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
| WiiM Amp | WiiM Amp Pro | |
| MSRP | $299 | $369 |
| Type | Streamer + Amp | Streamer + Amp |
| Audio Amplification | TI TPA3255 | TI TPA3255 |
| CPU | Quadcore A53 | Quadcore A53 |
| DRAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Flash | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| DAC IC | ESS ES9018K2M | ESS ES9038Q2M |
| Audio Input Port | Stereo RCA, Optical, HDMI ARC, USB-A | Stereo RCA, Optical, HDMI ARC, USB-A |
| Audio Output Port | HP terminals, Subwoofer out | HP terminals, Subwoofer out |
| Pair with a Sub | ✓ | ✓ |
| USB Port (Storage/Audio Out) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wi-Fi | 5 | 6E |
| Ethernet | ✓ | ✓ |
| BT | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Touchscreen Display | – | – |
| Dolby | – | – |
| Analog Out SNR | 98 dB | 120 dB |
| THD+ N (Analog Out) | -92 dB (0.002%) | -105 dB (0.0005%) |
| Analog Input (ADC) | Up to 192k, 24bit | Up to 192k, 24bit |
| Chromcast Audio | ✓ | ✓ |
| Group with Nest speakers and Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Group with Echo speakers and Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alexa Multiroom with UHD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Group with HomePods | ✓ | ✓ |
| Works with Alexa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Works with Google | ✓ | ✓ |
| Works with Siri | ✓ | x |
| Group with WiiM or Linkplay devices | ✓ | ✓ |
| AirPlay 2 | ✓ | x |
| AirPlay Cast | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2-Way Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Roon Ready | ✓ | In Certification |
| DNLA | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spotify Connect & TIDAL Connect | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gapless Playback | ✓ | ✓ |
| 10-band Graphics EQ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Linkplay Music Streaming Platform | ✓ | ✓ |
| Room Correction | ✓ | ✓ |
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.
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Steve
May 9, 2024 at 4:51 pm
Another great value product from WIIM. Please elaborate on the room correction feature when you have that info.
Chris Boylan
May 10, 2024 at 7:58 pm
I’m also intrigued by the room correction. WiiM says it will be available in all of their streamers. I’ve got an e-mail into our rep for more details on how it works (like does the mic plug into a USB port on the streamer itself or is it all in the WiiM Home app on a phone or tablet?). Will post an update when I know more.
John
October 4, 2024 at 12:00 pm
It would be best if you changed the specs of the Wiim Amp Pro in this article as it does not support Siri or Airplay2 as per: https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support/solutions/articles/72000616467-technical-specification-of-the-wiim-amp-and-wiim-amp-pro
Ian White
October 4, 2024 at 2:58 pm
John,
Corrected.
IW
Chris Boylan
October 6, 2024 at 8:43 pm
AirPlay 2 support is not yet in the Amp Pro nor the WiiM Ultra but company reps tell us have told this is just a licensing issue they are trying to resolve with Apple. But WiiM reps also told us that only around 11% of their existing customers actually use AirPlay with the WiiM devices so who knows? Maybe they’ll skip it?
We’ll check in again with WiiM reps to see what their plans are with AirPlay 2 certification in the newer products.