HiFi Money SAVER? What To Know BEFORE You Buy! WiiM Amp Review
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- čas přidán 10. 06. 2024
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📌 TESTING THE WiiM AMP
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📌 HiFi Money SAVER? What To Know BEFORE YOU BUY! WiiM AMP REVIEW
00:00 WiiM AMP REVIEW - PRODUCT INTRO
01:43 SETUP & CONTROL
02:38 WiiM HOME APP
02:49 WHAT I USED TO TEST THE WiiM AMP
03:09 USING WiiM’s PEQ, BLUETOOTH & AIRPLAY
04:25 USING WiiM’s GRAPHICAL EQ
04:39 WiiM AMP SOUND QUALITY
05:29 WiiM AMP POWER CONCERNS
09:23 IS THE WiiM AMP RIGHT FOR YOU?
11:03 KRISTI’S WiiM AMP REVIEW
11:35 LIMITATIONS OF THE WiiM AMP
14:01 WiiM CEC & WiiM HOME THEATER EXPERIENCE
15:44 SIMILARLY PRICED ALTERNATIVES
17:11 PRICIER ALTERNATIVES
18:40 OUTRO
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#homeaudio #wiim #hifireview - Věda a technologie
I'm just jumping in here real quick to address a question or critique I'm seeing a few of you make about our use of the Klipsch Cornwall IV speakers in this review. I fully understand that it is unlikely that anyone in their right mind would willingly go out and pair a $300 streaming amp with roughly $6,000 speakers. Still, you need to separate price from performance in this instance to understand the why. For starters, we used a few more pairs of speakers than the three mentioned in this video, as we've had the WiiM for months now. The Cornwall IVs were actually the LAST speaker I used with the amp, and I only used them because I was routinely running into power and dynamic issues with the WiiM.
I used the Cornwalls because they are the most efficient loudspeakers I own. They can be successfully driven to peaks above 90-95dB in our listening room using a 2 WPC Decware SET amp without a hint of strain, yet the WiiM and its reported 60 WPC struggled to crest 80dB in some cases. If I did manage to get peaks in the upper 80s the amp often shut down soon after hitting such volumes. If the WiiM struggles with a speaker like the Cornwall, you can imagine how much more difficult it was for the Q Acoustics Concept 50 (90.5dB at 4 Ohms) or the KLH Kendall 2F (96dB at 8 Ohms).
In this instance, the price or quality of the speaker is irrelevant; the WiiM's dynamic capability is the problem you should be focused on. While numerous tests show the WiiM can produce 60 WPC, it would appear that when forced to playback non-test signals, the resulting power or potential headroom of the Amp is a different story. This is something I've noticed with a number of these cheaper TI-based chip amps. I get that it's not a popular opinion to go against the grain and say that while these amps may be a "value" in one or two ways, they are NOT --I repeat, NOT --outright giant killers regarding amplifier and sound quality.
Feature-wise, the WiiM, and others are an absolute embarrassment of riches, but software is not the same as hardware. The truth is these are built around amp chips that were never (really) designed for the type of work they're being forced to do. Can these TI amps sound good? Sure, but I believe it is misleading to say they're as good, in the same ballpark, or even better than even a modest Class D, AB or A amp --nevermind amplifiers that cost thousands more and that have had to hold up to scrutiny beyond a couple of forums and weekend measurement warriors.
I am not trying to hate WiiM; like I say in the video, I'm trying to give you the clearest picture of what to expect. As I said in the review, if you adhere to a few general rules (which are stated in the video), you stand to have the best chance for success. But if you try and go toe-to-toe with a better, more capable amp with the wrong speakers or source, you may be in for a rude awakening in more ways than one.
Your job is always well done because it prepares potential buyers with what to expect. As for me” I wasn’t expecting much from it based on the price, and from what I have learned from your channel” I decided that for my small listening space couple with a subwoofer takeover the heavy lifting” it should be just fine and It is. My only thing now is even though It has a built in DAC plus EQ/ PEQ there is no good stereo separation and spaciousness. So I am going to see if I can get a use B&W or ML bookshelves speakers to see if I can squeeze some more life out of it 🥸
I don't care what you a pairing them with....you could be reviewing broccoli but as long as you show me those Cornwall's, I am a happy man.
Andrew sounds apologetic and he really shouldn’t be.
He stated in the video why the Cornwalls made more technical sense than others in their review stack of speakers to use for the Wiim Amp review. Getting on their case about that decision and the disappointing results helps frame that budget product better in its strengths and weaknesses. I’m now better informed about the Amp and have a clearer outlook for its best use case which is appropriately nearfield or small room with lower volume setting. Don’t expect 11 when you should be dialing in 7.
