WiiM Amp Pro

[manicm]

Seems this little box has been underestimated, especially by myself. It's been getting far more favourable and positive reviews than the vanilla version.

Someone here bemoaned the price of new hifi, well this may become the defacto starter system since the NAD 3020, still coming in less than a new iPhone, great speakers included.

 

[njprrogers]

They seem to be really pushing the envelope on what is possible with these little TI chip amps. I haven't heard it yet but would like to check it out.

I wonder if they would be tempted to push again with Hypex or similar. It would push the price but you would be getting close to competing with amps 5x the price.

 

[nopiano]

I’ve a hunch that my pairing of Fosi V3 Monos with a Wimm Pro Plus streamer probably gives a similar performance, but without the neat, one-box design to benefit from. I believe it’s the same TI chip, with tweaks.

Frankly, I could easily have lived with it, aside from my personal need for more inputs, for turntable, CD player, tape and tuner, and long-held preference for big boxes with well spaced socketry.

 

[Vincent Kars]

I wonder if they would be tempted to push again with Hypex or similar.

Have a look at the SNAD table: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-pro-streaming-stereo-amplifier-review.57257/
Indeed there is room for improvement using Hypex or Purify but I wonder if it will be audible.

 

[manicm]

They seem to be really pushing the envelope on what is possible with these little TI chip amps. I haven't heard it yet but would like to check it out.

I wonder if they would be tempted to push again with Hypex or similar. It would push the price but you would be getting close to competing with amps 5x the price.

Wiim are not playing the traditional hifi game. They're not Schitt, or even Fosi. The Amp Pro still has a limiting power supply in such a small box, so inserting the best dac chip or amp modules is a fool's errand. This is NOT their target market.

Where WiiM are smashing it is in their software. From the get go they just nailed it. And something all other companies, big or small, should learn from. It's embarassing really.

What they did to the Pro is add a bit more stability so that the frequency response does not vary so wildly as with the vanilla version. I still would hesitate to add a pair of B&W 607s on them though, or try first.

 

[nopiano]

Wiim are not playing the traditional hifi game. They're not Schitt, or even Fosi. The Amp Pro still has a limiting power supply in such a small box, so inserting the best dac chip or amp modules is a fool's errand. This is NOT their target market.

Where WiiM are smashing it is in their software. From the get go they just nailed it. And something all other companies, big or small, should learn from. It's embarassing really.

What they did to the Pro is add a bit more stability so that the frequency response does not vary so wildly as with the vanilla version. I still would hesitate to add a pair of B&W 607s on them though, or try first.

Definitely second their software usability. The Pro Plus was much more dependable from start up than my well fettled Linn streamer, which gets grumpy if the router has had a hiccup, or my iPad logs onto an alternative Wi-Fi signal.

Wiim have definitely nailed that aspect, never mind the free room tuning and multi band EQ!

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

What do we think WiiM do next? Refresh the Mini? Phase out the non-Plus versions?

 

[njprrogers]

Wiim are not playing the traditional hifi game. They're not Schitt, or even Fosi. The Amp Pro still has a limiting power supply in such a small box, so inserting the best dac chip or amp modules is a fool's errand. This is NOT their target market.

Where WiiM are smashing it is in their software. From the get go they just nailed it. And something all other companies, big or small, should learn from. It's embarassing really.

What they did to the Pro is add a bit more stability so that the frequency response does not vary so wildly as with the vanilla version. I still would hesitate to add a pair of B&W 607s on them though, or try first.

I 100% agree. I have worked for software startups for years and their support, feature releases and roadmap mirrors that approach far more than trad hifi companies.

 

[RoA]

I am sure 35% of the sane population would be happy with this and 64.999% would probably opt for a soundbar or BT speaker of sorts.

Of the remaining 0.001%, 0.0009% (Hifi nerds) would want more and of those, 0.0001% could live with it.

Does that add up?

 

[manicm]

I am sure 35% of the sane population would be happy with this and 64.999% would probably opt for a soundbar or BT speaker of sorts.

Of the remaining 0.001%, 0.0009% (Hifi nerds) would want more and of those, 0.0001% could live with it.

Does that add up?

Why? The WiiM Amp Pro with say Q Acoustics 3000 series speakers would work very well. Or many speakers under 800 quid really. You seem to be underestimating it a little.

This would still blow a budget soundbar or BT speaker out of the weeds.

 

[RoA]

Not at all but the product is a little in no man's land. Most non-Hifi folks (the majority of the population) will not opt for anything that involves a box and extra speakers. On the other hand, the small amount of people of people that are in to hifi will look at it as a second/bedroom/office system at best, not a main system.

I congratulate WiiM for producing something like this though. If it gets a kid or two into the hobby at an affordable price, great.