The $299 WiiM Amp Breathes New Life Into Old Speakers

The $99 WiiM Mini streamer has become the backbone of the small audio system in my girlfriend’s living room, and it’s one of the most easily recommendable audio products around. The WiiM Pro streamer ($149) adds a larger case with more inputs and outputs, and the WiiM Pro Plus ($219) increases performance by including a high-performance DAC based on an AKM chip. All of these require either a pair of powered speakers, such as the Audioengine speakers Hannah uses, or an existing amp paired with passive speakers. But what if you have a pair of passive speakers that you like, and you’re looking for a one-box streaming solution? This is precisely the conundrum that my friend Ralphie found himself in when his dad gave him some old Monitor Audio Radius speakers. He wanted a simple, one-box way to turn those passive speakers into a streaming audio system for sources like Spotify and podcasts. Ralphie isn’t an audiophile, so the $649 Bluesound Powernode Edge, which I initially recommended, seemed unnecessarily expensive to him. Luckily, WiiM has now launched its first streaming amplifier, the WiiM Amp ($299).

Like its predecessors, the WiiM Amp delivers hi-res, lossless audio from a variety of sources via the user-friendly WiiM Home App. If you prefer to use your favorite existing control app, the WiiM Amp also works with Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and Roon. It has multi-room capabilities allowing multiple zones of audio, and it comes in a snazzy-looking aluminum case that might be mistaken for a Mac Mini from a distance. Inside, it uses an ESS Sabre DAC ES9018 chip — the same chip found in the Schiit Modi+ DAC that sits between Hannah’s WiiM Mini and her powered speakers. Once the ones and zeroes have been converted, the resultant audio signal is treated to 60 watts of power, per channel, into 8 ohms. That number doubles into 4-ohm loads. The amp is built around the Class D 3255 amplifier chip from Texas Instruments, and features a custom-designed heatsink to optimize thermal performance. WiiM says that the amp uses “premium components and innovative circuitry (to) ensure robust, crystal-clear amplification.”

We’ve dedicated ourselves to designing products that elevate the music streaming experience, and the WiiM Amp is the first step in our expanded lineup. With valuable user feedback and our team’s commitment to superior audio quality, the WiiM Amp delivers audiophile-grade sound and a seamless experience for music enthusiasts to unlock a world of musical possibilities.

— Dr. Lifeng Zhao, CEO of WiiM

On the back of the WiiM Amp you’ll find analog RCA inputs, an optical Toslink input, an ethernet input, and  — crucially — an HDMI ARC port allowing the WiiM Amp to play nice with your TV. A USB storage device filled with your music can turn the WiiM Amp into a music server. And unlike the $699 Sonos Amp, which a Best Buy employee recommended to Ralphie, the WiiM can handle high-res audio up to 24-bit/192kHz. The WiiM Amp’s subwoofer output offers impressive bass management from within the WiiM app. Not only can you set a low-pass frequency for the sub, you can also high-pass the main speakers. 

The app even lets you adjust the subwoofer’s gain level from your listening chair. Also accessed via the app is customizable EQ, including 24 preset settings. Or, you can use a 10-band graphic EQ or 4-band parametric EQ to tailor the sound to your liking. The app allows the user to set independent EQ profiles for each input source. Like other WiiM products, the WiiM Amp supports Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Alexa Music Cast, Qobuz, Pandora, DLNA, and more.

More information: WiiM Amp

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.