WiiM Amp Streaming Amplifier Review

[harkpabst]

I see. And indeed the most important added value is probably not an amplifier chip introduced 6 years ago, but being an all-in-one solution. No cable clutter, no external power supplies, one simple app, ...

And PEQ, subwoofer integration and other stuff that those used ot "classic" hifi gear simply cannot judge.

 

[morillon]

a minisystem classic and wiim pro, hidden, in toslink or ana, offert somewhere... more ...
tuner -cd- headphone-(pre-output and phono often)... (loudspeaker..)

only the 2+1 can be can be indented even if in general there is a sub output..
(the absence of a correct headphone and preamp output are really the two damaging omissions of the wiim "amp".... that's really stupid :-( )

 

[harkpabst]

If you want a pre-amp output, why buy the all-in-one system containing a power amp, in the first place?
WiiM Amp supports Bluetooth headphones, probably much more important for the casual buyer.

I'm afraid I'm lost on the first part, again.

 

[morillon]

If you want a pre-amp output, why buy the all-in-one system containing a power amp, in the first place?
WiiM Amp supports Bluetooth headphones, probably much more important for the casual buyer.

I'm afraid I'm lost on the first part, again.

the recent mini systems often have bluethool on board too...and a pre-output can allow an easy upgrade of the amplification in case...(see bypassing the 3255....) or power a second pair of speakers..

an "all in one" with just a streamer and no other sources.. ""all".. uhhh
;-)

i stop on this subject... ;-)

 

[harkpabst]

We can agree on that this is a good idea.

All this talk is so far off from why people might even consider buying a WiiM Amp. Certainly not because they're planning ahead for bypassing the very decent TI TPA-3255.

 

[raceskier]

Amir,
I did not see in your or Erin's review if the volume control was level of the analog output, or if it is handled in the digital section, as it is in the other WiiM streamers. I know there are a lot of arguments as to whether doing so digitally and dropping bits is audible. (Sorry for plunking another turd in the Purist Punchbowl)

 

[staticV3]

I did not see in your or Erin's review if the volume control was level of the analog output, or if it is handled in the digital section, as it is in the other WiiM streamers. I know there are a lot of arguments as to whether doing so digitally and dropping bits is audible. (Sorry for plunking another turd in the Purist Punchbowl)

Volume control is handled digitally, and does not affect sound quality as long as you cannot hear hiss at your MLP.

 

[DanTheMan]

So a question for the group: has anyone added more analog inputs? The JDS labs and the Schiit 'switchers' effectively only add 1 input. Is there something else available?

 

[Deleted member 48726]

So a question for the group: has anyone added more analog inputs? The JDS labs and the Schiit 'switchers' effectively only add 1 input. Is there something else available?

If you are to buy a switchboard this product looses all meaning as its core value is being all in one.

You should then instead get a Yamaha R-N or equivalent. That is a classic amplifier with all the functionality you'll need of an amp incl. streaming and not load dependent.

 

[audioje]

So a question for the group: has anyone added more analog inputs? The JDS labs and the Schiit 'switchers' effectively only add 1 input. Is there something else available?

RCA switch?

 

[DanTheMan]

RCA switch?

Yeah, that's all I'd need. I use that "need" term loosely.

 

[audioje]

Yeah, that's all I'd need. I use that "need" term loosely.

You can find many cheap ones on Amazon! If you are not looking for some audiophile switcher, I am sure they will do the job just fine.

 

[Ivanovich]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the WiiM Amp streaming amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $299.
View attachment 350879
I was pleasantly surprised by the good bit of weight this small box has. It will help it not slide with the weight of the speaker wires and such. Back panel shows the differentiation from a regular amplifier:
View attachment 350880
With included streaming, you have a one box solution to play your content over the network. You can use the included Bluetooth remote or the application. The latter was rock solid which is more than I can say about some other (major) streaming amplifiers. It instantly found the device, upgraded its firmware and allowed reliable control of all function. I can't do justice to all of its capabilities in this performance related review but suffice it to say, it is very capable.

HDMI ARC allows a smart TV to feed the amplifier signal for content you play internally to your TV. A nice quality HDMI cable was provided (in addition to Toslink and even RCA) which was appreciated.

The only complaint I have is with similar looking subwoofer out. Looking from above, I thought that was the other input channel and spent good bit of time trying to figure out why I was only getting sound out of one channel. Having it be located elsewhere would help as opposed to being lined up with the left audio input channel.

