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WiiM Amp Pro Streaming Stereo Amplifier Review

Rate this streaming amplifier:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 8 2.3%

  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 25 7.2%

  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 126 36.1%

  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 190 54.4%
  • Total voters
    349
Haskil said:
It is indeed possible and even entirely possible! I don't know anything about it.
I just note that if Apple requires this from Wiim for its new models, why doesn't the same Apple require that a firmware update remove active Airplay and Airplay2 on old models that are regularly updated?
Click to expand...
The previous models appear to be licensed MFi Accessories so I’d guess there’s little or no chance of Airplay being removed.

https://mfi.apple.com/account/accessory-search (under brand/Wiim)
 
Haskil said:
It is indeed possible and even entirely possible! I don't know anything about it.
I just note that if Apple requires this from Wiim for its new models, why doesn't the same Apple require that a firmware update remove active Airplay and Airplay2 on old models that are regularly updated?

Well, another thing since Airplay was "copied" why did no one - at least to my knowledge - go further to release 24/96? French forum users did this a few years ago and even lifted the transcoding on the fly in Alac to broadcast in full bitrate AIFF... But this was not followed. A French reseller who sold "improved" Airport terminals at crazy prices also did this, then he moved on to the equally ruinous Macmini "improvement".

But it is certain that the absence of Airplay is a bad point for the news Wiim, despite the presence of the others. Because this Apple protocol is widely used for its robustness and its presence in all Macs, iPhones and iPads...
Click to expand...
My belief, without evidence, is that Wiim originally included the ability broadcast Airplay2. If so, they probably got a legal visit from Apple, and fended off some unpleasantness by agreeing to drop AirPlay entirely.

I note that Roon is the only non-Apple product that can broadcast AP2, and how they do it is something of a mystery.
 
staticV3 said:
You'd think so, and yet:
Click to expand...
Without SPL and distance we can't really conclude much from that description.

The Salon 2's are also not as hard to drive as one might expect.

1727529230584.png
 
Last edited:
Petrushka said:
There’s clean room reverse engineering, and there’s copying. Also, what is this encryption thing? Why does Apple have it, and Roon doesn’t need it? And why did Wiim agree never to include it?
Click to expand...
No idea, sorry…
 
Petrushka said:
My belief, without evidence, is that Wiim originally included the ability broadcast Airplay2. If so, they probably got a legal visit from Apple, and fended off some unpleasantness by agreeing to drop AirPlay entirely.

I note that Roon is the only non-Apple product that can broadcast AP2, and how they do it is something of a mystery.
Click to expand...
I don't know anything about it at all. I have only given here the official version of Wiim as it was communicated to the public on their forums. They say it's a hardware. impossibility. As they say in France: Mystery and gumball...
 
JeremyFife said:
It makes sense to measure all amplifiers in the same way so that they can be compared. It makes sense to add new measurements (FTC) over time. Obviously, those new measurements can't be applied retrospectively.

It doesn't make sense to blindly rate all amplifiers based on those measurements without taking context into account.

If I had a large room and a pair of Salon 2s, the WiiM amp would be pitifully under specified.
If have a smaller room, a TV as the main source and a family as the main audience (and let's say Kef Q350s) then the WiiM is pretty bloody perfect.
A 'proper' amplifier would be woefully wasted in that second scenario, and would need several more boxes around it.

Based on measurements, the WiiM is good except for the edge cases. Based on features and price it's feckin amazing.

I do agree that we need a brutally objective assessment where all amps are compared strictly. Happy to consider the WiiM Amp Pro as 'fine' in that case.
We then need to temper that assessment based on context and our considered membership view. We all need to accept the measurements, noone needs to accept my opinion.
Click to expand...
Of course, this amp isn't purposed for listening in a large room with super expensive large low sensitivity speakers.
But, with a more sensitive and easy to drive speaker in a small or middle size room, 60 w/8 ohms could be fine, except for headbangers (it's not purposed for them too).

This is an excellent, nice looking, well engineered and built streamer/amp for people on a budget and more.

I hope Wiim will release in a next future a sort of Super Ultra Integrated with one balanced input, about 150W-200W on 8ohms power amp, a better and more versatile headphone output than the Ultra's one and, this time, Airplay connectivity too. The whole for, let's say, around 1500 €.

This would be "the perfect device on the market" without bleeding dry the wallet of sound enthusiasts, including people owning Revel Salons, Kef Reference or Magicos. Why spend more on electronics ? Most of the time, it's useless.

But, for the moment, i'm only dreaming. At present, a combination of Wiim Ultra plus a good powerful and cheap class D amp (3E Audio, Icepower, Hypex) could be just fine, just a little less complete and elegant solution.
 
Tovarich007 said:
Of course, this amp isn't purposed for listening in a large room with super expensive large low sensitivity speakers.
But, with a more sensitive and easy to drive speaker in a small or middle size room, 60 w/8 ohms could be fine, except for headbangers (it's not purposed for them too).

This is an excellent, nice looking, well engineered and built streamer/amp for people on a budget and more.

