato toastie is spot on. I'm still recovering from my first bite back in 1982.
Thanks for the review. I have the Wiim Pro into Gustard R26. Really good pairing. I love the EQ in the software. I can adjust the sound to my liking. I’ve also heard that a linear power supply for the Wiim will up the performance……I may give it a try. And yes, USB out would be a great addition for future versions.
GM ❄️☕️ from Toronto. I run the OG Wiim Pro feeding a Topping E50 DAC …and for the price of those two units I think it’s a fabulous bargain. Great video 👍👍
Hi Mike and David, have you thought about also sending the Riffs out as podcasts as well? We would of course all miss the high video production value, but I think it would work very well as a podcast. Once again thanks for another wonderful Riff 😊
The WiiM app is actually more functional and is compatible with more streaming services than even the Bluesound Node. I only wish that it had USB output or I might have bought one to pair with my Naim DAC V1 with its asynchronous USB that uses Naim’s clock instead of the streamer’s. I ended up buying an iFi Zen Stream and use its dedicated Tidal Connect mode because, unlike Mike, I can’t afford a Qobuz AND Roon subscription. Must be nice to have so much disposable income 😮
I bought the Wiim Pro last year to use with an external DAC to try out streaming (giving the stylus a break for a while) and it's a great little product. I haven't actually used the internal DAC as there's no point but i'd give this little box 5 stars for getting me gently into streaming!!
Grilling and having a beer when talking about gears and sound. Is there any smoke in sound? Could be a hit show since food and chef's shows are very popular...🖐😃
Another great Riff, loving your style. I was interested to know more about a comparison of the sound with the Cambridge? It was also interesting to hear you were both less enthused about the Wiim app than other reviewers - refreshing. Also that Mike found the app didn’t work with Ethernet which I hadn’t heard before. Thanks good and useful stuff. BTW…a pitch for a new spin off series. ‘Toasted Cheese Sandwich Riff’. Every week Mike brings in a different mystery toasted cheese sandwich. You both discuss and occasionally go off on a tangent to talk about hi-fi gear.
I run a Wiim Pro + JDS Atom Dac as my streaming system, when I don't have vinyl. It blows me away how good it sounds...nowhere near my TT, but great and about 10% of the cost.
From a usability pov its main omission is a USB out (with lack of HDMI in coming in second place). An Ultra version is in the works which is promised to offer that along with other goodies.
Same reason I didn’t consider buying one - although to be fair, the Cambridge products (even the CXN V2) don’t have USB out either. On the “budget” side, it’s primarily Bluesound Node or iFi Zen Stream.
Like Rory I’m running the wiim pro through my dac into my integrated amp, I’m only paying for amazon hd for streamed content, I’m quite used to the app but can cast the amazon app through the unit if I want the added functionality
May I suggest the Volumio range of 3 hardware products for a future Riff? There's a streamer, a streaming dac and a streaming dac/amp all apparently well sorted hardware wise and all running the Volumio Premium software and positioned at around the 1000 whatevers mark price wise. Italian design flare included in the price.
The toasted sandwiches diversion puts me in mind of another duo, Radcliffe and Maconie on BBC Sick Music. Basically two middle-aged men who play a few gramophone records and in between talk longingly about low-brow food. They are clearly not fed properly at home.
Peter Belt! Wasn't he also the...um...prankster...who had us tying knots in cables and adding sheets of paper to books in the hifi vicinity cos they had even numbers of pages?? Oh dear, oh dear ...😂
Great review guys I sold my Audiolab 6000n Play I didnt like software in Spotify every once while the sound stop pause. Great build quality I purchased Wiim Pro Plus on connected to denafrips Aeris 2 with firmware update and also upgraded iFi Audio Power X power adapter is on par with Audiolab sound but I pefer app on Wiim with option 12 pre-sets. Recently Wiim issue Windows app in Beta form works great only no access to native apps only local store music , maybe in future update will include native apps.
It's actually got a toslink in and a toslink out and a digital coaxial output to use outboard external DAC for much better sound quality than using It's internal DAC
Thank you for the excellent review. Of course, the MXN10 is of a better quality construction. The WiiM pro+ is only a plastic box. But know what you want, antennas nicely built into the housing or a few ugly blades protruding from the back. The WiiM pro+ is a real bargain for the money.
Mike I've plugged my £3,500 naim DAC with a naim XPS Dr PSU and it sounds fantastic as this is my 1st ever streaming device and I want to dip my toe into streaming and then upgrade to a higher quality and obviously dearer streaming device
I have used mine right through my system upgrade, I have never tried its internal DAC and when I connected the ano log in I got a horrid buz so have never tried that since. I have had it connected to an RME ADI 2 for a long time and I will not boast but the rest of the system is good. Recently I was considering a more upmarket streamer so in preparation I bought a Sbooster mk 2 LPS with optional upgrade and decided to try it meanwhile with the wiim. I am astonished how good it is frankly I can not imagine any other streamer sounding better . A good power supply for it is the biggest single step in my sound quality. 10/10 That said the Lindermann Bridge I was planning on apparently has a smart way of exceeding the maximum bit rate coaxial cable can normally deliver (Packaging?). It is hard for me to separate my desire to feed my DAC the fastest data it can handle from that of a child that almost had his hands on a sweet just to have it slapped away.
I'm missing something on streamers. If you have to control them with a phone, why don't you use the phone as a streamer into a dac, spending your budget to get a niceer DAC?
The unit works off a modem/router either cable or WiFi, all the phone or tablet tells the router what to play and controll the streamer. When you stream via a phone or tablet they have low quality DAC which can be upgraded via a plug in DAC such as a dragon fly or similar items but then you also have less control.
Great point. Mobile phone + Chord Mojo is a killer combo. However, not all streamers sound the same and mobile phones are definitely "entry-level". Mike
I have been meaning to ask if either of you play the guitar as you always have a couple of guitars hanging up on the wall behind you? Are they just decorative 😂😂
