WiiM Amp Streaming Amplifier Review (After Two Months)

[@Tharbamar]

↗Associated Component List In Video Description ↖ ☝Be careful of scammers in the comments or social media platforms who pretend to be me and trying to scam. 👋I'm not hosting giveaways or asking you to contact me. 👍A real comments/replies from me has a GRAYED OUT profile name just like this comment. 🫵 Also, due to spam posts, links are No Longer Allowed in comment section. Thanks for watching! 🙏

[@samlee2562]

Got this for my mum for a simple tv setup and radio and it's perfect 👌

[@picodkhifi]

Great review. You are the only one mentioning noise of the several reviews I've seen on this unit. You also give your thoughts and opinion about the HDMI arc feature, which again, no other reviewers mention. Thank you for that! I dont know why this is left out in other reviews, since most people will use it with their TV.

[@CaptainCrunch823]

I recently got one and mine is very quiet through a couple sets of speakers.

[@michaelwright1602]

This would make a good little amp/streamer for a two channel TV setup with a subwoofer or two, using sensitive speakers. I am sure the TV and for casual music listening would sound incredibly good, especially with the bass management. Those CSS speakers sound very good.

[@rainham1]

you really must be the stereo feet pad king. quite elevated, well done sir!

[@ensignofindustry1033]

I think this is a very thoughtful an unbiased review.

[@epi2045]

Wiim amp $299 + ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 3-Way Bookshelf Speakers $249 + Klipsch Reference Sub R-120SW $299 + Music Hall MMF-1.3 Turntable $349 = $1,200 all in for a nice little system.

[@bengleason508]

The UB5 is a very good and very hard speaker to drive. I would recommend a speaker with an easier load for the WiiM amp.

[@asianskywalker]

Just get monitor audio bronze 100 7g and no need for a sub

[@nyccrcsx]

What did you setting’s at on the subwoofer itself?

[@snoepox1257]

But then is has nog no power 😢 using it in my living room. Its just not powerful enough.

[@cgreenfield6655]

This thing is truly groundbreaking. Good job Wiim!

[@nishalp1747]

Thank you for video. How does it compare to the SMSL AO300 in terms of sound quality?

[@stereotonic]

Great review thanks!

[@trinityflow]

Also for an even lower cost near field speaker and HP system I use my work laptop with Roon/Tidal into a SMSL DS100 DAC $64 into $50 preamp and $50 amp into small Sony $80 speakers and is pretty phenomenal. The balanced 4.4 out on the SMSL DAC is also unbeatable with my HIFIMAN Edition XS headphones $269. Try it!

[@DanielMonroy-db7uo]

texto con la cámara In your experience...is it better than the SMSL AO300???

[@trinityflow]

Late to the party but I just got the Wiim amp for $240 on Amazon prime days. Great price for what you get for sure. Running it into Klipsch RP-600Ms which were only $240 for the pair. Excellent for near field listening and loving Roon/Tidal.

[@Tharbamar]

Yeah, it is a very capable little amp.

[@blurr063]

Hello. Would you prefer this over the smsl a0300?

[@fatboyvin]

Really curious about this as well

[@inmouchar]

With the Wiim Amp being so new, my only concern is durability. Compared to the more traditional, bigger amplifiers that have been around for decades and are almost guaranteed to last for many years, do you think the Wiim Amp is built to last as long, or does it seem like it's more fragile and more prone to fail in the long run?

[@Tharbamar]

I’m not sure about longevity with switching mode power supply inside, only time will tell.

[@mgudip]

Thank you for an indepth review - of this and the SMSL AO300 - I actually went ahead and purchased the SMSL AO300, partly based on your recommendations. I am thinking of pairing it with the Wiim pro streamer to drive a pair of Boston Acoustics VR3s (floor-standing speakers; 8 ohms; 93 db sensitivity). It appears the Wiim DAC implementation is not as strong as the SMSL AO300, so was planning to use the digital out (i.e., use the Wiim as a streamer alone). I would appreciate any comments / suggestions / alternatives. Thanks again! :)

[@OSQQ123]

Thank you for the review. Would you recommend this amp over SMSL AO300 sound quality wise? I saw a number of reviews that say that Wiim has a weak power supply and is therefore not able to control speakers without distortions

[@Tharbamar]

AO300 have better power delivery.

[@dogtag114]

I just want a simple, small amp for WiFi control of two outdoor speakers. Is there a better option?