Another nit is the rotary volume control not always acting on the volume. You would have to go two notches for example to change volume.

This review has taken a while to get out. The first sample I received performed well in most of the tests but showed quite an increase in distortion at lower frequencies. This manifested in Multitone test and power vs frequency sweeps. I ran the results by the company and they said this was an early production problem that was fixed. They sent me a new one which almost remedied that problem.

WiiM Amp Amplifier Review
With access to AP's APx516 analyzer, I was able to test the HDMI ARC on WiiM Amp:
View attachment 350882
This puts the amplifier comfortable above our average of all amplifiers tested:
View attachment 350883
View attachment 350884
For streaming, I wanted to use Roon but seems that is not there yet. Fortunately Chromecast is there which provides similar high performance streaming:
View attachment 350885
So no difference with respect to which digital input you use. Analog streaming in the first sample I tested was a bit worse with SINAD of 85 dB. The new sample degraded some with low frequency noise down to 80 dB (not shown). I assume this is not material to most users where analog input is only used for LP and such.

Cycling through inputs, here is dynamic range using Toslink:
View attachment 350887

Frequency response unfortunately shows the typical load dependency in lower cost class D amplifiers:
View attachment 350889

Here is the sub out:
View attachment 350892

As noted, multitone shows good performance now:
View attachment 350888

19 and 20 kHz intermodulation test shows the increased distortion there:
View attachment 350890

Crosstalk wasn't that great with analog input (inset) but very nice with digital:
View attachment 350891

Normally I sweep power with analog input but since digital is much better, I used that: [edit: "8 ohm" label is wrong in the first graph, should say 4 ohm).
View attachment 350893
View attachment 350894

Unless you use analog input, the gain settings is designed such that you never clip. This means that the "peak" power is the same as what I have measured above. Spec is 120 watts at 4 ohm and we are achieving that so no issue there. Same with 60 watt specified for 8 ohm.

Here is power sweep at different frequencies:
View attachment 350895
The graphs are well behaved for a class D amplifier. 20 Hz distortion though, rises good bit (dashed yellow).

Finally, the amplifier is stable on power up:
View attachment 350896

Conclusions
The WiiM Amp is a very well executed streaming, multi-room amplifier. It easily plays against big boys of streaming despite lacking their name recognition. Objective performance is very good for the class. The only wish is post output filter feedback to eliminate low dependency of the frequency response.

I am going to put the WiiM Amp amplifier on my recommended list.

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Is there a way to High-Pass the mains out? Is HP frequency fixed or adjustable?

Thanks for review Amir, I’m thinking of buying one of these for my niece.

 

[staticV3]

Is there a way to High-Pass the mains out? Is HP frequency fixed or adjustable?

Thanks for review Amir, I’m thinking of buying one of these for my niece.

Yes. There's a Crossover setting in the App which will high pass the mains.
Corner frequency can be set between 30Hz and 250Hz:

 

[Ivanovich]

@amirm you beat me on this (not hard, considering how late I am), I was about to finish my review.

Here is my data anyway:
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(This has been corrected with an updated PCB since)
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The last graph clearly shows a high pass, but isn’t the Sub Out a Low Pass Filter (LPF)? When set, does it filter both mains and sub out at selected freq?

Thanks!

 

[harkpabst]

The last graph clearly shows a high pass, but isn’t the Sub Out a Low Pass Filter (LPF)? When set, does it filter both mains and sub out at selected freq?

Thanks!

Both, always. HP for the mains, LP for the sub.

There is no way to only LP without high-passing the mains or vice versa. And that's a good thing in my book.

The only detail missing so far is separate delay settings.

 

[onlyoneme]

Like below, 200 Hz crossover:

 

[kflw935641]

It has a latency of about 50ms for line-in, even for the lowest sample rate setting.

If you intent to do any sort of music-instrument monitoring with this, this amp isn't for you...

And there I hoped I'd finally be able to listen to my e-piano with room-correction, since this seems to be the only amplifier with a parametric eq. Dreams crushed.

 

[staticV3]

It has a latency of about 50ms for line-in, even for the lowest sample rate setting.

Lower sample rate usually means higher latency.

 

[kflw935641]

Lower sample rate usually means higher latency.

Depending on the buffer size. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a lower sample rate easier on the cpu, and therefore less likely to cause xruns, even for small buffers? Therefore allowing you to reduce the latency even further?

Anyhow, the latency seemed to be equally large for all sample rates.