Wanted: Wiim Amp recommendation

[bakkam]

CURRENT SET UP: I have a 2.1 channel Sherwood 4503 amplifier with my Wharfedale Evo 4.2 bookshelf speakers. Love this amplifier even though its old. This stereo amplifier doesn't have HDMI and optical cable ports. But it does have a subwoofer port which is connected to a 15 year old powered Kenwood subwoofer which works fine.

NEW: I purchased a modern 2025 Sony smart OLED screen TV with HDMI ARC port recently. It also has an optical cable port and several HDMI ports.

GOAL: Connect Wharfedale speakers and Sony TV to a Wiim amplifier so that I can watch Netflix movies with sound from the Wharfedale speakers.

Please recommend which WiiM would be appropriate.

 

[Wiimer]

CURRENT SET UP: I have a 2.1 channel Sherwood 4503 amplifier with my Wharfedale Evo 4.2 bookshelf speakers. Love this amplifier even though its old. This stereo amplifier doesn't have HDMI and optical cable ports. But it does have a subwoofer port which is connected to a 15 year old powered Kenwood subwoofer which works fine.

NEW: I purchased a modern 2025 Sony smart OLED screen TV with eARC HDMI port recently. It also has an optical cable port and several HDMI ports.

GOAL: Connect Wharfedale speakers and Sony TV to a Wiim amplifier so that I can watch Netflix movies with sound from the Wharfedale speakers.

Please recommend which WiiM would be appropriate.

Hi
All WiiM devices are eARC non-support though, my recommendation is sure the Amp Ultra

 

[bakkam]

I made an error, my Sony TV does have ARC HDMI port. I corrected the original post too

 

[harkpabst]

All three WiiM amplifier models available so far feature (amongst other things) an HDMI ARC input, binding posts for passive speakers like the Evo 4.2 and an RCA output for a powered subwoofer (with sub management far superior to what traditional stereo amps are capable of).

The original WiiM Amp is the budget solution and already capable of what you're asking for. It's still available and comes with the same great software support as every WiiM product.

The WiiM Amp Pro mainly brings two things to the mix, a better DAC chip and Post Filter Feedback (PFFB). PFFB is not some marketing term invented by WiiM. It refers to a technical solution where the output filter is included in a negative feedback loop to the input of the amplifier chip. This greatly reduces the unwanted side effects of said output filter, reduces the amplifier's output impedance and avoids deviations in frequency response depending on the actual impedance of the speaker over frequency.

The WiiM Amp Ultra is the latest offering and in my book it's worth the extra expense. More power (200 W vs. 120 W into 4 Ω). Dual amplifier chips for higher output current into low impedance speakers and an even more efficient PFFB implementation. A newer DAC chip once again and the 3.5" touch screen are the most obvious improvements. It comes with the new shiny WiiM Voice Remote 2 (although your TV remote is all you need to adjust the volume).

Like @Wiimer I give my vote to the WiiM Amp Ultra. But technically even the original WiiM Amp fulfills your criteria.

 

[Wiimer]

If I dare add to @harkpabst's perfect advice, new products(Amp Ultra) are more likely to receive updates with new features faster

 

[DariuszP]

I am not sure what you really want, so my advise includes three options: 1) If you like your amplifier and want to keep it: you could consider buying e.g. WiiM Pro Plus (very good streamer, not amplifier) and connect it to your TV via Optical In and to your current amp via line out - this way you would get sound from the TV as well as all streaming services played effectively by your current amp at fairly low cost (however I would suggest buying WiiM Ultra streamer, which is more versatile - e.g. has HDMI in, Dolby support, nice display, etc), 2) If you would like to shelf your current amp, then WiiM Amp Ultra would be a very good all-in-one option, 3) you could also consider buying WiiM Amp Ultra, keeping your current amp and adding some (very inexpensive and easy to setup) gear allowing you to use both amps alternatively - depending on your current mood. If you wished to explore this option I could give you more details on what I have done in a similar setup (in my case: using WiiM Amp Ultra for stereo and AVR for multichannel).

