WiiM Amp Pro Powered Network Streamer Will Fulfill Your Streaming Dreams: Just Add Speakers

Here at eCoustics, few products elicit more reader interest and feedback than a network streamer. For HiFi enthusiasts, the appeal of being able to access virtually any artist, song or album instantly, in lossless quality or even high resolution audio — without having to get off the couch to change a record or CD — is seductive. For younger music fans dabbling in the audiophile game, a good network streamer can be the centerpiece of an affordable high quality home audio system.

A good audio streamer allows you to access your choice of music streaming services such as TIDAL, Spotify, Apple Music, Qobuz, Deezer, TuneIn or Amazon Music and play your playlists, podcasts, internet radio stations and tracks out loud through a nice pair of speakers. You can find out more about them here: WTF is a Network Streamer?

WiiM has established itself as a solid provider of high quality streaming gear at budget-friendly prices. Whether you’re picking up your first streamer to add to a vintage audio system, upgrading from a basic streamer to one with more refined sound, or building a secondary audio system in a den or vacation home, WiiM has plenty of affordable streaming options. Today at the High End Munich audio show, WiiM has unveiled two new options, and they’re sure to cement the company’s position as the go-to standard for affordable high-quality streaming devices.

Your Choice: Amp or No Amp

The WiiM Ultra Streamer ($329) makes a fine addition to an existing HiFi system. It offers a powerful DAC and a built-in color display screen so you can see album art, artist name and song title, without having to whip out your phone. It even includes a built-in phono stage so you connect your turntable without the need for a separate phono preamp. Hook it up to any receiver, integrated amp or even a pair of powered speakers and you’ll be streaming your favorite tunes from your favorite streaming service in no time. Read more about the new WiiM Ultra.

Meanwhile the WiiM Amp Pro Powered Streamer ($369) offers all of the streaming goodness we’re used to from WiiM but it adds a built-in 60 Watt/Channel amplifier. With the WiiM Amp Pro, you’ve got one less component to invest in: an integrated amp or power amp. Just add a standard pair of passive speakers and an optional powered subwoofer and you’ll be ready to rock.

This isn’t the company’s first powered streamer. Our Editor-in-Chief Ian White reviewed the company’s existing offering, the WiiM Amp earlier this year as part of his Audiophile System Builder column. In Ian’s words, “the power, multi-room audio support, and surprising build quality makes this the network amplifier to beat below $500.” The WiiM Amp Pro is an upgraded version of that product, based on customer feedback. The WiiM Amp Pro improves on the standard WiiM Amp in a number of ways including an improved amplifier, higher quality DAC (Digital Audio Converter), more powerful WiFi connectivity and improved internal circuitry.

Upgraded Specs of the WiiM Amp Pro:

• Support for the latest Wi-Fi 6E and BT 5.3 standard with two antennas for rock-solid Bluetooth or Wi-Fi audio streaming
• Improved TI TPA3255 Class D amp module with 60 Watts per channel at 8 ohms, or 120 Watts per channel at 4 ohms with additional post-filter feedback (PFFB) loop
• Premium 32-bit/384kHz ES9038 Q2M SABRE DAC
• Elegant aluminum case with subtle design tweaks over the regular version
• Built-in room correction to optimize your system for your specific listening environment
• Superior sound quality with -105 dB THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise), 120 dB SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio)

Pick Your Poison

Users can control their streaming preferences and song selections from within the easy-to-use WiiM Home App, from a native music streaming app or with voice control. WiiM offers compatibility with two of the major voice assistant platforms: Alexa and Google. The WiiM Voice Remote controller provides another alternative to wireless control for WiiM products.

For third party compatibility, the WiiM Amp Pro can handle Google Chromecast, Alexa Cast, DLNA, Spotify Connect, and TIDAL Connect. Apple AirPlay 2 is not supported, but it’s possible that certification could be added in the future. AirPlay 2 is supported in the WiiM Amp as well as other WiiM streamers (all but the WiiM Ultra).

If you prefer, you can manage your content and devices within the WiiM Home App, with embedded support for Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz, TIDAL, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, SoundCloud, and more. “Roon ready” certification is currently in progress and should be announced shortly.

In addition to streaming, the WiiM Amp Pro offers a stereo RCA line input, optical S/PDIF digital input, HDMI ARC and USB-A inputs so you can add additional sources like a turntable, TV or CD player. Note that there is no phono preamp on-board so you’ll need a turntable with a line level output or an outboard phono stage. The WiiM Amp Pro offers bi-drectional Bluetooth so you can connect your phone as a Bluetooth source or connect a pair of Bluetooth headphones or speakers – in addition to or instead of the wired speakers – for playback.

Comparison

Pricing & Availability

The WiiM Amp Pro will be available for purchase at a suggested retail price of $369 in the third quarter of 2024 through Amazon and select retail partners.

The Bottom Line

With improved performance over the existing WiiM Amp, and a low 20% price premium, the WiiM Amp Pro should prove to be a popular powered streamer for those looking to build a simple, affordable audiophile-friendly home audio system.

Related Reading:

• WiiM Amp Review: The Audiophile System Builder

• WiiM Ultra Streamer Offers High Performance, Killer Features at a Low Price

• Check out more new product from High End Munich 2024