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Is OLED burn-in a problem? We want your input on one of TV’s hottest topics!
twinkletoes
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- Nov 16, 2021
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I think the new blue ound products coming to market soon show some promise and some serious compition. they incorporate direc live (license required) the icon looks to be a good eversolo alternative, would certainly be a good shout with some active speakers.
The Nano is getting very good reviews as the cheapest one. (Spoiler alert Cheapaudioman thinks it sounds better than the WiiM Ultra).
skinnypuppy71
Well-known member
- Aug 10, 2021
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At this level..... I think better is probably splitting hairs and subjective, the youtubers love a bit of click bait to get you to keep coming back for more.....and more etc etc.
Yup! But Wiim pushing the competition to up their game can only be a good thing. I also like how Wiim publicly publish regular detailed change logs for their devices, and not just saying "we fixed some bugs".
skinnypuppy71
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- Aug 10, 2021
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Well it'd sound much better in my living room...lol....my summer house is not very big and it's a bit boomy when I up the volume, but I tested first in the living room.....the speakers are absolutely amazing and the Wiim is doing a good job, although volume control via the remote is in two step increments, so isn't the most precise,but volume can also be adjusted via the front dial and that is better.
When I have the time, I'll get the Ae 1's into the living room and give them a whirl with the Mytec brooklyn bridge and the turntable, that'll give me a better idea of their potential, which I'm very sure is going to be awesome.
When I have the time, I'll get the Ae 1's into the living room and give them a whirl with the Mytec brooklyn bridge and the turntable, that'll give me a better idea of their potential, which I'm very sure is going to be awesome.
twinkletoes
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- Nov 16, 2021
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Icon will appeal to those that want XLR out.
And a 5" screen......on a Bluesound 😱....but not a touchscreen.
If I'm going to have a screen at all, I'd rather have a touchscreen (even if the device also has hard buttons controlling some functions).
skinnypuppy71
Well-known member
- Aug 10, 2021
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The Wiim really is excellent vfm....I doubt very much I could put together a rpi based system with touchscreen /dac /phono stage, output stage , case, psu.plus a operating system..not to mention the cables to get you up and running ..it beggars belief that Wiim can put this unit out for 350 quid.....oh and a remote control.
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Well, now we know it uses the ESS9038Q2M.
Some suggest it's this that makes the Ultra sound better than the Mini / Pro / Pro Plus.
I wouldn't know about that, as I haven't heard any Wiim - but I have heard the 9038Q2M.
It's the chip used on the latest Cyrus DAC board - as well as the Khadas Toneboard,
All I can say is that both of those sound identically great - to me (and slightly better than an earlier Sabre chip in another DAC that I own).
If any Pro / Pro Plus owner wanted the same DAC as the Ultra, they can currently do it for £69.45 plus a 5v PSU, with a USB C plug (which they might already own).....by using this - hidden away out of sight:
Unless you're using it on the desktop, I don't see the need for a touchscreen at all.
The Bluesound Node Icon is being positioned as an audiophile device - not only XLR, it's a dual DAC design, fully balanced as I understand it, and its 900 quid price will see it take the fight to the likes of the Eversolo A6 and A8.
And it will have the option of Dirac Live for those who are serious about room correction. Bluesound are not messing about with the Icon.
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With the Ultra, I can now connect my TT, and my old faithful analogue FM tuner to the device, it's digitalised so i can do the full DSP on all source inputs. It means RC is possible for every source, and I only need to use the power amp section of my Yamaha A-S501 (which is extremely capable). My entire system cost me around £1500 and sounds fantastic. Less time listening to hardware, more time listening to music and more money to spend on more interesting things!
Not quite desktop, but I'm nearfield enough to find controls on devices useful (I rarely use remote controls).
I might well be going for an Ultra.
If I was far enough away from it to make a touchscreen pointless, I'd probably find the 3" screen equally pointless.
skinnypuppy71
Well-known member
- Aug 10, 2021
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It is nice to see the album art.....or......you can have a nice wee bouncy vu metre.😁
Wiim announced in the last couple of days that the next firmware upgrade will include full sub integration into the room correction app feature, ie, include latency, as well as L and R independent correction. It's bonkers how quickly these features are being rolled out at such a price level. Add a Dayton mic to your phone and you've got a pretty good start of proper room correction at a fraction of the cost of a full Dirac setup.
I have found that the phono input is not perfect - I have a constant clicking sound like an old telephone exchange. It's probably some RFI somewhere but I haven't found it yet. Not a deal breaker because vinyl is just for occasional fun and memories but it's an imperfection in an otherwise flawless gem.
Have to say, possibly placebo etc, but it sounds mighty fine as a streamer / DAC; better than the pro plus? Who knows, I've messed about with EQ so much, but there are bits of detail in some tracks that I'm sure I don't remember hearing before...
I have found that the phono input is not perfect - I have a constant clicking sound like an old telephone exchange. It's probably some RFI somewhere but I haven't found it yet. Not a deal breaker because vinyl is just for occasional fun and memories but it's an imperfection in an otherwise flawless gem.
Have to say, possibly placebo etc, but it sounds mighty fine as a streamer / DAC; better than the pro plus? Who knows, I've messed about with EQ so much, but there are bits of detail in some tracks that I'm sure I don't remember hearing before...
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I'd say that It will really come down to pricing. I have the Pro Plus model and it's nice. My only complaint is the app. It's pretty bad tbh. Getting the thing to connect can be a really challenge. Then the navigation itself within WiiM and the integrated qobuz app is very aggravating. The search feature could be way better and easier to use.
I had a NAD CS1 briefly before jumping over to Wiim. Now that was a painful ownership experience in comparison.
I have no connectivity issues with either the pro plus or ultra, with the app on multiple devices. Agreed the qobuz integration isn't great but you can't really blame Wiim for that, Qobuz really do need to sort their **** out with their app. Spotify, Tidal and Amazon have already done it a long time ago, and we're all still waiting for them to catch up.
It was also the chip that drove this nice Fiio unit: https://headfonics.com/fiio-k5pro-ess-review/
Yeah I should have specified that's what I meant with respect to the search function was the Qobuz integration. It's a real pain in the neck, although I have nothing to compare it to since this is my first Hi Res streamer unit.
siderealxxx
Well-known member
- Sep 18, 2014
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I wonder why there's no What Hifi review of the Ultra yet? Would be curious to read. Weighing this up against the Node Bluesound 2024.
nopiano
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- Feb 15, 2009
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There are probably more forum and YouTube reviews out there than almost any other product in the last few years, so there are no shortage of opinion to help you decide. Or you could simply buy one on a returnable basis. Richer Sounds sells them now.
Meanwhile, this comparison isn’t likely to be too far adrift from what you’re considering.
Bluesound Node Nano vs WiiM Pro Plus: which entry-level streamer is best for you?
It's a battle for budget music streamer supremacy
Witterings
Well-known member
- Sep 17, 2020
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I've recently trialed the Ultra vs Bluesound Nano using USB out into a Chord Qutest and the Nano definitely has the edge.
It's not a life changing difference but it is there and was enough to convince me to switch for my critical listening, this also involved changing from Amazon Music to Tidal as Amazon doesn't integrate well with Bluesound.
I also tested the Nano's DAC vs most of the WiiM's products including a Pro Plus and again the Nano came out on top.
I'm still a huge WiiM fan and will use those in non critical listening areas and for multiroom.
The new Node is meant to have the edge on the Nano as it has a better power supply but it's built in, the Nano has an external supply so you can esaily upgrade it if you wish to.
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