 

[noelc]

Wiim amp ultra, 100%,

 

[bakkam]

I am not sure what you really want, so my advise includes three options: 1) If you like your amplifier and want to keep it: you could consider buying e.g. WiiM Pro Plus (very good streamer, not amplifier) and connect it to your TV via Optical In and to your current amp via line out - this way you would get sound from the TV as well as all streaming services played effectively by your current amp at fairly low cost (however I would suggest buying WiiM Ultra streamer, which is more versatile - e.g. has HDMI in, Dolby support, nice display, etc), 2) If you would like to shelf your current amp, then WiiM Amp Ultra would be a very good all-in-one option, 3) you could also consider buying WiiM Amp Ultra, keeping your current amp and adding some (very inexpensive and easy to setup) gear allowing you to use both amps alternatively - depending on your current mood. If you wished to explore this option I could give you more details on what I have done in a similar setup (in my case: using WiiM Amp Ultra for stereo and AVR for multichannel).

I am looking for the simplest, all in one option.

 

[bakkam]

All three WiiM amplifier models available so far feature (amongst other things) an HDMI ARC input, binding posts for passive speakers like the Evo 5.2 and an RCA output for a powered subwoofer (with sub management far superior to what traditional stereo amps are capable of).

The original WiiM Amp is the budget solution and already capable of what you're asking for. It's still available and comes with the same great software support as every WiiM product.

The WiiM Amp Pro mainly brings two things to the mix, a better DAC chip and Post Filter Feedback (PFFB). PFFB is not some marketing term invented by WiiM. It refers to a technical solution where the output filter is included in a negative feedback loop to the input of the amplifier chip. This greatly reduces the unwanted side effects of said output filter, reduces the amplifier's output impedance and avoids deviations in frequency response depending on the actual impedance of the speaker over frequency.

The WiiM Amp Ultra is the latest offering and in my book it's worth the extra expense. More power (200 W vs. 120 W into 4 Ω). Dual amplifier chips for higher output current into low impedance speakers and an even more efficient PFFB implementation. A newer DAC chip once again and the 3.5" touch screen are the most obvious improvements. It comes with the new shiny WiiM Voice Remote 2 (although your TV remote is all you need to adjust the volume).

Like @Wiimer I give my vote to the WiiM Amp Ultra. But technically even the original WiiM Amp fulfills your criteria.

Thank you for the detailed response.

 

[DariuszP]

I am looking for the simplest, all in one option.

So the WiiM Amp Ultra would be the best and very elegant solution - I have it, I love it.

 

[bakkam]

The WiiM Amp Pro mainly brings two things to the mix, a better DAC chip and Post Filter Feedback (PFFB). PFFB is not some marketing term invented by WiiM. It refers to a technical solution where the output filter is included in a negative feedback loop to the input of the amplifier chip. This greatly reduces the unwanted side effects of said output filter, reduces the amplifier's output impedance and avoids deviations in frequency response depending on the actual impedance of the speaker over frequency.

This middle of the road option seems reasonable to me and gives me the opportunity to save some money.

 

[harkpabst]

This middle of the road option seems reasonable to me and gives me the opportunity to save some money.

You won't be disappointed with either one.

I still own both, the WiiM Amp Ultra and the Amp Pro (I gave the original Amp to my brother who's loving it). And honestly I do think that the Amp Ultra is the better device, I'd be lying if I told you otherwise. But the Amp Pro is a slick and solid piece of kit in its own right.

I assume that you'll be keeping the sub in your system (which I highly recommend).

 

[DariuszP]

This middle of the road option seems reasonable to me and gives me the opportunity to save some money.

I fully agree with @harkpabst - both are good for the task. I must say however that I bought Amp Pro, had it for some 3 weeks, was very happy, but decided to return and replace with (just announced) Ultra. For me this was a very good decision - while I cannot really say if it sounds much better (as both are pretty fine), the aesthetics and additional joy of having the display alone were worth the upgrade. If you however prefer to spend a bit less - this is what I would do: a) WiiM appliances are pretty often discounted (usually by 12-15%) on Amazon as "instant offers", b) if you can wait a bit - just haunt for this promotion and buy the first one that gets it - this way you either buy Amp Pro even cheaper (so the price gap to Amp Ultra would even more justify this choice) OR you buy Amp Ultra at a price being "not so much more" than Pro (at regular price).