Danny Linguini
Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2024
- Messages
- 8
After a lot of research, I’m really close to pulling the trigger on an Amp Pro. I just need a little nudge to get me off the fence.
Here’s the background:
I have a set of Polk Blackstone TL3’s that were part of a 5.1 home theater system that has since been retired in favor of a much simpler to use (and better sounding for tv, IMO) Bose soundbar and sub. Two of the Polks are still sitting on their bookshelves and wired to a dormant receiver. I also have an older JBL 10” sub that’s back in its box, but still ready for action. For music, that setup actually sounded very good. Not high-end audiophile good, but better than most Best Buy specials. Trouble with it was two-fold + it only sounded eh for movies, and the system was generally a p.i.a. to use, especially switching sound sources across all the HDMI and other inputs (I.e., one too many remotes). And I’ve since gotten a new sectional couch that takes up the whole wall that rear speakers would be mounted on, which pretty much rendered any kind of 5.1 system a no-go. Anyway, I searched high and low for components when I first put that system together, and have long regretted not getting more use out of those Polk speakers.
Since that time, my whole CD collection has been boxed up and put away, as all of it and almost everything else I could ever want to listen to is available on Apple Music; so all of my listening these days is either that or Sirius in the car. Unfortunately, the only home listening options I have right now are small BT speakers in the home office, headphones, or streaming though the tv soundbar, which opposite from the old home theater setup is great for tv and movies, but only so-so for music. So the search was for something to replace the 5.1 receiver (that predates blue tooth) with something I can stream to from my iPhone or iPad, and really nothing much more than that.
At first I was looking at stereo receivers with a sub out, but most of those I found were either underpowered, had way more features and inputs than I need or want, or cost way more than I’m interested in spending. Then I found the category of integrated amps. Criteria there were sub out, blue tooth in, simple setup, simple to operate (as I’m getting closer and closer to full-on dementia every day), decent power to fill my medium sized living room, and not cost an arm and a leg. A few were ruled out due to questionable user friendliness of their apps, but the one that stood out first after that dust settled was the WiiM amp, followed closely thereafter by the Amp Pro. I haven’t seen anything else that checks all the boxes (on paper, anyway) that the Amp Pro does. Apple Air Play would definitely be a nice-to-have, but not a deal breaker as long as I can stream from my phone over BT. Power should be sufficient for my needs and speakers, and everything I’ve read suggests the app is pretty full featured and easy to use.
As the title says, I’m this close to taking the plunge. Someone, anyone, please shove me off the fence.
Oh yeah, and I’m retiring in a few weeks, and this will be my retirement gift to myself, so I can spend the rest of my work-less days drowning myself in musical bliss. But one more reason why cost is a big factor.
Here’s the background:
I have a set of Polk Blackstone TL3’s that were part of a 5.1 home theater system that has since been retired in favor of a much simpler to use (and better sounding for tv, IMO) Bose soundbar and sub. Two of the Polks are still sitting on their bookshelves and wired to a dormant receiver. I also have an older JBL 10” sub that’s back in its box, but still ready for action. For music, that setup actually sounded very good. Not high-end audiophile good, but better than most Best Buy specials. Trouble with it was two-fold + it only sounded eh for movies, and the system was generally a p.i.a. to use, especially switching sound sources across all the HDMI and other inputs (I.e., one too many remotes). And I’ve since gotten a new sectional couch that takes up the whole wall that rear speakers would be mounted on, which pretty much rendered any kind of 5.1 system a no-go. Anyway, I searched high and low for components when I first put that system together, and have long regretted not getting more use out of those Polk speakers.
Since that time, my whole CD collection has been boxed up and put away, as all of it and almost everything else I could ever want to listen to is available on Apple Music; so all of my listening these days is either that or Sirius in the car. Unfortunately, the only home listening options I have right now are small BT speakers in the home office, headphones, or streaming though the tv soundbar, which opposite from the old home theater setup is great for tv and movies, but only so-so for music. So the search was for something to replace the 5.1 receiver (that predates blue tooth) with something I can stream to from my iPhone or iPad, and really nothing much more than that.
At first I was looking at stereo receivers with a sub out, but most of those I found were either underpowered, had way more features and inputs than I need or want, or cost way more than I’m interested in spending. Then I found the category of integrated amps. Criteria there were sub out, blue tooth in, simple setup, simple to operate (as I’m getting closer and closer to full-on dementia every day), decent power to fill my medium sized living room, and not cost an arm and a leg. A few were ruled out due to questionable user friendliness of their apps, but the one that stood out first after that dust settled was the WiiM amp, followed closely thereafter by the Amp Pro. I haven’t seen anything else that checks all the boxes (on paper, anyway) that the Amp Pro does. Apple Air Play would definitely be a nice-to-have, but not a deal breaker as long as I can stream from my phone over BT. Power should be sufficient for my needs and speakers, and everything I’ve read suggests the app is pretty full featured and easy to use.
As the title says, I’m this close to taking the plunge. Someone, anyone, please shove me off the fence.
Oh yeah, and I’m retiring in a few weeks, and this will be my retirement gift to myself, so I can spend the rest of my work-less days drowning myself in musical bliss. But one more reason why cost is a big factor.
