WiiM Amp Pro Streaming Stereo Amplifier Review

[swenak]

You can set socket to turning off when power consume is under x W for long, than y minutes, or so. Problem is not turning off, but turning on without loose comfort. This can be solved with solutions like Home Assistant (or basic solutions like Tapo/Kasa, Aqara, Tuya, ...), where you can set something like "when TV is turned on, turn on socket with amplifier too" or so, but using this solution only for amp is maybe overkill. Next solution is "master-slave socket strip". But, when you only want to start listening music, you don't have trigger to that, so, you must turn socket on before you start listening (and wait near minute to start Wiim). Turning socket on you can do in Smartphone app, or maybe with some solution, that turning socket based on remote controll (possible with Home Assistant too), or you can use "wire remote socket" with push button. But, when you start using something like Home Assistant (which now support Wiim too) and you install some "smart" solutions to your home, you have next nice options like "when I turn on TV, then turn on Wiim, cover windows, disable kitchen and bath-room fans, switch to "night light scene" and so You can set to turning on Wiim while you sit on sofa long than 30seconds (you need presence sensor), or just when someone is presence in room, house, near house, .... Then you can turn off Wiim (not only) while nobody in house, room, on sofa, ...

But, I recommend simply to leave Wiim on and use native standby, if OP not use smart devices.

 

[BillSteinitz]

Got mine last Saturday and have been toying around with it a little. Impressions so far are very good. Will compare it to the Pro Plus streamer plus NAD 316bee mk2 out of curiosity but very likely keep this one. Functionality is top notch, and the sound is very good to my ears.

Power is more than enough for me with 86db bookshelf speakers, never get beyond 50/100 volume. RC works, but to me it’s more like an alternative EQ setting. Rock sounds subjectively better with Rock EQ while classical sounds better with RC on than with Classical EQ. Is there a way to correct for the room first and then EQ for the music style on top of that? When I turn RC on the EQ always switches to auto.

Major „complaints“ so far: I think the amp reveals bad recordings that went unnoticed before. Some recordings I enjoyed before I now find fault with. I tend to listen to the sound now rather than the music, but that probably will stop once the novelty wears off.

 

[Emiyanez]

Is there a way to correct for the room first and then EQ for the music style on top of that?

I think it's not possible at the moment. However, this has been already requested several times to the WiiM Team so I guess it's a matter of time (not sure how much) until it gets implemented. Enjoy the amp!

 

[BillSteinitz]

I think it's not possible at the moment. However, this has been already requested several times to the WiiM Team so I guess it's a matter of time (not sure how much) until it gets implemented. Enjoy the amp!

Thanks.

 

[swenak]

So, hour ago I turn on Amp Pro, upgrade firmware and...way better than Amp. My ears don't have problems with it (with QA 3030i). And without trying PEQ, RC at this time. I started watching TV with turned on EQ Acoustic, was OK. Then I start listening music and forgot, that must set EQ on, so i was without EQ and it was OK, after I turn EQ Acoustic on, it was much better. But now I don't needed searching for better settings. Of course, I will testing settings for better sound, only what I want to say with it is, that sound is good basicaly, so near same status (not same audio output) like with Marantz M1, out of the box is audio without big problems. So, Amp going away and I stay with Amp Pro. Maybe I try to buy other speakers cable (now I have Real Cable 2x4mm OFC), but it is only for feeling And, it's cooler too (but Amp was fine, just warmer).

 

[375HP2482]

I still have doubts however, about the rise in distortion with higher frequencies. It's a common Class-D 'flaw' that only few seems to be borthered with. At first you see 100dB SINAD which is nice, but at the same time THD+N is -65dB @ 3watts and -55dB @ full power around 15KHz.

Those 15 kHz distortion products/harmonics were perceived with the AP's 45 kHz bandwidth, which our (or at least, my) ears do not possess.

