The originalWiim Ampimpressed a lot of reviewers , myself include . As an alternative to much pricier products like theSonos Amp , Denon Home Amplifier , orBose Music Amplifier , the Wiim Amp save an telling lineament bent , keen sound lineament , and a price ( $ 299 ) that none of the crowing brands can beat .
So when Wiimannounced its come after - up — the $ 379 Wiim Amp Pro — with better Wi - Fi and Bluetooth , meliorate audio lineament , and Dolby Audio ( but otherwise monovular to the Amp ) , I questioned the need for such a equipment . Now that I ’ve spent some clip with it , I ’ve concluded that for the average buyer , thereisno want . In fact , thanks to one meaning difference between the two models , you ’re in all likelihood in effect off with the Wiim Amp rather of the Wiim Amp Pro .
But that does n’t mean the Amp Pro should be ignore . Here ’s why .
The streamer with an integrated amplifier
Before we get into the details , let ’s rapidly recap who should buy one of these devices .
The Wiim Amp , Amp Pro , and their contender arenetwork music streamerswith build - inamplifiers . If you have a full sound system ( speaker system plus an amp or receiver ) or you apply power speaker system ( e.g. Klipsch The Sevens ) , the Amp Pro is n’t for you . or else , you require a web waft without amplification . In the Wiim world , that means aWiim Mini , Wiim ProorPro Plus , or the company ’s flagship , theWiim Ultra .
However , if you own a set of inactive loudspeakers that you like , the Wiim Amp / Amp Pro are an all - in - one solution . They not only give you access to the entire world of swarm euphony , but they can also act as minireceivers , with several digital and analogue input for other sources like TVs or CD players .
Just connect your subsist loudspeaker with traditional verbalizer wire and you ’re in force to go .
Wiim Amp Pro specs
Killer value
I ’m opine most of you just want to know if you should fell the extra $ 80 on the Amp Pro . If that ’s you , feel spare to skip to the next incision .
For everyone else , I powerfully urge reading myin - depth review of the Wiim Amp . It start out into all of the feature that make these products such an exceptionally appealing choice for digital euphony listening . From the tractability of the connections ( like the availableHDMI ARCinput and the subwoofer output with configurable crossover ) to the superb Wiim app , which will remind Sonos users to suspire nostalgicallyfor the way things were — the Wiim Amp and Amp Pro represent unbeatable value .
I ’m not going to say anything else here — everything you postulate to acknowledge about the Wiim Amp Pro is in that Wiim Amp inspection .
Everything , that is , except …
What’s the difference between the Amp and the Amp Pro?
candidly , not much . Even the power output of the onboard amplifier is identical .
Physically , there are a few pernicious deviation .
The Amp Pro ’s Al shell is only usable Space Grey , whereas the Amp yield you a choice of Space Grey or Silver . The Amp Pro ’s four rubber feet are thicker , which raise the tallness by two millimeter . It ’s heavier too ( 4.5 pounds versus 4 pounds for the Amp ) .
agree to the company , the Pro has a revised thermal direction organization that include Cu , aluminum , and a graphene rut swallow hole .
Wiim got rid of the notchy , index movement from the Wiim Amp ’s volume thickening — the Amp Pro ’s knob spin freely . I like the notched bm , but a spare spin is more common on merged adenylic acid and receivers , which is likely why Wiim change it .
last , the Amp Pro ’s 5 - way attach posts have vindicated credit card sheathes over their arrest , while the Amp ’s are unembellished alloy .
All of the Amp Pro ’s upgrades are invisible :
Better audio?
In possibility , those upgraded internals should lead in better performance . In fact , Magnetic Magazine ’s Will Vancewaxes poeticabout the Amp Pro ’s Post Filter Feedback ( PFFB ) technical school . “ This is n’t just a buzzword — it ’s what ensures you get nipping , clear , and cargo - sovereign sound . PFFB tech let the Amp Pro cover anything you throw at it , whether you ’re blasting the in style album in gamy - res or listen to a delicate jazz recording . The conflict ? You get an unfiltered , direct phone experience without aberration or color , even at high volume . ”
Amir Majidimehr’smeasurement - based evaluation of the Amp Pro ’s frequency responsein Audio Science Review appears to substantiate that PFFB does helpversus the Wiim Amp , particularly when dealing with 8 - ohm loads .
