WiiM WiFi Streamer

[peterp1]

So, I guess it's time to replace my Chromecast Audio in my basement system. Currently I have the Chromecast Audio connected to a Topping E30ii Lite DAC via the mini optical on the Chromecast audio.

It seems like the main difference between the Pro and Pro Plus is the DAC. Am I better off saving money buying the Pro since I have the external DAC -- or is the Pro Plus DAC better than the DAC in the Topping E30ii? Are there any other differences other than the DAC between the Pro and Pro Plus?

 

[peterp1]

Reading more about the Wiim pro/pro+ Bluetooth automatically reconnects is pro ably a non-starter for me. I only use Bluetooth once in a blue moon - I do not want it to automatically reconnect. That would be a pain. I only want Bluetooth when I manually connect to it on my phone.

 

[Gigantic]

So, I guess it's time to replace my Chromecast Audio in my basement system. Currently I have the Chromecast Audio connected to a Topping E30ii Lite DAC via the mini optical on the Chromecast audio.

It seems like the main difference between the Pro and Pro Plus is the DAC. Am I better off saving money buying the Pro since I have the external DAC -- or is the Pro Plus DAC better than the DAC in the Topping E30ii? Are there any other differences other than the DAC between the Pro and Pro Plus?

Reading more about the Wiim pro/pro+ Bluetooth automatically reconnects is pro ably a non-starter for me. I only use Bluetooth once in a blue moon - I do not want it to automatically reconnect. That would be a pain. I only want Bluetooth when I manually connect to it on my phone.

I don't have any experience with your Topping DAC, but given its price point, it's probably a wash between it and the Wiim Pro Plus, although the Pro plus may be slightly better, but that's up to your ears to decide.

I would not worry about bluetooth automatically connecting- I've not experienced that with my Wiim Pro, but I never use it. If you don't use it either, this won't be an issue, however, if you do, it may default to bluetooth until you change the configuration back. Again, this is not a big deal, the Wii interface is simple, intuitive and easy to navigate. It works best when you use the WiiM app on your phone, which depending on your streaming service, effectively turns your phone into a remote and the WiiM handles the app, natively. Ultimately, you're overthinking this; let go of the nervosa and enjoy the music.

 

[sfox52]

My only experience with WiiM products is my Pro, I use it with an external dac. The WiiM app allows Bluetooth to be switched off, I don’t use it myself.

 

[hjames]

Had a Wiim Pro for a number of years, with the Topping external DAC.
Have never used the bluetooth feature - so autoconnect is just not an issue.

 

[peterp1]

All good feedback, but the Bluetooth auto-connect IS an issue with me in my direct experience. I had that with speakers built into a massage chair, and it drove me crazy when my phone would switch to the massage chair speakers every time I walked anywhere near the room, even upstairs from the chair.

I have to manually “forget that device” on the phone to stop it.

The WiiiM pro will go in a room that is shared. I occasionally Bluetooth for audio that can’t be casted. My son uses the room to host parties where guests cast music to the sound system. I don’t want my phone connecting Bluetooth I interrupting who is using it in the middle of a party because I forgot to “forget the WiiM Pro”.

Sometimes a guest will use Bluetooth to connect the sound system, versus casting -- so the next time they come over, their phone automatically connects, the music just stops, and nobody knows why. Then, once you figure out it's because somebody's phone connected, they have to manually forget that device. Auto-connect is fine for one user, it's a nightmare to live with in a very shared environment.

Wiim should have an option to connect Bluetooth only when manually initiated by the phone.

 

[GChief]

My WiiM Pro has never automatically connected to my phones BT.

 

[peterp1]

My WiiM Pro has never automatically connected to my phones BT.

Probably because you've never Bluetoothed to it before. Once you do -- if what I've been reading is accurate (which aligns with my prior experience with other auto-connect devices) -- it will automatically connect every time you're near it until you manually go into the iPhone Bluetooth and say "forget that device".

 

[GChief]

Probably because you've never Bluetoothed to it before. Once you do -- if what I've been reading is accurate (which aligns with my prior experience with other auto-connect devices) -- it will automatically connect every time you're near it until you manually go into the iPhone Bluetooth and say "forget that device".

