Urtzy
Member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2023
- Messages
- 9
I've been using the WiiM Pro and its app for about a month now and I wanted to share some thoughts. I'm running my TV into the WiiM Pro and then coax out to a miniDSP Flex running as a sort of separates AV processor. As the Flex is running as my DAC, I can't comment on the Pro's onboard DAC, but from what I've read it's fine. Haven't had any issues with WIFI to coax or toslink to coax digital passthrough to my DAC. It looks nice next to the rest of my gear and I don't have any issues with the plastic shell at this price point. I'm not a fan of the recessed connections. Looks clean, but some heavy duty connectors don't fit. And I'd like to see some mention on the website/Amazon listing that the 12V trigger is 2.5mm. Besides that, no major issues. I've got a few more gripes with the app. For reference, I'm using version 2.3.7.230116 of the WiiM Home app on a Pixel 7 running Android 13 with Deezer, Amazon Music, and a Plex server connected.
- Settings contains no settings, just the app version and some useful links. To access actual settings, you have to go to Device and tap the settings cog to bring up per-device settings. Or to change per-service settings, go to Browse and select the integration under "Music services". With lots of devices and music services, I could see a single settings menu getting cluttered, but there has to be a better implementation/explanation for settings being buried in three separate menus.
- The back gesture is extremely inconsistent. It works as intended in some menus and returns to the previous, but most of the time it brings up a prompt to exit the app. The on screen buttons work, but I find myself closing the app more often than I remember to tap the back button.
- The app has issues recovering from standby. I'll start some music, lock my phone or switch to a different app, and when I return to the WiiM app there's a spinning loading wheel in the middle of the screen that never loads. The app becomes unresponsive and needs to be closed and restarted. This is especially annoying when I'm using Home Music Share to listen to music from my Plex server as the Artist folder is 5 folders deep.
- The search box is finnicky. I have to tap the box multiple times to get the keyboard to popup (this seems to be part of a larger responsiveness issue). Sometimes previous search text is still in the box and I have to clear it before the keyboard will appear. Search occassionally fails to communicate with streaming services, returning incomplete or no results. Have to search, open keyboard, then search again to get most/all results to show. Deezer results seem to be more consistent than Amazon Music.
- Plex/Plexamp. Looks like this has been discussed extensively elsewhere on the forum, but +1 for better Plex integration.
- An option to choose standby light function. A three way switch in settings to decide if we want to use it for network status, standby status, or just always off.
- A trigger button on the app's homescreen would be cool. The 12v trigger goes from my WiiM Pro, to my amp and subwoofer. It would be nice if there was a way to start that chain without playing a song and missing the beginning while everything warms up.
This is my first streamer, so I can't really compare it to anything else. But, unless you need a Roon ready device today or you're really into the look of large metal audio gear, I can't imagine too many use cases for a $1000 NAD or Cambridge streamer over the WiiM Pro. The app, on the other hand, needs some work. Everything above makes the convenience of the WiiM integrations less appealing than simply casting from the more polished dedicated apps. If gapless casting worked from the Plexamp or Amazon Music app I'd likely have ditched the WiiM app already.
Really pleased so far, excited to see what improvements are in store.
- Settings contains no settings, just the app version and some useful links. To access actual settings, you have to go to Device and tap the settings cog to bring up per-device settings. Or to change per-service settings, go to Browse and select the integration under "Music services". With lots of devices and music services, I could see a single settings menu getting cluttered, but there has to be a better implementation/explanation for settings being buried in three separate menus.
- The back gesture is extremely inconsistent. It works as intended in some menus and returns to the previous, but most of the time it brings up a prompt to exit the app. The on screen buttons work, but I find myself closing the app more often than I remember to tap the back button.
- The app has issues recovering from standby. I'll start some music, lock my phone or switch to a different app, and when I return to the WiiM app there's a spinning loading wheel in the middle of the screen that never loads. The app becomes unresponsive and needs to be closed and restarted. This is especially annoying when I'm using Home Music Share to listen to music from my Plex server as the Artist folder is 5 folders deep.
- The search box is finnicky. I have to tap the box multiple times to get the keyboard to popup (this seems to be part of a larger responsiveness issue). Sometimes previous search text is still in the box and I have to clear it before the keyboard will appear. Search occassionally fails to communicate with streaming services, returning incomplete or no results. Have to search, open keyboard, then search again to get most/all results to show. Deezer results seem to be more consistent than Amazon Music.
- Plex/Plexamp. Looks like this has been discussed extensively elsewhere on the forum, but +1 for better Plex integration.
- An option to choose standby light function. A three way switch in settings to decide if we want to use it for network status, standby status, or just always off.
- A trigger button on the app's homescreen would be cool. The 12v trigger goes from my WiiM Pro, to my amp and subwoofer. It would be nice if there was a way to start that chain without playing a song and missing the beginning while everything warms up.
This is my first streamer, so I can't really compare it to anything else. But, unless you need a Roon ready device today or you're really into the look of large metal audio gear, I can't imagine too many use cases for a $1000 NAD or Cambridge streamer over the WiiM Pro. The app, on the other hand, needs some work. Everything above makes the convenience of the WiiM integrations less appealing than simply casting from the more polished dedicated apps. If gapless casting worked from the Plexamp or Amazon Music app I'd likely have ditched the WiiM app already.
Really pleased so far, excited to see what improvements are in store.
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