Hi, does anyone of you guys already have detailed info on WiiM Pro? Pictures of the PCB would be great.
I don't have detailed info on the Wiim, but I've got some info on the Mini, which is similar. Amazon is selling them for $79, so I bought one, even though I already have 4 active speakers in my house that use the A31 modules.
Pictures are below. You need to rip off the ring-shape foam to get to three screws, and once those are out, everything pops out of the case.
Unfortunately, the module is enclosed in metal, but the information on the Wiim website indicates that the module is the A97L. The WiiM Mini feature set lines up with the A97L, and the processor is the R328, which is an Allwinner chip based on the Cortex A7. The Cortex A7 what is also used in the Raspberry Pi 2. The Pro version uses a Cortex A53, which is the same core used in the Raspberry Pi 3. And that would suggest that the Pro uses one of the A98 modules.
I got the Mini because I didn't see much difference between the Mini and the Pro other than the ethernet connector you get with the Pro. However, if you compare the Linkplay modules, there is an obvious difference that is important: the A97 is limited to 2.4G WiFi, whereas the A98 is dual-band, and can use the 5GHz band. That's a big deal, because there aren't that many channels in the 2.4GHz band, and there are so many IOT devices making that frequency crowded. We've got two WiFi garage door openers, a WiFi-enable microwave, 3 WiFi thermostats, a WiFi grow-light timer in my wife's greenhouse, etc....it's a busy space. So, I would recommend the Pro over the Mini if you have a busy WiFi network and would recommend using the ethernet connection on the Pro if possible.
The WiiM Home app is vastly improved over the old Linkplay app. It's far easier to set up and allows using the many new services and features. I haven't spent much time actually using the device, but my first impression is that it is a big step forward.
Pictures are below. You need to rip off the ring-shape foam to get to three screws, and once those are out, everything pops out of the case.
Unfortunately, the module is enclosed in metal, but the information on the Wiim website indicates that the module is the A97L. The WiiM Mini feature set lines up with the A97L, and the processor is the R328, which is an Allwinner chip based on the Cortex A7. The Cortex A7 what is also used in the Raspberry Pi 2. The Pro version uses a Cortex A53, which is the same core used in the Raspberry Pi 3. And that would suggest that the Pro uses one of the A98 modules.
I got the Mini because I didn't see much difference between the Mini and the Pro other than the ethernet connector you get with the Pro. However, if you compare the Linkplay modules, there is an obvious difference that is important: the A97 is limited to 2.4G WiFi, whereas the A98 is dual-band, and can use the 5GHz band. That's a big deal, because there aren't that many channels in the 2.4GHz band, and there are so many IOT devices making that frequency crowded. We've got two WiFi garage door openers, a WiFi-enable microwave, 3 WiFi thermostats, a WiFi grow-light timer in my wife's greenhouse, etc....it's a busy space. So, I would recommend the Pro over the Mini if you have a busy WiFi network and would recommend using the ethernet connection on the Pro if possible.
The WiiM Home app is vastly improved over the old Linkplay app. It's far easier to set up and allows using the many new services and features. I haven't spent much time actually using the device, but my first impression is that it is a big step forward.
The Pro is also quad 64-bit vs the Mini's dual 32-bit CPU.
You can sometimes get some useful technical details on these devices from the FCC reports. The report for the Pro product has test data on the radio portions of the product: https://fccid.io/2ANOG-ASR002. However, the FCC report on the A98 used in the Pro has a user manual for the module: https://fccid.io/2ANOG-A98XX/User-Manual/user-manual-4402900.pdf
You can sometimes get some useful technical details on these devices from the FCC reports. The report for the Pro product has test data on the radio portions of the product: https://fccid.io/2ANOG-ASR002. However, the FCC report on the A98 used in the Pro has a user manual for the module: https://fccid.io/2ANOG-A98XX/User-Manual/user-manual-4402900.pdf
It's not clear that the extra horsepower is useful in implementing the basic streaming functions. The CPU on the A98 module is actually the Amlogic AM113X, which is a quad-core A53. If you Google that chip, you will find articles about its use as a Google voice recognition processor. If being able to say "Hey Google" to your streamer is important to you, then, sure, there is a big difference between the Mini and Pro 🙂.