I have, I check out all features on new gear to make sure everything works.

I used this page in the app. Played it with all inputs and outputs. Selected WiFi when done testing and havent touched this page in over a year. Zero auto BT connects.




Just giving my experience with it.

 

[peterp1]

I have, I check out all features on new gear to make sure everything works.

I used this page in the app. Played it with all inputs and outputs. Selected WiFi when done testing and havent touched this page in over a year. Zero auto BT connects.

View attachment 3752682


Just giving my experience with it.

Your phone probably forgot the Wiim device in that year plus interval.

If it is fixed (there is a WiiM option to require manual connects), then that would be great news.

Here's a discussion on the WiiM forum -- it sounds like at one point they were going to fix it (or maybe did fix it for the Ultra) -- but it was only for the Ultra according to this thread.

Prevent automatic switching to Bluetooth input.

When I have my laptop connected to the Bluetooth input but I am actively listening via the WiFi input the amp switches to Bluetooth every time the play queue on the WiFi input ends. How can I stop this happening short of disconnecting the laptop? Even after disconnecting the laptop it often...

forum.wiimhome.com

 

[GChief]

Your phone probably forgot the Wiim device in that year plus interval.

If it is fixed (there is a WiiM option to require manual connects), then that would be great news.

Here's a discussion on the WiiM forum -- it sounds like at one point they were going to fix it (or maybe did fix it for the Ultra) -- but it was only for the Ultra according to this thread.

Prevent automatic switching to Bluetooth input.

When I have my laptop connected to the Bluetooth input but I am actively listening via the WiFi input the amp switches to Bluetooth every time the play queue on the WiFi input ends. How can I stop this happening short of disconnecting the laptop? Even after disconnecting the laptop it often...

forum.wiimhome.com

I have not denied that there's discussion about it. I'm just giving you my first hand experience as someone that is not a techo tard.

Wouldn't the solution be to never turn on the bluetooth

Easy day

You do you

 

[tanelpld]

Bluetooth connectivity is an interesting topic. Wasn't happy with the Bluetooth options in my streamer device either - ended up selling it, not only for that but it sure was one of the reasons.

I believe it depends on what type of bluetooth device the streamer promotes itself to be. So if it says I'm a portable speaker, car audio, etc, a phone connects automatically if trusted. To make it not happen the Bluetooth device class should be changed, shouldn't be hard to add a setting for it by the manufacturer.

Sadly enough it can't be enabled or disabled by the connecting device as the streamer won't be able to tell if you initiated the connection yourself or did your phone find the streamer in room and asked for the connection automatically.

 

[peterp1]

I have not denied that there's discussion about it. I'm just giving you my first hand experience as someone that is not a techo tard.

Wouldn't the solution be to never turn on the bluetooth

Easy day

You do you

Post 1566 explains why I can't turn off Bluetooth -- it used as a shared room by the family and a lot of guests who sometimes cast and sometimes Bluetooth (only family and trusted guests connect to Wifi to be able to cast). I had an auto connect Bluetooth before in that room and it was a nightmare for the reasons clearly explained in that post. I'm not a techno tard either -- it has nothing whatsoever to do with technical knowledge -- auto-connect is a nightmare to live with in a very shared party room environment.

Your example is that you used Bluetooth a long time ago (more than a year ago if I'm interpreting your post correctly) -- and it hasn't reconnected. Lot's of things could have happened in that year+. Most likely, you manually "forgot the WiiM device" a year+ ago -- in fact, you would have had to manually forget the WiiM device to use the other inputs with auto-connect in place.

If you do a test now with Bluetooth, and it doesn't automatically reconnect -- that would be extremely helpful. If you see a WiiM option to select only manual Bluetooth connects on your Pro -- that would be extremely helpful. The vague comment about using Bluetooth a long time ago and not having it auto-connect is not really helpful.

 

[GChief]

If you do a test now with Bluetooth, and it doesn't automatically reconnect -- that would be extremely helpful. If you see a WiiM option to select only manual Bluetooth connects on your Pro -- that would be extremely helpful. The vague comment about using Bluetooth a long time ago and not having it auto-connect is not really helpful.

