WiiM AMP connect to a pair of KEF R3 Meta?

[MartinSvM]

WiiM Amp is a all-in-one streaming amplifier box, designed to provide both streaming capabilities and amplification to passive speakers. It comes equipped with HDMI ARC, Sub Out and a USB port, enabling playback of local music via USB. It delivers a continuous power of 120W per channel at 4 ohms load, with both channels driven.
I have already a new set of KEF R3 Meta and they are connected to a 20 year old Yamaha receiver.

Is this Wiim Amp, considering its specs and price an amplifier to buy?

 

[Symples]

Very interesting little unit.

WiiM Amp | Versatile Streaming Amplifier: Stream Elegance, Amplify Brilliance

Discover the WiiM Amp, a state-of-the-art streaming amplifier designed to refine the way you experience music, movie, and more, WiiM Amp combines power, versatility, and simplicity like never before. Whether you are an audiophile or a home theater enthusiast, WiiM Amp delivers exceptional sound...

wiimhome.com

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

At £300 for (effectively) a Streamer + DAC + Amplifier, it would have to be considered high scoring on the value for money spectrum. If you consider the WiiM Pro Plus was best music streamer under £300 (£219 RRP) you are effectively getting an amplifier for £80 which isn't to be laughed at.

That said, given the price tag on your speakers, it could be worth while looking further up the all-in-one chain (especially with some of the sales currently on - Audiolab Omnia / CA Evo / etc).

 

[Al ears]

WiiM Amp is a all-in-one streaming amplifier box, designed to provide both streaming capabilities and amplification to passive speakers. It comes equipped with HDMI ARC, Sub Out and a USB port, enabling playback of local music via USB. It delivers a continuous power of 120W per channel at 4 ohms load, with both channels driven.
I have already a new set of KEF R3 Meta and they are connected to a 20 year old Yamaha receiver.

Is this Wiim Amp, considering its specs and price an amplifier to buy?

Judging by specs alone I would say yes.
How well it will actually drive your speakers is something only you can decide.

 

[GroeneLeeuw]

Try asking here:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/wiim-amp-discussion.47096/

Plenty of people using the amp, maybe there´re a few with the KEFs as well.
But I agree with Al ears, judging by specs it should be fine. The amp doubles its power from 8 to 4ohm (60w-120w), that´s a very good sign.

 

[GroeneLeeuw]

Some tests:

My WiiM Amp tests

Well, not finished. Yet. But let's start with some facts. The Amp seems to be a class D BTL H-bridge amp with a single power rail (find someone smarter than me for an explanation), and with an advanced temperature monitoring through some sensors to deliver "optimal performance and safety" which...

forum.wiimhome.com

 

[davidf]

Try asking here:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/wiim-amp-discussion.47096/

Plenty of people using the amp, maybe there´re a few with the KEFs as well.
But I agree with Al ears, judging by specs it should be fine. The amp doubles its power from 8 to 4ohm (60w-120w), that´s a very good sign.

No good asking there, as the paper specs say it will drive them, but whether it actually can - to the point that it makes the R3s sound like a pair of R3s are supposed to sound - is another matter entirely.

 

[twinkletoes]

Why not purchase one off richer sounds and tell us all how it goes? they have a good returns policy and backed up by a good bricks and mortar store warranty. I would not by direct from Wiim.

being brutally honest, absolutely no one here is going to be able to tell you.

WiiM Amp (Silver)

Shop for WiiM Amp (Silver) Amplifier with Richer Sounds for expert advice and Lowest Prices Guaranteed

www.richersounds.com

 

[Al ears]

No good asking there, as the paper specs say it will drive them, but whether it actually can - to the point that it makes the R3s sound like a pair of R3s are supposed to sound - is another matter entirely.

My point entirely. It should drive them yes but drive them to a point where they perform at their best? That still remains to be seen....

 

[Al ears]

Why not purchase one off richer sounds and tell us all how it goes? they have a good returns policy and backed up by a good bricks and mortar store warranty. I would not by direct from Wiim.

being brutally honest, absolutely no one here is going to be able to tell you.

