WiiM Amp Streaming Amplifier Review

[antcollinet]

Thank you both for your replies. I should have mentioned, I found a used WiiM Amp for a ridiculously irresistible price which is the only reason why I would chose it over the Amp Pro.

Then the PEQ will be able to solve any issues if you end up having any.

 

[Good Vibes]

That is great to know but sadly I hesitated too long and now someone else has themselves an irresistible bargain. £175 for an all singing all dancing amplifier.

 

[Audionaut]

Can someone advise me on what spec of speakers I should look for to avoid any load dependence issues?

Speakers with built-in impedance linearization. This is an additional circuit in the passive crossover and some speaker manufacturers specify it as a feature because such speakers also harmonize well with tube amplifiers.
They are often loudspeakers with a high degree of efficiency.

 

[dlaloum]

Hi

I am considering this amp for a second system. Can someone advise me on what spec of speakers I should look for to avoid any load dependence issues?

Thank you.

it is best with 8ohm speakers, 4ohm speakers with a benign impedance/phase profile are likely to work well too, but due to most manufacturers not publishing such speaker data, it becomes difficult to tell whether a specific 4ohm speaker will match well or not.

6ohm speakers should be fine.

I have a pair of 6ohm speakers with the WiiM amp running in my sons bedroom.

 

[vadamp]

My old Onkyo surr. receiver died, so I am thinking about all in one solution like WiiM Amp. Can it safely run my pair of Diamond 12.3 floorstanders? Sorry if I am offtopic. Thanks.

 

[voodooless]

Can it safely run my pair of Diamond 12.3 floorstanders?

Sure, why would it not?

 

[mikessi]

Can it safely run my pair of Diamond 12.3 floorstanders? S

It really can run just about any normal pair of hifi speakers in a typical room, even speakers that are low sensitivity (under 85 dB/w/m). Those with very low impedance dips or complex inductance/capacitance could give it trouble, but that's no different than any other modestly priced amp.

 

[vadamp]

Superb! Actually, I need to connect set top box from my cable provider, as I use speakers for sound from television channels. I think my TV Toshiba doesn't have Hdmi Arc, only normal Hdmi. Can I connect my set top box to TV via Hdmi cable for picture and optical cable to Wiim Amp so that I can have sound from the television channels?

 

[voodooless]

Yes, that should work.

 

[vadamp]

Yes, that should work.

Thanks.

 

[375HP2482]

It really can run just about any normal pair of hifi speakers in a typical room, even speakers that are low sensitivity (under 85 dB/w/m). Those with very low impedance dips or complex inductance/capacitance could give it trouble, but that's no different than any other modestly priced amp.

Unlike their traditional counterparts, TPA 3255 amplifiers tested here have shown to be quite compatible with 2-ohm loads.

 

[harkpabst]

Unlike their traditional counterparts, TPA 3255 amplifiers tested here have shown to be quite compatible with 2-ohm loads.

The WiiM Amp is specified to support speakers down to 2.67 Ω, so it's easily capable of driving a pair of those Diamond 12.3.

If you really want to be sure that your amp can handle 2 Ω loads, then a PFFB PBTL design like the 3e Audio A5 or A7 (or A7 Mono) is surely the better choice.

But these are no competition to the WiiM Amp or WiiM Amp Pro, which are streaming network amplifiers.

 

[VintageFlanker]

Unlike their traditional counterparts, TPA 3255 amplifiers tested here have shown to be quite compatible with 2-ohm loads.

The WiiM Amp clearly isn't. I mean, it can barely deal with 2Ω loads, and goes into protection after 80W or so in that regard. And that number alone is very unstable.

I would not recommend low impedance speakers, not to mention with low sensitivity with that amp.

it's easily capable of driving a pair of those Diamond 12.3.

Clearly not "easily".

 

[harkpabst]

I fully agree with you, except for this:

Clearly bot "easily".

Clearly bot? Did you mean to write: Clearly not "easily"? Then why?

Wharfedale explicitly specify a "minimum" impedance of 5 ohm. That's really not critical.

 

[Sokel]

Clearly bot?

@VintageFlanker a bot?

That was a good laugh, bless you.

"not" is the word obviously.

 

[harkpabst]

@VintageFlanker a bot?

That was a good laugh, bless you.

"not" is the word obviously.

Sorry, but it wasn't me used the term bot. Read again after you had your laugh.

What's you opinion on the topic?

 

[Sokel]

Sorry, but it wasn't me used the term bot. Read again after you had your laugh.

Read the edited.

 

[Sokel]

What's you opinion on the topic?

My worry about any amp driving low impedance is heat dissipation real estate.
Needs down there literally skyrocket and if thermals are not adequate not nice things happen.

This one clearly does not have the dimensions to be driven hard and low.
Now, do I consider that a flaw? Depends on the use case, as everything else.

 

[VintageFlanker]

Clearly not "easily"? Then why?

Obviously : "not".
I meant: While being an excellent streaming amp for the price, the WiiM Amp is everything but suited to "easily" drive lowish sensitivity floorstanders. The minimum 5Ω impedance is fine, tho.

At least it won't clipp, that's the good news. But If you seek for high SPLs in certain rooms, you would have to think about something more powerful.

My two cents.

 

[harkpabst]

I meant: While being an excellent streaming amp for the price, the WiiM Amp is everything but suited to "easily" drive lowish sensitivity floorstanders. The minimum 5Ω impedance is fine, tho.

Absolutely. That's why I explicitly stated that WiiM specify a minimum impedance of 2.67 ohm for all their amplifiers, including the WiiM Amp. This is no issue with the Diamond 12.3.

At least it won't clipp, that's the good news. But If you seek for high SPLs in certain rooms, you would have to think about something more powerful.

In particular, more powerful speakers.