That makes sense to me. A super sensitive speaker is just the ticket to test an amplifier’s dynamic capabilities without involving excessive power needs. If you’re not going to use Klipsch then whose?
Could you a bad unit? If it's as bad as you say I would expect this in other reviews. 80 db is not that loud.
This is NOT the review I expected - The first review I've heard that didn't just "praise" this amp. I own 3 Wiim mini's, and love them. Great products with ever improving updates. I'm sure this company will go a long way. That said, Thank you for your assessment and honest opinion on this piece. I don't own one and it isn't really on my radar, but it's nice to hear a different opinion for once.
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Hi Andrew, i should say i was really waiting for review on this. I would request you to do a video on KEF T205 5.0 speaker system. Which would help i vesting on that system for people who are picky on the interiod design for living room setup. Thanks in advance.
the integrated power supply is weak i suppose as 32v should do 60w but a large room like yours needs a bigger amp. Id like to see more cheaper amps like fosi audio V3 with a 48v power supply. emotiva basx series looks promising for a home theatre
Topping LA90 discrete also id recommend for a review
Andrew and Kristi. I'm late to the party with my comments. However, I'm glad that i waited. It gave me time read through the viewer comments. So, I'd like to thank you for providing an objective review of this device, highlighting the good and the bad; best use cases and worst use cases. I also appreciate the fact that you used super sensitive speakers to test the amplifier, since they are so efficient. You essentially gave the amplifier the best opportunity to shine by using super sensitive speakers. I think it's important to listen, first to the entire review to get the facts and the full picture, and then ask follow-up questions. 😉
Is that HDMI port… crooked?
The whole back panel looks poorly machined even at this price point
Savage. That ruined it right from the start 😂
Yes
It looks so cheap
Sure looks like it
Bought the WiiM Amp after Christmas and using it for over a month in a 'smaller' livingroom in a 2.1 setup. First tested it with Mission LX-2 speakers and then with the Wharfedale EVO 4.2 in combination with a SVS SB-1000 Sub. Because of the neighbours, I never could turn the volume up a 100%. For the average Joe (like me) the WiiM Amp is more then sufficient and gives you a great bang for the buck. You're right that the WiiM Amp is not the right choice for a 'big' room or 'big' speakers, but that is not what it pretend to be. I would like to give one suggestion, try to test the speakers with and without a subwoofer and give us a report about the difference it makes in performance. PS. Sorry for my Englisch, it's only my 3e langues and I don't use it everyday. Thank you for your effort!
Adding or subtracting a subwoofer, at least in our room, didn't solve or completely do away with the WiiM's apparent power/dynamic limitations when playing back at volumes of about 60-70dB + in room.
@@robinsonbrand Thanks for your reaction. Because I've to rely on my hearing and have no professional equipment to support my 'feeling', it felt like the addition of the sub, took away some 'pressure' from the speakers and made the total sound picture better. But that is probably my wishful thinking. Thank you again.
Thanks Andrew and Kristi, the Wiim Amp really is a gateway product to Hi fi and for the price and right setting it’s a direct punch to Sonos and Bluesound. The streamers are still the best value proposition in audio.
In Australia, audio equipment and the hobby generally is expensive, and everyone is always looking out of the latest, greatest, slick looking device, wiim does fit the bill for masses.
Looking at yours and your colleagues reviews, from what I’ve seen Wiim does seem to pay attention to reviews so good chance they will refine this.
This is the best review of this product I've heard yet. We'll done Mr. Robertson
I think it would be a better mactch with a pair of bookshelf speakers and a sub if necessary. Wish to hear how it sounds when pairing with some quality bookshelf spearkers from martin logan, polk, etc.
The input gain on most of the 3255 amps isn’t very high. Some of them have 48V 5A power supply option(like the Fosi V3, Ayima A07 and Max and the new Fosi za3)
This makes them way more capable with dynamics but definitely doesn’t solve the signal gain issue. The solution is to boost the input voltage and use the high current/voltage power supply. The problem with that is that you don’t get the awesome dsp and hdmi features of the Wiim(which has an anemic power supply inside)
The way I like to use TPA3255 amps is to use them to directly drive an individual driver with a dsp acting as crossover. Using a 4ohm driver and 48v power supply on every amp except the tweeter, you can get some pretty impressive volume levels and dynamic range. Let’s face it though, that’s way too complicated for most people.
If you want to try TPA3255 for cheap, I’d recommend getting the Ayima A07 max with the 48v power supply. It has the highest input gain and can be converted to mono if you want to upgrade later by getting a second one.
The ZA3 has a mono subwoofer out which actually tracks with the volume pot but it doesn’t filter the main channels so I don’t find that to be very useful.
