Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Hardware with Roon Application Should I look at the WiiM Ultra?

Hi All,

I have a new to me set of DSP5200SL speakers that I am using with a 218 linked to some old Sonos gear which means I am using the Sonos S1 app. The speakers sound great and the Sonos S1 app is OK. I like the "works with Sonos@ features which means I can use my phone to play music, adjust volume etc. but what else is the 218 bringing me?

I have a Samsung OLED TV and am OK with its internal speakers but they are not great. I managed to connect the TV to the speakers via the 218 but lost TV volume control. We are not big movie watchers so I really want to be able to use the TV remote to control volume rather than having to go fine the MSR+ just for that purpose. The WiiM Ultra looks interesting but I am not sure if it will bring me what I want or not. I can see it can connect to the TV, its has a DAC which I don't think I need but will it make my overall experience better? It looks like it can display to the TV (to search for music) but I am not certain about that.

What do I want and can WiiM make my experience better?
Can WiiM allow me to use my speakers with the TV and control volume from the TV remote?
Can I see the music search app on the TV if I want to rather than use my phone?
Can I plug my record deck (an old Linn Axis) into the WiiM to play records?
Does the WiiM ultra need to be visible or can I hide it away?
Should I be thinking of something else?

Cheers

My perspective; if, for example, you had a Sonos Port connected to the 218 via Coax, the Sonos Port’s internal DAC would be by-passed in favour of the 218’s DAC. In this setup, you wouid control volume (TV) via the Meridian app on mobile phone/tablet. In total, it would be an integrated solution.

Others on here, though, do like the WiiM. Your money, your choice.

What do I want and can WiiM make my experience better?
- That will be up to you.

Can WiiM allow me to use my speakers with the TV and control volume from the TV remote?
- Yes you can use the WiiM HDMI input to get TV audio from thee TV to the WiiM and on to the speakers. However the coax digital output of the WiiM is not likely to be subject to volume control and if it is, it will be done in such a way that it reduces resolution.

Can I see the music search app on the TV if I want to rather than use my phone?
- No, the HDMI on the Wiim is an input, not an output.

Can I plug my record deck (an old Linn Axis) into the WiiM to play records?
- Yes, as long as the WiiM input and the Linn output are compatible from a signal level standpoint,

Does the WiiM Ultra need to be visible or can I hide it away?
You can hide it and access the WiiM through the Wiim app.

Regardless of what you do with what you have mentioned, you will always be using multiple remotes or multiple apps.

Hi, Thanks for your feedback. I had assumed that my Sonos connect just passed through the digital stream to the 218 and then to my speakers. I have DSP5200SL and had assumed they all of the D-A conversion was done in the speaker rather than any external DAC. Is that not the case? My Sonos setup works quite well as I can control volume and srouce with my phone app. What I was hoping the Wiim would do was allow me to use the TV remote to control volume when watching the TV and using my speakers as I find it really frustrating to use one remote to control the TV and another to adjust the volume, it just sucks.

Thanks Bruce.

I was hoping Wiim would allow me to control the volume with my TV remote as I don't like the MSR or having to use one remote for the TV and another for the volume.

I am assuming I would not actually use the DAC in the WiiM so all it really brings me is an alternative app to Sonos but lacking the "works with Sonos" functionality I currently have.

Sounds like I should stick with my current setup.

I love my WiiM Pro Plus and using it at this very moment to stream from my iMac. The sound is not quite as good as from my 808 but that is to be expected. However, there is an excellent WiiM user forum which maybe better suited to your enquiry.

I can send a link privately if you like as I don't think it's good form to promote other than Meridian on this forum.