WiiM Amp (Silver)

Shop for WiiM Amp (Silver) Amplifier with Richer Sounds for expert advice and Lowest Prices Guaranteed

www.richersounds.com

Promoting Richersounds is fine but you're assuming the OP is in the UK

 

[Gray]

At £300 for (effectively) a Streamer + DAC + Amplifier, it would have to be considered high scoring on the value for money spectrum. If you consider the WiiM Pro Plus was best music streamer under £300 (£219 RRP) you are effectively getting an amplifier for £80 which isn't to be laughed at.

Those were my thoughts when I saw it.
On the face of it, it looks like a real bargain.

 

[GroeneLeeuw]

If it does all it says and does it decently it is a bargain

 

[davidf]

My point entirely. It should drive them yes but drive them to a point where they perform at their best? That still remains to be seen....

I would guess no. And I’m only saying “guess” because I haven’t heard it (to avoid the pedants).. Otherwise, I’d just say a straight no.

 

[twinkletoes]

Promoting Richersounds is fine but you're assuming the OP is in the UK

a large assumption on my part for sure

 

[skinnypuppy71]

It'd be a bit of a mullet of a system imo.....2k speakers being driven by a 300quid amp....it's not what I'd use and "not what I use driving my 2k speakers "

 

[daytona600]

Wiim for £299 is brilliant , will drive the Kefs £2000 R3s
R3 would be better with something with real clout & control like a RAS5000

https://www.whathifi.com/news/rotel...-amplifier-with-streaming-smarts-and-hdmi-arc

 

[Al ears]

Wiim for £299 is brilliant , will drive the Kefs £2000 R3s
R3 would be better with something with real clout & control like a RAS5000

https://www.whathifi.com/news/rotel...-amplifier-with-streaming-smarts-and-hdmi-arc

Now that's more like it, something with all the facilities and a mass of current delivery.

 

[manicm]

WiiM Amp is a all-in-one streaming amplifier box, designed to provide both streaming capabilities and amplification to passive speakers. It comes equipped with HDMI ARC, Sub Out and a USB port, enabling playback of local music via USB. It delivers a continuous power of 120W per channel at 4 ohms load, with both channels driven.
I have already a new set of KEF R3 Meta and they are connected to a 20 year old Yamaha receiver.

Is this Wiim Amp, considering its specs and price an amplifier to buy?

NO, you want to pair a $300 all-in-one to a $2200 speaker?

People, please stop being stupid. Yes stupid. As good as the WiiM amp may be, do you really think a small 50w/channel amp will get the best out of the R3 Meta?????

Do you want to make me mad on a Tuesday night???? Go ahead, make my day punk.

 

[nightanddaygamechangers]

I’ve just seen a review of it pitted against a Fosi V3 with the bigger power supply, an SMSL SU-1 DAC, and a WiiM Pro, and it was outclassed for only $50 more.

For what is effectively an amp costing less than £100, I’d imagine it’s probably a bit of a waste of money with those speakers.

If budget is an issue, allocating less to the speakers, and more to the amp, might have been a better option.

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

Question is whether OP wants streaming or not. If no, spend the £300 (or more if possible) on an integrated amp that is "better" than the WiiM Amp. If yes, either: a) stick with the Yamaha and add (say) a WiiM mini for streaming purposes;or b) if budget is an issue, buy the WiiM Amp; or c) if budget is not an issue, look at better amp+dac+streamers.

 

[Al ears]

NO, you want to pair a $300 all-in-one to a $2200 speaker?

People, please stop being stupid. Yes stupid. As good as the WiiM amp may be, do you really think a small 50w/channel amp will get the best out of the R3 Meta?????

Do you want to make me mad on a Tuesday night???? Go ahead, make my day punk.

I can understand, I went the other way and once had a £13000 pre power combo driving £700 speakers.....it worked very well.

 

[manicm]

I can understand, I went the other way and once had a £13000 pre power combo driving £700 speakers.....it worked very well.

Your case is the reverse - which is much more likely to work out than the other way. I stand by what I said, in a more polite way