NUPRIME WR-100

Streaming and more

US-BASED NUPRIME is fairly new on the audio scene, but has its roots in some respected manufacturers and designers, notably Nuforce. The company’s activity ranges from new-generation Class-d amplification to the hardware necessary for today’s digitally stored and streamed media. The bulk of Nuprime’s range targets high-end users and is priced accordingly; the WR-100 differs radically in being an entry point into the world of digital streaming. That’s because Nuprime is moving into distributed audio (music in every room in the house, for the neophytes among us).

Connected by either Wi-fi or Ethernet cable, the WR-100 is a combination DAC – digital to audio converter – and streamer that’s in principle much like a Chromecast or Apple TV, albeit with audiophile pretensions. To reassure buyers worried about being locked into a brand-exclusive closed ecosystem, the WR-100 complies with Qualcomm’s Allplay protocol. This allows streaming to as many as 10 wireless speakers and audio devices, regardless of brand. A novel twist: it can restream the signal from its analogue input, too.

The WR-100’S lightweight plastic construction is worlds apart from the polished look and almost jewel-like build quality of its stablemates, but then it is a lot cheaper. It’s mute until activated by the Nuprime app, which sniffs out connected WR-100S and also detects media storage devices on the network. Browse your storage device, select your WR-100 and simply click Play. At home, I streamed via Wi-fi from my DLNAenabled media server to the WR-100. Once decoded, the analogue signal went via the 3,5 mm audio out socket to the inputs of my stereo system. That socket, by the way, can accommodate a headphone jack, but at Line Level its output signal strength is better matched to a power amplifier.

Although in general use the WR-100 did exactly as expected, the Nuprime app sometimes couldn’t find my server, or my WR-100, irrespective of whether it had a static IP address or one allocated by the router. (I was also able to control the WR-100 using the Nuprime app or a third-party app such as Bubbleupnp.) That aside, there were none of the audible nasties and dropouts known to afflict some entry-level streamers.

Many contend that there are advantages to be gained by going higher than the standard CD resolution of 16 bits/44,1 khz, so, although pitched at entry level, the WR-100 can handle up to 24/96. Auditioned side by side with my DIY audiophile streamer based on a Raspberry Pi (capable of up to 24/192 resolution), the WR-100 is indistinguishable to my ears. AD

CONCLUSION

Quick and convenient to set up and use, the WR-100 is a bit of a giant killer at its price point, with one caveat being the occasional inconsistency from the dedicated app. PM

JUST THE FACTS

CONNECTIVITY: DIMENSIONS:

130 x 80 x 80

MAX RESOLUTION:

24 bits

MAX SAMPLING RATE:

96 Hz

POWER SUPPLY:

miniusb, 5V

PRICE: