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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 just asked how the problems identified by Erin and others was overlooked.
No one addresses that predictably but goes reflexively into drone mode.
I
I pointed out to you that Erin performed a multitone at full power output, and Amir did not. The loss of power you referred to was identified using that test.
Obviously you are trying to criticise Amir's review process as you feel he wasn't thorough enough. Maybe you should request a multitone at full rated power in Amir's future reviews.
 
“As we can see from the above, at low power the test signal used doesn’t change the output. However, at high power there is approximately 33 watts of power loss with the multitone signal compared to the single 1kHz signal.” Erin

I just asked how the problems identified by Erin and others was overlooked.
No one addresses that predictably but goes reflexively into drone mode.
I would stick one in a garage.
Since Erin uses a QuantAsylum analyzer for his measurements, below is from the part of the tutorial post at QuantAsylum on testing a TPA3255 evaluation board using multi-tone.

quantasylum_multitone.png


 
Crest factor is the keyword, indeed. Erin (certainly one of the more reliable reviewers in general, which sounds much more begatzthan I want it to ;) ) missed out on this in his initial testing.
 
I get confused sometimes by the code-switching in discussion here between the language of measurement/testing analysis and the kind of subjective impressionism that this site is nominally hostile toward.

Looking at the original review testing and endorsement that started this thread, and now the John Atkinson measurements and praise in Stereophile, along with my own experience using the WiiM Amp for several months, I find it difficult to parse observations like, “the WiiM Amp does sound lean... There’s a lack of fullness and weight.” It’s less “smooth,” compared with an SMSL amp, has a presentation less “immersive,” less “confident/authoritative.”

Assuming the WiiM Amp hasn’t been mismatched with inappropriately spec’d speakers, where are these alleged serious sonic flaws coming from in defiance of the measured performance?
I never said sounding thin is a “serious sonic flaw”, it’s simply an observation. I came to the conclusion after listening on my own with no input from anyone else. I agreed with @Marss72 when someone criticized him for expressing the same sentiment. If you’re pleased with the Wiim Amp, enjoy it! It’s thin to me yet I still enjoy it almost daily.

The measurements are what they are; i don’t dispute them and think they’re useful. However, I’m in the camp that doesn’t believe measurements tell the whole story. I was not anticipating the Wiim Amp to sound thin; it simply did. This is my opinion.
 
See above. It’s a low entry cost device that does a lot of stuff. If they say it sounds great and every bit as good as my $$$$$K DAC and Streamer. They would be admitting that price is not a direct function of performance quality.
Who is this "they" you speak of??? I never said more expensive = better performance. In fact I said almost the exact opposite. I said the less expensive AO300 sounds better... :rolleyes:

The most expensive DAC I have is the iFi Zen. The most expensive streamer I have is Wiim.
 
Who is this "they" you speak of??? I never said more expensive = better performance. In fact I said almost the exact opposite. I said the less expensive AO300 sounds better... :rolleyes:
I was speaking of the Reviewers you were reading. They are the Reviewers and they seem to be the ones who put value in the cost of the thing. Not you. I was agreeing with you but apparently I did a bad job of communicating that. :oops:
 
I was speaking of the Reviewers you were reading. They are the they and they seem to be the ones who put value in the cost of the thing. Not you. I was agreeing with you but apparently I did a bad job of communicating that. :oops:
Oops! Sorry about that! I probably read it wrong
 
Oops! Sorry about that! I probably read it wrong
It’s fine. I wasn’t clear. I see Reviewers who do not conduct Measurements as nothing more than a sneaky form of Advertising and Marketing. This is my personal opinion.
 
I believe reviewers who fail to conduct proper measurements are essentially engaging in covert advertising and marketing.

The term "astroturfing" can describe this practice. Astroturfing refers to the creation of a deceptive or misleading impression that an independent, grassroots movement is supporting a particular product, cause, or review, when in fact it is driven by a commercial or organizational agenda. This often involves biased reviews or endorsements that lack genuine, objective analysis or measurement.
 
I see Reviewers who do not conduct Measurements as nothing more than a sneaky form of Advertising and Marketing. This is my personal opinion.
This often involves biased reviews or endorsements that lack genuine, objective analysis or measurement.

You definitely need measurements if you are talking about audio performance, but I think for ergonomics and usability, there is value in subjective reviews.

