The Built-in HiFi Amp that does all of it for $299. WIIM Amp Evaluate. |

The Built-in HiFi Amp that does all of it for $299. WIIM Amp Evaluate.

By Steve Huff 

Video evaluate! 

After I noticed that WIIM launched an multi functional built-in amp not so way back for $299 I used to be sure it was going to be a pile of crap. In my over three many years of constructing HIFi methods and listening to music on them I’ve by no means seen an built-in amp that sounded nice and included all you wanted to get began. With this WIIM, all it’s worthwhile to do is add audio system and you’re in enterprise.

Normally, in my expertise, all these merchandise are made to make a fast buck. Promoting polished rubbish for what looks as if a deal. Once more, this has been most of my expertise up to now with these type of merchandise. 

I’ve had the WIIM amp right here for fairly some time, a number of weeks, ever because it got here out. I’ve waited to do my evaluate because it appears everybody else has already made a evaluate concerning the little WIIM amp. I made a decision I’d wait till the smoke cleared and provides my very own sincere opinion on this little marvel field.

Effectively, the time is now as I’ve over 100 hours of pure listening time on this HiFi piece and am able to spill the beans on the WIIM AMP. What you’ll learn right here and see within the video above are my sincere ideas from a man who has heard and owned  (in my properties) built-in amps starting from $79 to $27,000.

It’s not what you assume 

This little $299 Built-in amp will not be dangerous in any means, form or kind. In. reality it’s higher than “superb” and borderlines on glorious, particularly contemplating the acute worth right here. I’ve been blessed and fortunate in life to have the ability to hear a ton of built-in amplifiers. Again within the day, all had been 100% analog. Today, increasingly are making all these amps way more digital oriented. Class D energy, inbuilt DAC and even streamers can reside in small compact containers nowadays. I’ve been ready for somebody to do “Reasonably priced Audio” the precise means.

Not so way back I reviewed a Yamaha that was attractive to take a look at and hearken to. It got here in at $4k and I felt it was price each cent. It additionally had a streamer, a DAC and the amp part which was Class A/B. The Yamaha additionally had room correction which for me didn’t do an excessive amount of however for others this characteristic could also be a godsend. I nonetheless have this amp, and it has grow to be one I’ve bonded with. That means, will probably be right here for a very long time to return. No, the WIIM cannot finest the Yamaha in any means however I’ll be darned if it didn’t give me a style of that have.

This WIIM amp will not be $4k however moderately a measly $299 and there may be even a characteristic within the WIIM app that means that you can customise the sound to your audio system. Sure, it has an EQ inbuilt you could activate or off. It additionally has a parametric EQ which may be helpful for dialing it in to your room and audio system.

The WIIM amp can be constructed higher than I anticipated. I believed it was going to really feel hole, very like the WIIM Professional + Streamer. Nope, its looks like a Mac Mini from a decade in the past. Strong, just a little hefty and the quantity/energy dial even feels fairly strong. Nothing actually low cost feeling right here. It even ships with a distant (however doesn’t embrace the AAA batteries).

I’ll simply say that this little amp exceeded my expectations for the fee.

THE FIRST LISTEN

After I first put the WIIM amp in my system with the Nearer Acoustics OGY Audio system and the 4 BOB bass models I did discover a change in sound from the amps I’ve been listening to that are the excessive finish Audio Group Denmark Axxess Forte 1, the very excessive finish Daniel Hertz Maria and the Yamaha RN-2000 I nonetheless have right here. Was the change good or dangerous??

Earlier than I get began on the sound let me handle one thing. You’ll discover I’m evaluating a $299 built-in amp to those who value a number of 1000’s of {dollars}. Why would I do that? Effectively, why not? No, the WIIM amp cannot evaluate to items that value 1000’s, it isn’t meant to. With that stated, these are items I’ve right here as I usually evaluate mid to excessive finish gear. I’ve additionally owned one thing very related for a few years, a PS Audio Sprout 100. The Sprout is about double the price of the WIIM.

I may also be utilizing audio system which are on the extra dear facet to check this amp with the bottom value set being round $1200. The highest hits $11k audio system. I really feel if this little amp can energy all of those audio system very properly then it’ll absolutely be fairly glorious for decrease finish audio system. Audio system are the center of a system (after the room they’re in) and I’ve discovered that decrease finish audio system within the $300-$500 vary will sound respectable with the WIIM. Mid priced audio system comparable to KEF R3 Meta, Galion Voyager TL, and so on will sound higher with the WIIM.

Nobody on earth will purchase this WIIM for $299 and purchase $10k audio system however will probably be good to know the way it does with audio system comparable to this. So how did it sound subsequent to the extra dear built-in amps?

It was totally different. I didn’t hear any offending noise or buzzing from the amp. It might have been making just a little noise inside, however nothing to fret about. Most cheaper amps have some inside noise, generally clicks, generally only a cloudy kind of sound.

With the WIIM Amp….

When music began the sound was thinner and flatter than what I used to be used to with my larger greenback amps and streamers. With that stated it was so a lot better than I had ever imagined. As soon as I used the EQ (that I usually by no means use) I used to be very impressed as these frequencies that had been lacking in motion had been now right here, and it was sounding superb.

