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WiiM Amp Streaming Amplifier Review

Rate this streaming amplifier:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 15 3.2%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 50 10.6%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 246 52.1%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 161 34.1%

  • Total voters
    472
I'm hoping they use dual tpa3255 in the future
We will have wiim amp ultra with dual tpa3255 pbtl chip soon?
Perhaps if there's enough demand. It's a bit niche though - there aren't many people who need to drive loads significantly below 4R which is the only benefit of PBTL. The Amp is more limited by its power supply than by having only one tpa3255, and the freshly announced model (Amp Pro?) doesn't change this - the PFFB is welcome and might justify the better DAC. I would expect a PSU upgrade (and bigger case) before PBTL but they could do both together I suppose.
 
Just sharing my experience using chinese TPA3116/ TPA3255 amp for many years.

When the amp is new probably no issues, but the chip will degrade over time if under high load. Symptoms of degraded chip is higher heat and amp shutdown itself under high load.

By using PBTL , should help to reduce load in the chip thus slow down chip degradation

So far i haven't seen any long term high load review on TPA3255 yet.

In the 80s and 90s , amplifier are built to last . May be it just me hoping things will last forever
 
Just sharing my experience using chinese TPA3116/ TPA3255 amp for many years.

When the amp is new probably no issues, but the chip will degrade over time if under high load. Symptoms of degraded chip is higher heat and amp shutdown itself under high load.
Just curious, what specific degradation is that, and what is the mechanism that causes the degradation?
 
Every time the "gold sample sent" story comes up in a discussion about a tested product, I instinctively wonder how they managed to produce this sample, i.e. they have the capabilities to produce a better product but are they making one just for Amir? Do they use different materials or designs? Do they simply test 20 to see if in natural variability one measures better than the others enough to be relevant in a review?
This really sounds like a conspiracy theory....
All they may have done, in my opinion, is to make sure they didn't send a sample with a manufacturing defect, which is what hopefully happens in most purchases.
 
Just sharing my experience using chinese TPA3116/ TPA3255 amp for many years.

When the amp is new probably no issues, but the chip will degrade over time if under high load. Symptoms of degraded chip is higher heat and amp shutdown itself under high load.

By using PBTL , should help to reduce load in the chip thus slow down chip degradation

So far i haven't seen any long term high load review on TPA3255 yet.

In the 80s and 90s , amplifier are built to last . May be it just me hoping things will last forever

If we talk about anecdotes I can tell you that I have a double 3116 running 7/7 h24 365/year because it is connected to a smart speaker and it has been working regularly and without problems for 6 years.
 
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Testing an off-the-shelf sample tells nothing about series variations. So you have to broaden your approach and buy various samples from different regions of the planet to be on the safe side.

In addition, items sent by the manufacturer are not necessarily better. In fact there's quite a chance of early production samples not performing as well as those from later series production.

Well, I'm on the other side of Atlantic.
Does anyone know the typical value of WiiM Amp DC offset?
Oops, just what's been happening here. :)

So yes, in theory it would be better to test regular merchandise. You can buy a sample and send to to @amirm for testing. This has been done in the past and once you send over your sample he might or might not find the time to repeat his measurements.
 
Hi! I'm new here. Interesting amp. Does anyone know how it compares to a Bluesound Powernode (Edge) or a NAD C700 for instance?
 
Thx for the reply but i was actually looking for direct comparison and user experiences between Wiim Amp and Blusound and/or NAD comparible amplifiers.

What @somebodyelse sent IS what you can compare ... subjective impressions with other ears and listening rooms is absolutely worthless.
Unless you're speaking about features.
 