The most impressive thing actually about these tpa3255 amps is actually the 48v 5A power supply that fosi and Ayima are using. That thing is amazingly clean as a power supply and it costs $50 is which is pretty impressive considering how it measures (especially the fosi unit which Works on all of the 3255 amps).
I would like to see Andrew revisit the 3255 amps with the 48v 5A supply, he might be surprised. In a previous video he mentioned that he didn’t like the idea of someone having to pay extra for that but you can buy these with that power supply from the start and it’s pretty affordable. The 3255 really does need that voltage and current to pull off good dynamics.
That being said, there are way better amps out there, these are just fun to play with especially if you need 6 channels of amplification for a 3 or 4way pair of speakers running active. I’m surprised I haven’t seen anyone else doing this with these amps.
This was a really great review. It’s refreshing to see a reviewer cover all aspects of the product and not just the positives. Did anyone else notice the hdmi input being cockeyed, definitely speaks to quality.
Yeah the HDMI port is crooked for sure. Stuck out to me right away.
I immediately noticed that as well.
Interesting review thanks. Would adding an active sub to the wiim add lower weight and ease the amps load?
The crooked HDMI port, is curious.... Anyone know if that is soldered to a board or somehow wired to a board?
Why HDMI port on it is so crooked? 😂
I was thinking the same thing 😅. All of the inputs seem a little off.
The issue with these TPA3255 based amps is their power rating is linear with the voltage (at lower volumes) or the current (at higher volumes) coming from the power supply. It sounds like the DC voltage of the WiiM Amp is plenty (32V) but the current might be limited to < 5 A. Thanks for testing it with the Cornwalls, it really shows the limit of this affordable amp.
I got the amp back in November 2023 and I am using as a 2.1, a pair of 5inc bookshelf speakers and 8inch powered subwoofer and it’s sound very loud and great, I think this is the best way to use this amp by handing off the heavy lifting to a powered subwoofer 🎉😊
Just bought this to pair with my Dali Zensor 1 for my near field desk setup. First impressions are it's bloody brilliant.
Another great video Andrew! Always excited to hear your opinion. Although, I’m a big Schitt fan, currently. I’ve bought almost all of their products. And I’m having fun. But, I’ve got an itch to find a new audio relationship….maybe Hegel…audiolab?
I'm inclined to agree with your findings. I have two setups - a near-field one at my workstation and a living room setup. While I thoroughly enjoy the Class D amps in my near-field setup - they fail to deliver to the level of even basic Class A/B amps from Denon/Marantz when I move them to the living room
Excited for your video on the LSX II LT's ! And thanks for looking at the WiiM, it's something that would fit in my bedroom.
I’ve chased the chi-fi craze. Mostly disappointed. Thin. Lean. Soulless. Wiim has it together on the streamer/app gig. They’ve won that battle, to me. I’m always going back to class AB or the hard to find, and hot, class A. Also, the AKM chips are crazy good. 4491 with 4499ex. That’s just perfection. But, for those on a tighter budget, happy listening and enjoy!
IS IT JUST ME OR IS THE HDMI-ARC PORT SO CROOKED TILTED TO THE LEFT AND NOT AT SEA LEVEL?
Just discoverd you and enjoying listening to you . I am mostly listening to opera and classical music . Tried to find some review on some "gear" for this type of music but I couldn't find it on you channel . Do you have any ? Or planning on doing some ? :) Thanks and keep up the good work .
Hmm, this is interesting. I have an Aiyima A07 on my desk and a CA AXR100 running my 2.1 system in the living room. After watching this, I decided to try my A07(same amp chip as Wiim amp) with my towers. My Jamo Concert 11s are nowhere near as sensitive as those cornwalls, and the little amp drove them easily to eardrum slaughtering levels with a 36V 6A PSU. Phone was showing about 90dB average and peaks in triple digits. I don’t know if it sounded “good” as I was plugging my ears, but the volume was there, and I played through some bass heavy tracks and it was rattling cabinets. Noise floor is excellent as well. Wonder if something is wrong with this unit.
I'm kind of surprised you never re-ran your listening tests with a subwoofer hooked up to the LFE out and engaging the app's internal bass management you briefly mentioned. I would imagine the amp would gain quite a bit of headroom by allocating bass amplification to an external sub. I'm curious to see if it would make a huge difference it its tonality as well.
do you plan to review sonos amp in the near future? Im considering a sonos amp with kef r3 meta right now and would like to know your thoughts on the amp. or if you could recommend the amp for r3 at around 500-1500 usd price range?
