slartibartfast
Major Contributor
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Where is it on clearance?
Is your Soundbar a "basic unit" that is basically combined Stereo Speakers?? The WiiM Amp provides a lot of Streaming Services that a basic soundbar does not, as well as RoomFit and PEC, and AirPlay2; and integration into a multi-unit multi-room ecosystem. If you are looking to move from a soundbar to discrete speakers and sub, then yes - the WiiM Amp (as well as the WiiM Amp Pro) are great buys.
Unsure which "pcb bugs" are on your mind. Has the WiiM Amp overcome the TI Amp Chip's High-Load Frequency-Dependent Compression issues - No (that is the reason for the Amp Pro). Has WiiM delivered on all Feature Commitments for the Amp - Yes. Has WiiM stopped developing Features for the WiiM Amp - No.
HDMI CEC is a rather poorly planned part of the HDMI Spec, and by far its most problematic element. Leaving it up to each Manufacturer as to how to Implement CEC Interoperability was (and still is) a recipe for frustration. Has WiiM added several selectable settings for better success at fitting a WiiM device into a multi-brand HDMI CEC environment - Yes. Is everybody satisfied - Never.
Depends on how high your budget and expectations. If you are going to spend seriously on Speakers and Subwoofer, then the Amp Pro with its PFFB Circuitry and support for Roon Ready are both audiophile bonuses. But you lose access to AirPlay. If it is to be, as you say a "soundbar replacement" then the WiiM Amp will likely satisfy at a lower price.
hoohoohoo
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I have the WiiM Amp and my daughter has one too. My daughter uses an Apple TV and an HDMI connected TV with great success. If it's your gateway to WiiM, it's a nice rig and Roomfit makes it even better. Don't overthink it.
If you're planning to get some bookshelf speakers to move away from the soundbar, think ahead to a decent subwoofer as well.
The few issues with coil whining were limited to the very first PCB versions 2 and (to a lesser degree) 4. And even then not every unit would develop this behaviour. Any WiiM Amp you pick up from a dealer right now will have a PCB version >= 5, which are known to be trouble free.
If your speakers' impedance varies a lot with frequency then there will be some deviation in the resulting frequency response, like with all amps based on TI class D chip amps not implementing PFFB. This might or might not be audible and if so, it could be fixed through EQ or RoomFit. I wouldn't call it compression because ... well, that's not what it is. The effect does not depend on signal levels or output power, it's purely a potential static variation in frequency response.
In my book a setup consisting of a WiiM Amp and some half decent speakers will outperform any soundbar in the same price range and provide loads of additional features.
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I’ve been using wiim amp with Elac speakers as soundbar replacement for some time now (like from beginning of its availability in Europe, so approx 2 years) and apart of some initial hdmi detection problems (solved in firmware updates) it runs pretty flawless.
I'm seeing 10% off on Amazon UK, but nothing indicating clearance.
Fernandodelae
Active Member
I've had the WiiM Amp for over 2 years now, a flawless piece of equipment, been thinking of upgrading to the Amp Ultra but I think I'll upgrade speakers first. If Airplay 2 is important for you, this is still a solid purchase, if not then skip the Amp, Amp Pro and move right on to the Amp Ultra.
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For my own two cents worth of context, the WiiM Amp isn't on any sort of offical clearance, any store that's doing it might have decided not to carry that device anymore. We're still developing for the WiiM Amp, and as a bonus forum exclusive peak behind the curtains, it's one of our most sold devices.
I got it from my local hifi dealer! They are selling them at discounts probably clearing older stocks.
Fml I got pcb v5 as attached! Clicky knob, metal binding posts and no underside vents
I hear the latest pcb v7 has 4 layers Wiim Amp Pro PCB! I took a comparison between WAU and WA as attached. Interestingly Wiim seems to use the same PSU design for both marked red. They shifted the TPA section marked green into the center with WAU and the Amlogic SOC marked blue i guess is flipped underneath for WAU and that part is cooled with the heatpipe
I think WA PCB v7 has the heatpipe hence the bigger vents.
My PCB v5 seems to run hotter by ~5C against my WAU. I wonder can i exchange it, im OCD about it!
With nerdy bit outta way. I was not prepared for WA to take up some footprint. It is quiet bigger than my expectations
What i was not expecting too, was how super easy to get it running and tuning with my WAU experience. Seriosuly the Wiim Home app is powerful and i am someone who disliked using apps!
I am now connected to my old Q1010i i found in my store and it blew away the bundled LG sound bar + sub. Hdmi ARC works just as i wanted! I see the value in buying Wiim than say trying my luck with the failed Onoorus D3 in such matters.
