Getting the Hi-Fi Mojo Back

[Tim]

Gosh, look what arrived today, DPD driver must have got the wrong address? [emoji2369] [emoji6]

I love it . . . don't tell Sue (hopefully I've got the name right, but I am getting old!)

We'll expect a report in due course obviously.

[Alex_UK]

The plan is, well, was, to use it in the dining room, as the Tangent amp in there is fine with the TV but just doesn’t sound quite right with music. Partly like all the rooms in this house, too many reflections, and it needs to be small as the gear in there is all hidden away in the sideboard. The WiiM Roomfit has worked wonders in the living room, so I reckon will do the same in the dining room.

But to test it I’ve plugged it into the Spendors in the living room and I don’t know whether it’s the amp or the DAC (or both) but first impressions are that it is massively better than the Mini/Sony combo, and would actually work in here to create a minimal streaming system.

We’ll have to see how it goes, but I suspect I might be buying another one!

[Tim]

. . . but first impressions are that it is massively better than the Mini/Sony combo, and would actually work in here to create a minimal streaming system.

The WiiM Mini is fantastic Alex, but it's DAC is it's weak point in a decent system, so that doesn't surprise me at all. I've been pondering one for my desktop system actually, the Amp Ultra into a pair of LS50 Meta's should make a decent near-field desktop player. Currently I have an ageing Amptastic Mini-1 with a Topping DAC - an Ultra would I reckon be quite an improvement, as well as being a lot tidier.

[Alex_UK]

I reckon it would be superb as a desktop amp, and very neat and stylish.

Just had a “eureka” moment, the Tangent amp in the dining room has optical in, so I will try the Mini into that and see how it sounds…. Once I can drag myself away from listening to the Ultra!

[Tim]

Happy days, those WiiM's punch well above their weight

[Alex_UK]

Well, WiiM Mini all installed via the optical input on the Tangent in the dining room and that’s sorted - it sounds miles better than it did than using the laptop, very listenable, so it looks like the Amp Ultra can stay in the living room…. Happy days indeed!

[Alex_UK]

Decided to put the WiiM Ultra Amp in the TV cabinet, so all out of the way, neat and tidy. Now, just need to find a disc player with an optical output.

Hang on. What’s that on the bottom shelf!

[Alex_UK]

Hang on. What’s that on the bottom shelf!

Before anyone else says it - "dust"! All tidied up now! This sounds just as good as streaming (as you'd expect, just bits from a disc instead of the internet into the same DAC/Amp.) Another happy day!

[Macca]

Those Wiim devices are amazing for the money just a shame about the looks. If they were full width and had proper controls instead of a menu, I'd be there.

[Alex_UK]

Those Wiim devices are amazing for the money just a shame about the looks. If they were full width and had proper controls instead of a menu, I'd be there.

Funny, isn't it - horses for courses, the fact they are so diminutive and everything can be accessed by the (very good, by the way) App is precisely what drew me to it in the first place!

Differences aside, the build quality is really good, too - heavy, well engineered connectors, nice aluminium case and the touchscreen (not that I'll use it much) is top-notch. Even the remote is aluminium, and not just an aluminium cover, it feels like it's milled from a billet of metal, it is also rechargeable via USB-C so no batteries required. It doesn't need to, but the packaging feels premium, very much like an Apple product. It really is amazing how they can do it all for so little dough. I'm almost disappointed I don't need to buy another one now!