I ’ll have to take Vance ’s and Majidimehr ’s word for it , because I simply could n’t hear a difference .
For testing , I connect the Wiim Amp and Wiim Amp Pro to a simple A / vitamin B source switch . Attached to the switching ’s speaker terminals were a set of Wharfedale Diamond 220 bookshelf loudspeaker . Granted , they ’re not the in high spirits - end boxes in the world , but they ’re still wide involve as excellent speakers for the price .
I then began the semi - scientific process of play my usual test caterpillar tread on each gimmick at the same bulk , flipping the A / barn switch back and forth every 10 seconds or so — sometimes even faster . Keen perceiver will note that in the trope above , I have the Wiim Amp and Amp Pro grouped within the Wiim app . While this is a valid means to make for the same content on the two waft simultaneously , it wo n’t deliver bit - unadulterated stream .
To ensure I was yield the two Amps the good potential textile to act with , I streamedhi - res , losslesstracks fromQobuzandApple Musicwith the actor ungrouped too .
Now and then , I call back I detected a slight difference in presentation . Vocals might have been a hair smoother when coming through the Amp Pro , but I start out to second guess these perceptual experience — they both sound great to me . I repeated the A / B comparison for my wife and several of our friends , and none of them could distinguish between the root .
Maybe it was the Wharfedales . Perhaps much full speaker would have revealed the nuances the Amp Pro ’s upgraded internals and PFFB can supposedly surrender . Maybe it was the bulk . I cranked both unit well above 85 % of their volume setting , but only for very abbreviated periods to see if I could hear any distorted shape ( I could n’t ) . Perhaps if I had a really handsome way and take heed at very tacky levels for protract time period , the differences would become more apparent .
One area that might make a difference for some U.S.A. , is the Amp Pro ’s ability to decodeDolby Digital . At the moment , with the Amp Pro serving purely as a two - channel audio system , you ’ll require to connect a wired subwoofer to do good , and even then , the dispute between Dolby Digital and stereoscopic photograph may be slight .
If Wiim ever adds the power to use a set of rear channels to the Amp Pro ( perhaps with a distich ofWiim Edition Audio Pro C10 wireless speaker unit ) , having Dolby decoding could make a really interesting 4.1 - channel experience .
No AirPlay 2
Let ’s take on for the moment , that my frame-up keep me from hearing a difference and that those of you with great speakers and gilded ears will be able-bodied to value the Amp Pro ’s improved spec . Now , before you go and drop the extra $ 80 for the Amp Pro , ask yourself this : Are you an iPhone exploiter , and if so , do you wish the gismo ofApple AirPlay ?
If you answer yes , your decision just got hard . The Wiim Amp Pro does n’t abide Apple ’s wireless euphony streaming communications protocol . The Wiim Amp , however , does .
Wiim has n’t expose the reason for the Amp Pro ’s lack of AirPlay — a impuissance it shares with the Ultra — but it ’s an omission that evidently ca n’t be fixed with a firmware update .
The absence seizure of AirPlay 2 is the basal reason that only audiophiles should consider the Amp Pro . As a wireless streaming protocol , AirPlay 2 uses lossy compression . At a maximum bitrate of 328Kbps , it fall well short of the 1,411Kbps ask forlossless , CD timber streaming — allow alone the much higher bitrates needed forhi - res audio recording .
In other words , if you ’re attached to father the most from your gear , you ’ll generally obviate using AirPlay 2 , even if it ’s more convenient than other options . And with local streaming from USB , Google Cast , Tidal Connect , DLNA , and Roon compatibility , there ’s no shortfall of bit - everlasting options .
Conclusion
So who should buy the Wiim Amp and who should get the Amp Pro ? If your speakers are considered midrange , and if you have a small - to - average - sized room , the Amp will serve your demand . Plus , you ’ll get the added convenience of Apple AirPlay . I suspect most people come down into this family .
On the other deal , if you ’re not fussed about the lack of AirPlay , and you believe your utterer ( and your ears ) could profit from the Pro ’s improved carrying into action , $ 70 is a small agio to give for potentially better sound .
