I recently wrote a review of the WiiM Ultra Streamer. A few comments on the article lead me to believe there are a lot of people that do not understand why anyone would want to use AirPlay with such a device. Below is an answer to some of those questions.
As I mentioned, I mainly use my WiiM devices with Amazon Music. It offers hi res audio when streaming from a device like a phone or tablet. Wonderful!
So why would anyone want AirPlay when seamingly all my basis for streaming are covered with Amazon?
Well, reason number 1 is that when using iOS and iPadOS, AirPlay is built into the system. As a result, the numerous audio apps, even podcast apps like Overcast, can send to an AirPlay device. As a result, on these platforms, AirPlay has you covered. In other words, AirPlay is flexible and not limited to one app.
Also, on iOS and iPadOS, you can link together any AirPlay devices you might own for multi room audio. This is built into the control center of iOS and iPad OS.
Macs are similar, AirPlay devices show up right in the sound options. Click an AirPlay device and audio flows to that device. It is a very easy way of listening to have any audio playing through your sound system. Sure, if you use Chrome on MacOS, there are workarounds with some apps that have web versions, but all audio apps I am aware of can use AirPlay.
The same can be said of controlling things from the Apple Watch. Even using Amazon Music, you can open the link to show the speakers you have available to send the signal. All Airplay products are available right there on the watch screen.
What about Bluetooth?
There is no lossless version of Bluetooth. Bluetooth has a more limited range and Bluetooth does not have the multi room capabilities built into these popular operating systems.
AirPlay is mp3 quality
Apple can use 256k AAC files when streaming from an AirPlay 2 device to another AirPlay 2 device. The thing is, in some cases that won’t matter. When listening to podcasts or a news article being read, as two popular examples, I don’t need lossless, but I just want it to play on my streamer and I don’t want the hassle of Bluetooth (which is usually not as seamless as Airplay on Apple devices).
Secondly, some apps, like Amazon ( at least as I write this) send out audio using AirPlay 1 protocol. This will send to multiroom audio AirPlay 2 devices in a lossless format, up to 24/48k.
When you share a house with someone it helps when things are easy to use. AirPlay qualifies. Airplay 2 can work with Siri and a HomePod without ever opening a phone “ Siri, play Beatles in cave”.
Apple Music
If data from 2022 still holds true, Apple Music is the second largest paid music streaming service in the world and USA. I personally have a subscription to Apple Music and Amazon Music. Why? Apple Music, to my tastes, has a much better interface, works with Siri, works with CarPlay, and it’s bundled into other services we use. It comes bundled with a family plan and my wife also uses it. On top of the interface, it has music I matched available when I am away from home and it has playlists that we enjoy. The AppleTV app also works with Siri.
I have Amazon Music for hi res streaming to WiiM when I am in the mood. The interface may be the worst of any I have tried. However, it works for albums when I know what I want to hear and I like the Alexa integration (especially with the Ultra's remote). It is also cheaper than Tidal and Qobuz with a Prime membership.
Why not just use Apple Music via direct connection?
I had my iPad setup to play Apple Music via direct connection in my office for over a year and it gave me hi res lossless streaming in my favorite music app. I still have it available and use it with the WiiM Ultra via a more direct connection.
However, quite often, I would find myself trying to decide on whether or not I wanted to continue using the iPad for music or to take it off the stand and use it for note taking, editing photos, etc. The old Wiim Mini in my office was my backup, but this device looks better, has a better DAC, and has a headphone output alongside EQ and PEQ. Without all of these features, I would have kept the WiiM Mini in the space. This also allows me to move the WiiM Mini to my headphone setup in the living room. My old Yamaha WXC-50 isn’t compatible with Amazon Music, so this gives me that feature.
Workarounds
The main workarounds to use AirPlay with the WiiM Ultra are to connect an AirPlay device to it or to use Multi-room audio in the mix ( you can AirPlay to a WiiM with AirPlay enabled and link it to the Ultra). Personally, I dug an old 1st Gen AirPort Express out of a drawer and connected it to the optical input.
I didn’t need multi-room audio for this setup, since the receiver in the room has an AppleTV connected and it also has AirPlay built in. This will mainly be for headphone use and convenience since my receiver will inevitably sit on the Ultra Input most of the time.
If you mainly listen on a Mac and want a way around the issue, outside of a direct connection, some audio apps have web versions of their music app. For example, Apple Music and Amazon both have web versions of their music apps. You can open them in a Chrome browser and Cast the signal to the Ultra.
Wrap Up
As I mentioned in the WiiM Ultra review, I have many options for getting an audio signal into the Ultra. Will I be using Airplay very often? No, I won't because I will mainly be listening to Amazon Music. However, do I want the option available? Yes, I may want to stream a podcast or something to the Ultra and having an Airport Express feeding it, solves that problem. Can I live without Airplay? In this implementation I could, but why do that when it is so easy to add it, one way or another...at least with the devices I already have in my house? I would not spend money to fix the issue, though. I would just deal with Bluetooth instead.