Hello everybody. I have a Denon Ceol N11 paired with Q Acoustic 5040. I don't dislike the Denon, nut I would like to use the HDMI arc to control the volume with the TV remote. Is the wiim amp a better solution?
What could I buy to replace the Denon? I don't want too many devices, I'd like to keep the setup simple. Thank you
Thank you for the video review.
What about Harman Kardon Citation Amp? Does it compare?
Wow! This was a very good review with excellent, and I think, VERY honest input!
I'm not an audiophile but I can hear well enough, even at 62, whether somethings sounds good or sounds muted. It has always been a pet peeve of mine when somethings you spend your money on sounds muted, or maybe it sounds open and airy, but nothing at the bottom end. I'm a country bumpkin so I'm not going to use a bunch of fancy words.
I purchased the Wiim Amp a couple weeks ago and paired it with some really simple Polk XT20 speakers. This is installed in my 15x15 (inside walls) woodshop. The speakers are mounted high and tilted downwards and toed in. But even with this, it really seemed to be lacking in the lower end. Also, and this one I am trying to understand, there is a really high pitched sound (I feel it more than hear it) that is almost painful after several minutes if I up the volume around 1/3 or more. I have messed with the EQ but it doesn't go away.
I went to the Wiim Amp Forum and talked about the low end and bass and lack of "oomph", and though everyone was polite, I thought I had crossed a line and could tell that these folks love the Wiim and if I had any complaints, it's all my issues and not the Wiim's. Your review matches what I'm hearing exactly! And no, I don't crank it up that much because I want the neighbors to like me. ;-)
Again, please let me say that your review convinces me of what I've been experiencing isn't just me and my environment. Something is "missing" in this amp and I can hear that. I really want to move towards Bluesound, not only because of their performance, but also because of the BluOS app. I think Wiim did a great job on the app, but it is also lacking (and buggy) in many ways. It's just not there "yet". I'm one of those older folks that is willing to spend a little more to get something a little better. The Wiim Amp is perfect in many ways for many folks, but I want a little more.
You did a good job!!
Thank you!
TY Andrew. Great video. I have the Wiim pro plus. Love Wiims interface for price. Instead of upgrading to this AMP should i just buy the Cambridge AXR 100 and plug my current wiim in which all goes to my Vintage Marantz 2250B. I am running Focal 805 Bookshelfs. And want to hook up my Sub. Trying to keep this simple and will not give up my Marantz. 😅. Thoughts.
thx for the review! do you have a link to your test playlist on spotify?
I've had my WiiM Amp since early Jan hooked up with my secondary TV/Listening area to a set of KEF q350s. It performs great in the smaller room and the integration features that makes the second area sooo much easier to setup.
I would never use this in my primary listening area but, for a smaller system its perfect.
Happy Listening folks!
I would also like to use it with the Q350, is it a good match?
Is it based on the form factor of Fosi Audio / Aiyima - with the streamer, HDMI ARC amd Optical port thrown in ? Or is it more to that ?
This is the type of review that sets this channel apart from the pack of "BEST HIFI VALUE AMP" hype machine. Thank you both! I think it was a very fair review considering you tested it with and without a sub, and with and without highly efficient speakers. Unfortunate to see the amplifier section is not quite there yet. I pre-ordered mine from Crutchfield 3 months ago (thank you Lord for a generous return policy in cases like this) but it still hasn't arrived yet. They are supposedly working out software issues. But for myself, its for a small 10x12 secondary room. Hoping it'll have enough headroom in a small room like that but we will see once it arrives. Thanks again for this review!
Hi Andrew - I want to ask that you review on wall (not in wall) speakers. I realize these are never considered high quality. However, I live in a very small home, as I am sure many others do. I looked for a long time and stumbled into a Swedish brand DLS that sound great. Dali makes an on wall, as does KEF and Totem. I really want to upgrade my wall hangers - but would love to see reviews focused on on walls. Thanks in advance.
Hi Andrew! Great review. Have you reviewed the Juke amp? We are looking for multiple zones (4-6), inside a single amp. Looks promising
Hello Kristi&Andrew, thank you for the review.
As a long-term WiiM Mini happy user, I was very interested in the WiiM Amp.
What's not to like: I love the WiiM Home app (for me, it's on par with BlueOS app), I like the features... so I ordered one. While I'm waiting for delivery, I'm watching the YT reviews and it's a bit unsettling - more/less everyone mentioned lack of power, albeit other reviewers were not as vocal in that respect as you were.
I wonder if you have tried it in a setting with some nice bookshelfs and a sub? I didn't catch that in the review. Would that help alleviate some of the dynamic headroom issues?
Thanks
The misalignment of the HDMI port is pretty telling.
