Wiim has officially confirmed that its flagship network music player, the $329 touchscreen-equipped Wiim Ultra, will never support Apple AirPlay. This news comes as a blow to those who had been anticipating the feature, particularly given that Wiim initially suggested that AirPlay compatibility could be added through a future firmware update. This assumption, widely shared by industry professionals and even some retailers, was based on the company’s previous track record of adding features through software updates. However, Wiim has now definitively stated that AirPlay support is not possible on the current Wiim Ultra hardware. This decision has left many users, who purchased the Ultra based on the promise of AirPlay functionality, feeling disappointed and frustrated.
The absence of AirPlay presents a significant limitation for Apple Music users. Since Wiim’s software does not natively support Apple Music, and the Apple Music app on iOS is incompatible with Google Cast (formerly Chromecast Audio), there is no way for iPhone users to stream Apple Music to the Wiim Ultra losslessly at CD quality. Bluetooth streaming, the only remaining option for iPhone users, only supports SBC and AAC codecs, which utilize lossy compression at lower-than-CD quality. This leaves Apple Music fans with a frustrating choice: either settle for lower-quality audio or find a different streaming device.
Wiim, acknowledging the disappointment this news may cause, is encouraging its customers to utilize alternative streaming methods. These include Chromecast Audio, Alexa Casting, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, Amazon Music, Deezer, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and more. While these options provide a variety of streaming services, they lack the convenience and high-fidelity audio experience that AirPlay offers.
Wiim has not provided a clear explanation for the lack of AirPlay support on the Wiim Ultra. However, the company has indicated that internal issues arose after the device’s initial launch, leading to a change in plans. This lack of transparency has further fueled frustration among users who feel misled by Wiim’s initial statements.
It remains unclear how Wiim plans to address the concerns of customers who purchased the Wiim Ultra based on the expectation of AirPlay functionality. Wiim has yet to provide information regarding refunds or other forms of compensation for affected users. As the situation develops, it will be crucial to see how Wiim responds to this growing backlash and whether the company will make any effort to address the needs of Apple Music users who have been left out in the cold.
