WiiM Streamers Mini and Pro

[mr_macgee]

your impressions of the Bluesound (BS) sound like complete and utter BS...
You're comparing the digital output.. there's no processing invloved whatsoever.

What differences you hear are either due to volume differences or made up in your mind!

You're more than welcome to have your own personal opinion on these things, but being Ad hominem towards another member here is not welcomed, and there was indeed a discernible difference that could readily be heard, it was not made up in my mind (like your trying to say).
Both sources had been matched in volume with DB meter. I asked my neighbor, his wife and my girlfriend to listen (individually) without saying anything to them or giving leading info. All three came to the same conclusion, except one liked the shallower sound better but heard the difference. This was not tested with headphones, but in an acoustically treated dedicated 2 speaker room that is more of a near-field sitting position. I've been at this for 20 years, setting up listening rooms for musicians, recording rooms, and for several head conductors of established philharmonic's who have excellent ears.
Of course, take all of his with a grain of salt. Foremost this is not about gear, or even sound, its more about enjoying and connecting with the music.

May I ask what system you have that your listening to?

 

[MindBreak]

You're going to be disappointed -- the Ultra does not have a USB output to an external DAC. The USB connection on the back is for using a thumb drive as a music source. The only digital outs on the Ultra are coax and optical, the same as your current Pro. There is a big thread on the Ultra over at the WiiM web forum if you want further detail -- https://forum.wiimhome.com/forums/all-things-about-wiim-ultra.56/

Post in thread 'WiiM Ultra' https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/wiim-ultra.1731/post-48890
It is used for both.

 

[mbphotox]

You're more than welcome to have your own personal opinion on these things, but being Ad hominem towards another member here is not welcomed, and there was indeed a discernible difference that could readily be heard, it was not made up in my mind (like your trying to say).
Both sources had been matched in volume with DB meter. I asked my neighbor, his wife and my girlfriend to listen (individually) without saying anything to them or giving leading info. All three came to the same conclusion, except one liked the shallower sound better but heard the difference. This was not tested with headphones, but in acoustically treated dedicated 2 speaker room that is more of near-field sitting position. I've been at this for 20 years, setting up listening rooms for musicians, recording rooms, and for several head conductors of established philharmonic's who have excellent ears. Of course, take all of his with a grain of salt.

May I ask what system you have that your listening to?

The things you describe as being different between the two should very easily be measurable and quantifiable.
Just record the digital stream from the coax cable and do a null test against the input signal you fed the streamers.
Since you use an external DAC, the streamers shouldn't do anything to the sginal.
They should be absolutely transparent.

My guess is that you did a sighted test and the people listening in saw the devices and recognised the BS for being more expensive/higher quality, and that settled their bias.


My system is not relevant, since we're talking about clearly measurable differences.

But since you asked:
Wiim Pro via optical into Yamaha CD-S2100 (fancy DAC, I know..) and from there into my Yamaha A-S2100 integrated amp, feeding a pair of B&W N803

 

[brantome]

Post in thread 'WiiM Ultra' https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/wiim-ultra.1731/post-48890
It is used for both.

Indeed - and might be coming to the WiiM Amp too…

 

[MindBreak]

The things you describe as being different between the two should very easily be measurable and quantifiable.
Just record the digital stream from the coax cable and do a null test against the input signal you fed the streamers.
Since you use an external DAC, the streamers shouldn't do anything to the sginal.
They should be absolutely transparent.

My guess is that you did a sighted test and the people listening in saw the devices and recognised the BS for being more expensive/higher quality, and that settled their bias.


My system is not relevant, since we're talking about clearly measurable differences.

But since you asked:
Wiim Pro via optical into Yamaha CD-S2100 (fancy DAC, I know..) and from there into my Yamaha A-S2100 integrated amp, feeding a pair of B&W N803

You two will never see eye to eye due to your arguments steming from two different ideas of sound quality. One is looking for a objective answer, while the other is in the realm of subjective.

 

[MindBreak]

Indeed - and might be coming to the WiiM Amp too…

If so that would be a nice bonus for early adopters.

 

[mlsstl]

Post in thread 'WiiM Ultra' https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/wiim-ultra.1731/post-48890
It is used for both.

Thanks -- their original specs they put out didn't indicate that. I know a lot of people asked for USB out to DAC capability so gather they finally listened!

 

[mr_macgee]

My guess is that you did a sighted test and the people listening in saw the devices and recognised the BS for being more expensive/higher quality, and that settled their bias.


My system is not relevant, since we're talking about clearly measurable differences.

But since you asked:
Wiim Pro via optical into Yamaha CD-S2100 (not so fancy DAC, I know..) and from there into my Yamaha A-S2100 integrated amp, feeding a pair of B&W N803

I'm not here to argue, be rude, counter your silly guess or do the ever tiresome debate of oscilloscope vs the human ear; that can be found in countless threads gone bad. This just sadly digress's from the threads topic.

But I totally disagree with you, scopes and measurement are very useful to help get you there (I use scopes & distor. analyzers weekly, do you?) but it's not the final word. Just ask any philharmonic conductor or musician who created, conducted their music and then listens to it on playback on different audio systems. Does the scope know more than them on what is correct? Sorry, to the others in this thread, I've digressed.

I'll let you bang on with your ASR type diatribe and wooden ears. Unsubscribed and will go back to listening to music, and avoid the noise.

 

[Mike Foley]

A heads up for any UK members here. The Pro + is down to £186.15 on Amazon UK. It’s a limited time offer, and finishes at midnight our time.
I’ve just ordered one for the man-cave!

 

[adias]

The WiiM Ultra is out. The firmware is still evolving. The USB out is now in beta and I can say that when driving a good DAC like Schiit with Unison is very transparent. A significant improvement over the Pro or Pro Plus over coax.

 

[JAnonymous5150]

The WiiM Ultra is out. The firmware is still evolving. The USB out is now in beta and I can say that when driving a good DAC like Schiit with Unison is very transparent. A significant improvement over the Pro or Pro Plus over coax.

Interesting indeed. Thanks for sharing!

 

[alreadyused]

The WiiM Ultra is out. The firmware is still evolving. The USB out is now in beta and I can say that when driving a good DAC like Schiit with Unison is very transparent. A significant improvement over the Pro or Pro Plus over coax.

Did theu actually say that it was a Beta release as far as the USB port was concerned? Does it work for a connecting a USB drive?

 

[brantome]

Did theu actually say that it was a Beta release as far as the USB port was concerned? Does it work for a connecting a USB drive?

Yes and yes

 

[MindBreak]

The WiiM Ultra is out. The firmware is still evolving. The USB out is now in beta and I can say that when driving a good DAC like Schiit with Unison is very transparent. A significant improvement over the Pro or Pro Plus over coax.

Thanks for sharing. I own a Wiim Pro, and I am planning on upgrading to a Wiim Ultra next year after my Yggdrasil MIB purchase. Good to know that it is pairing well even without its final software/firmware implementation.

 

[Derivative]

Generally speaking, what are people's thoughts on the sound differences between optical out and coax out on the Pro? does anyone have a clear preference? I am currently experimenting with both and I feel the optical is edging it ever so slightly but I might be imagining it.