Recently, I came across an unexpected revelation about Wiim’s latest network music player, the Ultra, priced at $329. Unlike previous Wiim products, the Ultra does not have Apple AirPlay certification. Initially, there was speculation that AirPlay compatibility could be added through a firmware update once the certification process was completed. However, it has now been confirmed that the current version of the Wiim Ultra hardware will not support Apple’s wireless audio streaming feature.
“The current Wiim Ultra does not support AirPlay,” a company representative confirmed via email, “and it cannot be made available through an OTA software update.”
This news may disappoint customers who expected AirPlay functionality, especially those who had already purchased the Ultra believing it would have this feature. Some retailers even list AirPlay as a feature of the Wiim Ultra on their websites.
Wiim itself was apparently surprised by the inability to add AirPlay via a firmware update. “At its launch at the High-End Munich Show, this wasn’t the belief at Wiim, but internal issues changed the situation unfortunately.”
Interestingly, the disclaimer on the Amazon product listing for the Wiim Ultra turned out to be accurate: “NOTE: This device is incompatible with AirPlay and cannot function as an AirPlay receiver.”
Wiim has not provided specific reasons for why the Ultra cannot support AirPlay. Instead, they recommend users explore alternative streaming options like Bluetooth or other supported services.
Despite initial concerns about the lack of AirPlay support, further investigation reveals that streaming Apple Music to the Wiim Ultra at CD quality through AirPlay might not be possible for iPhone users.
Further investigation reveals that in certain scenarios, AirPlay does not provide lossless quality, including when streaming Apple Music from an iPhone. The Wiim Ultra receives a 256 kbps bitrate, indicating it is not true lossless quality.
Despite this limitation, the audio quality difference between AirPlay and Bluetooth for Apple Music listeners on iPhone is minimal, as both use the same AAC codec. AirPlay does offer uninterrupted playback, unlike Bluetooth which can be interrupted by system sounds.
For users streaming Tidal from an iPhone, the benefits of AirPlay in terms of audio quality are also diminished. However, AirPlay still offers multiroom capability and Apple HomeKit support for Siri voice control.
If you purchased the Wiim Ultra expecting AirPlay functionality, refunds may be available depending on the retailer’s policies. Wiim recommends exploring other streaming options available on the device.