Thanks for another great review! Literally had the WiiM in my Amazon cart based on other reviews. Not anymore. Have built my system around your reviews. The search continues for a reasonably priced streaming amp with HDMI.
Good review. I found that this amp is a wonderful desktop solution for my wife's office/bedroom tv. I didn't hear any distortion at all and played them on harder to drive speakers.
Wondering if you can take an HDMI arc signal and group it with other Wiim Pro or Wiim Pro plus devices without any latency? This would be used for playing the sound from what you're watching on the TV in other rooms without lip sync issues. I currently have a bunch of Wiim Pros. One of them I have an optical output for my TV connected and when I group that with other Wim Pros, there's a huge delay. Causing issues with lip sync issues.
Bookshelf speakers & sub, smaller listening area....
I have been waiting to hear your take on this product launch. Direct and candid- appreciate that Andrew and Kristi.I am a Wiim owner and supporter but will wait for this product to evolve before buying. Was hoping it might handle a somewhat larger room- thank you for clarifying.
Thank you for this review. Based on other reviews I also ordered this amp. I wanted to use it on my desk to get rid of the cables. After some hours of listening I came to the same conclusion. It sounds OK but I was missing details in almost all kinds of music. I quickly cross checked with my almost 20 year old TEAC CR-H225 receiver with a WIIM mini and a Kadas 100$ DAC. This is the setup I was using so far. It sounded definitely better in almost every way - and I do not have 5000$ speakers on my desk. So I sent the WIIM amp back and will stick to my good old TEAC.
Last year I also tried the Aiyima A07 MAX (also with a TI chip) with the same disappointing result.
Great review, I appreciate the not so pretty aspects you covered 👍🏽👍🏽🔥
Just a quick note on HouseCurve: it’s pretty easy to get lost in taking measurements (it’s fun!), but if you have older speakers with drivers that can’t be replaced you might want to watch the volume when measuring. Driving your old irreplaceable woofers into excursion too much could have a sad outcome.
How did the amp behave with efficient book shelf speakers????
Im familiar with headphones but finally its time for my home cinema audio... If, say, I got the Wiim Amp, is it possible to connect it to another D class amp and just use all the features of the Wiim?
Would this connect to a PC so that I can add two bookshelves and a sub without audio delays, sort of like the Sonos amp...when it's connected to a PC it has like a second delay causing lip sync issues. What solution can I do?
Can i use this amp with a pair of rp-160m or i would need something else with more power? Thanks
I have a Wiim amp in my office. It sounds more than okay with Boston Acoustics A26 bookshelves. The new Eversolo amp also uses TI amp chips btw.
From a technical side, I wonder if the distortion is more a TI chip issue or a power supply issue. Class A seems very power supply dependent. I have a Sonos amp running a pair of DefTech speakers in my outdoor area. It sounds fine but I never tried to drive a full sized speaker with it.
Sounds like it is what I would expect from this unit.
Nice for background music and ease of use but not for critical listening.
I attribute that mainly to the power supply. The p 19:33 ower supply can make or break an amplifiers sound.
It needs to be able to supply reserve power when the music calls for it when listening to spirited levels.
Klipsches looking LOVELY in your space FYI!
Seems to be a well rounded, good value product @ the price point. My only concern is, do we no longer have room in our lives for plain old OTA radio anymore? HD radio? Is this the new standard, the new home "Receiver" ?
@robinsonbrand
Hi! Just a question please. I have a pm700n Marantz amp. Would getting a streamer like wiim pro plus improve sound and be better than heos?
I don't like Heos because it transmits tidal at 16 bit 41khz and of all streaming companies only Amazon is streamed up to 24bit 192khz
Thanks
I paired the WiiM amp with the leaf b6.2 and sound really nice. It replaces my older svs sound base. I will say in my opinion this sounds so much better than the sound base for half the price but I know it’s newer. Plus the WiiM interface is top tier.
I love the objectivity around the lack of dynamic capabilities.
Back in the 80's, my father had an HiFi store, and one day we used entry-level Marantz PM-26 to drive a pair of JBL L100 Ti.
Although they were easy to drive, everyone who listened to that combo wouldn't believe that it was only a 30 watt RMS per channel amplifier.
It has to be said that Marantz was very conservative with their power ratings at that time, and that the specified dynamic power was way higher (suggesting a big headroom), but as efficient as those JBL were, they were not Klipsch sensitive, and I can't imagine that same amp not being able to drive them in that room (which seems way smaller than the shop was back then.).
Of course they didn't put out the same output levels than the PM 94 (which we also had), but it was still impressive output for almost 1/10 of the price.
I haven't seen measurements of the Wiim Amp addressing the peak output power, but it does seem like it must be lacking on it.
