Critique my modest WiiM journey

[tkambitsch]

I would love some feedback. I bought my first, second, and third WiiMdevices in the past few weeks. I’d love some thought as to my decisions and any changes I might make. I still have a few weeks to send product back to Amazon if I’ve made some poor choices.

For decades I’ve been listening to jazz and rock through a 1995 JVCRX-517v 80 watt per channel receiver/amp. Until recently it had three pairs of hardwired remote ceiling speakers in the kitchen, main bedroom and bath. Those are 20 to 40 years old but have been serviceable and convenient. The JVC amp also powered a pair of Sony 161 bookshelf speakers in my primarily listening room that is about 15 by 20 ft.

I started my journey by replacing an Amazon Echo with a with a WiiM Mini connected to the JVC amp via an RCA cable. I still use it for driving the remote ceiling speakers.

Next I bought the 60 watt per channel WiiM Amp and moved the Sony 161 speakers to it.

Now I have music in two groups and a much easier way to access it.

My third purchase was a 65 watt 8” Kanto SUB8 sealed subwoofer. I connected it to the WiiM Amp. Huge improvement!

Today I signed up for a 30 day trial of Qobuz. I finally have access to hi res music.

This evening I ordered an Audio Pro A10 MKII Wireless Multiroom Speaker, WiiM Edition. It arrives on Saturday. I plan to use it outdoors on the patio. I would rather have a battery powered outdoor speaker like the Sonos Move but worry about mixing the environments.

I bought the original WiiM amp instead of its newer and more capable siblings as I am a bit of an Apple fanboy, thinking I needed the AirPlay 2 feature of the WiiM Amp. However even after spending just one day with the Qobuz library and mobile/CarPlay apps I am comfortable moving on from Apple Music.

I am very pleased with what I’ve got in place for only a $900 investment. Huge upgrade in so many ways. Still I wonder if I should return the WiiM Amp for the more powerful Pro or Ultra.

Next steps might include figuring a way to integrate my AppleTV and its attached Sony soundbar. I also think about upgrading the Sony bookshelf speakers in my main listening room, thus adding to my anxiety of buying the lower powered WiiM Amp.

Any advice about next purchases, reconfiguration of gear, or possible returns/replacements? I know this a long post. Thanks for reading it.

 

[rubato]

I have that very model of the Audio Pro A10 in my kitchen and I love it there, but I don't think I would be comfortable putting it outside. Even if it was sheltered from the rain, I would worry about blowing dust. It's not really intended for outdoor use. There are lots of outdoor Bluetooth speakers available, and you could probably position a WiiM Mini or Pro nearby where it could connect easily.

 

[Doublej]

If you put credibility into this review, https://www.whathifi.com/hi-fi/wiim-amp-pro, the amp pro seems to be worth the extra money.

I would consider returning the WiiM Mini and getting a WiiM Pro. The Mini does not support all of the features that the rest of the WiiM family has.

However, the most immediate improvement for your money is likely, by far, to be a replacing the Sony 161 speakers. Speakers have improved immensely since the Sony 161 days. If you speaker cables are as old as your speakers, replacing your speaker cables is likely to yield an improvement too.

These days under $500 you can get a very nice pair of bookshelf or possibly floor standing speakers.

 

[tkambitsch]

I have that very model of the Audio Pro A10 in my kitchen and I love it there, but I don't think I would be comfortable putting it outside. Even if it was sheltered from the rain, I would worry about blowing dust. It's not really intended for outdoor use. There are lots of outdoor Bluetooth speakers available, and you could probably position a WiiM Mini or Pro nearby where it could connect easily.

I agree the A10 isn't outdoor worthy. I was plannjng on using it primarily for porch parties. I have convenient power outside but a portable speaker would give me addition placement options. My urban neighborhood would prevent me from leaving anything outside that wasnt bolted down. I have an office where it might place it at other tines.

 

[tkambitsch]

If you put credibility into this review, https://www.whathifi.com/hi-fi/wiim-amp-pro, the amp pro seems to be worth the extra money.

I would consider returning the WiiM Mini and getting a WiiM Pro. The Mini does not support all of the features that the rest of the WiiM family has.

However, the most immediate improvement for your money is likely, by far, to be a replacing the Sony 161 speakers. Speakers have improved immensely since the Sony 161 days. If you speaker cables are as old as your speakers, replacing your speaker cables is likely to yield an improvement too.

These days under $500 you can get a very nice pair of bookshelf or possibly floor standing speakers.

Thanks for the encouragement to spend more money. Correct me if I didn’t follow you properly. It is your recommendation I replace the WiiM Mini with a WiiM Pro as a streamer input to my aged JVS amp. Additionally I should consider the Amp Pro as a better value than the original WiiM Amp.

That recommendation makes even better sense now that I’ve learned Amazon Prime Days will have a 20% discount on almost everything on October 6th.

As to the 161s. I think you are right I may have outlived their usefulness.

BTW I did replace my lamp chord quality speaker cables.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Mr Ee]

imo, if you are using wiim analog out then skip both the mini and the pro unless it's very casual background listening (or very old speakers ).

 

[dominikz]

Thanks for the encouragement to spend more money. Correct me if I didn’t follow you properly. It is your recommendation I replace the WiiM Mini with a WiiM Pro as a streamer input to my aged JVS amp. Additionally I should consider the Amp Pro as a better value than the original WiiM Amp.

That recommendation makes even better sense now that I’ve learned Amazon Prime Days will have a 20% discount on almost everything on October 6th.

As to the 161s. I think you are right I may have outlived their usefulness.

BTW I did replace my lamp chord quality speaker cables.

Thanks for the advice.