I will try it when I get home, just left for the day.

So me testing BT a year ago on a new piece of kit is a vague comment

Good to know

 

[peterp1]

I will try it when I get home, just left for the day.

So me testing BT a year ago on a new piece of kit is a vague comment

Good to know

It's not an example that relates in any way to the problem I am discussing. I have a shared party/game room where different family members and lots of guest will be using the same audio system -- a rotating DJ basically depending on who is there -- sometimes controlling the music via cast and sometimes via bluetooth.

Your example of using Bluetooth once a year ago and not having any auto-connect issues now does not relate in any way to my scenario. Especially since it's almost certain you had to manually "forget the wiim device" a year ago in order to use your current inputs because that's the way it works (unless the auto-connect problem was fixed back then, which doesn't seem to be likely).

 

[chicks]

I'm probably the first WiiM user here. This has never been an issue for me, and never will be. Your use case is probably applicable to less than 1% of WiiM users, as most will have bought it for its WiFi streaming capabilities, which are great, not BT, which isn't. Move on, please.

 

[peterp1]

I'm probably the first WiiM user here. This has never been an issue for me, and never will be. You use case is probably applicable to less than 1% of WiiM users, as most will have bought it for its WiFi streaming capabilities, which are great, not BT, which isn't. Move on, please.

??????????????????

You can tell from the WiiM thread I posted that it is also an issue for other people. WiiM also thought it was an issue, because they commented about fixing it in that thread. I just tested it on the WiiM Ultra I have on my main system, and it auto-connects the phone unless you manually forget the device, so they haven't fixed it for the Ultra (It's not an issue on my main system because that's rarely used as a shared system).

The WiiM's Bluetooth ability is great also (to the extent that Bluetooth can be), it should just should have the option to not auto-connect. I get that you don't use Bluetooth -- not sure what that has to do with me or anyone else who does use it. I personally use WiFi 99.9% of the time -- but that's not possible for everyone in the shared system environment.

Is this a WiiM discussion thread where constructive comments can be made, or is it a "cheerleader" thread where we can only say good things and nothing constructive is ever accomplished? I love the Ultra (save for the minor annoyance of not having a power button to shut if off and having to wait for it to time out), hoping to buy the Pro (probably plus) also if there is a fix for autoconnect.

 

[Gigantic]

this thread is almost 80 pages and I don't recall the bluetooth issue being raised here. As I said before, you're overthinking it. Get one on Amazon and you'll have 30 days to decide if you like it or return it. This really isn't as difficult as you're making it out to be.

 

[peterp1]

this thread is almost 80 pages and I don't recall the bluetooth issue being raised here. As I said before, you're overthinking it. Get one on Amazon and you'll have 30 days to decide if you like it or return it. This really isn't as difficult as you're making it out to be.

As I've said, I'm not overthinking it because I've lived with the auto-connect in that shared environment, and it sucks. What's better about the WiiM (than the autoconnect bluetooth I had before) is that WiiM requires you to select Bluetooth as an input before it will autoconnect, so somebody walking in the room won't disrupt a running WiFi stream. That said, if you select Bluetooth, and somebody different than the one who autoconnected wants to use Bluetooth, you have to have the autoconnected person manually disconnect, and then the new person can connect.

Regardless, I've ordered a Wiim Pro Plus to replace the Chromecast audio, and will probably just use the existing separate Bluetooth unit I have now for Bluetooth.

The Chromecast Audio is getting long in the tooth -- last night Pandora (casting to the CCA) was randomly changing the digital volume to either low volume or silent -- then changing with the Pandora app volume slider would cause it to pull back. That weird behavior is probably a compatability issue with chromecast audio now being so old. Being able to set the WiiM to fixed (full) volume is worth it for that alone. Also Spotify is not lossless casted through the CCA, but will be lossless through the WiiM, so I'm looking forward to using the Pro Plus.

From what I can tell, the Topping E30 ii Lite DAC with dual left/right channel paths is probably a bit better than the Pro Plus DAC, so I'll probably continue to use the Topping.

 

[Rockyhill]

BT auto-connect has never been an issue with my Pro.