I don't believe that any class A/B amplifier with that power would struggle on driving a pair of Klipsch, even if more and better power is likely beneficial.
Some class D designs are known for lacking headroom, which wouldn't be that important if it had 200 rms into 8 Ohm.
While it seems inexpensive at first, I'd argue that it has a poor value.
For all the great things that it offers, it lacks on the foundation which is the amp itself.
I'm not necessarily concerned if any particular amp doesn't include the best dac or streaming capabilities, since they can be added later with separates (and even follow that evolution).
But if it fails at performing its main function, there's no way around it.
And while I can definitely see good usage scenarios for this product, it's still an underperforming product, with a limites usage range.
This is certainly not where HiFi should start, imho.
Good review. I see this as a soundbar replacement. Or small room, near field listening say an office or desktop.
I’m not much into Class-D amplification so I went to the Schitt J-horn with their Modi DAC for my office. It sounds great. But, it wouldn’t replace my Cambridge Audio CX series stack. Not even close. Keep up the good work.
I appreciate the honest, thorough review. Frankly I am not the least bit surprised to hear it performed as it did.
Thanks for the video drop!!! Will definitely listen to in my drive in to work in the A.M. or maybe later today. At any rate, looking forward to it!
Let us know what you think once you get a chance to watch!
@@robinsonbrand Absolutely!
@@robinsonbrand I really enjoyed ya’lls take on the Wiim amp. Although I’ve not listened to it, I do feel like I can relate to a few of your experience descriptions when it comes to some of the more affordable class D amplifier products I’ve owned over the past few years. I haven’t experienced any shut off, but have experienced two that just stopped getting louder well before the volume knob got close to full tilt. One class d amp even had what sounded like frequency dependent volume level differences when pushed to 75% volume. They were all a little too cool and 2 dimensional for my taste and it seams that although the Wiim amp may be a step up, it doesn’t sound like it’s far enough away from the affordable class D amp characteristics I’ve experienced thus far (sound unheard of course). I’m not actually in the market though (picked up the rn-1000a late last year-the sweet spot!), just really enjoy this hobby and hearing about others’ experiences with other products. You just never know when someone runs across a unicorn :-). As always, great video to both of ya’ll!
Chip based amps have changed the audio landscape, there are some good ones out there. I’ll still take a class ab 100% call me old school (or just old.) Thanks for the honest review.
@robinsonbrand | Perhaps I missed something? If not, why the heck did not try unloading the amp by offloading low frequencies from it using the built-in sub-out/base-management functionality? It might have helped the higher-SPL problems...
Agreed…where is the sun out bass management discussion?
Thats a significant feature you ignored…pls update this review with a suitable sub using the BM and would think the top end issues should/may resolve?
A very balanced review, many other reviews raved how this is a giant killer. These small affordable amps have a proper use case scenario. Appreciate the fact you show it wont work in most larger rooms and is primarily a near field solution.
Appreciate the frank review. 👍 I do think we all need to keep an eye on the devices that the WiiM Amp will inspire. We’re likely only months away until someone packs the equivalent of a WiiM Mini, SMSL SU-1, and Fosi Audio ZA3 into a single chassis. Add dual sub outs with room correction, and I’ll be opening my wallet for sure.
Can we EQ this unit to filter out lower frequencies below 50hz for example, that should put less stress on the amp...
So, one important question: Did you test the Wiim Amp using a subwoofer, with the mains crossed over at 80Hz, 100Hz and 120Hz? Doing so would significantly reduce the demands on the internal amp which might result in performance improvements. Would you give that a try and let us know if makes a difference? Thanks a ton. Love your vids.
Adding a subwoofer to this amp and tweaking the in-app bass management doesn't fix or make the WiiM's power/dynamic woes magically disappear. Adding a sub also increases the noise floor for some reason and increases the humming from the amp itself. A recent firmware update was released to combat this issue; however, the update did not totally fix it, though it did lessen it.
In the line of a similar product - I’d love to see your review the Sonos Amp!
hey andrew, i have multiple of the arylic a-50 powering in ceiling speakers and they do a great job in most rooms, apart from the outdoor in ceiling speakers due to the open space. (i have also tried the sa100 to try to get a little more from them.
sound wise they do the job ok as only doing in ceiling speakers but power is always a little lacking IMO
would you say the WIIM amp has more power or about the same? also the SQ similar?
also on another note, has anyone connected a sub to the arylic amps? not sure why but its horrible! sounds muffled and lacking even when dropping low pass low its still no good. put the same sub on a av receiver and bam!
i do like the wiim has the sub management feature!