 

[swenak]

What I found better on Amp than on Amp Pro is volume button. Amp Pro don't have steps while volume changed. I like steps, because I "know", that +3 or -4 steps is what I need, but it is not big problem, especially, while I don't use it too much

But I must say that with Amp I was not happy (after tens of settings), with Amp Pro am enjoying it with basic EQ presets. And I still don't started tune output, RC, PEQ Amp Pro (for me and with my speakers) is really better than basic Amp.

 

[Piotr]

What I found better on Amp than on Amp Pro is volume button. Amp Pro don't have steps while volume changed. I like steps, because I "know", that +3 or -4 steps is what I need, but it is not big problem, especially, while I don't use it too much

But I must say that with Amp I was not happy (after tens of settings), with Amp Pro am enjoying it with basic EQ presets. And I still don't started tune output, RC, PEQ Amp Pro (for me and with my speakers) is really better than basic Amp.

How does this compare to Marantz M1/stereo70s/PN7000N?

 

[swenak]

Can't tell now, Marantz M1 was sent back to seller. But, I mean, that Amp is worse than M1. Amp Pro is like or better than M1 in audio output (but I only test it with QA 3030i). M1 have worse app and settings (but to be fair, why we need it, if basic output with small correction is better than Amp with all of settings, that in app we have). M1 have worse form factor too. So, I mean, that Amp Pro is overall better, especially when I look at prices.

 

[Batdroid]

Any thoughts on the Wiim Amp or Wiim Amp pro to power 6 pairs of B&W 362 ceiling speakers? Is it overkill to get the Amp pro?

 

[rsbroer]

Can the Wiim Amp Pro be driven as a UPNP endpoint device from Foobar with the FOO_UPNP_OUT plugin ?
Does it support DSD or only PCM ?

Kinda interested to "see" how it fares against my Loxjie A40 connected as USB DAC/AMP

 

[Snuffalo_Bill]

Can the Wiim Amp Pro be driven as a UPNP endpoint device from Foobar with the FOO_UPNP_OUT plugin ?
Does it support DSD or only PCM ?

Kinda interested to "see" how it fares against my Loxjie A40 connected as USB DAC/AMP

Doing this on my wiim pro (not amp). Not sure why the amp would be different, but I could be wrong.

 

[VintageFlanker]

WiiM Amp Pro Receives Roon Ready Certification

WiiM announced that Roon Labs has certified the WiiM Amp Pro as Roon Ready, expanding even more the options already available from the integrated streaming amplifier. Now with Roon Ready integration, the Amp Pro is able to become a network player with Roon’s own streaming technology, over...

audioxpress.com

 

[mo3bius]

Hello, I'm new to the forum, although I've been reading along for a long time. I am currently using my Polk R200 speakers with a Yamaha A-S501 and I'm quite satisfied with the sound. However, the size of the amplifier bothers me. Would a WiiM Amp Pro sound different, or even be a downgrade compared to the current Yamaha? The amplifier is used with a computer and a subwoofer via the optical input.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

If you stream with your PC why not buy the SMSL RAW-HA1 and safe money?

 

[mo3bius]

I suppose there are plenty of alternatives. What was important to me was the comparison between the Yamaha and the WiiM.

 

[REK2575]

I suppose there are plenty of alternatives. What was important to me was the comparison between the Yamaha and the WiiM.

I was in a similar situation as you. I was using a Yamaha A-S301 for my television set-up -- used it for many years with no issue - it's an awesome budget amp. But the Yamaha was always a bit too big for the space. I picked up the WiiM Amp Pro, intrigued by its small form-factor and built-in streaming capability, and swapped out the Yamaha.

The one thing you will definitely notice if you switch from an A-S501 to the WiiM Amp is a reduction in amplifying power. My A-S301 is rated at 60W/channel (8 ohm speakers), which is the same as the WiiM. But I think 60W rating for the A-S301 is conservative. The A-S301 has more juice than the WiiM. I can crank the WiiM to max volume, and while it's loud, it's just loud enough, I'd say. Cranking my A-S301 to max was too loud for enjoyability. For you, going from an A-S501 to the WiiM, you'd notice notice it the difference even more.

