Basic Question for a HiFi newbie

[Guy]

Hi, my needs are very simple. I stream from Amazon music unlimited and listen to internet radio. I very much like to use Alexa to control what music/radio I listen to rather than use an app. I have no need to connect a turntable or to connect to my TV. I currently use Audio Addon C5A which is great but is not stereo and definitely not HiFi.
I very much like the look at WiiM Amp Pro but was wondering what WiiM Ultra adds to the Amp as it would seem that I can stream directly from the amp? I would be most grateful of any advise!

 

[Burnside]

Hi, the Amp Pro and Ultra are very close in terms of what they can do - think of the Ultra as a streamer with a screen which ultimately needs to connect to an external amp or speakers, while the Amp Pro is like an Ultra without a screen but with an amp section. There are a few connectivity differences which you can check on their spec pages, but for your requested features, either will do.

In terms of using the C5A, you could use the Ultra’s rca outputs to connect to the speaker’s aux input. The Amp Pro doesn’t have rca outputs and I’d be wary of using its speaker outputs instead. Both the Ultra and the Amp Pro could be possible be grouped with the C5A (in common with other Audio Pro speakers) so that anything played to the WiiM would also be played on the C5A. Both WiiM devices can be setup to appear as if they were real echos in the Alexa app so would play Amazon Music and other Alexa supported services.

If you were intending in the longer term to go for a more “hi fi” solution with new separate speakers, I’d go for the Amp Pro, whereas if you’re happy connecting the C5A using a cable (or grouping it wirelessly), I’d go with the Ultra.

 

[Guy]

Thank you, that is most helpful. How do I use Alexa with the Amp Pro? Do I need to "plug in" an echo dot for example? I would rather not use my audio Pro as would be to far away.

 

[Burnside]

Thank you, that is most helpful. How do I use Alexa with the Amp Pro? Do I need to "plug in" an echo dot for example? I would rather not use my audio Pro as would be to far away.

The Amp Pro comes with a remote that has a mic that you can use to make requests via Alexa, plus if you link your Alexa/amazon account to your WiiM, it will appear as a casting target in the Amazon Music app (if AlexaCast is supported in your region). If you do have echo devices, then you can also ask them to play audio on your WiiM device.

If you are using an Amp Pro, you’ll need a pair of passive speakers of course.