I had a pretty similar experience. At first the WiiM was really lean. I added a sub to go with my LS50 metas and some peq to bring a bit more life to the setup. With that, in a small bedroom it’s been ok. I just wish it had a preout
I appreciate that you dare to stay honest and critical.
And it seems logical to me that a budget product with that much connections and possibilities inevitably has some drawbacks.
Great review. Thanks.
Power output / overall sound quality when utilizing the Highpass filtering? Any chance that the higher volume High Dynamic limitations of the amplifier was at least reduced (if not significantly eliminated) once Highpass filtering was used in order to remove low frequencies from the WiiM amp itself? Thank you.
@robinsonbrand - weeks ago Adding or subtracting a subwoofer, at least in our room, didn't solve or mpletely do away with the WiiM's apparent power/dynamic limitations when playing back at volumes of about 60-70dB in room.
I got one of the cheap digital amps recommended by another channel when i first got into quality music equipment, but I immediately replaced it with a Cambridge AXR100 for the reasons Andrew described.
For a secondary TV/Music location, hard to find anything that competes? What else has 1) Hi-Res Streaming, 2) HDMI input, 3) a decent app to control it all, 4) compact, attractive design and 5) is less than even double what the Wiim Amp runs?. I do wish the wiim amp had a capability to drive an outboard amp (pre-amp out), and the TI based amp does have limitations, but other than going with an old school "AV receiver" that is huge and has tons of completely unneeded functions, what else is there out there?
If Wiim either added pre-out to the Wiim Amp or HDMI input to the Wiim Pro +, it would take it to the next level...
My Wiim amp is powering my 30K Harbeths just fine. I moved these to my vacation home and it's the perfect solution.
I've bought an Octavio Amp about a year ago. I later gifted it to my nephew. He is now happily using it in his apartment as a 2.1 system streaming Spotify and having a TV and a BluRay drive connected to it. Devices like the Octavio, and the WiiM, are perfect for that.
I'll be sticking with my Cambridge stack (CXA81, CXNv2, CXCv2) and my Sony BluRay drive. But there is definitely a market out there for integrated all-in-one's.
Watching this while listening through my new WiiM amp. Thanks for sharing the good/bad. It’s not being used in my critical listening setup or where high volume is needed. So far I’m happy with the product.
:) Thank you for watching.
@@KristiWright 😊
I was looking a small amp with HDMI and Sub Out. Didnt know this one is like a computer.. any suggestions?
@robinsonbrand any plans to review the Denon AVR-A1H? Im really interested in your input here as a “cheap” alternative to Marantz separates (AV10 + Amp10)
Thanks!
I have the Wiim Pro streamer. The things great. I run it into my DAC and it sounds great.
This is a very sober look, I really appreciate that. You explaimed a lot! One thing - Airplay usually will send some compressed AAC, so maybe better to use android with chromecast etc?
The WiiM is a desktop amp for close listening connected to a subwoofer. That is where it shines. I have Mission 750 AE bookshelf speakers and a Episode EVO 6 inch powered sub and it is excellent for a desk.
I was looking at these amps as Sonos alternatives SOLELY for in ceiling speakers. An amp and a pair of speakers per zone with Airplay capabilites. Do you think this would be a good amp for that purpose if they fix the Airplay issues?
I came looking for the same answer. I've 6 Sonos S1's with ceiling speakers and want to swap out for Airplay capabilities. I don't want to get ripped off for Sonos S2s but also don't want to waste money on a product that has ongoing issues. Airplay needs to be seamless. Is it a case of come back in a year when the niggles are ironed out?
I like the new (darker) side table! I don't believe that I noticed it before today. Also, I wanted to restate how lovely your customized Cornwalls are in the space.
The Wiim seems decent. I definitely appreciated the specifics to ensure that everyone tempers their expectations. Nice touch with the SPL meters in the B roll.
I thought I needed to try to show "proof" that the amp cannot fully drive even super efficient speakers.
@robinsonbrand The discussion on the difference between test tones and complex music (real world power output) was awesome and definitely not one I've run across elsewhere. Great food for thought.
Today I ordered wiim amp + klipsch rp 600m ii. Not very familiar with amplifiers. Until now, I've always had active speakers (such as Klipsch Fives or Edifier S3000).
Wiim amp was recommended to me by the store I ordered from. While for the speakers I am sure, but for this marvel not quite. Admittedly, my living room is not large, and I do not intend to expand this set beyond the stereo.
I hope it will play pleasantly.
Admittedly, I have a few days to change my mind. Earlier I was considering the Onkyo TX-NR6100, but is there a point in buying such an amplifier for a stereo set.... I rather doubt it - unless the sound quality would be much better ?