I hope Wiim will release in a next future a sort of Super Ultra Integrated with one balanced input, about 150W-200W on 8ohms power amp, a better and more versatile headphone output than the Ultra's one and, this time, Airplay connectivity too. The whole for, let's say, around 1500 €.

This would be "the perfect device on the market" without bleeding dry the wallet of sound enthusiasts, including people owning Revel Salons, Kef Reference or Magicos. Why spend more on electronics ? Most of the time, it's useless.

But, for the moment, i'm only dreaming. At present, a combination of Wiim Ultra plus a good powerful and cheap class D amp (3E Audio, Icepower, Hypex) could be just fine, just a little less complete and elegant solution.
Click to expand...
a little disappointed by the headphone output of the ultra it seems...
?
 
amirm said:
What is the history behind this? Company doesn't want to or can't get a license?
Click to expand...

dont forget you need enough memory and compatible processor too , can be a lot of trouble ..

but if you tv is airplay you go through hdmi
 
amirm said:
What is the history behind this? Company doesn't want to or can't get a license?
Click to expand...
Not sure could be that they did not want to pay Apple fees anymore just like Samsung who refuses to pay Dolby for Dolby Vision! Makes no sense whatsoever!
 
Haskil said:
It is indeed possible and even entirely possible! I don't know anything about it.
I just note that if Apple requires this from Wiim for its new models, why doesn't the same Apple require that a firmware update remove active Airplay and Airplay2 on old models that are regularly updated?

Well, another thing since Airplay was "copied" why did no one - at least to my knowledge - go further to release 24/96? French forum users did this a few years ago and even lifted the transcoding on the fly in Alac to broadcast in full bitrate AIFF... But this was not followed. A French reseller who sold "improved" Airport terminals at crazy prices also did this, then he moved on to the equally ruinous Macmini "improvement".

But it is certain that the absence of Airplay is a bad point for the news Wiim, despite the presence of the others. Because this Apple protocol is widely used for its robustness and its presence in all Macs, iPhones and iPads...
Click to expand...
And Apple Music
 
amirm said:
What is the history behind this? Company doesn't want to or can't get a license?
Click to expand...

No one knows.

WiiM Mini, WiiM Pro, WiiM Pro+, WiiM Amp all have had the full AirPlay2 license. A firmware update had them dropping the AirPlay casting feature. (Line Into a WiiM and then broadcast to another AirPlay device, like Sonos).

WiiM Ultra, WiiM Amp Pro dropped AirPlay.

Sonos did the line into one Sonos and the broadcast to any other Sonos. There is some patent issue.
www.pacermonitor.com

Sonos, Inc. v. Linkplay Technology Inc. (1:24-cv-00131), Delaware District Court

Sonos, Inc. v. Linkplay Technology Inc. (1:24-cv-00131), Delaware District Court, Filed: 02/01/2024
www.pacermonitor.com www.pacermonitor.com
 
Unless Airplay requires MFI security chip, I can't see any hardware limitations to implementing it. The CPU here is powerful enough to support other protocols so don't see any issue with Airplay in that regard.
 
amirm said:
Unless Airplay requires MFI security chip, I can't see any hardware limitations to implementing it. The CPU here is powerful enough to support other protocols so don't see any issue with Airplay in that regard.
Click to expand...

That’s right and the firmware update that removed AirPlay from the older ones and all they say

https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/how-to-use-apple-music-airplay2-on-wiim-ultra.4182/

The manufacturer said
“The WiiM Ultra does not support AirPlay and does not function as an AirPlay receiver. At the original launch, we believed we would be able to support AirPlay, which is why many of you saw it in the initial press release. However, we were unable to include it and decided not to delay the launch further, maintaining the additional features of the streamer that provide a high-quality listening experience.

We understand this may be disappointing for our users who primarily use AirPlay, and for those users we'd suggest choosing a different WiiM solution for now. If any users have purchased the Ultra primarily for AirPlay and are unsatisfied with their purchase, the retailers will honor the return based on their policies.”

But the lack of AirPlay has carried onto all new product releases. (But AirPlay casting was a pretty cool feature)
 
GXAlan said:
That’s right and the firmware update that removed AirPlay from the older ones and all they say

https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/how-to-use-apple-music-airplay2-on-wiim-ultra.4182/

The manufacturer said
“The WiiM Ultra does not support AirPlay and does not function as an AirPlay receiver. At the original launch, we believed we would be able to support AirPlay, which is why many of you saw it in the initial press release. However, we were unable to include it and decided not to delay the launch further, maintaining the additional features of the streamer that provide a high-quality listening experience.

We understand this may be disappointing for our users who primarily use AirPlay, and for those users we'd suggest choosing a different WiiM solution for now. If any users have purchased the Ultra primarily for AirPlay and are unsatisfied with their purchase, the retailers will honor the return based on their policies.”

But the lack of AirPlay has carried onto all new product releases. (But AirPlay casting was a pretty cool feature)
Click to expand...
Absolutely necessary for me :)
 
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