I felt I used to be in a position to get this little $299 field to sound 70% pretty much as good as the massive cash amps simply by tweaking the EQ.

I set the EQ to the place it sounded finest in my house. I then began to listen to what the potential of this piece actually was. I spent a whole day swapping amps from the Hertz to the Axxess to the Yamaha and again to the WIIM. Whereas the WIIM seems extra generic and has no show the sound was actually making me scratch my head. It’s moderately glorious and musical and when tuned with the EQ I seen the soundstage which was introduced in a pleasant semi extensive means, was really there. The imaging was subdued however once more, it was there, permitting me to expertise a pleasant style of what the larger amps convey. Sure, vocals had been lifeless heart after adjusting the audio system for the amp.

The tone was a contact darker than the Forte and Hertz, a hair hotter with a extra subdued prime finish. In comparison with the Yamaha it was not as punchy or beefy but it surely had its personal pleasing type of vibe and sound. Musical? Sure certainly. Audiophile High quality? No.

There may be nothing analytical or overcooked concerning the WIIM Amp. There may be nothing that sounds raggedy neither is there grunge that slips in. Not one of the normal suspects that come from finances amps may be discovered within the WIIM amp and that is completely wonderful for what this prices.

I’ve to say it many times to myself … “This can be a THREE HUNDRED DOLLAR AMP”. 

I nonetheless personal the PS Audio Sprout which I nearly forgot about because it’s been tucked away for about 2 years now. This WIIM for me destroys the sprout in sound. No, the WIIM doesn’t have a phono stage however the amp and DAC part is superior to the PS Audio starter piece for my ears. A lot in order that right now I couldn’t suggest the Sprout because the WIIM for me, sounds higher and prices a lot much less. Additionally, the WIIM may be arrange inside 5-10 minutes. Obtain the app, join and away you go. It’s actually easy.

WIIM actually created a product right here that may ship the products however the issue is there are too many on the market like me. Those that assume the worth of $299 means it might by no means be a superb amp. Effectively, it’s an excellent amp and just some years in the past to get this operate and sound from an amp would have meant a $1500 – 3000 funding.

Different amps I’ve right here? I’ve a two yr previous Emotiva amp with DAC, phono, distant, and so on. The WIIM bests it for sound, noise ranges (the Emotiva has a slight buzz) and it prices a lot lower than the Emotiva did when new.

Backside Line 

I’m holding this brief as there may be nothing else I can actually say. It’s what it’s. The Wiim amp is a really efficient, good and straightforward to make use of HiFi product for such little cash. No, it’s not fairly as refined sounding as my $5-$15k amps but it surely will get 70% there when utilizing the EQ. No, it’s not as three dimensional as my huge cash amps, but it surely does provide up a style of this expertise. Sure, it could sound a tad flat out of the field however don’t be afraid of the EQ within the WIIM amp as it really works very properly. As soon as I tweaked the EQ to my room and audio system (all by ear) the sound blossomed and have become very musical and fluid. Even so, it nonetheless had an nearly slight veil over the music. So once more, this isn’t meant as a $5k amp big killer. It’s imagined to be a starter amp for somebody entering into audio and I see no netter choice right now than this WIIM.

It has a succesful streamer inbuilt that works with apps like M Join, WIIM’s personal app and even utilizing Spotify and Tidal join.

The amp will not be a powerhouse in terms of watts because it solely delivers 60 WPC. When evaluating to the 100 WPC Forte 1 it sounds nearly as highly effective. A lot so I couldn’t hear an influence distinction with any of my audio system. Whether or not I listened with the Nearer Acoustics OGY and BOB’s or the Daniel Hertz Ambers I used to be handled to a really stunning musical efficiency that touched my coronary heart.

That’s $7500 audio system with $300 price of DAC, AMP and Streamer behind them. They will sound higher, sure certainly, however they sounded superb with the WIIM Amp. I additionally examined them with the brand new Galion TS Voyager TL Audio system and this was nearly an ideal match. These audio system are $1200 and sound very heat, very meaty and really clean. An ideal mate to the Wiim amp as these audio system are music makers with any amp I’ve plugged them into. This implies you possibly can set your self up with a full HiFi system with streamer, DAC, AMP and audio system for underneath $1500. Loopy!

Once more, there may be nothing right here that can alert your ears or brains that that is solely a $299 amp. Not one of the normal suspects like shoddy construct, digital hash/noise or buzzes or hums are right here. It’s silent, good to take a look at, feels strong, has a distant and simply works. The DAC inside could be very succesful and excellent for the worth level of the amp.

If you’re searching for a superb purchase on an built-in amp and you’ve got a $1-2k finances, DO NOT purchase every other amp till you hear this one.

I paid for mine in full  so this isn’t a evaluate unit that I used to be despatched without spending a dime to say good issues about. In all honesty, I anticipated 100% to be sending this again for a refund and not using a evaluate. What occurred was the other. The WIIM amp taught me a lesson about what may be had right now inside audio for underneath $300. The worth right here is essentially the most insane I’ve ever seen in an audio product.

WIIM goes to shake up issues and has already began to take action with the Wiim Professional + Streamer and now the WIIM Amp.

CRAZY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, whilst a again up amp! 

You should buy the WIIM amp HERE at Amazon through Prime.

You can even purchase at Crutchfield!