[@amakrid]

You can still use any old amplifier with a streamer and control the volume from your phone through the streamer.

[@Marc-fd6uw]

What feet are you using on your WiiM amp?

[@HeavyBeats24]

My WiiM amp is going back. Arc channel keeps dropping and the streaming has been a nightmare. Real bummer because the streaming in my WiiM pro is just great. Between this and me ordering the fosi v3 and instead getting an open box p3! Chi fi has left a terrible taste in my mouth. Done! Good luck to you all !

[@marcusmcmurray77]

Wiim Pro is also Chi-Fi... 😕

[@mcjonner]

I wonder how a wiim pro+ and fosi amp would compare I would think would be a killer combo. A great secondary bedroom or garage system.

[@Tharbamar]

WiiM Pro does not have subwoofer bass management, that will be major difference. Thanks

[@TarkiBeladakis]

Morning Tharnbamar the white caabinet with your eqipment on it is that a product you can purchase or is it made by yourself?

[@Tharbamar]

It was a custom made, thanks

[@vladimirjovanovic2803]

Hi Tharbamar, Thank you for this review. In Europe, this WiiM Amp costs an equivalent of between 380 and 420 usd delivered, depending on where you purchase it and how much you pay for the delivery. Do you think it's still a good value even at that price level? Thanks!

[@Tharbamar]

I still think it's still good value because it comes with most compatible(services) music streamer with Bass management, PEQ. Thanks

[@vladimirjovanovic2803]

@@Tharbamar Thank you!

[@connorduke4619]

Hi Tharbamar, could you please attach a link to the "ferrite core on the power cable" you mentioned?

[@Tharbamar]

Just added the link in video description, thanks

[@freezerlunik]

thanks for the review! IMO all the people asking to compare to full-size receivers are being obtuse if not outright idiots. This amp is about form factor and extensive functionality without compromising the audio quality too badly, all put together at a bargain price. If form factor and power usage is not an issue, STICK WITH YOUR EXISTING CLASS A/B amp, folks, and perhaps buy a streamer from Wiim for the connectivity and DAC functionality your power amp may not have.

[@mcjonner]

How would you rate the aperion versus grand III these days? I seen it got 5 stars from you a few years ago. I'm looking for tower speakers, prefer full sound slightly elevated bass. Are there other top contenders I should cross shop?

[@Tharbamar]

Hi, If you’re talking S-1EX it’s in the different league, in current offering you’ll have to compare with something from over 15k price range, if you’re thinking of GV III I would suggest you to look for KEF R900 in used market or NOS, it’ll be nice choice based on your preference, thanks

[@mcjonner]

@@Tharbamar which ones are the NOS? Thanks for the reply

[@KOLBEN40]

How did you prepare mogami cable? Do you use shield to increase the condictor size, or for noise correction via connectiing it only from amp's side?

[@Up27am]

Hello Are the maglev isolators for your turntable still going strong? Thx

[@Tharbamar]

Hi it’s still going strong.

[@Up27am]

@@Tharbamar Ok good to hear I want the 53mm larger size Do you think they could hold a tower speaker? And what is the bolt size m8 m6 etc?

[@Tharbamar]

@@Up27am What I have is M8 but I'm not sure about heavier weight handling, here is the video of them from a while back kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2fUiXSojpipZ8k

[@Skipow10]

I owned the wiim amp for maybe two weeks. Great functionality and what people are looking for. Unfortunately, after a continuous slight buzzing for a few days the amp became extremely weak, sound was very thin and would no longer power my speakers properly. (elac ub52 or kef q150) I'm concerned it may have damaged the speakers it was so bad. Super disappointing. Plan to now try the svs prime soundbase pro hoping for a better experience at more than 2x the cost.

[@aussie8114]

Off subject but how long do you need to let your Accuphase warm up for before it sounds good? Most amps need some warm up but the Accuphase having 2 very large capacitors I’m thinking an extended warm up time is likely needed.

[@Tharbamar]

I just let it idle for 30 minutes before I start listening.

[@Octocoupler]

Wow, love those jbl

[@nene2734]

Thank you for the video I’m new to this. I got kef q150 and I want to use this to connect a turntable and also to stream Hifi music. Can I do that with these three items ? Also what type of speaker wire and banana plugs do you recommend?

[@frankluba8747]

How does Wiim compare sound-wise to SMSL AO300?

