Wiim Pro Streamer

[willbewill]

Being a Puffin user for several years now, I recently acquired a Wiim Pro streamer/preamp, which has an optical TOS input. I had already done the SPDIF DIY coax output mod on the Puffin, and using this via cheap coax-TOS converter I managed to use the Wiim optical input. Happy to report all works well.

The Wiim Pro is also proving to be a revelation. I was previously using an iFi Zen Stream which is reputedly one of the best sounding streamers out there. Unfortunately it is marred by its software. The Wiim is proving to be a sonic match via WiFi where I can connect to Tidal, Qobuz & Spotify. It also has Chromecast, which allows me to use Amazon HD and music files from an SD card. In addition it has an optical input for my Puffin plus Bluetooth AAD onboard, so I can connect to YouTube Music. Unlike the Zen Stream, everything works!

I have cheated & powered the Wiim with the excellent Temple Audio Supercaps power supply (which costs more than the Wiim), but if I get the same sonic results as the Zen, its well worth it! BTW, was using a Supercaps on the Zen as well....

Thanks for the heads up Vic - I've just ordered a Wiim Pro

Hey Malc.....bear in mind I am not using the Wiim internal DAC. From what I have read it is mediocre. The strength of this unit is the streamer / pre-amp section, versatility and software. It has a built-in equaliser too!  I am using it with a decent power supply as it only comes with what looks like a cheap phone charger.

I did actually import one of these last Christmas, but the sound was noticeably 2D vs the Zen. Apparently some update in March greatly improved the sonics, so I thought I would have another go as it has a lot of features above the Zen that would be useful to me. I am struggling to tell them apart now sonically....

[willbewill]

Thanks Vic, I will be using it with an external DAC  and probably a battery supply 

[stratokaster83]

I wonder how it compares to Argon Solo in terms of software (I suspect that Argon Solo's built-in DAC is far superior). I currently use a Raspberry Pi-based streamer, but since Raspberry Pi is basically a full-blown Linux PC, it does all the annoying things that PCs do, including crashing.

[TransFi]

Thats one of the reasons I want to get away from the Zen Stream. Using a version of Volumio its very quirky. When it disconnects there is a ceremony of trouble shooting. In the end I was forced to use it in Tidal Connect Mode only, which was the most stable.

I am controlling the Wiim from an Android tablet. So far I have tested Tidal, Amazon, Qobuz and You Tube Music, plus played music files from SD card on tablet and set up my turntable to play through optical input. Coming from the Zen I am shocked everything works....no ceremonies!

A few things I have learned along the way. Amazon Music will only play HD from an Android device. Full HD-Ultra is only available on PC platform. Also, only playlists  can be transferred to Amazon, not albums, which is a pain. Amazon not very transparent in its blurb. Both these quirks are buried in the small print.

You Tube Music will not cast without a Premium subscription. You can only use Bluetooth.

[willbewill]

For many years now I've been using LMS PC based streamers, originally with Vortexbox installed and also a few RPi with Picoreplayer (but always ended going back to a PC based solution - I also tried a Tinkerboard with Volumio, really don't like Volumio though. But now parts of Vortexbox are broken and there have been no updates for a long while I have transferred to Daphile which works quite well. I use it mainly for ripped to flac cds, downloaded hires flacs, Spotify, Tidal and Radio Paradise. Although nowadays I tend not to play flacs from HD, preferring playing the original CDs on Rotel CD11 Tribute.

Reasons to change to Wiim Pro:

Much smaller footprint
Quieter than my current PC/Daphile - fan and HD noise (yeah I know I could upgrade but that would be definitely more expensive than the Wiim Pro)
Should give a good degree of flexibilty
I can used my existing DAC (Topping E30) with it

[willbewill]

Thats one of the reasons I want to get away from the Zen Stream. Using a version of Volumio its very quirky. When it disconnects there is a ceremony of trouble shooting. In the end I was forced to use it in Tidal Connect Mode only, which was the most stable.

I am controlling the Wiim from an Android tablet. So far I have tested Tidal, Amazon, Qobuz and You Tube Music, plus played music files from SD card on tablet and set up my turntable to play through optical input. Coming from the Zen I am shocked everything works....no ceremonies!

A few things I have learned along the way. Amazon Music will only play HD from an Android device. Full HD-Ultra is only available on PC platform. Also, only playlists  can be transferred to Amazon, not albums, which is a pain. Amazon not very transparent in its blurb. Both these quirks are buried in the small print.

You Tube Music will not cast without a Premium subscription. You can only use Bluetooth.

Yep that's the reason I stopped using Amazon HD-Ultra - in fact stopped using Amazon Music altogether.

[TransFi]

On offer Amazon Prime Day £120

[willbewill]

On offer Amazon Prime Day £120

I should have waited 

[TransFi]

I re-ordered and sending old one back. Still within 30 day return period....assuming you bought from Amazon.

[willbewill]

I re-ordered and sending old one back. Still within 30 day return period....assuming you bought from Amazon.

Good move I'll give it a try.

[KariFS]

I ordered the Wiim Mini for my son, it was easy to set up, and sounds good too based on the short test we did today. I haven’t tried it with my own amp or headphones though.

Might get a Pro for myself  I would like a streamer, been looking at Raspberry-based ”DIY” but the Wiim migh be a better value, with less work.

[TransFi]

Yep that's the reason I stopped using Amazon HD-Ultra - in fact stopped using Amazon Music altogether.

Malc, been spending some time on the Wiim forum learning about the Pro. Was surprised to find it does Amazon Ultra-HD from my Android tablet  
So, yeah......it does this by signing onto Alexa in Amazon ( even tho I dont possess any Alexa/Echo gear ) and activating the UHD toggle. When casting to the Pro, another icon then appears representing AlexaCast. You can then use the native Amazon Music app to stream your music. Works! Depending on the track, resolution varies (as displayed on my DAC) from 16/44 HD to Ultra-HD, which can be 24/44, 48 or 96

I have taken advantage of the 4 month free offer at the moment and if I like it, will switch from Tidal. In terms of SQ, seems to be on a par and may even match Qobuz. Amazon represents fine value @ £8.99 for prime members, with a yearly option of £89.

[willbewill]

Hi Vic

That's good to know, gives another option, I'm quite liking Tidal though and only need the standard, cd quality, package as the HiRes stuff more than often annoys my ears on older material due to remixing.

[TransFi]

Yeh....know what you mean about the hi res stuff.
So far so good with Amazon....not noticing any artifacts, unlike Qobuz  

Are you using Tidal via the Wiim app or native?

[willbewill]

Yeh....know what you mean about the hi res stuff.
So far so good with Amazon....not noticing any artifacts, unlike Qobuz  

Are you using Tidal via the Wiim app or native?

Using Tidal Connect from Tidal App on phone  - much better interface