Thx for the reply but i was actually looking for direct comparison and user experiences between Wiim Amp and Blusound and/or NAD comparible amplifiers.
The user experience with the wiim amp is wonderful. It is more feature rich than the Nad. I recently picked up a c700 so I need to spend more time with it it to judge its sound. I do have 2 m10 I have had more time with. The Nad units sound better to me. They present fuller bass but similar levels of detail as the wiim with my speakers. The nad sound more consistent throught their volume range. The main reason for not keeping the wiim was an issue with it powering the speakers I wanted to use with it. The lack of bass was less of an issue since it has peq. If the wiim can power your speakers, it's a better buy. The Nads are great but just so expensive for what they are. I have the wiim ultra on pre order. I'm curious how well it would work with a pair of those new fosi v3 mono. I have 5 total zones I want to outfit. If I like that combo, I would swap out the nads and set up all 5 rooms with a combination of wiim units and have money left over.
 
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The user experience with the wiim amp is wonderful. It is more feature rich than the Nad. I recently picked up a c700 so I need to spend more time with it it to judge its sound. I do have 2 m10 I have had more time with. The Nad units sound better to me. They present fuller bass but similar levels of detail as the wiim with my speakers. The nad sound more consistent throught their volume range. The main reason for not keeping the wiim was an issue with it powering the speakers I wanted to use with it. The lack of bass was less of an issue since it has peq. If the wiim can power your speakers, it's a better buy. The Nads are great but just so expensive for what they are. I have the wiim ultra on pre order. I'm curious how well it would work with a pair of those new fosi v3 mono. I have 5 total zones I want to outfit. If I like that combo, I would swap out the nads and set up all 5 rooms with a combination of wiim units and have money left over.
I'm also thinking of going that route. Wiim Ultra + 2 Fosi Audio V3 mono amps. Wandering if that would equal or better the SQ of a NAD C700 (which i have) for less money.
You can already preorder the Wiim Ultra? Do you think the Wiim Ultra will sound better then the Wiim Amp?
 
yes, both in the USA and UK I believe

The Ultra is a transparent streamer while the Amp is a streaming Amp, so difficult to say
Ah i am in The Netherlands so maybe thats why i dont see that option. When will it be out in Q3 that's the question :) For what price did you pre-order the Wiim Ultra?
Im also wandering if adding an "budget" external DAC (like SMSL SU-1 or a Schiit Modi) would be worth it or any use for improvement of the SQ.
 
Ah i am in The Netherlands so maybe thats why i dont see that option. When will it be out in Q3 that's the question :) For what price did you pre-order the Wiim Ultra?
Looks like it’s $329 in the USA, £339 in the UK and I’d guess €369/379 in the EU. Optimistically, the USA might get delivery in mid June, but realistically (from experience) I’d say July is more likely, followed a month or two later in the UK/EU (so Aug/Sep) and towards the tail end of Q3 in the rest of the world.
 
Optimistically, the USA might get delivery in mid June, but realistically (from experience) I’d say July is more likely, followed a month or two later in the UK/EU (so Aug/Sep) and towards the tail end of Q3 in the rest of the world.
Futureshop.co.uk will start shipping Ultras in early June.

Edit: As will audiot.co.uk
 
Let's wait and check back in three weeks, then. :)

Personally I do have my doubts that this is possible.
I’m with you on this given my personal experience of previous models’ target dates and actually delivery times, especially in the UK/EU. Futureshop and others might say that but I’d seriously doubt they’ll see any before August.

Edit: plus as recently as last week, WiiM wouldn’t even put an estimate on UK delivery in their Ultra q&a spreadsheet…
 
Ah i am in The Netherlands so maybe thats why i dont see that option. When will it be out in Q3 that's the question :) For what price did you pre-order the Wiim Ultra?
Im also wandering if adding an "budget" external DAC (like SMSL SU-1 or a Schiit Modi) would be worth it or any use for improvement of the SQ.
 
I'm also thinking of going that route. Wiim Ultra + 2 Fosi Audio V3 mono amps. Wandering if that would equal or better the SQ of a NAD C700 (which i have) for less money.
You can already preorder the Wiim Ultra? Do you think the Wiim Ultra will sound better then the Wiim Amp?
Should be good. If the fosi doesn't work out but the wiim is great, there are a number of great amps out. Plus I'm sure more on the way. The fosi look great to me because I can hide them behind each speaker. Why are you looking to replace your c700?
 
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