[@Tharbamar]

AO300 is better in noise performance and out of the box sound but PEQ in WiiM Amp make up the most, thanks

[@byronvisiado09]

I'm torn between this and the Cambridge Audio AXA35 in terms of sound quality. Any idea which one would be better sound wise?

[@michaelwright1602]

My money is on the Cambridge, they have a nice warm sound that holds the detail. I would go with a WiiM Pro, live with the internal DAC for a bit until you can find a nice separate DAC to use.

[@TomT-bn1lm]

Absolutely the Cambridge will be the better sounding.

[@TarkiBeladakis]

Hi Tharbamar can you connect the WIIM AMP to the following - Topping D90 iii DAC, A90D Headphone amp and PRE 90 Digital PREAMP. I was going to purchase LA90 AMP but it does not have a sub out. The dac and pre amp can be connected but the power amdp has XLR and RCA connections only. Is there a way to connect it to WIIM amp as it has no XLR but other connections. Any assistance would be great help. Thanking you.

[@protikcvs]

No KZbin reviewer is talking about the huge latency over Bluetooth and Chromecast playback.

[@r423fplip]

You need the darko door stop on top, opens up the soundstage.

[@michaelwright1602]

Stack two doorstops and the bass will improve. ;-)

[@RGMDG]

@@michaelwright1602 Especially on the kick Drum

[@Francrev489]

Hi, great amplifier at this price. Are you used the SMSL SU-X DAC in this audio? I´m waiting for a review. Thank you for all.

[@Tharbamar]

Hi, not using SU-X for this review, it's all WiiM Amp with PEQ. Thanks

[@Francrev489]

@@Tharbamar Thank you for answering me. When will you review the SMSL SU-X?

[@Tharbamar]

@@Francrev489 Hi my review will be up this week, thanks

[@martinreisinger440]

Hello, I am now the owner of 2 x wiim amp. Now a question, can I only play the music played in the wiim app (radio, amazon, spatify, tidal,...) as multiroom? Or can I also play music as multiroom from another app, outside of the Wiim app? hope it's understandable what I mean?!? Thank you

[@PeterBaly]

Wiim vs smsl ao200 mk2 ? Sound quality

[@briancampbell7712]

Hi Tharbamar...hope you're enjoying your new Accuphase.... believe it or not I'm selling my new Denon PMA SX1 Limited Japan 100v...I found a pair of vintage Spendor S100 and liked the sound so much on the guys equipment that i purchased it from him... Pre amp Klimax Kontrol with dynamic upgrade and the vintage Yahmaha M2 amplifier...source is my Denon S1 DCD SACD DAC...now i'm going to try and bi amp with another Yahmaha M2...the Spendor S100 are rated at 89 efficient...do you think i will get even better quality if I bi amp?

[@Tharbamar]

S100 is very good vintage speakers but I don’t know how much of it impedance swing is because older Yamaha M2 series are not designed to drive for below 4ohm load, bi amping should definitely help.

[@briancampbell7712]

@@Tharbamar the Spendor S100 speakers are 89.5dB/W/m (2.83V). Nominal impedance: 8 ohms...the Yahmaha M2 is Continuous power 8Ω: 200 + 200 Watts...so if i bi amp will i get 400 watts continuous for each speaker?... also I will bi wire them too...I really really love the vintage Spendor S100...end game speaker for quite a while...also vintage Yahmaha M2 from the Klimax pre🎶

[@ionutfechete6328]

Hello, super review, thanks. Between this WiiM Amp and an Yamaha Rx V581 reciver what would you choose and why? What about an Yamaha R-N800a? Thanks a lot!

[@TomT-bn1lm]

Anything Yamaha would be better than this Wiim Amp. Other than the case, Wiim builds to a very low quality, and you should not have any issues with a Yamaha.

[@ionutfechete6328]

@@TomT-bn1lm thanks a lot. I already have that Yamaha Rx V581, and it sounds very good, but it doesn’t have Tidal Connect… that’s why I want to change it. What about Sonos AMP or Bluesound Powernode/Edge or Yamaha RN800A or older RX A2050? Thanks a lot!

[@TomT-bn1lm]

@@ionutfechete6328 You have an Optical Input on the back of the Yamaha. The Wiim Streamer (only), has an optical output. You get the Wiim software and connectivity. Are those good an reliable? I have no idea. I haven't heard the Bluesound powernode or Edge, but I would still think a Yamaha amp would do a better job overall. Bluesound Node though, is a very good streamer. Just get an amp with a digital input.