The major benefits of the WiiM Amp are the small size and streaming integration. But I doubt very much if you'd notice an improvement or degradation in sound quality going from your Yamaha to the WiiM -- but you would notice the loss of power.

 

[mo3bius]

Thank you for your feedback. As for your assessment of the sound quality, you're probably right. To be honest, I haven't disclosed all the information. I have the Wiim AMP Pro here and switch back and forth between the Yamaha and the Wiim. I don't seem to hear any differences. However, I can confirm that the Wiim doesn't have as much power as the Yamaha, but that doesn't bother me in my 15 m² office, as I have never come close to using the full power of the Yamaha.

 

[whale1]

Folks,
a new Wiim Amp Pro user here, it arrived yesterday.

Did anybody experience an interference of Wiim Amp (Pro), when turned on, with a DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) receiver signal? (Germany, Switzerland).
I planned to use the Wiim Amp Pro together with an external DAB+ unit to listen to local radio stations but the second I turn the Wiim Amp Pro on, there is a strong interference in the DAB band.

• Without the Wiim Amp Pro turned on, the signal is 100%, no errors.
• With the Wiim Amp Pro on, the signal quality goes way done. Receive errors, many of them. The signal quality is 20%.

It is not unlistenable. The receiver still delivers listenable DAB stream, but there is obviously a strong interference in the DAB band. Once I put the Wiim Amp Pro to standby mode, the interference goes away and the DAB tuner see 100% signal with no errors.

Anybody (in the DAB-enable countries) has seen this?
I haven't seen this problem with any other of my equipment (albeit significantly older; Yamaha, Technics).
The combination of the DAB tuner and Wiim Amp (Pro) seem to be a no go.


Other than that, the Wiim Amp Pro is great. Streaming, Network Radio. In internal power supply totally silent).

(Yes, I know, I can listen to my radio stations over internet and forget the DAB reception. Wireless radio is for non-stationary use anyway [in a car] and FM is dead in Switzerland anyway. )

 

[rsbroer]

Folks,
a new Wiim Amp Pro user here, it arrived yesterday.

Did anybody experience an interference of Wiim Amp (Pro), when turned on, with a DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) receiver signal? (Germany, Switzerland).
I planned to use the Wiim Amp Pro together with an external DAB+ unit to listen to local radio stations but the second I turn the Wiim Amp Pro on, there is a strong interference in the DAB band.

• Without the Wiim Amp Pro turned on, the signal is 100%, no errors.
• With the Wiim Amp Pro on, the signal quality goes way done. Receive errors, many of them. The signal quality is 20%.

It is not unlistenable. The receiver still delivers listenable DAB stream, but there is obviously a strong interference in the DAB band. Once I put the Wiim Amp Pro to standby mode, the interference goes away and the DAB tuner see 100% signal with no errors.

Anybody (in the DAB-enable countries) has seen this?
I haven't seen this problem with any other of my equipment (albeit significantly older; Yamaha, Technics).
The combination of the DAB tuner and Wiim Amp (Pro) seem to be a no go.


Other than that, the Wiim Amp Pro is great. Streaming, Network Radio. In internal power supply totally silent).

(Yes, I know, I can listen to my radio stations over internet and forget the DAB reception. Wireless radio is for non-stationary use anyway [in a car] and FM is dead in Switzerland anyway. )

Your older equipment without the DAB quality issue is probably still lineair power supply based, using transformers.
All these modern compact amps nowadays are using switching power supplies and also have mostly class D amp stages.
So a lot of switching going on causing EMC issues, especially when other equipment is located nearby.
Try moving your DAB radio away if possible, using shielded interlinks, maybe even a line filter to lessen the pollution generated by the WiiAmp