I'll express the unpopular opinion and say that the WiiM Mini analogue output sounds just fine to me - if you can live with the minor click/pop that is audible when changing tracks.
The Mini does however lack some features that devices higher in range have.

 

[Doublej]

Thanks for the encouragement to spend more money. Correct me if I didn’t follow you properly. It is your recommendation I replace the WiiM Mini with a WiiM Pro as a streamer input to my aged JVS amp. Additionally I should consider the Amp Pro as a better value than the original WiiM Amp.

That recommendation makes even better sense now that I’ve learned Amazon Prime Days will have a 20% discount on almost everything on October 6th.

As to the 161s. I think you are right I may have outlived their usefulness.

BTW I did replace my lamp chord quality speaker cables.

Thanks for the advice.

You have understood my post as I intended it to be.

One more idea to consider is to replace your current WiiM Mini/JVC combo with a Wiim Amp Pro instead of just upgrading the WiiM Mini to a WiiM Pro.

 

[tkambitsch]

You have understood my post as I intended it to be.

One more idea to consider is to replace your current WiiM Mini/JVC combo with a Wiim Amp Pro instead of just upgrading the WiiM Mini to a WiiM Pro.

Thanks Doublej.

I did the Doublej upgrade described in your 10/3/2025 post. The 20% discounts made it quite affordable to replace the Mini with the Wiim Pro+ and to replace the WiiM Amp with the WiiM Amp Pro.

My only hesitation is the Usher speakers (86db sensitivity at 8ohms) appear as though they need a bigger push from the Amp. I am not sure how far one can push these WiiM amps before they leave their sweet spot and start to break up. I've got three weeks to test them and see if I should upgrade to a WIIM Amp Ultra. As to speakers, I had been looking at the KEF Q1 Meta bookshelf speakers.

A friend of mine inherited a pair of lightly used Usher S-520 passive speakers. They have been unused and packed in their original boxes for some unknown number of years. He was gracious to lend them to me indefinitely! Last night I replaced the Bose 161s (and was introduced to bi-wiring) and today I was treated with a massive improvement of sound quality.

 

[adias]

I agree. The OP’s best bet is to get an all-in-one streamer/amp. Amp Pro or Amp Ultra. If AirPlay is required then WiiM Amp.

 

[Doublej]

Thanks Doublej.

I did the Doublej upgrade described in your 10/3/2025 post. The 20% discounts made it quite affordable to replace the Mini with the Wiim Pro+ and to replace the WiiM Amp with the WiiM Amp Pro.

My only hesitation is the Usher speakers (86db sensitivity at 8ohms) appear as though they need a bigger push from the Amp. I am not sure how far one can push these WiiM amps before they leave their sweet spot and start to break up. I've got three weeks to test them and see if I should upgrade to a WIIM Amp Ultra. As to speakers, I had been looking at the KEF Q1 Meta bookshelf speakers.

A friend of mine inherited a pair of lightly used Usher S-520 passive speakers. They have been unused and packed in their original boxes for some unknown number of years. He was gracious to lend them to me indefinitely! Last night I replaced the Bose 161s (and was introduced to bi-wiring) and today I was treated with a massive improvement of sound quality.

I am not sure if a more powerful amp is going to give you what you want. I am not sure if the KEF Q1 Meta will do it for you either. It too has 86 dB sensitivity, though its 4 ohm impedance means the WiiM Amp Pro will be able to supply twice as much power to the KEFs than the WiiM can supply to the 8 ohm Usher S520.

There is only so much low end output you can get from a stand mounted speaker. If desire more bass, then I would look at sticking with the WiiM Amp Pro and adding a powered subwoofer to the setup.

Starting at around $250, perhaps a little less if you wait until Black Friday/Cyber Monday, you should be able to get a respectable powered subwoofer.

 

[HansD-NL]

Thanks Doublej.

I did the Doublej upgrade described in your 10/3/2025 post. The 20% discounts made it quite affordable to replace the Mini with the Wiim Pro+ and to replace the WiiM Amp with the WiiM Amp Pro.

My only hesitation is the Usher speakers (86db sensitivity at 8ohms) appear as though they need a bigger push from the Amp. I am not sure how far one can push these WiiM amps before they leave their sweet spot and start to break up. I've got three weeks to test them and see if I should upgrade to a WIIM Amp Ultra. As to speakers, I had been looking at the KEF Q1 Meta bookshelf speakers.

A friend of mine inherited a pair of lightly used Usher S-520 passive speakers. They have been unused and packed in their original boxes for some unknown number of years. He was gracious to lend them to me indefinitely! Last night I replaced the Bose 161s (and was introduced to bi-wiring) and today I was treated with a massive improvement of sound quality.

"My only hesitation is the Usher speakers (86db sensitivity at 8ohms) appear as though they need a bigger push from the Amp. I am not sure how far one can push these WiiM amps before they leave their sweet spot and start to break up."

How loud does it need to be? I can make my small room sing with less than 10 watt RMS (15 watt peak) with also around 86db sensitivity speakers. A doubling of the power (like going from 50W to 100W) results in only a 3 dB increase.
Your old JVC amp is a solid capable thing as is the WiiM Amp.

If you like the sound of the Usher S520 but want to replace them with something else maybe bigger I would for sure first audition some Kef speakers with a Uni-Q driver. It might surprise you how peaky the upper mid-range can sound especially if you are a little bit older (ears changing in the upper regions) I played some Stevie Ray Vaughan on Kef LS50's some time ago and it was awful through my ears, unbearable. The same track (Little Wing) sounds great on some Wharfedale Evo 4.1 or Diamond 10.2 or Elac debut or Reference (one of the many models)

 

[harkpabst]

I love Stevie's version of Little Wing though my WiiM AMP Pro and my KEF LS50 Black Edition, although I'm old.