More powerful CPUs don’t make matters worse either and possibly the device will have a longer useful life/longer software support. Often operating the device is more fluid as well.
The times that I did buy a predecessor of a newly launched product it often did not pay off that well.
And suppose one desires to say “Hi Google!” to the device 🙂
The times that I did buy a predecessor of a newly launched product it often did not pay off that well.
And suppose one desires to say “Hi Google!” to the device 🙂
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Wiim uses a custom firmware and not all the commands are accepted as we see in the linkplay manual.
This I experienced from the Linkplay A28 module I bought from PE.
Though I was able to load a firmware used on an A31 module, in to A28 to use it as a master.
And there is a site where there are a lot of firmware which relate to sound bars, smart speakers etc using this these modules a28, a31, etc.
This I experienced from the Linkplay A28 module I bought from PE.
Though I was able to load a firmware used on an A31 module, in to A28 to use it as a master.
And there is a site where there are a lot of firmware which relate to sound bars, smart speakers etc using this these modules a28, a31, etc.
You could help on making my dac pcb with linkplay A28 module on it.
So it can be used as a straight add on to existing amp.
Here are some link from where I started digging around.
Arylic is biggest maker of diy and if we dig more than you will find that probably Linkplay is one of the main sources for Wiim, Arylic. Further Sonos, Yamaha, PSAudio, Marshall have used Linkplay solution/products as way to provide Bluetooth and Airplay services in their products.
In the Arylic boards MVsilicon chip works as a ADC DAC and arm micro to control the whole device.
And when we go to firmware than there are two firmwares one is Application and other is for mvsilicon chip shown as microcontroller firmware.
A28 and A31 use Mediatek router chips MT7682 and MT7688. For with a flash upload tool is available via Wi-Fi
A98 uses AMLogic and I have to come across a tool that will upload firmware to it. Not sure if the A31 supporting tool will also support A98 and A97.
There is a new Wi-Fi module I saw on audiophonics and it seems better than the Linkplay modules but expensive.
https://forum.arylic.com/t/latest-api-documents-and-uart-protocols/534?replies_to_post_number=16
https://developer.arylic.com/httpapi/#abstract
https://developer.arylic.com/httpapi/#playback-status
https://forum.arylic.com/t/latest-api-documents-and-uart-protocols/534
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Very interesting product.. indeed. Coax output is just great.
How is the problem of having appropriate clocks for 44,1 and 48 Khz solved here?
All similar solutions dealing with correct and good audio I2S signal has two types of clocks for audio on board.
Interesting how it is realized in this platform. Do they have dedicated clocks?
How is the problem of having appropriate clocks for 44,1 and 48 Khz solved here?
All similar solutions dealing with correct and good audio I2S signal has two types of clocks for audio on board.
Interesting how it is realized in this platform. Do they have dedicated clocks?
No as far as I know there are no dedicated clocks oscillators as on the raspberry pi hats.
The Wi-Fi modules are slaves Linkplay A28 and Linkplay A31. And with the right firmware you can make this master and you get fixed output of 16bit 44.1khz
And with the acrylic products using the above mentioned Wi-Fi modules there is a MVsilicon chip which gives the clocks and works as a DAC (3.5 socket) and also provides up sampled 24bit data to a i2s port.
I hope I got your question right.
Yes you can use PCM5102A, 5122,
ES9023 with a 50Mhz oscillator on the MCLK pin.
But you will probably get true 24bit Linkplay A97 / 98 and or Raspberry Pi with a PCM5122 hat
ES9023 with a 50Mhz oscillator on the MCLK pin.
But you will probably get true 24bit Linkplay A97 / 98 and or Raspberry Pi with a PCM5122 hat
IIRC the Wiim pro receiver is having Linkplay A97, that module is capable of giving the Master clock.
On the pictures of WiiM Mini one can see 2 clocks.
Yes WiiM Pro has a quad core CPU.
Yes WiiM Pro has a quad core CPU.
I don’t see any clock source for I2S other than that needed for device operation. I could be wrong. But from what I know of A98 module thanks to PE document is that it as the clocks generated from the main controller.
https://www.parts-express.com/pedocs/specs/321-121-Linkplay-A98-PCM5121-reference.pdf