Hi guys, great video! Would you recommend to pair this with a Marantz Cinema 70S? Would it improve the power of the receiver or do you recommend another amplifier for this receiver.
Thanks!
The Wiim Amp doesn’t have HT bypass/ processor mode which you would need if using it to drive your L&R speakers via the pre out on the C70. I’m not sure of your budget but something like the Arcam A5 would be more suitable than this and has the processor mode.
@@shemsureshot thanks for the reply mate! Will check out the Arcam A5
I guess I am trying to figure out what the purpose is for these things. If you buy a Sony 7000 receiver (the new model), do you hook this up to it? Doesn't the receiver have built in apps like Amazon music etc? Couldn't you just bluetooth an ipad or iphone with the apps? Is it convenience or is it sound quality that makes an Eversolo appealing? Thanks.
If you own an AVR like the Sony you don’t need this.
Thanks once again for such a thoughtful review. Seems to me that a small room using a Sub/Sat combo with the provided bass management system would be most optimal?
But at this price, wow. I'll wait for the "pro or pro plus amp" and keep using their plus streamer 😊
Finally, some light being shed on what I have experienced with the Wiim amp. It's always the case - the hype train always glosses over the whole truth with regard to what really lies behind the facade.
Happy Sunday, good people! Glad you gave this a good honest look; even an old-school hobbyist like me can see that this form factor and feature set is the future of HiFi (for some folks, at least).
Two up-market alternatives that we like: the NAD 3045 and the Elac EA101EQ-G. Both are feature rich streaming amps with room correction. The Elac doesn’t have HDMI, so it’s less versatile in a home theatre application, but I prefer its build quality to the NAD. Both products are fun and sound great, and that’s what matters to us!
I've ordered this for a medium sized living space so looking forward to trying it. I recently acquired a free pair of original Wharfedale lintons, so should be more than easy to drive as they are from the mid 70s. I will be mainly streaming and playing record's through it.
Great video! I'm currently running an Arilyc A50 into Klipsch RM-160s. Looking to get something with HDMI. I think the Wiim might be the way to go.
Honestly I would consider this unit as more of a small place product. Bedroom, office,study. Anything bigger than that I would look elsewhere.
Love the honesty here. Nobody can argue with the features offered here, but man, if there was just an option to use this as a preamp to pair with some of the other great, inexpensive amps that are around these days, it'd be a formidable setup.
Good Lord! Can you imagine the disruption a Wiim Preamp Streamer with the same feature set (especially with the same subwoofer out) would have on the budget hifi section of the market? Especially when considering budget audio fans can pretty much kit build power amps using ICEPower AS-series amp modules (the ones with integrated power supplies) with nothing but a screwdriver and a couple hours of time?
I thought your review was well presented and thoughtful and reasonably comphensive. Would the A50 not be the competitor from Ayclic? The B50 doesn't do Wifi.
I am super happy with mine, I will play the tracks you tested to see what I think, but so far I love it. :) …. And yeah, it’s tiny compared to my old receiver.
I’m curious to what you would think about the blusound powernode… I heard heresy iv forte iv and Cornwall iv’s on the powernode. The demo was very underwhelming. That being said in the same room was some focal sopra and kanta on some Macintosh mono blocks… kind of hard to go from that set up to the klipsch but that was my experience. The forte sounded the best with that amp.
The Sonos AMP is incredible. Would love to hear your thoughts on it! I use it to power 4 tower speakers and it just bangs! I'm in a smaller office area. I have a SUB running off of it also with 2 SONOS Play:1's as my rears.
Thanks for a great review as always! :) I recently got a wiim amp for my bedroom, but for fun tried them with my primary stereo (quite difficult to drive 4 ohm speakers). They did sound a bit flat and unrefined in comparison to my primary gear, but for the money they were really great. But I had absolutely no problems with dynamics, they played a lot louder than comfortable without any huge issues (low efficiency speakers as well). I suspect that maybe having the 220 V we have in Europe just gives better dynamics?
I don't know what the cause could be. How close do you sit? How big is your room?
@@robinsonbrand Don't think the size of the room is a big issue compared to my 4 ohm 83 dB sensitivity speakers. But I didn't find much issues with it at all, I like it a lot more than the standard active speaker or soundbar (it's more it's competition rather than full-size stereo gear)
Hey guys, informative review, as usual. When I see a review, like this one that is so completely different from nearly every other reviewers', it always make me wonder if the issue is that other CZcams reviewers are simply not completely honest with us or is it that maybe the outlier reviewer has a defective unit? Either way, thanks for your candor.
Good review. Like how you described what's the best pairing for the amp. This amp is cheap cost effective and there is a home for it. At the price seems to be a good $$.