The streaming amplifier WiiM Amp is the new darling of the hi-fi scene. Its low price could put Sonos and Bose in trouble.
Update from February 12, 2024: Replenishment! The WiiM Amp is now available again on Amazon, after being sold out for the past few days. The seller is “Linkplay Technology Inc.”, the company behind the WiiM brand. The colors available are space gray and silver.
Original article:
WiiM Amp: Powerful streaming amplifier for little money
A small box that has a lot to offer: The WiiM Amp weighs less than 2 kg and still offers a whopping 120 watts per channel (4 ohms). It is a Multiroom streaming amplifier – more precisely: a stereo amplifier for passive speakers that is network-capable and suitable for multiroom setups. The supported protocols: AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Alexa Cast and DLNA. It is set up and controlled using the appropriate smartphone app for Android and iOS. The WiiM Amp is currently the No. 1 bestseller on Amazon in the “Hifi amplifier” category (as of January 18, 2024), confidently putting itself ahead of well-known audio brands such as Sony or Yamaha.
WiiM Amp
The price may be higher now. Price as of February 12, 2024 1:33 a.m
Why is the WiiM Amp so popular?
The bundle of decent amplifier power and modern network features is not new – we already know that from Sonos Ampdem Bluesound Powernode Edge or that Bose Music Amplifier. A strong argument, however, is the low price of the WiiM Amp, which significantly undercuts the established competing products. The Sonos Amp costs an impressive 799 euros (view at Sonos) and the Bose Music Amplifier costs around 700 euros (view at Amazon). The WiiM Amp costs significantly less (see Amazon) and according to the data sheet it offers comparable performance and functions.
WiiM Amp: Even the associated app is praised in tests (Image source: WiiM) WiiM Amp now from €369.00 on Amazon
The price may be higher now. Price as of February 12, 2024 5:10 a.m
The test reports published so far about the WiiM Amp are full of praise. For John from Darko.Audio, the small amplifier is “a very powerful one Contender for product of the year.” The direct comparison with Sonos is a bit harsh: “I’m honestly amazed that WiiM managed to package its amp in aluminum for less than half the price of the plastic-covered Sonos Amp, without relying on an external power supply The WiiM Amp also wins at low beats: Top grade, 5 stars! Sound quality, handling, the app and of course the attractive price are praised. “With the WiiM Amp you can build affordable, sound-absolutely grown-up systems, as an optimal entry-level, as a second or third system,” summarizes HiFi veteran Bernhard Rietschel.
Declaration of war on the established competition
Will audio manufacturers like Bose have to warm up in the future? Are we dealing with a “Sonos killer” with the WiiM Amp? The answer to that is both yes and no. Yes, because the functionality and price of the WiiM Amp are undoubtedly excellent. No, because the well-known multiroom systems are designed to be relatively closed. If you already have Sonos speakers throughout your home, you probably won’t suddenly buy a model from Yamaha or Denon – they are not compatible with each other.
WiiM Amp from the back: HDMI Arc, Optical, Line are the inputs, on the right side there are solid speaker connections for passive speakers (Image source: WiiM) WiiM Amp now from €369.00 at Amazon
The price may be higher now. Price as of February 12, 2024 5:10 a.m
It will be exciting to see whether WiiM manages to shake up the industry sustainably or whether users prefer to remain loyal to the brands they are familiar with. By the way: The company behind the “Wiim” brand is Linkplay Technology from Newark, California. Founded in 2014, it specializes in music streaming software. The clientele includes well-known names such as Marshall, Harman and JBL.
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