[@hndrksy]

With a subwoofer attached, did it help with the amp's power limitations from farther listening position? Thank you 😊

[@Tharbamar]

it should because you can adjust crossover point. thanks

[@MrBoomtheroom]

can you get the athena preamp to review>?

[@michaelwright1602]

I had one, my buddy had two... They are flat, boring, meh comes to mind. I would look elsewhere. I had mine paired with a Venus II 12th DAC and their Thallo amplifier. My buddy had his paired with one of the Kinky Studio amps... Both me and my friend have sold all of our Denafrips/Kinky Studio gear.

[@liamporter1137]

Wow, a cost effective gear.

[@Firebottleman]

It gets bright at higher volumes because it is running out of steam. Not much headroom. These are the first signs that an amp is starting to clip. I own their streamer, and for the $ it is great, but their amp, no thanks. Thank you for the review Tharbamar.

[@peticnicolai3942]

Hello ,Smsl a300 or wiim amp?

[@happyaslarry5839]

That’s the question

[@happyaslarry5839]

I am currently trying both with Monitor Audio Bronze 500

[@peticnicolai3942]

Smsl a300 + wiim pro plus,sound quality

[@LeprOsy9999]

You do a great job my friend, all the best wishes, Maybe not entirely on topic, but I wanted to ask your which power cable from those you use has best improves holography and depth of the music scene? and where do you use it, (DAC or AMP?) i have a speaker cable canare 4s11, they are great to depth of the music scene and i want to take it to better level,.I would like a power cable for a DACC or AMP that will give the effect of cutting instruments out of the air and at the same time will not ruin the wallet.

[@AdiMaco]

I hate class D amplifiers, but I love your reviews!

[@Tharbamar]

Thanks

[@r423fplip]

Hate !

[@667hodge]

The TPA3255 chip costs $9

[@xmi4326]

q150 with wiim is prtetty shiiity

[@amakrid]

Given it's a 150-dollar amp with a 150-dollar streamer, it sounds quite OK, but if I had to spend 300 dollars, I'd choose to buy the streamer and a used old AB amp - even vintage. With some refreshing the old boy would sing. What I hear here isn't music; it is sound.

[@Noname-yu8qw]

stupid minimalistic design, instead of having buttons

[@simonzinc-trumpetharris852]

Equalizers? Meh!

[@michaeloconnor9465]

WiiM amp is not hi-fi. It is the same as denons heos or Sonos but not Hi Fi, and why do you reviewers hype the WiiM amp because it is sent to you and you are told to. Buy a Cambridge Audio amp for £200 and a Cambridge Audio CD player for £150 and that is Hi-Fi.

[@vnepodozreniya4324]

I don't see the point in giving such an assessment without evidence, maybe you can give a link to a comparison? Audiophiles spend thousands of dollars on wires, but it doesn't make sense in terms of sound quality.

[@michaeloconnor9465]

@vnepodozreniya4324 If you look at the video, the reviewer has expensive equipment. Is he going to get rid of his amp and change to a WiiM amp. No, he isn't. You are better off buying an old AVR for 50 dollars and using that instead of the WiiM amp. I don't use expensive cables. My spraker cables are MonoPrice, which cost me 60 dollars for a whole roll.

[@vnepodozreniya4324]

@@michaeloconnor9465 thx you for your reply. Ok, I believe your words, I'm choosing an integrated amplifier for myself now. I need to have bluetooth, an optical input and a built-in DAC. At first I thought of taking the WiiM, but after researching, I'm now leaning towards the Cambridge Audio CXA61. But in my country it costs $1000. What can you advise me?

[@michaeloconnor9465]

@vnepodozreniya4324 If you are in the US, would you not get better value with a US made amp and streamer. You are paying a premium for Cambridge Audio in the US. UK price £599 new £299 Ebay.

[@vnepodozreniya4324]

@@michaeloconnor9465 unfortunately, I live in Russia, ebay does not deliver here)

[@jaball77]

There’s nothing “hifi” about this product. It’s based on the same old amp chips all the other small amps like this are. And it has problems with hissing and random noise from the speakers. The breathless promotion of this thing on KZbin is out of control and kind of sad.

[@dannyilaya8432]

Stinking chinese, i think !!!