A good example would be a movie review. Some talk about max cll, video bitrates and show bass plots while others just say that it’s got a bad, mediocre, or superb mix or whether the HDR pops or not.
 
A good example would be a movie review. Some talk about max cll, video bitrates and show bass plots while others just say that it’s got a bad, mediocre, or superb mix or whether the HDR pops or not.
Agreed. However, typically Audio Kit Reviewers are getting paid in some form or another form the manufacturer. While the Movie Review People are getting YouTube money and their is no incentive to say a movie is great or bad because they are not being paid by the Studio and the conflict of interest is low. It’s a subtle difference agreed. It’s the conflict of interest issue for me.

And now I am giving myself a thread ban for continued off topic posting. :p
 
It’s the conflict of interest issue for me.
It definitely can be. However, I believe there are reviewers who can give honest reviews. Joe N Tell and Erin come to mind. I know it’s sacrilegious around these parts but I like Nemo Propaganda.
 
Every time we look in the mirror we hallucinate about our own image. Ever looked at photos of yourself and said “I look like that?” Yeah, at some point we all have.

I am living proof that cameras add weight. I'm so lean when I look at myself in the mirror, but those damn cameras make me look like a whale.

Also, all of my shirts shrank while being washed. Poor material I guess.
 
Hi, in latest fw Wiim added the possibility to time-align the main with the sub. Can anybody tell me how can I do it, or send me a guide using rew? I've only found tutorial about time align multiple sub or by using something different from rew
 
I never said sounding thin is a “serious sonic flaw”, it’s simply an observation. I came to the conclusion after listening on my own with no input from anyone else. I agreed with @Marss72 when someone criticized him for expressing the same sentiment. If you’re pleased with the Wiim Amp, enjoy it! It’s thin to me yet I still enjoy it almost daily.

The measurements are what they are; i don’t dispute them and think they’re useful. However, I’m in the camp that doesn’t believe measurements tell the whole story. I was not anticipating the Wiim Amp to sound thin; it simply did. This is my opinion.
Well, “thin” sound might not be a serious flaw but it sure doesn’t seem good!

Apart from what you’re hearing my point was wondering *how* you were hearing this sonic anemia and weakness in spite of the WiiM Amp’s measured delivery of an accurate, balanced rendition of any given recording’s content and dynamic range.
 
Well, “thin” sound might not be a serious flaw but it sure doesn’t seem good!
What does thin mean in terms of audio? To most I think it would mean an anomaly in the frequency response, perhaps a lack of mid bass? If that's what it is it should show up in Wiim's measurements, which it does not.

If "Thin" refers to an EQ anomaly, perhaps it is one that only appears in particular rooms with particular speakers placed at particular locations, the WiiM Amp is specifically designed to address that. Its 10 band GEQ and 10 band PEQ allows you to compensate for the entire chain including your room and listening location right?

It seems odd to me to argue about subtle differences in an amp's frequency response when it was designed to fix the much larger frequency errors that occur in the source/amp/speaker/room chain of all audio systems.

Side Bar: Joe N. Tell just released an excellent subjective Wiim Amp review based on several months of use. His backgound was as first an autosound then home integration installer, so while he is subjective, his views are based on experience.
 
What does thin mean in terms of audio? To most I think it would mean an anomaly in the frequency response, perhaps a lack of mid bass? If that's what it is it should show up in Wiim's measurements, which it does not.

If "Thin" refers to an EQ anomaly, perhaps it is one that only appears in particular rooms with particular speakers placed at particular locations, the WiiM Amp is specifically designed to address that. Its 10 band GEQ and 10 band PEQ allows you to compensate for the entire chain including your room and listening location right?

It seems odd to me to argue about subtle differences in an amp's frequency response when it was designed to fix the much larger frequency errors that occur in the source/amp/speaker/room chain of all audio systems.

Side Bar: Joe N. Tell just released an excellent subjective Wiim Amp review based on several months of use. His backgound was as first an autosound then home integration installer, so while he is subjective, his views are based on experience.
I wasn't arguing. I gave my opinion on an amp I've owned since it was originally released, like, and use almost daily. I think it's an incredible value given eveything it does.

I like Joe N Tell. He's a good reviewer who uses data and subjective experiences.
 
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