As I mentioned, I mainly use my WiiM devices with Amazon Music. It offers hi res audio when streaming from a device like a phone or tablet. Wonderful!
So why would anyone want AirPlay when seamingly all my basis for streaming are covered with Amazon?
Well, reason number 1 is that when using iOS and iPadOS, AirPlay is built into the system. As a result, the numerous audio apps, even podcast apps like Overcast, can send to an AirPlay device. As a result, on these platforms, AirPlay has you covered. In other words, AirPlay is flexible and not limited to one app.
Also, on iOS and iPadOS, you can link together any AirPlay devices you might own for multi room audio. This is built into the control center of iOS and iPad OS.
Macs are similar, AirPlay devices show up right in the sound options. Click an AirPlay device and audio flows to that device. It is a very easy way of listening to have any audio playing through your sound system. Sure, if you use Chrome on MacOS, there are workarounds with some apps that have web versions, but all audio apps I am aware of can use AirPlay.
The same can be said of controlling things from the Apple Watch. Even using Amazon Music, you can open the link to show the speakers you have available to send the signal. All Airplay products are available right there on the watch screen.
What about Bluetooth?
There is no lossless version of Bluetooth. Bluetooth has a more limited range and Bluetooth does not have the multi room capabilities built into these popular operating systems.
AirPlay is mp3 quality
Apple can use 256k AAC files when streaming from an AirPlay 2 device to another AirPlay 2 device. The thing is, in some cases that won’t matter. When listening to podcasts or a news article being read, as two popular examples, I don’t need lossless, but I just want it to play on my streamer and I don’t want the hassle of Bluetooth (which is usually not as seamless as Airplay on Apple devices).
Secondly, some apps, like Amazon ( at least as I write this) send out audio using AirPlay 1 protocol. This will send to multiroom audio AirPlay 2 devices in a lossless format, up to 24/48k.
When you share a house with someone it helps when things are easy to use. AirPlay qualifies. Airplay 2 can work with Siri and a HomePod without ever opening a phone “ Siri, play Beatles in cave”.
Apple Music
If data from 2022 still holds true, Apple Music is the second largest paid music streaming service in the world and USA. I personally have a subscription to Apple Music and Amazon Music. Why? Apple Music, to my tastes, has a much better interface, works with Siri, works with CarPlay, and it’s bundled into other services we use. It comes bundled with a family plan and my wife also uses it. On top of the interface, it has music I matched available when I am away from home and it has playlists that we enjoy. The AppleTV app also works with Siri.
I have Amazon Music for hi res streaming to WiiM when I am in the mood. The interface may be the worst of any I have tried. However, it works for albums when I know what I want to hear and I like the Alexa integration (especially with the Ultra's remote). It is also cheaper than Tidal and Qobuz with a Prime membership.
Why not just use Apple Music via direct connection?
I had my iPad setup to play Apple Music via direct connection in my office for over a year and it gave me hi res lossless streaming in my favorite music app. I still have it available and use it with the WiiM Ultra via a more direct connection.
However, quite often, I would find myself trying to decide on whether or not I wanted to continue using the iPad for music or to take it off the stand and use it for note taking, editing photos, etc. The old Wiim Mini in my office was my backup, but this device looks better, has a better DAC, and has a headphone output alongside EQ and PEQ. Without all of these features, I would have kept the WiiM Mini in the space. This also allows me to move the WiiM Mini to my headphone setup in the living room. My old Yamaha WXC-50 isn’t compatible with Amazon Music, so this gives me that feature.
Workarounds
The main workarounds to use AirPlay with the WiiM Ultra are to connect an AirPlay device to it or to use Multi-room audio in the mix ( you can AirPlay to a WiiM with AirPlay enabled and link it to the Ultra). Personally, I dug an old 1st Gen AirPort Express out of a drawer and connected it to the optical input.
I didn’t need multi-room audio for this setup, since the receiver in the room has an AppleTV connected and it also has AirPlay built in. This will mainly be for headphone use and convenience since my receiver will inevitably sit on the Ultra Input most of the time.
If you mainly listen on a Mac and want a way around the issue, outside of a direct connection, some audio apps have web versions of their music app. For example, Apple Music and Amazon both have web versions of their music apps. You can open them in a Chrome browser and Cast the signal to the Ultra.
Wrap Up
As I mentioned in the WiiM Ultra review, I have many options for getting an audio signal into the Ultra. Will I be using Airplay very often? No, I won't because I will mainly be listening to Amazon Music. However, do I want the option available? Yes, I may want to stream a podcast or something to the Ultra and having an Airport Express feeding it, solves that problem. Can I live without Airplay? In this implementation I could, but why do that when it is so easy to add it, one way or another...at least with the devices I already have in my house? I would not spend money to fix the issue, though. I would just deal with Bluetooth instead.
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