WiiM's affordable, high-performance streaming amp gets an update
WiiM's Amp Pro has almost all of the features that made the company's Amp a big hit with our customers, plus some nice upgrades. The chassis design is identical, and setup is equally convenient: just pair the Amp Pro with a nice pair of passive speakers for a sweet stereo system with high-res streaming built in.
So what makes the Amp Pro different? WiiM has improved the internal circuitry for more reliable wireless performance and better sound quality. And unlike the Amp, the Pro doesn't come with Apple AirPlay. Read on for a closer look.
Lower noise-floor and an upgraded DAC
The Amp Pro's redesigned internal circuitry implements a Class D amplifier with Post-Filter Feedback. This results in a notably lower noise floor, with lower distortion and better clarity and detail compared to the original Amp. And the upgraded DAC uses a highly regarded audiophile ESS Sabre ES9032QM2 chip, so you can get the best out of locally stored high-res files and music services like Qobuz, TIDAL, and Spotify.
At home for a first look at the Amp Pro
WiiM sent CapitalSound.ca an early sample of the Amp Pro that I took home for an audition. Unboxing was a pleasant (even "Apple-like") experience. The unit itself, like the original Amp, has a solid, heavy feel, with a single simple front-panel knob and thoughtfully laid-out connections on the back panel.
I connected it to a pair of ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 3-way bookshelf speakers. As usual, I was pleasantly astounded by how quickly and easily I was able to get it set up: within five minutes I'd added it to our home network, entered my Qobuz credentials in the WiiM Home App, and run room correction using my iPhone.
I played a few of my favorite reference tracks, and when I got to Andy Pratt's Inside Me Wants Out and I was literally giggling with pleasure at the level of detail I was hearing. It feels to me like WiiM has hit upon another combination of features and price that should please a great many casual listeners and hi-fi aficionados alike.
Faster tri-band Wi-Fi
The Amp Pro uses the latest tri-band Wi-Fi 6E. That's a big step forward over the dual-band Wi-Fi 5 used in the Amp. you'll get faster speeds with less interference and lower latency - advantages you may appreciate if you stream high-res music or have a lot of connected devices in your house.
User-friendly streaming options with multi-room capability
The Amp Pro connects to your home network using Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and it's super-easy to set up using the free WiiM Home app for Apple® and Android™ . You can access and manage a bunch of music services from within the app and group additional WiiM components (sold separately) together for multi-room playback. A sync audio option in the WiiM app uses a built-in mic on the Amp Pro to get rid of any playback latency between grouped devices.
Plenty of users will take advantage of its Google Cast and Alexa support - both for single-zone and multi-room streaming. It also works with Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect, which give you access to the Amp Pro natively from within those apps. And it will also show up in your player list if you're using Roon (subscription required). The Amp Pro does not have AirPlay 2 like previous WiiM devices. I'm an Apple user, but for me the lack of AirPlay support isn't a big deal. The sound quality and response time are noticeably better when you stream using the WiiM Home app.
Two-way Bluetooth lets you stream wirelessly from your compatible smartphone, tablet, computer. You can also stream from the Amp Pro to your favorite Bluetooth headphones or speaker.
Connect analog and digital sources, including HDMI ARC for TV
You can connect an analog source like a turntable with a phono preamp or cassette deck to the Amp Pro's line-level stereo RCA input. An optical input lets you connect a digital audio source like CD player. Or play high-res music files stored on an external storage drive connected to the USB port. You can even use the HDMI ARC port to connect your TV for great two-channel soundtrack audio. Then you can stream those sources to other compatible multi-room speakers or WiiM components in your system.
Room correction, subwoofer output, and bass management
Built-in room correction lets you fine-tune the sound of your system using the WiiM app on your smartphone - a great way to overcome any sonic deficiencies of your particular listening environment. You also get an output for a powered subwoofer (sold separately) with handy in-app bass management controls. And when you connect a sub, the Amp Pro's high-pass filter relieves it from trying to reproduce low frequencies, allowing it to deliver more robust midrange and high-frequency performance from your connected stereo speakers.
Product highlights:
- premium ESS Sabre ES9032QM2 DAC with up to 32-bit/384kHz decoding
- Texas Instruments TPA3255 Class-D amplifier
- 60 watts x 2 into 8 ohms, 120 watts x 2 into 4 ohms
- PFFB (Post-Filter Feedback) technology for clean, low-noise performance
- built-in tri-band Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
- control with free WiiM Home app for Apple and Android devices
- play music from Qobuz, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Deezer, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and more
- control and group with other WiiM devices (sold separately) on your network
- built-in room correction creates customized output for your speakers
- supports Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and Google Cast
- does not support Apple AirPlay/AirPlay 2
- works as a Roon player (requires subscription and Roon Core running on your network)
- Roon Core is media server software that runs on your computer, NAS drive, or other compatible hardware
- two-way Bluetooth 5.3 with support for Bluetooth LE
- stream from your compatible device to the amp
- stream from the amp to Bluetooth speakers or headphones
- works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control devices (sold separately)
- remote control included
- volume and playback control
- four presets - one touch starts your favorite playlists
- built-in mic accepts Alexa voice commands
Connections:
- analog stereo line-level RCA input
- optical digital input
- HDMI ARC port for a compatible TV
- USB Type-A port
- input for connecting an external drive loaded with music
- output to external DAC
- gold-plated binding posts for connecting a pair of passive speakers
- mono RCA output for connecting a powered subwoofer
- Ethernet port for a wired connection to your home network
- detachable power cord
Other info:
- two built-in antennas help optimize wireless performance
- 7-1/2"W x 2-7/16"H x 8-5/8"D
- weight: 4.1 lbs.
- warranty: 1 year
- MFR # Amp Pro
- Item # 399WAMPPRO
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