I got a question about PFFB, i remember hearing we can tune the PEQ to sort of offset. I did a -0.35db at the 5khz and -0.8db at the 10khz, does it make sense?
I got another question about HDMI volume, since i am connected to a SAT box, the volume is lower than the native LG apps. I wonder if it is possible for firmware to identity the different audio source and have separate gain? Even though WA is only seeing the HDMI arc out
Fml I got pcb v5 as attached! Clicky knob, metal binding posts and no underside vents
I hear the latest pcb v7 has 4 layers Wiim Amp Pro PCB! I took a comparison between WAU and WA as attached. Interestingly Wiim seems to use the same PSU design for both marked red. They shifted the TPA section marked green into the center with WAU and the Amlogic SOC marked blue i guess is flipped underneath for WAU and that part is cooled with the heatpipe
I think WA PCB v7 has the heatpipe hence the bigger vents.
My PCB v5 seems to run hotter by ~5C against my WAU. I wonder can i exchange it, im OCD about it!
With nerdy bit outta way. I was not prepared for WA to take up some footprint. It is quiet bigger than my expectations
What i was not expecting too, was how super easy to get it running and tuning with my WAU experience. Seriosuly the Wiim Home app is powerful and i am someone who disliked using apps!
I am now connected to my old Q1010i i found in my store and it blew away the bundled LG sound bar + sub. Hdmi ARC works just as i wanted! I see the value in buying Wiim than say trying my luck with the failed Onoorus D3 in such matters.
I got a question about PFFB, i remember hearing we can tune the PEQ to sort of offset. I did a -0.35db at the 5khz and -0.8db at the 10khz, does it make sense?
I got another question about HDMI volume, since i am connected to a SAT box, the volume is lower than the native LG apps. I wonder if it is possible for firmware to identity the different audio source and have separate gain? Even though WA is only seeing the HDMI arc out
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Fernandodelae
Active Member
There is a separate gain adjustment option per source. I have mine directly connected to TV by HDMI and I raise the gain around 3.5db. For good movie experience a little EQ setting and Amp Volume at around 30-25% works great.I got it from my local hifi dealer! They are selling them at discounts probably clearing older stocks.
Fml I got pcb v5 as attached! Clicky knob, metal binding posts and no underside vents
I hear the latest pcb v7 has 4 layers Wiim Amp Pro PCB! I took a comparison between WAU and WA as attached. Interestingly Wiim seems to use the same PSU design for both marked red. They shifted the TPA section marked green into the center with WAU and the Amlogic SOC marked blue i guess is flipped underneath for WAU and that part is cooled with the heatpipe
I think WA PCB v7 has the heatpipe hence the bigger vents.
My PCB v5 seems to run hotter by ~5C against my WAU. I wonder can i exchange it, im OCD about it!
With nerdy bit outta way. I was not prepared for WA to take up some footprint. It is quiet bigger than my expectations
What i was not expecting too, was how super easy to get it running and tuning with my WAU experience. Seriosuly the Wiim Home app is powerful and i am someone who disliked using apps!
I am now connected to my old Q1010i i found in my store and it blew away the bundled LG sound bar + sub. Hdmi ARC works just as i wanted! I see the value in buying Wiim than say trying my luck with the failed Onoorus D3 in such matters.
I got a question about PFFB, i remember hearing we can tune the PEQ to sort of offset. I did a -0.35db at the 5khz and -0.8db at the 10khz, does it make sense?
I got another question about HDMI volume, since i am connected to a SAT box, the volume is lower than the native LG apps. I wonder if it is possible for firmware to identity the different audio source and have separate gain? Even though WA is only seeing the HDMI arc out
The issue of sudden volume jumps between playback is still there. My kids like to use the native youtube app to watch their stuff, and i had a few occassion the switching led to a jump scare.
I wonder if Hdmi arc audio is able to contain which source it is coming from.
1. Sat box hdmi out to TV hdmi in to TV hdimi Arc out
2. Tv internal sound board to hdmi Arc out.
Lets have 2 independent gain settings for the above
hgo58
Major Contributor
No. The HDMI ARC don't include any information of the source or meta data.
The only information available is the audio encoding (PCM, Dolby Digital).
hgo58
Major Contributor
Note that some systems like Home Assistant can use HDMI CEC to detect which input (port) is active and trigger actions based on that (e.g., turning on lights when "HDMI 1" is selected). Maybe this could be used to control the WiiM also?
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